USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1901 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
All the foregoing descriptions are intended to conform to plans drawn by W. Dab .ey Hunter, Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works, hereto attached and made a part of this order; reserving, however, to the owner or owners of the different parcels of which said land forms a part, their heirs and assigns, the right to pass and repass on foot and with teams over the above described lands, and all other rights not inconsistent with the laying, making, maintaining and repair of any main or mains or pipes or other necessary appliance of said City of Melrose now or hereafter laid in said lands hereby taken.
Acting on the foregoing order a new ditch was dug from the end of the pipe just east of Dell avenue to Ell Pond brook, which has proved sufficient to care for the drainage of this territory.
Linden Street Drain.
The old culvert across Green street just north of Linden street was taken up and replaced by a 30 inch brick and concrete conduit and extended west throngh private land of Dr. J. S. Clark, and south through Green street to Linden street, and east through Linden street to Bellevue avenue. The brook running through the land of C. O. Stickney was taken into this drain and to catch the sand a large sump constructed at their junction. This drain is designed to care for the surface water which at present flows in the stream running from First street across Upham street through land of N. P. Jones, across Porter and Linden streets and
226
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
just east of Batchelder street, again crossing Linden street to Green street, thence across Main street to Sucker Brook. The total area of this shed is 118 acres; the area tributary at Green street is 87 acres, which by the formula used yields 30 cubic feet per second. The capacity of the drain as con- structed is 38.5 cubic feet per second.
The estimated cost of the drain was $4.24 per linear foot; its actual cost was $4.44 per linear foot, the increase is due to two reasons, first, during the progress of the work we were unfortunate in having a very severe rain storm, second, the gravel excavated in this street was of excellent quality and was used on the highways, the laborers employed on the drain being used to fill carts, and no credit given for either gravel or labor.
Russell and Adams Streets.
The junction of Russell and Adams streets is the lowest place in Russell street, and a portion of Adams street also drains to this point. A number of years ago the Board of Selectmen obtained of James Axtord a written permission to lay a drain across his lot to the brook just north of Wash- ington street and south of Russell street. This pipe was laid and 2 catch-basins built at the junction of Adams and Russell streets, which I understand worked satisfactorily for several years. In 1900 complaint was received that this drain was stopped up and that at every rain or heavy show- er these two streets at their junction were flooded, the water at times being 18 inches to 2 feet deep. Workmen were sent to clear the obstruction in the drain but were warned by Mr. Axford not to trespass upon this land and he also served formal notice at the office to that effect. The matter was submitted to the City Solicitor, Mr. Washburn, who gave as his opinion that the permission given by Mr. Axford did not give to the city the right to enter upon his premises at this time ; therefore nothing could be done with the old drain, and owing to the lack of funds the new drain could not be built through the street to Spot Pond brook, conse- quently the abutters and residents had to suffer.
When the appropriation for drains was passed, this was
Shed
Line
Water
Green
Farwell Ave.
Maskell St.
St.
-
St
12 0
St.
Haverhill
St.
Brook
-20 ------
Avor St.
Main
Circular brick
30" Linden
Ave.A
St.
-O
---
-21
Scale in feet.
100
O
100
200
300
400
500
Linden St. Drain
Drains Constructed
Shown thus
Proposed future extensions. " 11
PLATE XV.
Holbrook C't.
St.
O
W. Linden St.
St
Green
----- Short
Elm
St.
Bellevue
--------- 0
True North
Concrete culvert built in 1900
Howard
_
PLATE XVI. 30 inch brick drain in Green Street on curve, radius 15 feet.
٠ ١٠
PLATE XVII. Linden Street drain, 30 inch brick. Showing brick lining to concrete invert.
PLATE XVIII. Linden Street drain, 30 inch brick. Showing concrete invert.
St.
Ave.
St.
Chester·
-
St.
1
Adams
Florence
Lynde
...
St.
---
15
Russell
15 -0
line
Beach St.
