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TOWN MEETING
MAY 19 , 1930
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator ,
Robert H . Holt at 8 : 07 P . M .
Art . 2 . Mr . Theodore A . Custance moved that article 2
be taken up . Under this article Mr . Robert P . Trask
offered the following motion :
" Voted : That the following amounts be appropriated
for the following accounts for the ensuing year .
Granolithic sidewalks 612000 .
Forest Fires 1000 .
Waltham Street Damages 199 .
Street Signs 300 .
Fire Department 2450 .
Lowering Brooks 500 .
Town Clerk 200 .
Police Department 700 .
Mr . George M . Ross , Chairman of the Appropriation
Committee , reported that this committee approved the
appropriations as offered by Mr . Trask .
Art . 3 . Under this article , Dr . Clarence Shannon offered
the following motion which was passed unanimously :
" Voted : That the report of the Planning Board and
Selectmen on the drainage and development of the Vine
Brook Water Shed be accepted and placed on file . "
Drainage of
VINE BROOK WATERSHED
in South Central Portion of Lexington
Reports of the
SELECTMEN AND PLANNING BOARD
and copy of the Report of
METCALF & EDDY , ENGINEERS .
Report of the Planning Board.
April 15 , 1930 .
The Selectmen ,
Town Offices ,
Lexington , Mass .
Gentlemen :
Pursuant to vote of the adjourned Town Meeting of
March 31 , 1930 , the Planning Board submits herewith copy
of the principal part of the report of the Engineers ,
Messrs . Metcalf & Eddy , under date of September 29 , 1928 ,
upon the subject of drainage of the Vine Brook area . The
copy lacks a reproduction of the plan giving the soundings
taken throughout the drainage area because the data on •
said plan is so small it would not reproduce satisfactorily .
377
Bound with the report is a copy of the plan prepared by
A . A . Shurtleff of street layout to harmonize with the
drainage channels . This street layout has already been
changed somewhat and will be subject to further changes
as the detail work of development proceeds , but it affords
a good idea of the plan of through ways and principal
connecting streets as they will eventually be built if
present plans are carried out . Except as above , the copy
of the Metcalf & Eddy report is complete . That report
discusses present conditions ; outlines a system for
draining the area south of Massachusetts Avenue to
reclaim the present low and unusable portions thereof ;
lays down a system of through highways to fit in with the
proposed drainage channels ; gives plans for installing
sewers to serve the territory and finally presents a
careful analysis as a guide to the assessment of betterments
upon the benefited areas .
The drainage system suggested covers both the North
Branch and South Branch areas , respectively at opposite
sides of Waltham Street , also the trunk line section Which
extends beneath Vine Brook Road , Massachusetts Avenue
and the railroad . These areas aggregate some 900 acres .
While the entire project could be carried out as a
unit with large savings in cost , and while the entire
plan, if executed as a single undertaking , would undoubtedly
simplify the problem of assessment of betterments and would
probably permit the Town to recover most of the cost ,
if not the entire cost of construction by assessment of
betterments , the Planning Board feels that the entire
project would involve so much money that the Town
would hesitate to undertake it all at once . Furthermore ,
the entire project , if executed at once , would also
possibly throw into the market more land for residential
building than could be well digested in a period of time
that would make it profitable .
Therefore , the Planning Board feels that it would be
wiser to undertake a part only of the work at this time ,
leaving the balance to be executed at a later date when
the need therefor shall have become more immediately
imperative .p The Town should , however , immediately make
such layouts and takings as will make possible eventual
accomplishment of the entire project .
The trunk line section extending from a point just
above Vine Brook Road to and under Massachusetts Avenue
and the railroad to an outlet point some thousand feet
below the railroad , being located almost in the heart of
the business section of the Town, is the key to the entire
situation . The capacity of this section must be increased
in the immediate future to take care of the surface
drainage from the center of the Town without considering
the problem of conducting away the waters received from
the areas beyond . This trunk section must be lowered
some eight feet before the South Branch area above can
be properly drained for building ; the North Branch area
will require a lowering of not more than six and one-
half feet .
The Planning Board has felt that this trunk line section
should be deepened and constructed by the Town as a Town
project and at the expense of the Town ; its location in
the very heart of the Town ; the fact that it drains the
entire business center as well as the area surrounding
the center ; the fact that the entire Town would benefit
from this improvement just as the entire Town benefits
from &ny improvement in the center of the Town; mad the
complications that accompany any effort to assess better-
ments in respect to that particular section of the brook
would seem to make it more properly a Town proposition than
one relating to bordering properties only . It would seem
that every municipality is under obligation to maintain
drainage structures , adequate for the normal growth of the
a
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town . Furthermore , the Planning Board believes that the
enhanced values of property throughout the center of the
Town and the area drained eventually into this trunk
section of the brook would in a comparatively few years
return to the Town in taxes more than the reconstruction
of this particular section would cost .
The trouble with the General Betterment Act has been
that the entire cost of any improvement must necessarily
be assessed as betterments , - - it is not possible to
divide the cost ; and these betterments can not be assessed
until after the work is completed. If any error lb found
to have occurred in method of assessment or in the
apportionment among the properties especially benefited ,
the entire assessment can be thrown out and the cost of
the completed work would then fall back upon the Town.
In June last a new Betterment Act was passed, Acts
of 1929 , Chapter 380 , evidently with the purpose of
removing some of the objections to the earlier act .
This recent act makes possible , among other things , the
assessment of a part of the construction cost only
instead of the whole cost , where the situation justifies ,
and provides aleo for outlining a plan and taking the matter
before the court for approval or disapproval before any
costs of construction are incurred . If the court approves ,
then the work may be carried out with comparative certainty
that the betterments assessed according to the approved
plan may be collected , and if , after the court has
considered the proposed plan , it appears to the Town that
the cost is likely to be heavier than it anticipated,
the Town may abandon the entire project , reimbursing land
owners for any expense they may have been put to in
opposing the plan before the court .
Apparently many of our citizens feel that any work
of this sort should be constructed under a betterment
Act , and if a majority of the Town Meeting members
entertain that view , this new Betterment Act above referred
to would appear to furnish the most desirable plan upon
which to proceed , for it would not , like the earlier act ,
require the entire cost of the trunk section to be borne
by the properties especially benefited along its line and
and along the North and. South Branch areas , to the
exclusion of the Town as a whole .
Just what betterments would, under this act , be
assessable along the trunk line cannot yet be stated at
this time , but this new act would make possible the
assessment of only so much of the entire cost as would
appear to be just and fair .
As the sentiment of the Town appears to have developed ,
it would seem to be wise to undertake at once not only
the deepening and improvement of the trunk section, but ,
in addition, what is known as the South Branch section
extending to Marrett Road . There can be no question but
what the South Branch section should be constructed under
one of the Betterment Acts .
ROADS .
We suggest that the roads be omitted from consideration
at this time except that the Town should adopt a definite
plan and make any necessary layouts , and takings where
necessary , to assure that such roads as eventually may be
built , shall be built in accordance with that approved
layout . As such roads are found necessary , they may be built
like other roads in newly developed areas in the Town, the
cost of the same to be charged back against the abutting
lands . This cost at the present time averages from $7 . 00
to $10 . 00 per lineal foot of road .
In the present instance , some of the roads should be
built to serve as through roads , to relieve Massachusetts
Avenue and the center of the Town of as much traffic as
possible . To that end such roads should be built as
indicated on the Shurtleff plan, wider than would be
necessary for purely local needs and , as a consequence ,
the Town, and possibly the State , should bear a proper
part of the construction cost .
SEWERS .
Sewers also , so far as necessary to accommodate the
areas under development , should be built under cur
present act , and therefore form no necessary part of the
present drainage problem except that such sewer as must
extend from Vine Brook tio .ad to junction with the present
sewer trunk line in the vicinity of Sheridan Street ,
estimated to cost 08 , 000 , must be built at the expense
of the Town because the locality through which that section
must extend is already served by and * has been assessed
for the present sewer system .
COSTS .
Messrs . Metcalf & Eddy estimate the cost of the trunk
line drainage section , extending from its outlet near the
junction of Sheridan and. Grant otreets to Vine Brook Road ,
and including necessary engineering , at : $88 , 000
From Vine Brook Road to the new junction
point a short distance beyond the proposed
extension of Winthrop Road : 15 , 000
From the new junction point to Marrett Road : 17 , 000
A total of : $120 , 000
The cost from Vine Brook Road to the new
junction point : $15 , 000
Thence to Marrett Road : 17 , 000
A total of : $32 , 000
• should in any event be assessed under the Betterment Act
upon the land specially benefited .
There are 166 acres of unusable land in the South
Branch area . Deducting 20 acres for land which, when
drained, may still be found unsuited for building , and
good for parks only , leaves 146 acres of unusable lands
to be reclaimed ; at 43 , 560 feet per acre , this would mean
a total of 6 , 359 , 760 square feet . A betterment assessment
of one -half cent per square foot upon this area alone--
$218 per acre - - would bring a total of $31 , 798 . 80 , or
approximately the cost of the drainage channel from Vine
Brook Road to Marrett Road . This does not take into
account additional betterments that may be assessed upon
higher lands , fronting upon the unusable areas and now
inaccessible because of the same .
It would seem, therefore , wise to take in the entire
South Branch area with the initial construction of the trunk
line under Massachusetts Avenue and the railroad. To make
this possible , another meeting must be called, the warrant
for which shall contain an article of broader scope than-
Article 34 of the warrant for the present meeting .
