USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1906 > Part 15
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
Highways -- Deficit of 1905
2,759.93
2,759.93
. .. .
Mass. Fields School
Plumbing
2,500.00
2,500.00
. ...
Liberty Street Grad- ing
3,000.00
. ...
3,000.00
Smith Street Widen-
ing
3,300.00
. . . .
3,300.00
Ward Six School-
house
61,000.00
1,400.00
59,600.00
Whitwell Street Side-
walk
2,500.00
. .. .
2,500.00
The following appropriations were passed by the City Council in the year 1905 and work completed during the year 1906.
Bates Avenue Widen-
ing
$150.00
$100.00
$50.00
Beacon' Street Grad-
ing
500.00
499.83
.17
Bromfield
Street
Grading
900.00
900.00
. . . .
Coe Street Grading . .
200.00
. ...
200.00
Cottage Avenue Wid- ening
8,000.00
7,875.31
124.69
332
Curtis Street Grad-
· ing
300.00
300.00
. ...
Edwin Street Side-
walk
100.00
100.00
. ...
Faxon Road Side-
walk, Balance 1905,
392.50
392.50
. ...
Freeman Street . . . .
600.00
600.00
. ...
Goddard Street Gut- ters
1,200.00
1,200.00
. ...
Gragg's Pond Drain- ing
200.00
200.00
....
Granite Street Widen- ing, Balance 1905. .
32.80
32.80
. ...
Gypsy and Brown Tail
Moths, Bal. 1905,
2,245.29
2,245.29
. .. .
High School Addi- tions
II3,000.00
83.190.65
29,809.35
Holmes Street Grad-
ing, Balance 1905. .
342.35
342.35
. . ..
Maple Place Widen- ing, Balance 1905. .
1,798.30
1,798.30
. . .
Mt. Wollaston Ceme- tery Entrance, Bal- ance 1905
1,274.37
1,234.77
39.60
North Payne Street. .
1,500.00
274.87
1,225.13
Stone Cross Walks, Balance 1905 . ...
698.50
668.82
29.68
Walnut Street Grad- ing
700.00
700.00
. . . .
Wollaston
Avenue
Sidewalk
700.00
700.00
. .. .
BRIDGES, CULVERTS AND DRAINS.
Considerable work has been done on the various bridges
333
throughout the city, the most extensive repairs being on the Neponset bridge, Bates Avenue and Beale Street bridge.
It will be necessary the coming year to replank the Ne- ponset bridge and paint the Warren Avenue bridge.
The catch basins and drains were thoroughly cleaned after each storm.
The cleaning of brooks is now under the direction of the Board of Health, having been transferred from my de- partment.
The Metropolitan Park Commission rebuilt the culvert across Willard Street under an agreement that the city pay one-half cost of construction amounting to $564.92.
The city's portion of assessment levied and paid for re- pairs and maintenance of the Fore River bridge amounted to $550.
FORE RIVER BRIDGE.
It may be of interest and also for future reference to have the report of the special Commissioners who were ap- pointed by the Superior Court to assess the cost of the bridge over the Weymouth Fore River which was filed October 13, 1906.
The cost incurred by the county of Norfolk pursuant to chapter 456 of the acts of 1900 and acts in amendment there- of and in addition thereto was $104,976.43, together with in- terest of $17,461.29, making total cost of bridge $122,437.72.
This amount was apportioned as follows:
Cost $34,642.22
Interest $5,762.22
Total $40,404.44
City of Quincy, 33%
Town of Wey-
mouth
10%
10,497.64
1,746.13
12,243.77
Town of Hing-
ham
11%
11,547.4I
1,920.74
13,468.15
334
Town of Co-
hasset . .
6%
6,298.59
1,047.68
7,346.27
Town
of
Marshfield
1%
1,049.76
174.61
1,224.37
Town of Scit-
uate
2%
2,099.53
349.23
2,448.76
Town of Hull,
2%
2,099.53
349.23
2,448.76
Old Colony St.