Washington
Trenton
12"
Ave.
bra pipe drain
True North
24x4
Scale in feet
100
0
100
200
300
400
500
-
Russell St. & Washington St. Drain
Drains Constructed
Shown thus:
Proposed Future Extension . 0
PLATE XIX
Spot Pond Brook
12
-
Watershed.
St.
Brook
Baldwin
227
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
considered one of the places desirable to remedy, as the cost was small, the benefits great, and the drain would be complete in itself. This drain was laid from Spot Pond brook through Trenton and Russell streets to Adams street, consisting of 524 feet of 15 inch drain and 26 feet of 12 inch drain, with three manholes and three catch-basins.
Miscellaneous Work.
In addition to the foregoing, catch-basins ·were con- structed at several places and connected temporarily with existing drains as follows :
Winthrop street, Wyoming avenue,.
I Upham street, . I
2
DETAIL BY STREETS OF WORK DONE, TOGETHER WITH ITS COST.
STREETS.
PIPE.
Brick and
Concrete
cu yds Masonry .
Sets.
Brick
Brick
Masonry.
cu. yds.
Portland.
Rosendale.
bbls.
Earth.
Rock.
Material.
Total.
Size, inches ..
4
5
6
8
10
12
15
16
18
20
24 Y's
2
2
5.46
8
3
42
$49.00
$133.54
$182.54
Bellevue avenue.
40
23
2
2
6.00
8
2
46
53.87
147.35
201.22
Botolph street ...
6
20
68
1
2.79
1.66
2
2
43 12
104.15
116.97
221.12
B. & M. R. R. (at Cedar park). ..
62
22 *284
91
2
3
8.88
2.82
12
217 . .
332.49
745.23
1,077.72
Essex street . .. ...
140
2
2
2.40
5
. . .
80 ..
143.00
157.99
300.99
Green street (at brook )
26
32
20 . .
2
136
37
8.74
4
5.46
45
21
198
392.82
519.69
912.51
Grove street ...
38
68
26
1
4 11.38
2
3.77
19
7
83
146.92
324.48
471.40
Gooch street ....
10 4
4 . .
14
306
1
2
2 5.83
1.65
9
4
5
299.05
395.41
694.46
Laurel street ....
30
46
8
196
640
3
3
4 11.33
7 42|
23
11
944
5
797.94
979.86
1,777.80
Lebanon street ..
28
40
34
6|240
82
3
14
2 5.86
7.98
15
8
245| . .
285.02
392.88
677.90
Linden street ...
.
. .
. .
1
1.18
65
60
420
684.66
478.00
1,162.66
Right of Way off Lebanon street
.
.
.
137
34 ;.
·
·
O
67
248
300.20
251.25
551.45
Russell street ...
22
356
6
1
2.73
2
2.88
12
1
246
152.77
324.65
477.42
Trenton street . . .
168
1
1.86
4
...
113 . .
64.50
119.57
184.07
Upham street at
Dell avenue .. .
12
4
1
3.02
4
12 ..
27.38
62.64
90.02
Vinton street at
Cedar park .. ..
46
10
1
1 3.02
4
1
28 ..
40.70
69.77
110.47
West Hill avenue-
.
.
70
. 354
01
4 9.86
2
2.43
15
13
203 25
386.79
442.07
933.01
.
...
. .
. . .
.
. .
...
2 7.40
4
2
20 ..
43.63
123.29
166.92
28
26
...
.
..
.
.
.
. .
·
.
.
...
.
...
. . .
. .
. .
. .
240.39
240.39
. .
.
. .
·
. .
·
. .
. . .
· .
·
. . .
. .
.
.
245
80
. .
·
22
119
111.70
279.31
391.01
Cedar park .
. .
26
·
26
. .
.
·
. .
*120
2
24
·
. .
2
. .
..
. .
.
.
. .
..
·
..
...
. .
.
.
. .
.
1
25|
36.00
81.64
117.64
...
·
. .
...
....
1
1| 3.02
5
.
.
.
..
Totals ..
28 108 4 474 6 752 693 *284 196 1341 82 53 26 518 151 33 95.32 26 41.51 266 227 4,108 47 $4,692.98 $6,145.59 $10,838.57
* Iron.
