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 1916 > Part 14
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Proposed street widenings 2 Plans for Planing Board 10
Plans for Board of Survey 3
Commissioner of Public Works Department.
Lines and grades have been given for construction of new streets, new sidewalks and new sewers.
Two new schoolhouses have been built this year and the line and grades for them were given by this department.
Board of Health Department.
Surveys and plans were made for the Board of Health Department in connection with the cleaning of brooks and low areas of land.
Plans and estimates have been made for the Planning Board and the Board of Survey in connection with the work in those departments.
Assessors' Department.
The plans of the Assessors' Department are made on paper and from constant handling are all worn out. It is the desire of the assessors to have the plans traced on tracing cloth and then to have blue prints made to be used each year, which would keep the tracings in good condition.
This work has been started and about one hundred tracings com- pleted and will be continued until all are completed.
Elimination of Grade Crossings.
Early in 1916 a bill was introduced in the Legislature to set aside the decree of the Superior Court whereby the tracks of the Old Colony
209
210
CITY OF QUINCY
Railroad in Quincy, from Saville Street, near the Quincy Station to the Braintree town line, were ordered raised and the grade crossings abolished.
By the provisions of the new bill the tracks were to be depressed and all of the streets crossing the railroad were to go overhead.
Several public hearings were held in Quincy and the question was thoroughly discussed, with the result that the depression plan (so called) was generally favored.
At the public hearings at the State House before the joint committee on Railroads of the Senate and House, the city was represented by His Honor, the Mayor, members of the city government, city solicitor, city engineer, expert engineers and public spirited citizens.
As advocates of the " Decree Plan " (so called) appeared Old Colony Railroad, Bay State Street Railway, Henry M. Faxon and Paul R. Black- mur.
Numerous plans and estimates had to be made in connection with the proposed change.
The bill was reported to the Senate and House and referred to the next General Court.
The question will again come up for consideration before the legisla- ture of 1917.
For financial statement see Auditor's Report.
Yours respectfully,
PATRICK F. O'BRIEN, City Engineer.
THE FOLLOWING STREETS HAVE BEEN LAID OUT DURING THE YEAR AS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Ward
Length
Width
Atlantic Street . .
. East Squantum Street to Quincy Shore Reservation.
6
1159 ft.
40
Belmont Street .
. Beale Street to Brook Street. .
5
550
40
Dimmock Street .
Goffe Street to Monroe Road.
1
515
40
Davis Street . .
. Mason Street to Quincy Shore Reservation
5
1185
40
Edgemere Road.
. Woodward Avenue to Putnam Street . .
1
408
40
Flynt Street.
Billings Road to Albion Road. .
5-6
803
40
Lincoln Avenue.
. Belmont Street to Highland Avenue
5
230
60
Linden Street .
. Hancock Street to Berlin Street .
5
365
40
Peirce Street .
. Billings Road to Glover Avenue.
6
323
40
Pope Street .
Montclair Avenue to Evans Street
6
1077
40
Taber Street .
. . Brooks Avenue to Columbia Street
3
1122
40
Verchild Street .
. Plymouth Street to Bennington Street
3
391
40
.
8128 ft. or 1.539 miles
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
211
212
SURFACE DRAINS.
Grades have been given and record plans have been made of drains for surface water as follows:
Length and Size of Pipe
Catch Man- Basins holes
Street
Location
24"
20"
18"
15"
12" 20
10"
8"
1
Adams Street. .
. At Rice's Corner .
250
2
Adams School .
Madison Avenue.
Appleton Street. .
East Squantum Strect to Quiney Shore Reservation . .
240
2
Arnold Street .
. Murdock Avenue to Washington Street .
Atlantic Street .'
East Squantum Street to Quincy Shore Reservation . .
600
. .
20
2
Bates Avenuc.
. Near Grove Street .
. .
. .
400
4
1
Billings Road. .
Davis Street to West Elm Avenue.
. .
. .
1
Billings Road. .
. Opposite Peirce Street .
40
2
Botolph Street .. . Near East Squantum Street
172
Brook. .
Brewer's Corner .
50
.
110
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
150
180
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
170
. .