The Engineers , following a further examination, confirm
the report originally made to the Planning Board, that
for the present there will be no appreciable damage to the
areas below Grant Street from such increased rate of flow
as may result from the deepening of the brook throughout
the trunk and South Branch sections under consideration;
- 1
380
that such increase as may result will be accommodated
by enlarging the culvert under Hayes Lane , which is
included in the scheme already proposed, and by substitut-
ing two culvert pipes each of about five feet in
diameter for the single culvert under East Street now
existing and cleaning the brooks , at an additional cost
estimated by the engineers at something less than a
thousand dollars .
Later it may be found desirable to improve the lands
below Grant Street as much as is now proposed for the
North and South Branch areas; thereby to remove danger
from increased flow from above Vine Brook Road as building
in that locality proceeds , and at the same time render
the lands south of Grant Street available for building
just as the upper areas will be made available by the
proposed drainage scheme .
The engineers also report that in their opinion
there will be little liability from damage claims
arising from shifting the locations of brooks in the
North and South Branch areas - - at most a relatively
small liability .
The matter of connecting necessary or desired
laterals with the main drainage chamnels would appear
to invlove no serious difficulty . she engineers advise
that , in general , these laterals should be constructed
by the property owners to drain their several properties
into the main channels to whatever extent necessary to
adapt the properties to desired uses .
Most of the large individual properties in the South
Branch area adjoin one or both sides of the proposed
South Branch channel and can with little difficulty be
drained thereinto . If it is desired to convert these
properties into residential developments , laterals
would probably be necessary, but in general such laterals
should follow the streets laid out and approved by the
Board of Survey for residential development ; they would
ordinarily take the form of drains or pipes underlying the
streets and would be constructed at the time the streets
are constructed . Obviously it is impracticable to lay
down those laterals in advance of the detail plans for
residential development because the laying out of streets
and lots necessarily constitute parts of a single
problem- -neither should be Paid out independently or in
advance of the other .
There are some small properties in the South Branch
area that will not be directly reached by the proposed main
drainage channel but such properties can easily be
accommodated , when necessary or desired , over the la : outs
for some one or more of the projected streets . In the
nature of the case many details must be left until the
work is entered upon but we are convinced the project
involves no insurmountable nor unduly expensive problems .
The plan of betterment assessments suggested by
Messrs . Metcalf & Eddy is probably more extensive than
would be practicable for the Town to adopt ; but will be
exceedingly helpful in estimating any betterment plan
that may be proposed .
By undertaking the work under consideration, the
Planning Board feels that the Town will protect itsel
against any undesirable development within this large . Rage
and will invite and assure itself the kind of development
that will be in every way to the best interest of the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
F . L . Emery , Chairman.
381
( Insert map of Town of Lexington , Plan of Proposed
Highways in South Central portion of Town . Arthur A .
Shurtleff , 11 Beacon Street , Landscape Architect , Boston ,
Mass . , October 4 , 1926 .
Revised to October 29 , 1926 .
Revised to December 17 , 1926 .
Revised to December 30 , 1926 .
Revised to April 22 , 1927 .
Revised to April 27 , 1927 . )
REPORTSOF THE SELECTMEN .
THE MAJORITY REPORT .
May 6 , 1930 .
To the Town Meeting Members ,
Lexington , Massachusetts :
The subject of drainage as it is related to the Vine
Brook area now under consideration and which the Town
Meeting mem !. ers will be asked to consider at a meeting
May 19 , 1930 , has been discussed from many points of view .
While it has been studied by a number of out townspeople ,
we ask that you study the enclosed report of Metcalf &
Eddy , : Engineers , under date of September 29 , 1928 to
the Planning Board, mad the report of the Planning Board
to the Selectmen under date of April 15 , 1930 .
While we as a Board have been giving a great deal of
study to this project for a number of years , we have
studied it more intensely in the last few plonths .
The report of Metcalf & Eddy , Engineers , which is
submitted herewith, shows us very cont lusiyely what must
be done to make this drainage possible . she Planning
Board has made an exhaustive study of this report and
has made specific recommendations concerning its adoption.
Your Selectmen have also made a careful study of the report
of Metcalf & Eddy , have conferred with the Planning Board,
have held several informal meetings with interested
groups and made independent investigations , and we are
of the opinion that the Town should adopt the plan as a
whole and proceed at once with that part of the project which
includes the trunk system and the south branch .
While it is not possible to anticipate how rapidly
this land will develop once it is drained , Winthrop Road
is already being extended to Waltham Street by private
enterprise , and it seems reasonable to expect that more
streets will be laid out in the near future . Even if all
the area is not immediately developed , its value is
obviously greatly enhanced by changing it to a well drained
piece of property in close proximity to the center of the.
Town.
It must be conceded that no amount of money spent on
clearing the present channel of Vine Brook and rebuilding
walls will be of any avail as long as that part of the trunk
line section which runs under Massachusetts Avenue is eight
feet higher than the point to which the water table must
be lowered to make this land available for building
purposes .
In view of the fact that many citizens are of the
opinion that this entire project should be authorized
under the Betterment Act , aid since most of the property
owners in the south branch area have expressed a willingness
to agree to a reasonable betterment assessment , we now
recommend this procedure in order that the Town may have
immediate returns on its investment .
We have secured definite estimates on this work by
different contractors based on the specifications of the
382
C
Town Engineer . These firms have had experience in this
type of work , andwe are confident that a substantial
saving can be made over the estimated submitted by the
Engineers , so that it seems probable that the entire south
branch area can be drained for only a little more than the
amount estimated by them to construct the trunk line alone .
This lay out is in line with the studies we have had
of the proposed through highways that will be of great
value to the Town. It seems wise to us to encourage the
land owners to lay out and drain their property along
the lines suggested so that when the Town is ready to
take over the street , under the Betterment Act , it will
not be necessary for any drainage to be done at that
time .
It should be remembered that the Board of Survey laid
out a street from Massachusetts Avenue to Vine Brook Road
in 1918 over Vine Brook . This matter has been held in
abeyance until the drainage of Vine Brook has been done .
This , when constructed , will form an entrance to that
territory between Massachusetts Avenue and Marrett Road ,
and is an important link of highway which will later lead
to Cambridge by way of Belmont . This is the only portion
in which the Town will encounter damages of any consequence .
In tbis section the Town will have to take 29 , 920 square
feet of land and one house , and this should be done before
the land becomes more valuable .
We respectfully urge every Town Meeting Member to
study with great care the entire report of Metcalf & Eddy
and the recommendations of the Planning Board . We further
urge a personal inspection of that portion of the drainage
area that is easily accessible , so that the fullest possible
knowledge may be obtained of this important improvement .
Respectfully submitted,
Theodore A . Custance
Robert P . Trask
Clarence Shannon
Hallie C . Blake
Selectmen.
THE MINORITY REPORT
My reasons for a minority report on Vine Brook drainage
are as follows :
I do not believe that the closed drain proposed from
Vine Brook road to Sheridan Street will take care of the
drainage in the area between these two streets . This is
to be a tight cement pipe , and I cannot see any way for
the ground water to enter . It will only take care of the
street water thrcnksh catch basins .
Also , no borings have been made so far to determine
the nature of the soil through which this drain must pass .
If it should be quicksand ( the same as encountered when
the Cary Memori al , Bui l di ng was built and the sewers in
Massachusetts Avenue constructed ) it will add very much
to the cost of construction. I think this information
should be in the hands of the voters before they are
asked to vote on this project .
So far as the South Branch is concerned , lowering
the brook only will not take care of lowering the water
table any great distance back from the brook itself . In
order to accomplish this , laterals must be put in close
enough to each other to take care of the water in the
ground in the areas removed from the main brook . If
these laterals are not provided and the water in these
back areas taken care of , I do not think the Town can
collect betterments on the areas not drained. No plans
for these laterals have been presented , and no money
383
provided for their construction in the figures presented
to the Town .
In regard to the question of betterments , this drainage
project , when carried out , benefits the owners of the area
involved so that they receive a very distinct improvement .
It seems to me that they should be willing to make a
definite agreement with the Town as to what extent they
are willing to stand betterment assessments , thus relieving
the Town at some future time of probable litigation or the
alternative of abating them .
Respectfully yours ,
Albert H . Burnham
Selectman .
Copy of the
REPORT
of
METCALF & EDDY
Engineers .
Table of Contents .
Page . No .
Letter of transmittal 14
Report
Outline of Problem 17
Basis of Design . 18
Types of Channels 21
Soil Conditions 22
Sewerage 23
Drainage Projects Studied 24
Proposed Drainage Project . 25
Open Channels . 25
Portions of Channels to be covered 25
Old Lexington Reservoir 26
Soundings 26
Location of Channels 27
Area Tributary to Channels 27
Estimates of Cost of Proposed Drainage Project . . 28
Proposed Through Highways 29
Vine Brook Betterments 31
Drainage Benefits 31
Park Benefits 34
Through Highway Benefits 35
LIST OF TABLES .
No . Page No .
1 Maximum Average Intensities of Rainfall at
Chestnut Hill Arranged in Order of
Magnitude Based on Records from 1879 to
1916 , inclusive 20
2 Computations of Design . . . Opposite 32
384
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710
►•1 11
LIST OF FIGURES
Opposite
Page No .