30" Conduit
Catch Basins.
Man Holes.
Cement
Exca- vation. cu. yds.
Cost.
lin. ft.
Masonry. cu. yds.
Frame &cov
Labor.
Bends
.
3
1
4
4
.
·
.
16
.. .
.
2
Winthrop street . Wyoming avenue Dell avenue ....
..
. .
450
-
Adams street .. ..
1
2
·
326
bbls.
IMPROVED SURFACE DRAINAGE CONSTRUCTED TO JANUARY 31, 1902.
LOCATION.
Size in inches.
Length
in feet.
Material.
No. of
Date Built
MHCB
Adams street north from Russell street
12
30 Akron pipe 66
2 1901
Bellevue avenue south from Linden street ..
15
27
2
1 1900
18
62 Akron pipe.
1
4 1901
15
68
44 con'r't culvert
1
2
60
60x38
20
117!Akron pipe. . .
66 120 Cast iron pipe 66 66
2
3
Essex street north from Vine street
20
144 66
136 Br'k & cement
3
4
66
..
66
66
12
36 66
. .
66
.6
at Lebanon and Gooch streets
15
30
Akron pipe
66 66 .. .. 66 66
12
70
306
1
2
66
Gooch street from Laurel to Grove street. 66
20
66
12
16
Hillside avenue at No. 64.
Laurel street from Lebanon street to Sta. 850 ..
20
642
Akron pipe 4
66
60
66
..
12
8
6.
southeast corner Sixth street
1
1900
Lebanon street south of Upham street. 66
24
82 Akron pipe. . 1
2 1901
66
66
66 60
66
66
.. 66
12
246 66
245 Brick & con'r't 1
1 1900\
66 66 near West Linden street. 60 66 66 66
15
90
1
3
2
1901
66
66
66 .6 66 Ell
Pearl street at Bennett's Pond brook
60×38 41
Con'r't culvert
1
66
Porter street at Fletcher street in R. R. tracks
30
137 Brick
357 Akron pipe. 2
66
2
1 1901
Trenton st. from Russell st. to Spot pond br'k
15
176 Akron pipe
66
1
1
66
Upham street at southwest corner Dell avenne Vinton street .
12
12
66
66
1
6.
Winthrop street at low point
12
4
66
66
.. .
. . .
2
15
28
66
66
. . .
.. .
1
66
66
66
66
66
16
284
24 Akron pipe . .
2
.
Green street at brook, north from Linden street .. 66 66
30
20
20 Akron pipe.
2
4
66
1
..
6. 66
66
18
200
.
66
Linden street from Green street to Bellevue av Main street at Franklin street
60 Con'r't culvert
46
66
in R. R. tracks at Dix pond
2
60
Pleasant street at Gould street ..
1
66
Right of Way, west from Lebanon near Laurel st Right of Way from Botolph to Franklin streets Russell street from Adams to Trenton street .. Tremont street at low point .
15
394
1
66
Trenton street from Washington st. to brook ..
15
6
66
1
66
West Hill av. from Botolph st. to Chaska av ..
12
364
66
66
.
2
4
Wyoming avenue east from B. & M. R. R ..
Summary .- 936 ft. 12 inch Akron pipe. 1,200 ft. 15 inch Akron pipe. 284 ft. 16 inch iron pipe. 262 ft. 18 inch Akron pipe. 1,229 ft 20 inch Akron pipe. 120 ft. 20 inch iron pipe. 82 ft. 24 inch Akron pipe. 518 ft. 30 inch circular conduits, brick and concrete. 29 manholes, 61 catch basins, 3 culverts, concrete and I beams.
NOTE .- Nine of the above catch basins are built in the tracks of the B. & N. St R. R. Co.
66
66
66
.6
66
66
66
60
15
66
.. 66 66
66
Grove street in B. & N. R. R. tracks
2
..
4
2
.. from Grove st. to Right of Way
30
66
66
15
1 1898
12
150
.