. .
.
. .
420
1
1
Farrington Street .... Holbrook Road to Wilson Avenue.
. .
. .
. .
. .
.
430
2
Flynt Street. .
. Billings Road to Albion Road. .
. .
. .
240
75
. .
·
. .
. .
163
1
Glover Avenue .. .
.. Near Faxon Avenue.
400
60
4
.
·
409
. .
.
.
. .
. .
. .
80
2
·
. .
·
580
125
7
Madison Avenue.
. Kendriek Avenue to Bradford Street.
415
4
1
Monroc Road ..
Fairmount Way to Glendale Road ..
300
.
. .
2
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
610
5
. .
. .
..
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
.
·
. .
. .
·
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
Brook.
. Safford Street .
Brook.
. Kendriek Avenue to Richie Road ..
. .
. .
.
..
. .
Brook . .
.. . Woodbine Street to Sachem Brook ..
'2
Edgemere Road ..
. Woodward Avenue to Putnam Street ..
. .
.
.
Greenwood Avenue .. . Beale Street to Woodbine Street ..
30
4
Kendrick Avenue .... Franklin Avenue to Madison Avenue
400
2
Lancaster Street.
Lowe Street to James Street . .
Linden Street . . .
Hancock Street to Berlin Street . .
. .
. .
. .
·
Newbury Avenue. ... Vicinity Teele Pond.
.
3
.
CITY OF QUINCY
Chapman Street.
. Independence Avenue to Railroad .
. .
. .
Glendale Road ..
. Monroe Road to Goffe Street .
. .
. .
. .
. .
Newport Avenue. . . . . Beale Street to Brook Street.
. .
.
127
1
Peirce Street. . Glover Avenue to Billings Road. .
150
2
1
Pope Street. . . . . Montelair Avenue to Evans Street ..
60
320
. .
. .
·
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
.
.
South Walnut Street .. Atherton Street to Oak Street . .
. .
.
. .
130
5
2
Sumner Street .
Main Street to Lydon Street ..
Sunny Creek .
Quincy Shore Reservation to Wendall St.
690
6.40
2
6
Taber Street .
Trafford Street to Rodman Street. .....
.
·
. .
. .
50
5
.
. .
. .
362
3
Whitwell Street .. .
. Maywood Avenue to Glendale Road. ...
80
3
1
Woodbine Street. .
. Greenwood Avenue to Chapman Street ..
. .
700
4
3
Quiney Shore Reserv. Appleton Street to Webster Street.
190
1
Sea Street. . . Shellton Road to Peterson Road ..
200
170
1
480
300
3
·
Verehild Street .
. Bennington Street to Plymouth Street. .
20
1
·
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
213
. .
Quincy Shore Reserv. Atlantic Street to Ocean Street .. .
.
. .
. .
. .
Walker Street . .
. Newall Street to East Squantum Street.
515
214
EDGESTONES.
Lines and grades have been given for the following edgestones laid and reset during the year:
Straight
New Curved
Block Corners
Old Straight
Relaid Curved
Block Corners
Adams Street. .
Opposite Adams Academy .
236.75
. . . . .
.
.
Billings Road ..
. Opposite Freeman and Tyler Streets.
250.9
2.
. . . .
. .
Brook Street. .
Arlington Street to Fayette Strret.
27.3
24.5
. . . .
....
. . . .
. .
Dimmock Street. .... Opposite Adams Academy
104.35
34.4
4.
.
.
. .
East Howard Street. . Opposite Fore River Shipbuilding Co.'s Office .
50.30
43.2
. . . .
.
. .
Edgemere Road.
. Corner of Woodward Avenue
15.5
30.
. .. .
....
·
Elm Avenue.
Huntington Square.
11.5
31.
. .. .
. .
. .. .
. .
Elmwood Avenue.
Corner Highland Avenue. .
179.63
22.35
Highland Avenue.
. Corner Elmwood Avenue
218.9
3.
6.
9.
4.
Quincy Street. .
Water Street to Liberty Square
278.7
. .
9.
178.
16.
3.
Rawson Road .
. Corner Eustis Street
98.1
Revere Road .