1 Rainfall and Runoff Curves for Use in Design
of Drains for Vine Brook District 22
2 Map of Vine Brook Drainage District . . 25
3 Preliminary Development Map 28
4 Typical Sections of Open Channels . . . . 28
5 . Profile of Proposed Re .ocated North Branch
Channel of Vine Brook 28
6 Profile of Proposed South Branch and Main
Channels of Vine Brook 28
7 Map Showing Proposed Through Highways 30
8 Drainage Benefit Map 36
9 Park Benefit Map 36
10 Through Highway Benefit Map 36
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Town Planning Board
Lexington , Mass .
Gentlemen :
We transmit herewith our report upon " Drainage of
Vine Brook Watershed in South Central Portion of Lexington . "
This report may be summarized as follows :
The drainage area of Vine Brook south of Massachusetts
Avenue , comprises about 900 acres much of which is close
to the center of the Town and unsuitable for residences
because of its low swampy nature .
Considerable portions of these areas can be made
available for residences by the construction of suitable
drainage channels and conduits . Other portions have
firm bottom so deep that it will be best to reserve
them for use as parks or playgrounds , because foundations
would be too expensive to warrant development into house
lots .
It is advisable for the Town to adopt a plan for the
drainage and development of this district , in order to
control the development and forestall difficult drainage
and sewerage problems which would probably result from
uncontrolled development .
For the brook channels , it is economical to build
portions of open earth channels and portions of closed
masonry conduits and to so locate them th(-Yt they can be
constructed in firm ground where deep foundations of
piles or masonry will not be required.
We have designed the main brook channels and conduits
to care for the ran- off from a two-year frequency rainfall
gage at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir of the Metropolitan
Water Works . Occasionally , very heavy storms will occur ,
which will cause .Poore flooding of streets and cellars in the
low areas .
The soil in the swampy areas consists of a soft
muck overlying sand, gravel , rock or clay . After the
ground water level has been lowered in these areas by
the construction of the proposed channels and conduits , a
subsidence of the surface of a foot or more will take place
because of decomposition and compression. This fact has
been taken into consideration in our design of the drainage
channels .
Cesspools will be impracticable of operation in the
swampy areas , because the soil will be very slow to drain.
Therefore , sewers must be provided before development can
be made in the low portions . A submain sewer can be built
385
to serve the North Branch district and discharge into an
existing sewer near Waltham Street at the present brook
culvert . Portions of the South Branch Districts are so
low that a satisfactory sewer to serve the area cannot
discharge into the existing main sewer near the junction
of the present North and South Branches . It will ,
therefore , be necessary to build a new sewer substantially
parallel to the existing main sewer from the junction of
the existing North and South Branches to a location near
Grant and Sheridan Streets where it will discharge into
the existing main sewer .
The proposed drainage project involves an open brook
channel for the South Branch of Vine Brook following near
the easterly border of the swamp from la point 700 to 800
ft . north of Marrett Road to the junction with the proposed
channel for the North Branch. The channel of the North
Branch will be relocated following the easterly and southerly
shore of the swamp , thus diverting the flow from the present
brook channel which is parallel to the park road west of
Waltham Street . From the junction of the North and South
Branches , . an open channel will extend north to a point
near the southerly line of Massachusetts Avenue ; thence
the channel will be a covered conduit to the end of the
steep drop several hundred feet north of Sheridan Street
with a relativdly short open channel to connect with the
present brook channdl . If preferred , the covered conduit
can be extended from Massachusetts Avenue to Vine Brook
Road.
The estimates of cost of the main drainage channels
and conduits are as follows :
North Branch 871 , 000
South Branch 17 , 000
Main channel from junction of
North & South Branches to
Massac-'usetts Avenue 30 , 000
Main channel east of Mass . Ave . 67 , 000
Total $185 , 000
The estimated cost of the through highways required to
provided access to the areas within the district is
$241 , 000 . This estimate is based
a upon gravel surfaced
p
roadway 24 ft . wide . When permanent paved surfaces are
required for these highways , an additional expenditure of
about $163 , 000 will be required .
We have studied the problem of assessment of betterments
upon the areas within the district , to cover the cost of
drainage and through highways . We recommend that the cost
of constructing the drainage channels and conduits be
assessed uniformly upon the drainage area for the reasons
given in the report . We recommend that the cost of
through highways be assessed in accordance with the
principles described in the report and illustrated by
the through highway benefit map ( No . 10 , opposite page 36 . ) .
The construction of the drainage channels and conduits
will make possible the development into parks or playgrounds
of considerable areas which will not be suitable for
residences . Certain adjacent areas will be benefitted by
these parks , and we recommend that such areas be assessed
the cost of the construction of main drainage channels
which would otherwise be assessable to the park ares .
We recommend that these assessments be made in accordance
with the principles described in the report and illustrated
by the park benefit map ( No . 9 , opposite page 36 ) .
We have worked out assessment units for the three
different types of benefits . It is probable that some
modification will be made in the relative assessments , but
we bqlieve the principles upon which the proposed assessments
have been based are sound and equitable . For the park and
highway benefits , the district should probably be divided
into smaller zones so as to make smaller differences in
the benefit ratios . Such a method would involve a large
amount of work Which does not appear to us to be justified
at this time .
386
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By the methods which we have used , the maximum
assessment on any given area for the drainage , through
highway andpark benefits combined would be .*0 . 03137
per sq . ft . The share of the cost of the improvements to
be borne by the Town would be $52 , 900 .
The proposed drainage project can be carried out in
sections in accordance with any financial program which the
Town may see fit to adopt . Considerable saving in expense
can-be realized if the drainage channels , sewers and
through highways for contiguous portions of the project
are constructed under one contract . Out estimates have been
based upon such a program . Before any portion of the
construction work is undertaken , plans and specifications
will have to be prepared .
Very truly yours ,
METCALF & EFFY
By Almon L . Fales
REPORT .
Sept : 29 , 1928 .
Town Planning Board
Lexington , Mass .
Gentlemen :
As authorized by the Lexington Board of Selectmen,
we have completed out studies for the drainage of the
Vine Brook watershed in the south central portion of
Lexington and present the following report thereon.
OUTLINE OF PROBLEM
The drainage area of Vine Brook south of Massachusetts
Avenue comprisea bout 900 acres , including extensive .
areas of nearly level swamp lands which are subject to
flooding during rainy seasons and are for the most part
unstitable even for agricultural purposes . Portions of
the high sloping firm land surrounding the swamp areas ,
particularly those adjacent to the swamps , are
inaccessible for dwellings and are available only for
agricultural uses .
A preliminary investigation indicated that it would
be feasible to carry off the storm water and to lower
the ground water level in the low areas sufficiently
to permit of their development for residential purposes ,
by the construction of channels for the main brook and
the north and south branches beginning near Sheridan
Street where there is a rapid fall in the brook of
several feet .
The greater part of the swamp lands and inaccessible
higher areas adjacent thereto is situated within one mile
of the center of Lexington , and practically all of the
available swamp areas had already peen developed with
streets and residences .
The recent rapid growth of the towns of Arlington
and Belmont as well as some developments in Lexington ,
indicate that the demand for land for residential purposes
in Lexington will be far greater in the near future than
it has been in the past .
There has already been considerable development
of the higher lands of the district and some lateral
drains have been constructed which convey the runoff from
387
the streets to ditches of brooks . Some lots south of
Massachusetts Avenue and cellars along Vine Brook Road
have been subject to flooding . With continued •
development of the higher lands of the district , more
frequent and more widespread flooding will occur unless
adequate main channels and conduits are provided for
Vine Brook and its branches .
If the large areas of swamp lands and inaccessible
higher lands in the Vine Brook watershed remain un-
improved and uncontrolled by the Town, it is probable
that a low grade of development will start in these
areas and that serious sewerage and drainage problems
will arise in the future . It is advisable to adopt
a plan for drainage and improvement of these lands
whereby those portions which can be made economically
suitable for a good class of residences will be so
developed and those which are suitable only for parks
will not be encroached upon.
The Town Engineer has furnished us with maps of the
Vine Brook district and with other available information
bearing on the problem of drainage including the Report
on Lowering Brooks by McClintock and Woodfall in 1913 . W e
have supplemented the data furnished us by some check
surveys and by many rod soundings in the swampy areas .
We have consulted with Mr . Shurtleff in regard to
locations for the required brook channels slid he has
furnished us with plans of proposed highway layouts ;
Our Mr . Raymond has attended several conferences of your
Planning Board and one conference of your Board with the
Selectmen .
Our report deals with the basis of design o'D` the brook
channels , types of channels , soil conditions , drainage
plans considered and recommended plan of drainage with
estimates of cost . At the request of your Chairman , we
have also estimated the cost of proposed main highways
through the drainage district and have suggested a method
of assessing betterments .
BASIS OF DESIGN .
Under existing conditions , high flows in Vine Brook
ordinarily occur during the spring . However , considerable
areas of land are subject to flooding from any long- continued
heavy rain . The higher rates of runoff through the brook
channels under present conditions are much less than will
occur when the drainage area has become developed with
paved streets and the lots have been built upon . Further-
more , the building of streets with catch basins and drains
will cause the runoff to pass into the channels rapidly ,
thus resulting in a higher maximum rate of discharge .
The problem of determining the carrying capacity
which should be provided in the design of channels to convey
the runoff resulting from storms is not a simple matter
of computation . It involves the determination of the
tributary area and the slope available for the channel ,
an estimate of the probable future character of development ,
a study of the intensity , duration and frequency of
rainfalls which are to be expected and a consideration
of the relative benefits which would be derived from
the construction of channels having different capacities .