1
Bellevue avenue northeast corner Emerson st. Beech avenue west from Fairmount street ... . . Berwick street east side near Wyoming avenue Botolph street east from West Hill avenue .... Boardman avenue at Bennett's Pond brook ... Cedar Pk. & B. & M. R. R., Vinton to Essex st.
20
. .
66
66 66
66
·
230
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
All the foregoing work has been done by day labor, at an expense of $4,692.98. If the work had been done by con- tract, at prices the same as paid F. E. Ellis for sewer con- struction, it would have cost $5, 117.37, or $820.39 more, as shown by the estimate given below.
Estimated value of work done, based on contract prices:
28 feet 4 inch pipe laid @ 4 cts.,
$ I 12
6 66 5 " 5 40 108 “ 5 66
474 " 8
6 "10 66
66 7
6 28 44 42
752 "12 8 66 66 66 60 16
6
..
66
١١
7 42
8 60 16
693 " 15
284 " 16
196 “ 18
1341 feet 20
66
"15 "15
8
66 201 15 12 30 . 604 00 680 00
4108
earth excavation 66
47
rock =
6 4.50,
66 5.00, .88, 3,615 04 21I 50
$5,513 37
In performing this work, all the stock, except granite catch-basin covering stones, was purchased and paid for from other appropriation and charged to surface drainage, as used.
It was estimated that 40 sets of these covering stones would be required and prices were solicited as follows:
Stevens Granite Co., Milford, N. H., $25.00 per set.
F. E. Newhall, Wakefield, Mass., · $25.00 per set.
The prices obtained in this way were so much more than estimated, and the amount ($1,000.00) so large that it came under the provision of the charter requiring purchase by advertisements ; therefore these proposals were rejected and others advertised for, and bids received as follows :
66 8
66 8
55 44 22 72 15 68
82
24
15I cubic yards concrete masonry @ $4.00, ١١ brick
I36
752 "12 6 66 16
231
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
NAME AND ADDRESS.
Quantity.
Price.
Amount.
Duncan Rusk, Melrose, Mass
40 sets.
$27.50
$1,100.00
Stevens Granite Co., Milford, N. H
40 sets.
27.00
1,080.00
Chas. A. Bailey, Suncook, N. H
40 sets.
30.00
1,200.00
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
Appropriation (Order 1279), . $10,000 00
(Order 1435), 750 00
Transferred from Highway Division, .
639 19
Received from Boston & Northern R. R. for C. B., Green street,
24 84
Received for stock to Highway Division, .
288 65
" overcharge Sewer Division, 16 00
$11,718 68
Expended.
Recording deeds,
$6 65
Contract and specifications,
32 50
Blue prints,
3 93
Oil and sundries,
29 19
Expressage,
95
Hardware, .
2 95
Powder and exploders,
32 79
Tools, .
31 30
Car fare,
5 .05
Blacksmithing,
75 08
Lumber, J. P. Deering & Co.,
75 84
Granite C. B. stone and freight,
1,080 00
Brick and cement, S. E. Benson & Co.
489 00
66 C. B. & F. H. Goss, 13 50
. $1,878 73 $11,718 68 Amounts carried forward, .
232
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Amounts brought forward, . $1,878 73
$11,718 68
Brick,
J. Robbins & Co., . 518 91
C. J. Belden & Co.,
151 27
Forms,
L. L. Libby & Co.,
63 10
Cast iron pipe and frt., Camden Iron Works,
260 02
Cast iron pipe and repairs, Water Division,
438 10
Castings, Osgood & Witherly, . 290 25
Drain pipe and cement, Sewer Div.
2,799 94
Stock and teams, Highway Division, 62 27
Labor under tracks, B. & M. R. R. 17 00
Concrete repairs, C. L. Hoffman, 6 33
Brick masonry, J. Martin & Lynch, . 682 35
Labor as per pay rolls, 4,036 10
$11,204 37
Cash balance in treasury, . $514 31
NOTE :- Expended as per detailed statement by streets,
$10,598 18
Expended since on Leonard's brook, .
240 39
for sundries not included in report by streets, 77 15
Expended for stock which was sold to Highway Division and for which credit is given, 288 65
$II,204 37
233
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
SCHEDULE OF ALL EXISTING OLD DRAINS.