Ry. Co. ....
15%
15,746.46
2,619.19
18,365.65
County of Nor-
folk
20%
20,995.29
3,492.26
24,487.55
100% $104,976.43
$17,461.29 $122,437.72
REPAIR OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND CARE OF CITY HALL.
The amount expended on each building for repairs, etc., is as follows:
School Buildings:
Adams
$223.28
Coddington
101.20
Cranch
121.41
Gridley Bryant
511.07
High
26.15
John Hancock
84.58
Lincoln
169.53
Massachusetts Fields
259.91
Quincy
87.88
Washington
68.36
Willard
311.89
Wollaston
450.66
Old High
22.17
$2,438.09
335
Fire Stations:
Central Fire Station
$64.02
Hose House, Ward 2
16.80
Hose House, Ward 4
I45.53
Hose House, Ward 5
86.76
Hose House, Ward 6
73.29
Hose House, Hough's Neck. .
65.40
$451.80
City Hall :
Lighting
$436.74
Fuel
162.52
Telephones
435.93
Janitor
1,236.33
€
Miscellaneous
577.88
$2,849.40
Police Station
22.89
Stables
69.82
Almshouse
65.98
Pest House
10.55
Office Mt. Wollaston Cemetery ..
1.22
$5,909.75
In addition to the above expenditures the Council passed a special appropriation of $2,500 for installing a system of plumbing in the Massachusetts Fields School and connecting same with the sewer.
Proposals were advertised and contract awarded to J. E. Keniley & Co. for $1,787, they being the lowest bidders.
Work was immediately commenced and consisted of in- stalling fifteen closets in the girl's basement, eight closets and seventeen Alberene urinals in boy's basement.
Two Alberene soapstone sinks were installed outside of original contract.
1
336
The installing of this plumbing system necessitated con- siderable carpenter, painting and concrete work and proves a great improvement over the old system.
Also $300 was appropriated and expended in building a bulkhead at the Gridley Bryant School and installing a sink in the basement for the janitor.
STREET WATERING.
The watering of streets was done in the usual manner by the electric car sprinkler and five carts on streets ordered watered by the Council from April 15, 1906, to October 15, 1906.
Assessment was levied on 161,200 linear feet at $.023 per linear foot-one-half cost of same being assessed on abutting property owners.
STREET LIGHTING.
The contract for street lighting with the Quincy Elec- tric Light & Power Co. expired July 1, 1906.
In renewing the contract a reduction in price was ob- tained and a contract for three years was entered into July I, 1906, at the following price:
$70.00 per arc light per year of 1,200 candle power.
$16.50 per incandescent light per year of 25 candle power.
We have installed at the present time 166 arc, 641 incan- descent and 20 gas lamps, an increase of 48 incandescent and 4 gas lamps.
EDGESTONES.
Edgestones were set and gravel sidewalks built upon application from abutters agreeing to pay one-half cost of same in front of the following property:
337
John H. Chandler Edwin Street
Charles E. and Thomas R. Bentley . Edwin Street
Julia V. B. Johnson Faxon Road
Fanny A. Coles Faxon Road
Annie M. Bates Faxon Road
Charles E. and Thomas R. Bentley .. Faxon Road
Marion G. Phillips Faxon Road
Alfred Johnson Faxon Road
Daniel A. Bruce Faxon Road
The above work consisted in furnishing and setting 870.2 feet straight and 62.3 feet curved edgestones and build- ing 631 sq. yards gravel sidewalk.
HIGHWAYS.
This appropriation was expended in the usual manner in the general repair and care of streets and sidewalks, mainte- nance of horses, repair of carts and harnesses, purchase of tools, material, etc.
Repairs were made on almost all of our streets, side- walks resurfaced, cross walks relaid and gutters paved.
Special attention was given to cleaning of streets and crossings.
The Street Railway Excise Tax was expended in re- pairing and resurfacing streets upon which car tracks are located.