On rare occasions , very severe and intense storms occur
which produce rates of run- off so high that it is uneco-
nomical to build channels large enough to prevent flooding
at such times .
After the districts have been developed, some portions
will be subject to more frequent flooding than others .
If covered channels were used throughout for the main
drains , a more liberal capacity would be required than if
open channels were used, because an increased depth of
flow in the open channels would result in a greater
discharge capacity , whereas no material increase in
capacity would be obtained from sur- charging of long
covered channels .
388 e .
ow
It is our judgment that if open channels be provided
for the main brook andthe principal branches , and about
3 ft . of freeboard allowed between the water surface
and the tops of the banks of the channel , provision
should be made for a rainfall rate which may be expected
to be equalled or exceeded about once in two years on
the average .
We have examined the records of the rain gage at
the Chestnut Hill pumping station of the Metropolitan
Water Works as published in the Journal of the Boston
Society of Civil Engineers , 1920 , Vol 7 , p . 47 , and
have constructed a curve which represents those fre -
quencies of rainfall which may be expected to be equalled
or exceeded once in two years on the average . Table 1
shows the intensities of precipitation in inches depth
per hour , the order of magnitude , the frequency and the
duration in minutes for the records from 1879 to 1916 ,
inclusive .
( Insert Table 1 , Maximum Average Intensities of
Rainfall at Chestnut Hill Arranged in Order of Magnitude
based on Records from 1879 to 1916 , inclusive . )
The proportion of the rainfall which runs off
immediately and during a storm depends upon the character
of the sub- soil , the slope of the ground surface and.
its condition , that is , whether of sandy or clayey
nature and whether covered with vegetation , buildings ,
pavement or sidewalks .
The soil of the greater part of the district is of
a sandy nature . The slopes of the land adjacent and
surrounding the swamps are rather steep . It is expected
that the development will result in relatively large
lots , and that considerable areas of the swamp lands
impracticable of development for residential purposes will
be used for parks or playgrounds , so that the district
as a whole will have a fairly low percentage of total
impervious area . Consequently , drains of less capacity
will sufficethan would be required were the soil of a
clayey nature and the percentage of total impervious area
high as is found in the centers of large cities . We
have estimated that the average proportion of impervious
surface in the whole area will be about 25 per cent .
The diagram , Fig . 1 , shows the two- year rainfall
curve together with the runoff curve used as the basis
of design for determining the required capacity of channels .
CInsert Figure 1 . Lexington , Mass . Rainfall and
Run-Off Curves for use in Design of Drains for Vine Brook
District . August 9 , 1928 . Metcalf & Eddy , Engineers , Boston ,
Mass . )
TYPES OF CHANNELS
To make the low areas suitable for developments for
residences and parks will /inquire main drainage channels in
which the water surface will be well below the adjacent
ground sufface most of the time to insure a low ground water
level and with sufficient capacity to prevent frequent flooding
of streets and yards during heavy rains .
Two types of ppen channels have been considered , --
one with masonry walls on timber foundation , for use where
it w .. s contemplatedto locate the brook channel
across swampy areas where a hard bottom is at considerable
depth below the swamp surface , and the other a channel
without masonry or timber foundation to be constructed in
firm soil , with slopinf2. side surfaces which can be grassed
and thus present an appearance in harmony with attractive
main thoroughfares bordered by planted strips . Such a channel
can he used effectively with double -barreled highways ,
the brook channel to be located between the two highway
lanes .
Covered masonry channels or conduits throughout
have been considered in one project studied, and in another
project covered channels for the upper ends of both the
north and south branches of Vine Brook and that portion
of the main channel north of Massachusetts Avenue with
389
open earth channels for the remainder , except where
the channels will cross under Waltham Street and
Vine Brook Road . Flat concrete arch construction
has been figured on for these crossings .
In determining the required size of channels ,
we have computed the velocity by the Chezy formula ,
usin: the Kutter formula for determining the value
of C , taking as 0 . 025 for open channels and 0 . 013
for covered channels upon the assumption that the
covered channels will be of concrete with smooth
interior surfaces . The open channels have been designed
with side slopes of 1 vertical on 3 horizontal below
the level of the proposed water surface for the run- off
from a rainfall of two -year frequency with slopes of 1
vertical to 1 horizontal above that level .
SOIL CONDITIONS
Much of the present low areas along both the north
and south branches will have the water level lowered
several feet after the drainage ixn ).rovements have been
made . The soil consists of a b]. ack peaty muck for the
most part overlying sand , . gravel or rock . When the
wat3r level is lowered in these areas , a considerable
subsidence of the soil will result , over a period of
years , as the muck contains considerable amounts of
organic matter which , when exposed to the atmosphere by
the lowering of the water level , will shrink due to
dec - imposition and compression . In many places , it may
be expected that a subsidence of as much as a foot may
occur because of shrinkage . In pli ces a greater amount
of subsidence will take place if the surface is covered
with filling material for grading lots and streets .
In view of the probability that considerable areas
will be subject to subsidence and to provide a somewhat
gretter capacity for excessive storms , we have designed the
open channels with the water surface for the runoff from
a two -year frequency rainfall at about 3 ft . below the
present general swamp level .
In considering the soli_ conditions of the swamp
areas , reference perhaps should be made to the type of
construction required for satisfactory permanent highways
across locations where the soil consists of muck . Ex -
perience has demonstrated that a satisfactory highly
cannot be constructed upon such soil and that it is
usually necessary to remove the muck to practically
firm bottom and substitute a fill of good material upon which
to build the hi ;hway . There is an example in Lexington
where the nark road follows along the north branch of
Vine Brook between Waltham Street and the p1aypround where
at some locations it has been necessary to add filling
materials because of subsidence .
Since the ground water level in many places will be
only 5 or 6 ft . or pe rHaps less below the surface and
as the muck is naturally very slow to drain , it will
be practically impossible to provide sewerage facilities in
the low areas by means of cesspools , and therefore , sewers
will be required before any considerable develo )meat of
such low areas can take place .
SEWERAGE
A sub-main sewer can be cons tr 1c ted , to serve the North
Branch District , from the existing sewer at Waltham Street
near the present brook culvert , thence across low land west
of Waltham Street to a location near the proposed open
channel and thence southwesterly along, and substantially
parallel with , the proposed brook channel .
The existing sewer near the present junction of the
north and south branches of Vine Brook is too high
to receive the sewerage flow from a sewer which will be low
enough to serve the South Branch District . The most
economical means of providing an outlet for the sewerage of
the South Branch District appears to be the construction
of a sewer in the same trench with the covered conduit and
open channel for Vine Brook north of Vine Brook Road to a
point near Grant and Sheridan Streets where such a sewer
7
. 9
900
can discharge its flow into the existing main sewer .
If a sewer is provided as described above , 731.7
a sub -main sewer can be constructed to serve the
South Branch District from near Vine Brook Road along
the proposed channel to Marrett Road .
If the above sewers are cons tr!icted at the same
time as the main gook channels and. conduits , a considerable
saving in cost can be realized . Our estimates of cost
of these sewers so constructed are as follows :
North Branch District sib -main sewer $16 , 000
South Branch District sub-main sewer 12 , 000
Sewer from junction of present North
and South Branches of Vine Brook to
point near Grant add Sheridan Streets 8, 000
Total $36 , 000 .
If these sewers are not included in the contracts
with the corresponding portions of the main brook
channels and conduits but are constructed independently ,
their cost will probably be much greater , perhaps two or
even three times the above estimates .
DRAINAGE PROJECTS STUDIED .
Consideration has been given to several plans
for the principal drainage channels . A preliminary study
was made with the pr fled channels substantially in
the location of the existing brook channels . These
extend through portions of the swamp areas where the muck
is of considerable depth . A brook channel in such a
location would be quite expensive , requiring pile
foundations and to he permanent should probably be
constructed of masonry , at least those portions
which would lie abo e the ground water level . Such a
channel would not harmonize With the plan for parks and
boulevards which your Board has in mind . Consequently
final estimates for this project we ~' e not prepared .
A plan of devel op,:;ent consisting of a single
roadway boulevard with the brook channel enclosed
in a covered masonry conduit located beneath the
roadway was studied . Such a project woul ' ref-Nine
less arna of land for the main h ghways and
brook channels and probably would result in some saving
in the cost of highways when compared with the double -
barreled highway scheme . The cost of the brook chan : el
itself, however , woad be quite expensive even if
constructed in firm ground . Furthermore , such a channel
would have no excess capacity above the desiin capacity ,
for the runoff from storms greater than that estimated for
a two -year frequency storm, and more objectionable
flooding would result than with an open channel .
At the suggestion of Mr . Shurtleff , a study was
made of open channels constricted in firm ground along the
edges of the swamp . This plan wou1 .3 permit o {' economical
construction of double -barreled highways for the main
throughfares with an open brook channel between the
two traffic lanes in accordance with the plan of development
which your Board ' contemplates . Our studies indicate
that open channels for the most part , but with certain
portions covered , will be the best plan to adopt .
PROPOSED DRAINAG PROJECT .
The l ayo at of the proposed drainage project is shown
in Fig . 2 . The computations o f design are given in Table 2
in the Ap u endix .
:tee pg . 434 . ( Insert Fig . 2 , Lexington , Mass . , Map of Vine Brook
Drainage District . , Nov . 15, 1927 . ) It is proposed to provide
brook channel crossings under existing hi7hways , by means
of concrete masonry arches .