STREET.
Location.
Size in
Inches.
Length in
Linear Ft.
Material.
|No. Man
Holes.
No. Catch Basins.
Condition.
Albion street ..
Day street to Franklin street ..
15
350
Akr'n
2
good
Appleton 6
. .
Irving street, east. .
10
220
fair
Botolph .
West Hill av. to Right of Way .
8
60
bad
Baxter ،٠
.
Whittier street to Tappan st ... Ell pond brook to Foster st . .. 15
10
300
60
1
poor
Berwick 66
. .
Irving street to Lebanon street 66
10
330
6.
7
bad
10
850
bad
Cottage street.
Brook to Foster street
8
750
66
6
poor
10 950
66
. poor
Cedar park .
Vinton st., east to B & M R. R.
10
400
4 very bad
Cutter street ..
South from Sanford street . .
12
255
1
built in 1901
Dell avenue . ..
Grove street to culvert.
12
280
1
poor
Emerson street 66
66
Lebanon st. to Ell pond brook. Myrtle street to Main street ... Vine street to Myrtle street . .. Right of Way to Warren street. 66
10
397
66
·
2
fair
.6
6
66
6 66 - 66
15
73
66
fair
66
66
8
160
.
.
3
good
15
190
12
136
66
2
good
Florence "
8 1,320
66
6
poor
15
150
.
3
· good
Grove
. ..
.
9
. bad
8 200
.
4
10
830
66
.
3
poor
Heywood av ...
10
350
2 fair
Hawes avenue.
15
260
66
. .
.
6.
. . .
2
good
12
620
66
1
good
15
620
66
6
66 66 66 66
18 36
66
66
2 poor
Irving street ..
10
400
. .
.
2
good
Leeds 66
..
Washington school to Grove st. Beech avenue south to culvert. Grove street, south.
12
220
66
. .
1
8
300
66
. .
2 good
Main
. .
. .
2
poor
Myrtle
66
...
·
2
poor
Mystic avenue.
10
700
66
.
4
fair
Otis street. . .
18
60
66
.
1 fair
66
66
24
740
66
1
2
bad
66
66
66
20
290
2
1
bad
Private land ..
Baxter street to Spot pond br'k
18
330
٠٠
7
good
12
210
1
fair
Cleveland street -
66
Wyoming avenue to Foster st. . 10 ...
8
550
12
1,120
.6
2
11 poor
10
250
.
.
3
Essex street .. .
15
600
12
884
66
2
good
66
6.
. .
.
Wyoming avenue to Foster st .. Berwick street to Willow street Dills court to Ell Pond brook .. E. side Meridian st. to Dell av. Mrytle street to Ell pond brook Cottage & Circuit sts. to culvert Main street to Starbird street .. Frost avenue to Boardman av . . Right of Way to Right of Way. Highland av. to Richardson rd. Met. park to low point.
10
450
...
5
good
66
..
Hurd
. .
Harvard street. Henry avenue . . Hamilton road. 66 66
Highland av.
Corner of Henry avenue.
Right of Way S. to Appleton st Perkins street S. to brook .....
12
200
Lebanon
..
10
120
66
.
2
66
66
. .
Meridian
66
. ..
Malvern to Rogers street.
10
300
. .
1 good
12
300
66
Winthrop st. to Dix pond drain Essex st. to Emerson street .... Glen avenue to Summer street. Charles street to Vinton street
8
820
...
66
...
poor
.
Pratt street to Albion street .. . Albion street to Sargent street. Belmont street to brook ..
Foster 66
..
.
12
1,660
2 good
10
100
. .
.
1
.
2
6
Franklin “
Cedar Park to Myrtle street. ..
1,200
Beech avenue ..
fair
66
..
234
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
SCHEDULE OF ALL EXISTING OLD DRAINS .- Continued.
STREET.
Location.
Size in
Inches.
Length in
Linear Ft.
Material.
No. Man Holes.
No. Catch
Basins.
Condition.
Private land ...