Twenty new street signs were erected and several old ones repaired.
368 permits were issued for street openings, moving buildings, parades, etc. Most of these permits were issued to the Citizens' Gas Light Co. for extension of their mains, house connections and repairing leaks.
The following streets were accepted by the Council and laid out as public ways of the city:
338
Broadway, from Washington Street to Southerly, 1,285 ft. long, 40 ft. wide.
Hollis Avenue, from Newbury Avenue to Brooks Street, 1,280 ft. long, 40 ft. wide.
Smith Street, from Garfield Street to Quarry Street, 1,080 ft. long, 33 ft. wide.
Stewart Street, from Edison Park to Northerly, 626 ft. long, 40 ft. wide.
GYPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTHS.
Considerable work has been accomplished during the past year towards the extermination of the Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths.
A careful search was made during the winter months to destroy all nests. In the spring the street trees and trees in the parks and on city property were protected by bands of burlap. Excellent results were obtained by burlapping trees during the caterpillar season.
Considerable work was done on private property, but not as much as we expect to do the coming year.
The dead limbs have all been carefully cut from the trees and all holes and crevices were either covered with tin or cement so as to avoid the harboring of Gypsy Moths.
This work is all done under the direction and super- vision of the State Inspector.
Printed notices giving full instructions as to the sup- pression of the Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths were sent ac- cording to law to all property owners asking their co-opera- tion with the city in destroying all eggs and nests found on their property before January 1, 1907.
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
The following appropriations were passed by the City
339
Council late in the year 1905 and work performed in year 1906.
An appropriation of $11,298.30 was expended in the widening and grading of Maple Place from Chestnut Street to Washington Street. Of this amount $9,848.30 was paid for land damages, leaving balance of $1,450 for construction of street.
The building of this street necessitated the removal of trees, moving fences, building retaining wall, macadamizing the roadway and setting edgestones on both sides of the street.
845.6 feet straight and 127.I feet curved edgestones were set, one-half cost of which was assessed on abutting property owners.
The laying out and widening of this street as a public thoroughfare of the city is a much needed improvement and is greatly appreciated by the general public.
Cottage Avenue was widened and graded from Chestnut Street to Hancock Street under an appropriation of $8,000, of which $3,188.60 was for land damages and $4,811.40 for construction of street.
The building of this street included the moving of build- ings on property belonging to the estate of A. B. Packard and Frank C. Packard, cutting down trees, moving and build- ing fences, raising manholes and building catch basins and drains, paving gutters, macadamizing the roadway and set- ting edgestones on both sides of street.
602.4 feet straight and 130.I feet Curved edgestones were set, one-half cost of which was assessed on abutting property owners.
Edgestones were laid and gravel sidewalks built on the westerly side of Faxon Road from Charles Street to Edwin Street under an appropriation of $425. Work consisted of furnishing and setting 444.2 feet straight and 77.5 feet
340
curved edgestone and 340 sq. yards gravel walk-abutters paying one-half cost of same.
Paved gutters were laid on both sides of Goddard Street from Verchild Street to Independence Avenue under an appropriation of $1,200.
$700 was appropriated and expended in repairing and re- surfacing Walnut Street.
$500 was appropriated and expended in the laying out and grading of Holmes Street from Squantum Street to Billings Road.
Stone cross walks were constructed across the southerly side of Saville Street, one from the Post Office building on Granite Street to Hotel Greenleaf and one at the West Quincy Depot under an appropriation of $800.
$600 was appropriated and expended in the laying out and grading of Freeman Street from Billings Road to Vassal Street.
$900 was appropriated and expended in laying out and grading on Bromfield Street from Gould Street to Mason Street.
$200 was appropriated and expended for the draining of Gragg's Pond.
Edgestones were laid and gravel sidewalk constructed on the southerly side of Edwin Street near Faxon Road, a dis- tance of 75 feet, under an appropriation of $100, abutters paying one-half cost of same.