. Chestnut Street to Washington Street.
280.2
76.7
8.
.
.
. .
.
. .
Revere Road .
Cottage Street to Town Brook.
249.17
10.3
8.
. .
. .
Revere Road .
Chestnut Street to Cottage Street.
93.7
Winter Street.
East Howard Street, north. .
122.10
43.2
2.
. ...
. .
.
.
. .. .
. . . .
. .
Linden Street .
.
. Hancock Street to Berlin Street
210.
3.
100
Pleasant Street.
Water Street to Fort Square.
. .
.
.
. .
.
.
19.3
. .
CITY OF QUINCY
151.15
6.45
2.
. .
. .
4 .
35.55
Street
Location
PERMANENT SIDEWALKS.
Lines and grades have been given and final measurements taken for permanent sidewalks constructed during the year as follows:
Granolithic Sidewalks.
Street
Side
Location
Drives Sq. Yds. Sq. Yds. Walks
Billings Road . . .
. Northerly ..
Opposite Tyler Street.
223.2
8.17
Brook Street .
. Southerly . .
Arlington Street to Fayette Street
120.9
...
East Howard Street. . Northerly . .
. Opposite Fore River Shipbuilding Co.'s Office.
82.
Elm Avenue.
. Northcrly .
Hancock Street to Kemper . .
511.88
20.65
Elm Avenue.
. Southerly .
. Greene Street to Huntington Square.
606.21
26.77
Elmwood Avenue
Northerly .
Highland Avenue to Belmont Street
107.33
Highland Avenue.
Westerly .
. North of Elmwood Avenue. .
84.55
10.73
Pleasant Street .
. Easterly .
Water Street to Fort Square.
628.75
45.44
Quincy Street .
. Westerly .
. Water Street to Liberty Street .
420.42
57.63
Revere Road .
. Northerly.
Chestnut Street to Washington Street
257.26
45.44
Revere Road .
. Northerly .
Cottage Street to Town Brook.
185.36
23.72
Winter Street .
. Westerly .
East Howard Street, northerly .
97.
20.67
Grand View Avenue, , Westerly . .
Lincoln Avenue to Warren Avenue,
.
108.15
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER
215
REPORT OF BOARD OF SURVEY.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and Members of the City Council:
Gentlemen: The Board of Survey respectfully presents herewith the second annual report for the year ending December 31, 1916.
The board was organized on February 7, 1916, with Mr. Walter F. Nichols as chairman and City Engineer Patrick F. O'Brien as clerk.
An appropriation of $300 was made and expended as follows:
Appropriation
$300.00
Stationery
$8.35
Printing
10.65
Balance.
281.00
$300.00
$300.00
The board has had several meetings and approved the layout of the following ways or streets of the city of Quincy:
Relocation of Clifton Street off Merrymount Road.
Private way off Clay Street.
Francis Avenue Extension to Newcomb Street.
Plan was made and layout staked out for the extension of Warren Avenue from Standish Avenue to Hancock Street, but owing to lateness of season the matter will be taken up again the coming year.
The board adopted new rules governing the application and prepara- tion of plans for proposed new layout of streets or ways of the city of Quincy.
The question of the duties of the board in the layout of new streets or ways and the jurisdiction of the City Council was taken up by the chair- man of the board with the president of the City Council and the matter has not been settled but will be taken up again the coming year.
There are at the present time about 350 dead end streets or ways in the city of Quincy and the board would recommend that steps be taken to extend some of these through to other streets before the adjacent ter- ritory is built up and the extension becomes so expensive that it becomes almost prohibitory.
The board has approved the work proposed by the Planning Board as to proposed boulevards and extension of main thoroughfares.
Respectfully submitted, WALTER F. NICHOLS, Chairman. EUGENE R. STONE, FREDERICK E. TUPPER. PATRICK F. O'BRIEN, Clerk.
216
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and Members of the City Council:
Gentlemen: In accordance with the requirements of law the Planning Board herewith submits its second annual report.
The board organized for 1916 with one new member, Mr. John R. Richards, succeeding Chairman Charles W. Bailey, whose term expired. Mr. Wilson Marsh was elected chairman and City Engineer Patrick F. O'Brien, clerk.