٠٠
. .
6.
Dix pond to Ell pond brook ... Cedar park to Essex street 66 66 66 66
10
94
10
100 Iron
66
.
Washington. st to Ell and & Spot pd. br'k near Malden line Main street near Sylvan street to B & M R. R .
18
350
Akr'n
1
2
good
66
66
. .
66
. .
66
66
. .
66
.6
. .
Hamilton rd. to Charles street. 66 66
20
128
6%
66
6 6
. .
Beech avenue to Meridian st ...
10
770
66
66
66
. .
66
66
..
66
.
Private way . .. Right of way ..
66
66
·
. .
. .
. .
..
2 good
Henry avenue, north.
12
250
..
.. .
3 good
Summer
6
..
Russell street, s. to brook ..
8
400
10 1,880
good
66
66
. .
. .
66 66
10
470
66
poor
Tremont
66
. .
Oakland street to Otis street
8
370
66
3
poor
8
230
66
2 poor
Wyoming av ...
10 200
fair
6 6
66
...
Pleasant st. to Ell pond brook. Ell pond brook to Chestnut st. Florence st. to Spot pond brook Sanford street to Baxter street 66 66 6 66
12
130
6.
poor
12
740
66
bad
Winthrop street Winthrop place
Myrtle street to Main street ... Off Franklin street.
10
200
.
2
good
Warren street. .
Franklin street to brook
15
350
66
.
2 fair
West Hill av . . .
Botolph street to Chaska av. . .
8
290
66
...
3
bad
Woodlawn av .. Washington st.
Franklin street to Clifton park Trenton street, south.
S
300
2 fair
-
near Metropolitan park road . at Beech avenue
15
76
built in 1900
24
36
. .
1 built in 1900
. .
66 City line across North avenue. .6
15
220
66
1
fair
18
140
66
good
Richardson rd. Sargent street.
Franklin street to Briggs street Mystic avenue to Linwood av . .
12
370
2
· fair
Trenton 66
66
..
.
2 fair
8
600
66
5 poor
66 66
. .
. .
Emerson street to Ell pond . . ..
15
780
60
fair
Upham
Main street to brook ...
15
526
.
3
fair
Vinton street .. 66 66
66
66 ...
8
280
66
3 fair
Whittier street. 66 -
8 220
66
3 poor
.
Spot pond brook to Foster st .. Washington street to brook Baxter street to Maple street .. 66
8
120
66
Tappan 66
66
. .
66
66 6 66
24
200
203 66
built in 1901
10
800
66
1
18
700
66
fair
15
124
good
Russell street to brook
S
115
66
2 fair
66
66
66
66
Lebanon street to Harvard st .. Harvard street to Irving st. . .
18
200
12 1,450
66
4 good
66
. .
. .
Otis street to Youle street ..
8 800
66
4 7
poor
18
200
66
3
bad
10
245
6.
2
8
20
66
18
85
..
1
60
150
66
. .
North avenue to Walton park .. Cutter street to Whittier street B& M R. R. at Melrose st. to br'k Emerson street to Otis street .. Hawes avenue, west
12
450
10
Holland rd. toward Hamilton rd
15
500 Akr'n
4 fair
710
5 poor
66
.6
66
good
·
235
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
UNIMPROVED SURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
SUMMARY OF SCHEDULE.
8615 feet of 8 inch. 12056
10 66 100 66 " 10 66 iron. 9023
": 12
6239
" 15 66
2241 66 " 18 66
418 " 20
976 66 ": 24 66
209 Catch basins-as per list.
66
52 -scattering not included in the list of streets.
NOTE :- The foregoing table is an approximate estimate of the exist- ting surface drainage system.
Some of the lines have been uncovered and inspected ; others are given on the authority of preceding officials.
In nearly all cases the points where the changes in size occur are assumed.
So far as can be ascertained, a very small per cent. of the lines are laid on proper lines of grades.
SIDEWALKS.