Open Channels . The open type of channel can be used
advantageously south of the southerly line of Massa-
ehus etts Avenue , since the ground surface is flat and a
reasonably shallow channel will suffice . North of
Massachusetts Avenue its use would result in so deep and wide
a ditch that it would be very expensive and undesirable
391
excepting just northeast of Sheridan Street where a
relatively short open channel can be built , to
connect with the existing brook channel .
The open channels , excepting; that portion just
northeast of. Sheridan Street , have been designed
with sir, e slopes of 1 vertical on 3 horizontal for the
portions of the slopes beneath the water surface and with
slopes of 1 vertical to 1 horizontal above the
water surface . The open channel just northeast of
Sheridan Street has been designed with side slopes of 1
on 1 . The depth of water will vary from 2 to 3 ft .
when carrying the runoff to be expected firm the rainfall
of two -year frequency after development to the extent
assumed . Some of the typical earth ch Innels used as
the basis of our estimates are s own in Fir . 4 .
Portions of Channels to be Covered . Near the
northerly end of the olr1 race track , which is located
between the old Lexington reservoir. and Lincoln Street ,
the present brook bed of the North Branch of Vine Brook falls
about 8 ft . in a distance of about 800 ft . By making
use of this steep drop , a covered channel can be built
through the old race track location at an elevation
low enough to permit of the development of nearly all
the ar a within the race track with only a nominal
amount of filling . A shallow open channel could be built
through this location at a saving of about $15 , 000
but there would be about 6 acres on swamp which would be
unsuitable for residences unless filled extensively .
Therefore a covered channel is proposed for the North
Branch of Vine Brook upstream of the location of the steep
drop . This will be a circular conduit 42 and 48 in . in
diameter .
Along the main channel between Sherman Street and
Hayes Lane , the bed of the brook falls about 13 ft . in
about 700 ft . By making use of this steep drop ,
a relatively steep covered channel can be built from near
the southerly line of Massachusetts Avenue to near the
northerly terminus of the steep portion of the brook and
considerable economy effected by the construction of a
conduit of moderate size which will be suitable to carry
the flood flows of the area after development . This conduit
will be 75 in . in diameter .
Old Lexington Reservoir . In our preliminary studies
which have been discussed in considerable detail in
conferences with your Board , it was assumed that that
ccrtion of the area of the North Branch District tributary
to the old water works reservoir near Marrett Road wo>> ld
continue to remain so . Thus it wts permissible to
design the brook channel leading from the reservoir ,
of somewhi t smaller capacity than would be reouire d were
the reservoir not used. Such use of the reservoir would
probably result in muddy water much of the time , and a rather
rapid filling up of the bottom by the deposition oP material
brought in by the storm water . After cons iderint' this
matter , your Board directed us
to cesi ; gin the channels upon
the assumption that the storm flows would not discharge
into the reservoir . We have , therefo ^e , prepared our
designs and estimates herein upon the latter assumption .
This requ res somewhat larger sizes f - r both the open and
covered channels than were used in preparin the estimates
given in our letter of October 21 , 1927 .
Soundings . Many bar soundings have been made to determine
a location where it would be feasible to construct open
channels in firm ground . The locations together with the
data Indicating the material and depth are shown upon the
map accompanying thiwreport . The figures on the map indicate
the depth , etc ; for example , 151 indicates that a sounding
5 ft .
was made 15 ft . deep and material was soft at that depth .
Similarly Sd indicates sand, H indicates hard , R indicates
rock , etc . Where there are figures above and below the line ,
such as ( 205 . 5 ) the figure above the line indicates the elevation
( 6 ' Hd . )
of the surface of the ground and that below the line the depth
of the sounding .
The soundings indicate that there are considerable
292
areas where suitable hard bottom is at such a
depth that it will be expensive to build houses ,
streets , sewers and gas and water mains , as they would
require deep foundations . Such areas probably will
be sufficiently improved by the general lowering of
the ground water level so that with a moderate amount
of fillintr they may be used for park or playground
purposes . The development plan accompanying this report
indicates such areas .
Location of Channels . The proposed project
involves an open brook channel for the South Branch of
Vine Brook following near the easterly border of the
swamp from a point 700 to 800 ft . north of Marrett
Road to the ,junction with a proposed channel for the
North Branch . The channel of the North Branch will
be relocated following the easterly and southerly
shore of the swamp , thus div e cling the flow from the
present brook channel which is parallel to the Park
Road west of Waltham Street . This will rc_sult in a very
small flow in the present channel and it may become
advisable to provide a closed conduit in this location
to serve the needs of local drainage . From the junction
of the north and south branches an open channel will
extend northerly to a poitt near the so ztherly line of
Massachusetts Avenue ; thence the channel will be a covered
conduit to the end of the steep drop several hundred feet
north of Sherman Street with a relatively short open
channel to connect with the present brook channel . If
preferred, the covered conduit can be extended fram
Massachusetts Avenue to Vine Brook Road .
Profiles of the proposed north and south branch
channels and the main channel are shown in Figs . 5 and 6 ,
respectively .
Sete Pg . 404 ( Insert Fig . 3 , Preliminary Development Map ; Fig . 4 ,
Main Channel North of Sheridan St . , Fig . 5 ,
Proposed Relocated North Branch Channel of
Vine Brook ; Fig . 6 . Profile of Proposed South
Branch and Main Channels of Vine Brook . )
Areas Tributary to Channels . In Fig . 2 are
shown the approximate limits of the drainer e area the
existing streets and brook channels and those areas
which will require drainage before they can be developed .
The total area of the district tributary to the
main channel ( south of Massachusetts Avenue ) will be
about 984 acres . This area may be subdivided as follows :
Area tributary to proposed North 3ranch.
channel about 455 acres
Area tributary to proposed South Branch
channel about 240 acres
Area tributary to main channel between
the junction of the proposed North and
South Branches and Massachusetts Avenue
about 206 acres
Area tributary to main channel north of
Massachusetts . Avenue about 83 acres
The total area requiring drainage before development
is about 312 acres .
After the proposed plan shall have been completed
including roadways , there will he approximately 185 acres
of low land or at present inaccessible lands which will
become suitable for dwellings . There will remain
aboug 215 acres of low land unsuitable for dwellings
and all of this except the portion required for the
brook channels and highways will be reservations or
parks .
Fig . 3 is a preliminary development map showing
the general arrangment of the proposed brook channels ,
highways and parks and the existing aljacent streets .
ESTIMATES OF COST OF PROPOSED DRAINAGE PROJECT .
It is estimated that the construction of the
proposed main drainaf;e channels will cost about $185 , 000 .
The detailed estimates are appended to this report . A
summary is given in the following tabulation :
393
Summary of. Estimated Costs of Main Draina : e Channels
for Vine Brook .
North Branch $54 , 080
Allowance for rock - 10% 5 , 408
$59 , 488
Engineering & Contingencies , 201 11 , 897
Total S71 , 385 .
South Branch $11 , 405
Allowance for rock - 20% 2, 281
$13 , 686
Engineering & Contingencies , 20% 2 , 737
Total $16 , 423
Main Channel from Junction of North
and South Branches to Massachusetts
Avenue . $22 , 435
Allowance for rock - 10% 2 , 244
$24 , 679
Engineering & Contingencies ,
20% , 4 , 936
Total $29 , 615
Main Channel East of Massa -
chusetts Avenue $46 , 685
Allowance for rock - 20% 9 , 337
$56 , 022
Engineering & Contingencies ,
20%, 11 , 204
Total $670226
Grand Total . $184 , 649
The above estimates do not include allowances for
future road crossings of the open channels but do
include allowances for the crossings at Waltham Street
and Vine Brook Road .
The following unit prices have been used in
preparing these estimates of cost and are believed to
be sufficient to co ‘ er the cost of all work .
Clearing location , one - third of area $100 per acre
Excavation for open than ' els in-
cluding disposal of and spreading
on swamp and low ground 65 ¢ per cu . yd .
Loaming , grassing and seeding
channel slopes ( assuming loam on site 500 per sq . yd .
Excavation for arches at Waltham
Street and Vine Brook Road $2 . 50 per cu . yd.
Concrete in arches 30 . 00 per cu . yd .
The covered conduits have been estimated upon the
assumption that they will be constructed of pre - cast re -
inforced concrete pipe . The unit prices for different sections
of these conduits will be found in the detailed estimates .
PROPOSED THROU ^H HIGHWAYS
In order to make accessible those areas which will
became available through drainage and to provide connecting
links through the district with existing and contemplated
trunk highways , it will be necessary to construct about 42
miles of thrauc:h highways .
Such highways are indicated on Fig. 7 . This arrange -
ment will provide a hieThway from Massachusetts Avenue
near Grant Street to Marrett Road at a location where it will
be feasible in the future to extend it southerly to the Beaver
Brock Parkway . A connecting link will be provided from
Massachusetts Avenue near its junction with Lincoln Street
cq4 00
Os
to the above mentioned location at Marrett Road .
The point where the through highway will meet
Massachusetts Avenue is such that it may be extended
in the future to Bedford Street some distance north
of Lexington Green . A through highway is provided from
a po -i :A a short distance southwest of Vine Brook Road ;
thence westerly parallel with the existing North
Branch of Vine Brook to Muzzey Street ; thence southwesterly
along Muzzey Street if extended, to a proposed double
barreled highway along the proposed relocated North
Branch open chann el ; thence northwesterly and south-
westerly curving throu : h proposed park lands and
westerly throu -rh lands proposed to he developed as
residences and now occupied by the old race track
to Marrett Road .