The courtesy of His Honor, the Mayor, extending the use of his office for its meetings was continued through this year and the board duly appreciates the favor.
There have been sixteen meetings held and one hearing given.
The board has been represented at several conferences to consider organization of a Metropolitan Boston board, also its chairman was in attendance at the Springfield convention of the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards.
It is with satisfaction we note that the following recommendations have been carried out during the year:
1. A building line established on Washington Street for its entire length from City Square to the State highway at Chubbuck Street.
2. Building line on Adams Street from Hancock Street to President's Bridge.
3. Building line on Revere Road, Hancock Street to Town Brook.
4. Extension of dead end streets:
(a) Vassal Street.
(b) Lunt Street.
(c) Flynt Street.
(d) Davis Street.
(e) Atlantic Street.
(f) Francis Court.
5. Extension of Street Railway car service beyond City Square to School Street, removing some of the congestion caused by waiting cars.
6. Taking of land at Holmes Street and Billings Road for a bridge as noted below.
7. An order providing a comfort station in connection with City Hall has been passed, according to our plans with the addition of a base- ment sufficient to house the heating plant for the hall. This feature provides a much needed addition to the offices of the city engineer and that of the Sewer Department. (This order failed of final passage.)
217
218
CITY OF QUINCY
8. The improvement at the curve on Adams Street, opposite the Rice estate was officially endorsed by this board and is today showing beneficial results.
In addition to above, the board has taken up the matter of straighten- ing Centre Street with the town engineer of Braintree.
It has kept the proposition of a State highway on Willard Street, from the Furnace Brook Parkway to the Braintree Parkway before the Highway Commission, also advised with the Milton selectmen regarding the future extension of Holbrook Road through to Squantum Street in that town. This is especially deserving of immediate consideration. With a bridge at Norfolk Downs connecting Holbrook Road and Billings Road and the very short section opened up in Milton, a thoroughfare is possible direct from Mattapan Square to the Quincy Shore Boulevard and is in line with recommendations of the Metropolitan Improvement Commission in its report in 1909.
Early in the year this board presented a plan for the extension of Greenleaf Street from Hancock to Adams Street, also at its easterly end through to Sea Street. An order in the council failed to pass. With the removal of the Porter house from the junction of Hancock and Adams Streets and the building line established on the latter street, we em- phatically renew the recommendation and wish to impress upon the City Councillors of 1917 our belief that the immediate good results of traffic removed from City Square will outweigh cost to carry the invest- ment for land and construction of this street extension.
Introspection.
An impartial and thoughtful study of the future for Quincy brings forth these facts:
Atlantic, Norfolk Downs and Montclair are destined to an extensive development in both residential and industrial directions, similar to Rox- bury and Dorchester. The river will be no barrier to this when the time comes.
Squantum is almost identical in location and elevation with Staten Island, New York. In the course of time, when conditions created by the city of Boston are removed, this beautiful section should have the multitude of attractive homes and water-side industries that have made Castleton famous.
At the south we shall grow landward from the great Fore River plant. The earnestness of the word from the Waterways Commission, spoken by its chairman to the Board of Trade, is indication of development to which we have not yet awakened.
Takings have been approved by the Governor's Council for an ex- tensive tract of land bordering both banks of Hayward Creek, with the object in view of creating a great tidewater terminal in connection with the Fore River Shipbuilding Co., and their railroad. Tentative arrange- ments have been made for lease to the latter of the property bordering the northerly side of the creek.
Not only the city but the State, all New England and indirectly the nation will be benefited by this enterprise. The Quincy Planning Board pledges its heartiest support to the Waterways Commission and takes opportunity to make public through the medium of this report its realiza- tion of the beneficial results that are certain to follow completion of the project.
The communities at the sea front must continue to expand.
219
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
It rests with the future for our granite industry to develop methods and means to give West Quincy its due.
With these prospects in mind the Planning Board submits its plans. for a great highway to continue that settled project of the Old Colony Boulevard through Quincy. These plans have been filed with the Pilgrim Tercentenary Commission. .