Section 2 of Chapter 21 of the City Ordinances reads as follows:
All sidewalks built after April 1st, 1900, shall be constructed of brick or such other material as shall be recommended by the Engi- neer and Superintendent of Public Works, and shall have a granite curbstone set along the gutter or outside edge unless the board of aldermen shall specify sidewalks or curbs in certain cases to be built of other material or the curb omitted.
In accordance with this ordinance brick has almost uni- versally been recommended to abbutters applying for side- walks, but owing to its greater cost few have been willing to substitute it for the concrete walk which is now so preva- lent all over the city. Believing that in the long run the brick walk will prove to be cheaper, it seems extravagant to continue or perpetuate the old concrete walk, especially in the central sections of the city.
236
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
A great many people who already had a concrete walk have applied to have a curbstone set along its outer edge; in fact, more than one-half the money expended for new individual walks the past season has been for curbstone, which would seem to prove that the action of the city in adopting an ordinance for putting this in and paying one- half the cost is popular.
In this connection I wish to suggest the advisability of changing the ordinance relative to sidewalks, so that a por- tion of the expense of constructing gravel walks could be charged to the abutters. Under the present arrangement the department is over-run with applications for gravel side- walks, and to such an extent, that the appropriation is in- sufficient to attend to all requests, and consequently only those most needed can be built, and parties whose requests are not complied with are apt to feel that they have been slighted and their request not properly considered.
If the ordinance was changed, as suggested, and each ap- plicant required to deposit an amount equal to one-half the estimated cost of the gravel walk applied for, it would not only tend to decrease the number of applications for work of this nature, but would also increase the funds available, and would further permit the department to use each appli- cant alike and prevent the ill-feeling that sometimes now exists.
I also wish to call attention to Section 19 of Chapter 25 of the City Ordinances, which reads as follows :
The tenant, occupant, and in case there be no tenant, the owner or person having the care of any estate abutting on any street, in the business sections of the city within such limits as may be designated by the engineer and superintendent of public works shall, after the ceasing to fall of any snow thereon, or in case snow has fallen from some adjoining building or drifted thereon, cause the same to be re- moved within eighteen hours. The sidewalks adjoining public build- ings or grounds shall be cleared under the direction of the engineer and superintendent of public works, who shall likewise see that sand or sonie suitable material is placed on sidewalks made dangerous by ice.
I respectfully recommend that this section of the ordi- nance be reconsidered and that the words "in the business
237
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
section of the city" be omitted, or that the limits of the bus- iness section be more definitely defined; and further, that some penalty be imposed for non-compliance.
I also suggest that the last clause of this section, which refers to sanding sidewalks, be omitted.
Contracts.
Owning to the lack of a city yard, contracts for materials in large quantities could not be made, and were necessarily purchased in small quantities. If the city had ample room for storage, materials could be purchased in larger quanti- ties, be stored at the yard, and used when needed.
I also believe that in the purchase of brick and curbing, better prices would be obtained if contracts could be made in the fall. Under present conditions, curbing has been pur- chased from time to time as required for each specific piece of work, as applied for by the abbutter or as ordered by the Board of Aldermen, and usually would not be delivered un- til from two to four weeks later.
Prices were solicited, and as a result brick were purchased of Frederick Stocker of East Saugus, for $10.75 delivered on the work, and laid by Eugene McCarthy for $3.50 per 1,000; curbing of F. E. Newhall of Wakefield, for 45 cents per lin. ft. of straight curb and 65 cents per lin. ft. of curved curb delivered on the work.
Advertisements for concreting were inserted in the local papers, bids received and opened April 22, 1901.
KIND.
Robert Philpot. F. W. Hoffman.
Norris & Co. C. L. Hoffman.
Crossings.
$0.40
$0.43
$0.365
$0.40
Sidewalks
0.35
0.33
0.345
0.34
Repair crossings
0.40
0.43
0.365
0.40
Repair sidewalks
0.35
0.33
0.345
0.34
Top dressing .
0.20
0.18
0.18
0.17
The bid of C. L. Hoffman was accepted.
Three new continuous walks begun in 1900, six continu- ous walks ordered by the board of aldermen in 1901, and 31 individual walks have been completed.
238
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.