$300 was appropriated and expended in laying out and grading of Curtis Street from the easterly line of Ryden Street to the westerly line of Farrell Street.
$500 was appropriated and expended for the laying out and grading of Beacon and Storey Streets from Washington Street to Commonwealth Avenue.
$150 was appropriated and expended for the widening of Bates Avenue at a point about 182 feet south-westerly
341
from Willard Street, of which amount $50 was allowed for the taking of about 445 sq. feet of land.
Edgestones were laid and gravel sidewalks constructed on the westerly side of Wollaston Avenue from Fenno Street to Hancock Street under an appropriation of $700, consisting of 662.97 feet straight edgestones, I block corner and 459 sq. yards gravel walk, one-half cost of same being assessed upon abutting property owners.
$1,500 was appropriated for the laying out and grading of North Payne Street from Payne Street to Franklin Street, of which amount $1,080 was for land damages.
HIGH SCHOOL ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS.
The Council passed an appropriation November 6, 1905, for $113,000 and a further appropriation January 8, 1906, for $6,500 for additions to and alterations of the Quincy High School according to plans and specifications of Aaron H. Gould, Architect.
Bids were advertised for December 28, 1905, and con- tract awarded January 19, 1906, to Rufus E. Lord of Wal- tham for $110,500.
Contract called for the completion of the new building, including sanitaries, steam heating system and that portion of the first and second floors of old building now used for class rooms on or before September 1, 1906, and the com- pletion of the remodelling of the Assembly Hall in the old building and alterations on roof on or before October 20, 1906.
Owing to unavoidable delays the building was not com- pleted on the above dates, but fourteen class rooms were practically ready for occupancy when school opened in Jan- uary, 1907.
It is only a question of a short time when building will be wholly completed, giving us an up-to-date building in
342
every respect with all modern conveniences which will ac- commodate about one thousand pupils which we hope will meet all demands in this direction for a number of years.
HIGH SCHOOL FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS.
An appropriation of $13,000 was made for the purchase of furniture and furnishings for the Quincy High School.
Proposals were advertised for school furniture and con- tract awarded to the American Seating Company of Boston and R. Holman & Company of Chelsea.
The wardrobe fittings were furnished by Chandler & Barber.
The Electric Clock system was installed by the Standard Electric Time Co.
The curtains and fixtures were furnished by the Allen Shade Holder Co.
The electric light and gas fixtures were furnished and installed by McKenney & Waterbury Co.
The fitting up of the lecture room, supply rooms and laboratory was done by George E. Thomas.
All the old furniture has been renovated.
WARD SIX SCHOOLHOUSE.
The Council passed an order July 2, 1906, appropriating $61,000 for the erection of a twelve-room brick school build- ing on Newbury Avenue, Atlantic, in accordance with plans and specifications of Hurd & Gore, Architects, and approved by the School Committee.
Bids were advertised and contract awarded November I, 1906, to Marr Brothers for $57,512, they being the lowest bidders.
Work on the foundation was immediately commenced and considerable progress has so far been made.
343
The contract calls for the completion of building on or before August 1, 1907, which will allow ample time in which to furnish the building and have it ready for occupancy when school opens in September, 1907.
Paved gutters were laid on the west side of Grand View Avenue between Marion Street and Lincoln Avenue under an appropriation of $225.
The following orders were passed late in the year and money not available until January 1, 1907.
Broadway Street grading $2,500.00
Elm Avenue sidewalk
700.00
Farrington Street drain
750.00
Highland Avenue drain 500.00
Hollis Avenue grading
2,500.00
Liberty Street grading
3,000.00
Smith Street widening
3,300.00
Whitewell Street sidewalk
2,500.00
SEWER DIVISION.
The work of sewer construction for the past year has been carried on in all wards of the city, but principally in completing the main through the Fore River Shipbuilding Company's Yard. This sewer was completed about the mid- dle of last September, but as yet the Shipbuilding Company have not availed themselves of its use.