It is estimated that about 4 miles of these
through hi P,hways will be constructed upon firm ground
and about a mile across soft ground . We have made
estimates of cost of the construction work required to
provide roadways 24 ft . wide with . ravelled surfaces .
A minimum of about 4 culvert eros s in :s of the proposed
open brook channels will be required by the construction
of the throu .:rh highways . We have estimated that these
culverts will be of the flat arch masonry type .
The estimates cost of the throupth hi . rhways
are as follows :
4 miles of hi rhw Sys in firm ;-:round at $ 34 , 000 S136 , 000
2 mile higiway in soft ground at 96 , 000 48 , 000
Contingencies and engineering - 15% 28 , 000
Total cost of throu �'h hi;rhways ,
exclusive of cilverts , land & pavement . $212 , 000
4 arch culverts at 86 , 000 $24 , 000
Contingencies & engineering - 20% ___54000 29 , 000
Total cost of throufm highways excluding
land and pavement . $241 , 000 .
If a bituminous macadam pavement is provided for
the throuh highways , it is estimated that the
additional cost would be about $ 163, 000 . Such pave -
ments for the throui7h highways can probably be post -
poned for some years and their cost need not be in-
cluded in the present program of assessments .
In the event that the throu :h highwa between
Massachusetts Avenue near Grant Street and Mar2ett
Road is extended to the Lexin - ton - Belmont line , its cost ,
exclusive of land and ' avement , will Le about ($110 , 000 .
Such an extension obviously is not a part of the
proposed improvement of the Vine Brook district .
The following unit prices have been used in the
estimates of cost of through highways :
Excavation for roadway in firm ground 50j per cu . yd .
Excavation for ro _ic3way in soft ground 65 $' per cu . yd .
Gravel fill for roadways hailed from
open charnel excavations 25 $' per cu . yd .
Rolling road surfaces $2 . 00 per lin . ft .
Bituminous madadam pavement . . 2per
2 5 sq . yd .
See Pg . 404 ( Insert Fig . 7 . Proposed Through Highways )
VINE BROOK BETTERMENTS .
The improvement of the Vine Brook district eon-
templated by your Board will probably be carried out
under authority of Chanter 263 of the Acts of 1926 .
Section 4 of this act states that -:assessments for
the improvement shall be made acc nrdin -r; to Chapter 30
of the General Laws . Under Chapter 30 , assessments may
be made by either frontage or area , or both , but no
assessment an exceed the amount o f the benefit ; thus
the problem is to ap oortion the assessments in ac -
cordance with the benefit to each individual parcel of
land .
Drain, age Benefits The entire area within the
drainagelimit , as shown on the
map , develop-
ment
p , will receive a certain amount of benefit
fran the construction of the main drainage channels
3 9 5
and ccn_ duits . The character of the benefit differs
materially for areas in different locations . These
areas may be sub-divided into several classes , as
follows :
Class 1 areas which will receive cam I ete benefit
from the construotion of the main drainage channels and
conduits . This class consists of such areas as are
located adjacent to the cc'hanne1s or conduits with
their ground surfaces at such elevation that they will
not be subject to inconvenience from occasional flooding ,
and because of their elevation and proximity to the
main drains , will not rev ire systems of lateral drains .
Class 2 areas which will have nearly complete
benefit from the constriction of main drainage channels
and conduits . Thi. s class consists of areas located
adjacent to the channels and conduits , so that they will
not require systems of lateral drains , but with their
surface elevation such that the streets will be
s .ib j ect to occasional flo ding and probably some
inconvenience will be experienced from water entering
cellars .
Class 3 areas which will have partial benefit ,
consisting of areas located one half block or more
away frum the main drainage channels and conduits , thus
requiring systems o f lateral drainage , and with their
surface elevations such that they will be subject to
occasional flooding of streets and the possibility
of water entering cellars , but to a less extent than in
the case of Class 2 areas .
Class 4 areas which will have partial benefit ,
• consisting of those areas which will require or are
now provided with lateral draina :e systems , but will
not : e subject to any material inconvenience from floodi n ; .
Class 1 areas consist of small , widely separated
sections , but for the most part adjacent to areas in
Classes 2 and 3 . While Class 1 areas will not be
subject to flooding , because of the proximity to
areas of Classes 2 and 3 and the inconvenience caused
by flooding of neighboring highways , the increase
in market value of lots in Class 1 areas will probably
be no ,treater than in the case of Classes 2 and 3 .
We have included in Class 1 certain areas which
are adjacent to the existing open brook channel east
of Massachusetts Avenue , where , under present conditions ,
little , if any , floodin r is experien ed , but incon -
venience results from the maintenance of foot and driveway
bridges across the brook channel to private yards . In
this location , it is proposed to construct a closed
conduit which will permit the abandonment of bridles and
the utilization , for yard and driveway purposes , of the
areas now occupied by the brook channel .
Class 2 areas being adjacent to the main channels
will not require lateral drains , but the frequency and
duration of flood periods will he greater than will be
experienced by Class 3 areas , which will reuire
lateral drainage .
Class 4 arras will be the most desirable for
residences becaase of elevation and general freedom
from flooding . Also , a considerable proportion , say 25%
or more , can be developed with streets and houses before
lateral and main drainage systems are required , whereas
scarcely any development can 1) e made of Class 3 areas
before the installation of lateral and main drainage systems .
Probably the highest class of development within the
district will take place in the Class 4 areas . In view
of certain developments within the town of Lexington, and
one which has already taken place within the Vine Brook
district ( Highland Avenue ) , lateral drainage in the form
of underground conduits to convey storm water from
street surfaces , sidewalks and yards , and to prevent
flooding of cellars and small (? epressions , will eventually
' .e required for the Class 4 areas .
The development of the district with paved streets ,
graded lots , and houses will result in a larger proportion
of the rainfall running off and a lerjs er pro 'portion entering
roe e soit and being absorbed or evaporated than in the
case at pres nt . After such development , it is likely
CD
that there will be found small depress ions which
woild be subject to periodic flooding in the absence
of lateral draina ; e . The development of the area
into streets and blocks , and the subsequent layout
and donstr .xction of lateral drainage systems will
in many cases chant, e the limits of the sub- drainage areas
and the locations of the points of discharge from
those limits and locations fixed by nature .
Legally, areas high in elevation may have the
right to discharge storm water on to lower lying areas
as long as the oath of the water is not changed from
its natural course , and the owners of such land may
have a legal right to do anything to their land
whether or not it increases the amount or rate of runoff .
It is practically impossible , however , to lay out
streets with suitable surfaces , gutters and sidewalks , mike
suitable street intersections and grade house lots ,
so that they meet the needs of tenants , without
changing the limits of areas tributary to natural water
courses or ch • i.nging the locations of the water courses .
The development of the hi. h lands may result
in three or more times the rate of discharge and
amount of water which would be discharged from these
lands under natural conditions . Such development
of the high lands as well as of the low lands regaires more
costly brook channels and conduits .
Considering the actual benefits without regard
to legal rights , insdfar as main drainage channels and
conduits are concerned , we think all areas -Within the
drainage limit should share proportionately in the cost .
The required capacity of such channels and conduits
is directly proportional to the area served , dis -
regarding minor variations in local co = nditions such
as character of soil , steepness of slope , etc , ;
thus , 3 acres of high land require about 1 cu . ft . per
second of capacity in the main channels and conduits ,
which is the provision made for 3 acres of log land .
The total draina
397
It is largely a matter of judgment ato
s/ the
proportions of benefits received by the throe clams .
Without going into en elaborate stugy to determine
the benefit according to a progress ion for each 100
ft . zone , or p ' chaps less , we think it is reasonable
to fix the average ratios of betterment between
the three classes as follows : Average Benefit Ratio Area Acnes
Class 1 ( adjacent areas ) 3 66 . 5
Class 2 ( 1 , 1: 00 ft . zone ) 2
Class 3 ( 2 , 000 ft . zone ) 1 53 . 4
553 .
Multiplying each area by its correspondin average
benefit ratio , the total cost of park drainage is to
be divided into 1491 . 3 units . The estimated amount
of the drainage cost attributable to the nark areas ,
$22 , 500 , divided by 1491 . 3 ;rives $15 . 10 as the
average amount of one unit of assessment . This
amount is the aver are assessment per acre for Class3
areas , twice this amount or ' 30 . 20 is the average
assessment for Class 2 areas and three times 515 . 10
or $45 . 30 is the average assessment per acre for
Class 1 arras . These averare assessments reduced
to the sq . ft . basis are as follows :
Class 1 areas $0 . 001040
Class 2 areas 0 . 000693
Class 3 areas 0 . 000347
( Insert Table 2 Computations for Drains or Combined See Pg . 404
Sewers )
Through Highway Benefits . The benefits which will
be derived from the construction of through highways in
the Vine Brook District will differ widely . The areas
within the district may be sub- divided into three
general classes , as follows :
Class 1 - areaa which will receive complete
benefit consisting of lands abutting on the
through highways and not now accessible from
present hiiways .
Class 2 - areas which will receive nearly complete
benefit , consisting of areas made accessible by
the through highways , but which will require sub-
division roads .
Class 3 - areas which will receive only partial
benefit , consisting of those aneas which are now
or can be made accessible frau existing roads and
may or may not require sub - division roads , but
mill be made more easily accessible by the conte
s t ruc ti on of the through highways .
It is very difficult to fix upon equitable
definite ratios for the benefits frau through highways .
It is very evident that Classes 1 and 2 receive a
Very substantial benefit . Likewise , it is evident
that areas outside of these classes receive some
benefit from the construction of the throe'h hi -;hways .
The Town as a whole also will receive a corisi ijerable
benefit from these hi -thways . It is our judgment that
the average benefit ratios of the three classes should
be about as follows :
Class 1 - areas abutting Average Benefit Ratio Area Acres
on through highways . 10 69 .
Class 2 - araas made accessible
by. through Highways 7
Class 3 - areaseasily
made more46 . 9
accessible by thro Lgh highways 3 247 .
It is doss ible that the benefit should he extended to
a larger area , but it seems to us that for the purpose
of this roport , it will be satisfactory to assume that
the additional benefits outside of the for r e classes
described above will be borne by the Town . It is our
judgment that the Town ' s share of the cost of through
highways should be about 20% .
The estimated cost of construction of through
highway gravelled roads is $241 , 000 . The Town ' s
share of this cost ( 20% ) would be $48 , 200 , leaving
$192 , 800 to be assessed upon Classes 1 , 2 , and 3 .
393tee.
.17.)
-�
a
Multiplying the areas of the individual classes
by the con espondinc average benefit ratio gives
1 , 759 . 3 assessment units . Dividing the 4192 , 800
800
by 1 , 759 . 3 rives $109 . 50 as the amount of one
assessment unit . Class 1 areas would be assessed 10
units per acre or 31 . 095 . Class 2 areas would be
assessed. 7 units per acre of $766 . 50 . Class 3
areas would be assessed 3 units per acre or $328 . 50 .
These assessments reduced to the sq . rt . bnsis are
as follows :
Class 1 areas 1;0 . 02513
Class 2 areas 0 . 01760
Class 3 areas 0 . 00754
The maximum assessment on any single p .. reel of
land for draina : :e , parks and through highways wo ild
he $0 . 03137 per sq . ft . This assessment wog .lcl apply
only on those relatively small areas abutting on
the proposed throuc h h i ;hway s .
The mans , Figs . 8 , 9 and 10 , show the different
classes of areas for each benefit as outlined above .
_ •
. In order to determine what the approximate
assessment per square foot would be on any given
piece of land within the district , it is only necessary
to consult the individual maps and ddd the proposed
assessments for the area under consideration .
Obviously , the assessments must be levied on
the bases of the actual cost . Before any asses :-ments are
levied , it will be necessary to make accurate surveys
to determine the limits of the drainage area and
of the different classes ' f areas beiefitted .
The Town will have to acquire the lands to be
used for brook than , els , streets and public parks .
No allowances have been male in the estimates of
cost for the purchase nf such lands . It seems
reasonable to expect that for the most part these
lands will be donated to the Town . Any lands which
do not became the . property of the Town for Dark
purposes , highways or brook channels should be
assessed their proportionate shares for the benefits .
Respectfully submitted
ed
METCALF & EDDY
JTNR : CH . By Almon L . Pales .
See Pg . 404 ( Insert . fig . Drainage Benefit Map )
( Insert , fig . 9 . Park Benefit Map )
( Insert , fig . 10 . Through Highway Benefit Eap )
Estimate of Construction Cost of North Branch Channel .
W . end track to E . end track
1300 ft . of 48 in . pipe at $12 . 40 $16 , 100
1 - 7 . 5 M . H . 100
E . end track to S . end swamp
500 ft . of 42 in . pipe at $14 . 80 7 , 400
1 - 10 . 5 ' M . H . 130
450 ft . of 48 in . Pipe at $12 . 10 5 , 440
1 - 9 / M . H . 115 .
Sta . 43 + 0 to 41 + 0
200 ft . open channel 697 cu . yd . excavation
at $0 . 65 450
471 sq . yd slopes
at 0 . 50 235
Sta . 411- 0 to 30 4- 50
1050 ft . open channel 8 , 880 cu . yd . excavation
at $0 . 65 5 , 725
399
3 , 720 sq . yd . slopes at :30 . 50 $1 , 860
Sta . 30 + 50 to 17 + 0
1350 ft . open than ; el 7 , 285 cu . yd .
excavation at 10 . 65 4 , 740
3 , 600 sq . yd slopes at p0 . 50 1 , 800
Sta . 17 -+' 0 to 7 -t- 40
960 ft . oven channel 3, 090 cu . yd
excavation at 10/65 2 , 010
1 , 920 sq . yd . slopes at $0 . 50 960
Sta . 71- 40 to 64- 80
60 f t . Waltham 7, t . culvert
560 ca . yd excavation at $2 . 50 1 , 400
111 ct . yd . concrete at 30 . 00 3 , 330
Paving invert 60 ' at $5 . 00 per lin . ft . ' 300
Sta . 61- 80 to 2 .11-50
430 ft . open channel 1 , 300 cu . yd ,
excavation at $0 . 65 845
836 sq . yd slopes at . 0 . 50 420
420
Sta . 21- 50 to 0i- 0
250 ft . oen chan-Iel 572 cu . yd . excavation
at $0 . 65 372
417 s q . yd . slopes at 30 . 50 208
Clearing 1 . 4 acres at 100 per acre 140
$54 , 080
Estimate of Construction Cost of South Branch
Channel
Middle St . to
Sta . 48 + 00
700 ft . of 21 in . pipe ay . c .t 3 . 0 at $4 . 20 $2 , 940
Sta . 481- 0to 401- 80
720 ft . of open channel
1 , 680 cu . yd . excavati n at $0 . 65 1 090
1 , 250 s : . yd slopes at $0 . 50 '
625
Sta . 40 * 80 to 30 + 50
1030 ft . of open channel
3 , 030 cu . yd excavat i .-n at $0 . 65 1970
1 , 820 sq . yd slopes at $0 . 50 '
910
Sta . 30 -1-- 50 to 22 ± 80
770 ft . open channel
2 , 845 cu . yd excavation at $0 . 65 1 850
1 , 575 sq . yd slopes at $0 . 50 '
790
Sta . 22 -+- 80 to 20 + 80
200 ft . open channel
417 cu . yd excavation at 30 . 65 270
358 s q . yd slopes at $0 . 50 180
Clearing 7 . 8 acres at 3100 780
$11 , 405
Estimate of Construction Cost of Main Channel
Sta . 20 -*-80 to 71- 00
1380 ft . open channel
7 , 725 cu . yd excavati <m at $0 . 655 020
2 , 990 sq . yd slopes at $0 . 50 $ ,
1 , 495
Sta 7 + 0 to 01-- 0
700 ft . open chan : el
4 , 760 cu . yd excavation at $0 . 65 3 , 100
1 , 663 sq . yd slopes at $0 . 50 830
400
O
Sta . 0 -r0 to S . L . Massachusetts Avenue
( 60 lin_ . ft .. for culvert not included )
490 ft . open channel
5 , 440 cu . yd excavation at 80 . 65 $3 , 540
1 , 510 sq . yd slopes at 30 . 50 755
Vine Brook Road culvert
60 ft . long
765 cu . yd excavation at 2 . 50 1 , 910
183 c,t . yd . concrete at 30 . 00 5 , 485
Paving invert 601 at 5 . 00 per lin. ft . 300
S . L . Massach i.s et t. s Aven ze to Headwall
1270 ft . of 75 in . pipe ay . cut 13 . 5 ft .
at $35 . 40 44 , 850
Headwall - 330 ft . open channel
822 cu . yd excavation at $0 . 65 535
430 sq . yd slopes at 1,0 . 50 215
- to Hayes Lane
400 ft . open channel
1 , 330 cu . yd excavation at 10 . 65 865
300 sq . yr? . slopes at 0 . 50 150
Clearing 0 . 7 acre at 1100 per acre 70
$ 69 , 120
April 9 , 1930
Town Planning Board
Lexington , Mass .
Attention : Mr . F . L . Emery, Chairman
Gentlemen :
On April 2 , Mr . Raymond , in cam puny with Mr.
Cosgrove , examined the channel of Vire Brook in Lexington
downstream from Sheridan Street to ascertain the extent
to which flooding conditions would be aggravated
as a result of the construction of the
proposed
Brook conduit between Hayes Lane and Vine Brook Road .
There has been periodic flooding of low lands
along the brook between Hayes Lane and East Street
due to the sl i T.ht fall , the small size of the brook
channel and the limited capacity of the East Str et
culvert .
No appreciable damage results from flooding under
present conditions as the land subject to flooding is
unimproved .
Flooding as a result of the proposed construction
would not be measurably increased and would at worst
be a matter of only a few inches in height greater
and a few hours longer duration .
Probably any increase can he compensated for by
substituting two Calvert pipes about 5 ft . in size
beneath East Street in place of the present stone culvert
and keeping the brook channel free from bushes and debris
by annual clearing .
Very truly yours ,
METCALF & EDDY
By Almon L . Fales
401
•
..
April 15 , 1930
Town Planning Board
Lexington , Mass .
Attention : Mr . F . L . Emery , Chairman
Gentlemen :
Regarding flooding along lower Vine Brook
c1ownstre . tm from Sheridan Street as a result of the
cons trzc tion of the propos ed conduit between Hayes
Lane and Vine Brook Road and the channels for the
main brook and the South Branch we are of the
opinion that the increase in flooding will be very
slight .