A great deal of the year's work was of a difficult char- acter, the excavation consisting of ledge at various depths. This includes the main sewer through the Ship-yard, East Howard Street, Pond, Washington and Union Streets, Buck- ley Street and Linden Place.
All of these sewers, with the exception of the last named, were built by order of the Board of Health. Linden Place averaged from sixteen to nineteen feet in depth and the ex-
344
cavation consisted of a large, coarse gravel, bowlder gravel, which presented difficulties both in the removal and replace- ment.
During the year $20,000 was appropriated for the pur- pose of sewer construction. Of this amount $3,750 was ex- pended to settle the Shea and Fogelgren cases, and $1,361.20 to pay the deficiency of 1905, leaving approximately $14,888 .- 80 for actual sewer construction.
The following list shows the streets in which sewers have been constructed during the past year, the length, size of pipe and number of manholes.
Bradford Street from Franklin Street to Eliot Street, length 368.8 feet, size 8 inches, 2 manholes.
Buckley Street from Arthur Street to 163.1 feet north- erly, length 163.1 feet, size 8 inches, I, manhole.
Cushing Street from Woodbine Street to Wayland Street, length 340 feet, size 8 inches.
East Howard Street, from Sta. 21 + 00.46 to Howard Avenue, length 466.39 feet, size 8 inches, 3 manholes.
Eliot Street from Bradford Street to Payne Street, length 427.23 feet, size 8 inches, 2 manholes.
Fore River Yard from Sta. 2 + 60 to Howard Avenue, length 1,032.05 feet, size 12-15 inches, 6 manholes.
Gordon Street and School Yard Northerly and Easterly, length 232.55 feet, size 8-5 inches, I manhole.
Greene Street from Elm Avenue to 250 feet easterly, length 250 feet, size 8 inches, I manhole.
Linden Place from Greenleaf Street to 187.22 feet southerly, length 187.22 feet, size 8 inches, 2 manholes.
Merrymount Road from Marginal Road to Hancock Street, length 313 feet, size 8 inches, 2 manholes.
Pond Street from Station O to Washington Street, length 288 feet, size 10 inches.
345
Union Street from Washington Street to Sta. 2 + 70, length 270 feet, size 8 inches, I manhole.
Walker Place from Prospect Street to the end, length 160.8 feet, size 8 inches, I manhole.
Washington Street from Pond Street to Union Street, length 249.65 feet, size 10 inches, 2 manholes.
Whitwell Street from Ryden Street to Farrell Street, length 232.35 feet, size 8 inches, I manhole.
Total, 4,981.14 feet, 25 manholes.
PARTICULAR SEWERS.
A greater number of connections were made with the public sewer last year than in any previous year, the total number being three hundred and seven (307). These, with the exception of a very few, were laid with five inch clay pipe and the work of construction was done entirely by the city. The average cost of these connections was $25.99 per con- nection or $0.528 per foot. The average length of the con- nections was 49.18 feet. The number of feet laid in house connections during the year was 15,106.07-making to date a total of 19.07 miles.
The money for house connections is almost exhausted and in order to satisfy the demands of the people an appro- priation should be made at once that the work may be begun as soon as the weather will permit.
The following table shows the number of connections put in this year in each ward:
Ward I 67
Ward 2 30
Ward 3 66
Ward 4
35
Ward 5 67
Ward 6 42
-
346
During the year there were five stoppages. These were caused by carelessness and the indiscriminate use of news- paper and throwing of rubbish and fruit into the closets. In comparison with the number of connections this is not a very bad showing.
MAINTENANCE.
The maintenance of the sewers, that is the flushing and cleaning, has been performed at regular intervals during the year with the exception of the early spring when we were so busy on house connections. The amount of money appro- priated for this purpose is so small that it is impossible for us to keep any permanent men and consequently leaves the de- partment in a crippled condition should we want men in a hurry.
Previous to the abolishment of the Sewerage Commis- sion, when the maintenance of the completed portion of the system was managed by the Commissioner of Public Works, the total number of miles maintained was twenty-three with an appropriation of $1,500. Today with an appropriation of $1,800, a system of almost fifty miles, or more than double, must be maintained and kept in good condition for one-fifth as much more money.
I also think it advisable that the expense of the office should be paid from the maintenance account, but it is im- possible under present conditions as the appropriation is in- adequate.
There are on file several petitions for the extension of the sewer and also several orders pending in the City Coun- cil. I think it advisable that these orders be recalled and in- troduced again under one loan to cover them all. In my opinion it is not good policy to make a specific appropriation for each street, for, on account of the varied and uncertain character of the soil, the cost may exceed the estimate and
347
the work cannot be finished until further recourse is had to the City Council. By one loan to cover all and enough to provide for other extensions, which are invariably petitioned for after the work of construction is begun, I think the work can be carried on in a more satisfactory manner.
It is a lamentable fact that year after year the work is begun so late that we lose two or three months' valuable time and the work is necessarily carried into the winter. This is caused by reason of the lapse of time before the money becomes available after the order has been passed by the City Council.
WATER DIVISION.
The work of the department for the past year has been making extensions of water mains where requested, putting in new service pipes, installing meters and making necessary repairs on mains, gates and hydrants.
A twelve-inch main was laid from Hancock Street through Bridge and Adams Streets to Oakland Avenue. This main was substituted for the four-inch main which was considered inadequate to supply the present demand. We hope this year to complete the work by laying a twelve-inch pipe from Oakland Avenue to Whitwell Street. By doing this it will give a continuous large main from the Metropolitan supply at the Milton line to Hancock Street, Quincy, thus im- proving the service, giving letter pressure and fire protection for the city.
On Walnut Street, Atlantic, a two-inch pipe was taken up and a four-inch main laid.
There were several small extensions made where new houses are being built, which will be a source of revenue for the city.
On April 23, 1906, an order was passed by the City Council authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works to
348
install a system of metering the entire water service of the city and on May 21, 1906, an order appropriating $10,000 for this purpose was passed by the Council.
In the purchase of meters there were a great many dif- ferent kinds to be considered and the Empire Meter, manu- factured by the National Meter Co. was the one approved by the Mayor, therefore 625 Empire meters were purchased, the sizes and prices being as follows: 5/8 inch $10.40, 3/4 inch $15.60, 1 inch $20.80, 2 inch $60.
Meters were first installed on all manufacturing plants. polishing mills, laundries, business blocks and boarding houses.
This being done, a start has been made to meter the fully plumbed houses in the different wards in the city.
During the year 653 meters were set making the total number now in use 847.
The meters in use at the present time are as follows :
604 Empire, 157 Trident, 24 Union, 22 Crown, 18 Nash, 13 Hersey, 3 Gem, 3 Worthington, I Keystone, I Lambert. I Thompson.
Each year the receipts of the department are increasing, this year having been $105,053.50. In addition to these re- ceipts it should also be considered that this department is furnishing water to the amount of about $30.000 to all city departments, free of charge.
Total assessment for water rates for 1906 $IIO.461.68
Amount rebated for vacancies and non use of fixtures $3,607.20 ,
Amount due from 1906 assess- ment
2,688.85
Amount due from premises shut off 384.39
349
Amount collected on 1906 assess-
ment
103,781.24
$110,461.68
Amount collected on 1905 assess- ment
1,272.26
Amount collected on 1906 assess- ment
103,781.24
Total amount collected for the year ending December 31, 1906 ... $105,053.50
The total number of feet of street mains laid was 8,588 feet, making a total length of street mains 536,774 feet.
During the year 216 new service connections were made at a total cost of $5,620.97, of which $3,244.28 was charged to the consumers and $2,376.69 charged to the city.
The following tables will show miles of pipe, number of hydrants and gates, also location of pipe, hydrants and gates put in during the year.
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.