Construction of the main channel south of Vine
Brook Road and the South Branch channel will not
measurably increase the flood runoff and conditions
on lower Vine Brook will be as stated in our letter
of April 9 , 1930 , to wit :
Flooding as a result of the construction o :f the
proposed main brook conduit andopen channel and
the South Branch channel will not be measurably
increased , at worst being a matter of a few inches
greater height and a few hours longer' duration .
Such increase can be compensated for by
install ing two culvert pipes about 5 ft . in size
beneath East Street in place of the present culvert
and by keeping the brook channel free from bushes
and debris by annual clea:^ing .
Very truly yours ,
METCALF & EDDY,
By Almon L . Fales .
It was then voted that article 3 be laid upon
the table .
Art . 7 . Under this article Dr . Clarence Shannon o 'f erod
the following motion :
"Voted : That the sum of $ 650 be appropriated
and assessed to cover the expense of printing and
publishing the report of Vine Brook drainage and
the Engineering services obtained in connection
therewith " .
Mr . Albert H . Burnham stated that he understood
the cost of the Engineering services would come out
of the Engineering Department and offered a motion
to amend this motion , substituting the sum of $300 .
for the sum of 8650 . The meeting voted to pass the
amendment of Mr . Burnham , substituting the sum of
$300 for $650 . so that the motion passed read as
follows :
" Voted : That the sum of $300 be a Tipropriated
and assessed to cover the expense of printing and
publishing the report of Vine Brook drainage . "
Art . 3 , 4 and 5 . On motion of Mr . Theodore A .
Custance it was voted to take up articles 3, 4 , an" 5 .
Mr . Albert H . Burnham having made a minority report ,
Mr . Fred H . Moulton asked to hear fr m him to get
his ideas on the subject of Vine Brook drainage .
Mr . Burnham stated that he did not want to oppose
the project with the idea of defeating it , but he did
402
Cl
not feel that sufficient study had been given to - '
this project to warrant the Town makinre an expenditure
of money until they are certain that this closed drain
would drain the land , and he also felt that unless
laterals were constructed , the water could not ~ et
out of the land into the culvert , and in Metcalf &
Eddy ' s report , they did not provide for laterals .
Mr . Burnham also stated that as he figured it the
betterments to be paid by Mr . Ryder would amount to
822 , 454 . He also felt that when the spring freshets
come , he did not believe that this uipe would readily
take all the water .
Mr . Fred H . Moulton made remarks regarding the
cost to the Town and suggested that the Town might
start at East Street et and do a certain portion of the
brook each year , and eventually the project would be
completed .
Remarks were also made by Messrs . William Roger
Greeley , Elwyn G . Preston , Harold Lamont , Allen
Chamberlain , William J . Marshall , Eugene G . Kraetzer ,
George E . Foster , Edgar F . Scheibe and Robert H . Eldride .
Mr . Edward W . Taylor surges to d that the rate
of betterment of one half a cent per foot might be
increased to a cent a foot .
Mr . Robert L . Ryder stated that his brother
owns the property in question where the Vine Brook
drainage was to be extended, and paid taxes on it for
the past seven or eight years . They have on this
property sixty- two lots of land on Winthrop Road
extension , andthey have put restrictions on the to 1-.s
for the ' 5enefi_ t of the property owners , and have
agreed to refund their money if the restrictions are
not carried out . They have built a road and taken out
five or six feet more of earth that the Town Engineer
required , and they have ma ' e a thirty -two foot set
back when only a twenty foot set back is required by
the Town . They al =; o have one hundred and three acres
in this territory to develop and when developed in
the fashion that they propose , it will be one of the
finest developments th & t the Town has ever had and
the Town will receive the return in taxation . It
depended upon the town , however , to help make this kind of
a development by draining the land .
Dr . James J . Walsh asked whether or not Mr . Ryder
would be willing to place the restrictions on the ?--hole
area and whether or not he has placed the plan on file
at the Registry .
Mr . Ryder stated that he had placed the plan on
file with the Planning Board and the Board of Survey
had already approved the plan of Winthrop Road
extension , and wouldprobably approve the whole plan at
a later date , but have approved the plan generally .
He did not propose to put it on file at the Resist ry
of Deeds until the plan was approved .
A rising vote was taken on the motions orfered under
articles , 3 , 4 , and 5 , by Mr. Theodore A . Custance , which
read Ps follows :
4Q3
Art . 3 . Voted : That the Board of Jelectmen be and they
hereby are authorizedand directed to proceed. under
Statute 1926 , Chapter 263 , for the purpose of surface
drainage , to construct a culvert for Vine Brook from
about Vine Brook Road to about Sheridan Street ,
approximately in accordance with the report of Metcalf
& Eddy , Civil Engineers , dated September 29 , 1928 and
to deepen , widen , relocate and clear of obstructions
Vine Brook in the area between Vine lirook Road , '?laltham
Street and I\Iarrett Road with any necessary culverts
approximately in accordance with said report and to construct
such lateral ditches in said area , if any , as they may
deem advisable , and to make necessary takings therefor
by eminent domain and in their order for such improvement
to state that betterments are to be assessed therefor .
Further Voted : That for the purpose of paying for
the imbrovement authorized under the preceding vote the
sum of ninety thousand ( $90 , 000 ) doa. lara be raised and
appropriated of which twenty thousand. ( S20 , 000 ) dollars
shall be assessed and to meet the remainder of said
appropriation the Treasurer with the approval of the
electmen be andhe hereby is authorized to borrow not
exceeding seventy thousand ( $70 , 000 ) dollars under the
authority of and in accordance with the provisions of
General Laws , Chapter 44 , section 7 and acts in
amendment thereof and in addition thereto , and to issue
bonds or notes of the town therefor payable in not more
than thirty years from the date of issue or at such
earlier date as the Treasurer and Selectmen may determine .
Art . 4 . Voted : That the sum of $2500 be appropriated and
assessed for deepening , widening , relocating and clearing
of obstructions Vine Brook below Sheridan Street , including
the alteration and reconstruction of the present culvert
for the said brook under East Street .
Art . 5 . Voted : That the Board of Selectmen be authorized
to construct a sewer in Winthrop Road extension from the
present end of Winthrop Road to Waltham Street , a distance
of approximately 1 , 450 feet ; also from a point in Winthrop
Xoadextension near the present south branch of Vine Brook
across private lands to Vine Brook Road , a distance of
wnirtzteigsS9iRgki 4}8R ox apE°O �� & 8sssstoe rai� roa • 'from to rairo�aa across
P
privatd lands to Sherman Street ; from Sherman Street across
private lands to Sheridan Street ; thence along Sheridan
L> treet to a point in Grant Street ; the total distance from
Vine Brook Road to Grant Street , as above described , beim;
approximately 2 , 000 feet and that bonds or notes be issued
in the sum of $10 , 000 . in accordance with the law .
Seventy- six voted in the affirmative and eighty - seven
in the negative . The motions were declared lost .
The meeting adjourned at 10 : 57 P . M . to June 9 , 1930
at 8 P . M .
A true record , Attest :
• ,
Town Clerk .
404CD
Pg . 390 . Fig . 2.
g g "Map of Vine Brook Drainage District ,
Scale 800 ft . to 1 in . ( approx . ) Nov. 15 , 1927 , Revised
Sept . 26 , 1928 , Metcalf & Eddy , Engineers , Boston , Mass . "
Pg . 392 . Fig . 3 . " Preliminary Development Map , Scale in feet
( approx . ) + August 9 , 1928 . Revised
000 2000
Sept . 25 , 1928 . Metcalf & Eddy , Engineers , Boston , Mass . "
Pg . 392 . Fig . 4. "Main Charnel North of Sherican St . ,
Lexington , Mass . Vine Brook District . Typical Sections of
Open Channels , Scale 5 ft . to 1 in . August 3 , 1928 , Metcalf
& Eddy , Engineers , Boston, Mass . "
Pg . 392 . Fig . 5 . " Profile of Proposed Relocated North
Branch Charnel of Vine Brook , Scales - Hor . 200 ft . to 1 in .
Vert . 5 ft . to 1 in . , July 1928 . Metcalf & Eddy , Engineers ,
Boston , Mass . "
Pg . 392 . Fig . 6 . " Profile of Proposed South Branch and
Main Channels of Vine Brook . Scales Hor . 200 ft . to 1 in .
Vert . 5 ft . to 1 in . July , 1928 , Revised Sept . 28 , 1928 .
Metcalf & Eddy , Engineers , Boston , Mass . "
Pg . 394 . Fig . 7 . " Proposed Through Highways , Scale in
feet ( approx . ) , September 1928 Metcalf &
0 1006 2000
Eddy , Engineers , Boston, Mass . "
Pg . 397 . Table 2 . " Computations for Drains or Combined
Sewers , March 21 , 1927 revised September 25 , 1928 , Metcalf &
Eddy , Consulting Engineers , Boston, Mass . "
Pg . 398 . Fig . 8 . " Drainage Benefit Map , Scale in feet
( appy . ) Sept , 1928 , Metcalf & Eddy ,
000 2000
Engineers , Bostoffi, Mass . "
Pg . 398 . Fig . 9 . " Park Benefit Map , Scale in feet ( approx . )
0 1000 2000 Sener
Sent . 1928 , Metcalf & Eddy , Engines ,
Boston , Mass . "
Pg . 398 . Fig. 10 . "Through Highway Benefit Map , Scale
September 1928 , Metcalf & Eddy , Engineers ,
6 1000 2000
Boston, Mass . "