At this time the board also presents an adequate plan to provide a future for our City Hall; a study which embraces area, light, quiet and accessibility, to give to us for many generations to come the opportunity to transact the city's business and preserve its records in an economic and dignified manner.
Pilgrim Highway.
During the last year your board has devoted much thought and attention to enlisting support for its proposed Pilgrim Highway.
The plan contemplates continuing the Old Colony Boulevard, which is laid out 100 feet wide across the Neponset River to the Quincy Shore Boulevard, from which point our plan is to have a highway obtained by widening Hancock Street and Wollaston Avenue, to where it enters Merrymount Park. Intersecting this park it crosses the Metropolitan Shore Boulevard at the head of Black's Creek, thence along the westerly edge of Mount Wollaston Cemetery, through meadowlands and over the old canal at the saw mill, thence along the westerly shore of Town River, coming back to the present location of Washington Street, near the present Fore River Bridge.
In order to interest travel desiring a through route to Plymouth it is necessary to connect this highway with Quincy Avenue by some such street as North Street, widened and extended, as the Quincy Avenue route to Plymouth is some ten miles shorter than the shore route through Cohas- set, Scituate, Marshfield and Duxbury. We have been able to obtain considerable interest and publicity in behalf of our plan by explaining the little known fact that from Quincy Centre, which is the local point for nearly all travel to Plymouth and the South Shore as well as for a considerable part of the travel to Cape Cod to and from Boston. There is no direct highway through to the heart of Boston that is suitable for automobile traffic.
The direct roads from Quincy Square to Boston are either Hancock Street, which is not a suitable highway, as at present constructed, for pleasure travel, or the route via Granite Avenue, which is circuitous and not adapted for automobile travel. Neither of these routes if properly constructed would relieve the dangerous congestion which obtains in Quincy Square, due to through automobile travel during the busy hours of nearly any day at the present time. If there should be a celebration at · Plymouth of the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, which is possible, it would stimulate to a great extent automobile travel to Plymouth and the surrounding towns, and the conditions which at present are dangerous in City Square would be made much worse unless this travel was entirely removed by the construction of some such highway as is advocated by your board. This plan would also segregate the rapidly moving automobile travel from the slower moving business traffic and street cars, a condition which all highway engineers recognize as absolutely necessary since the introduction of the automobile.
1
220
CITY OF QUINCY
City Hall Site.
In considering a future site for a new City Hall this board adopted a system of elimination. The present location is contracted, noisy from passing trains and street cars and subject to cinders and dust in summer. Locations directly on the main streets had the above objections to a greater or less degree. In presenting a plan of the lot on the easterly corner of Coddington and Spear Streets, we find a high, fairly level spot, less than 700 feet from Hancock Street, with ample space for a commodious building, which should be in design harmonious with the library and an impressive addition to the growing civic center which happily has sprung up by chance.
To give additional approach to these grounds a new street is planned, starting from Washington Street, about midway between Maple and Foster St eets, and extending directly through the southeasterly border of the City Hall lot, meeting Coddington and Newcomb Streets at their junction with Woodward Avenue. The two photographs submitted give one a view of the location and the other an outlook from the proposed site. This latter view affords ample evidence, if any is nceded for con- viction, that the location is not too distant from the center to meet all requirements of our city.
City Dispensary.
The. Tuberculosis Dispensary is located on High School Avenue and was opened to the public July 8, 1916. It was erected at a cost of $2500 and is a neat, one story and a half building, well set in the center of an attractive lot, which has been laid out with shrubs, trees and flower beds, and which by spring will be a beauty spot and a real addition to .that section of the city.
The building contains an office, laboratory, physician's examining room, a dressing-room for men and one for women, also three sets of lavatories and toilets for men and women patients, one for the nurse and one for the physician; also an unfinished attic for the nurse for use during her occasional stay.
All the furnishings and supplies from the Tuberculosis Camp were brought here and are being used. The dispensary is in charge of Miss Edith A. Babcock, a graduate nurse and trained social worker, and of Dr. William M. McCausland, as clinic doctor. Clinics are held Tuesday and Friday each week. Patients for tuberculosis only are examined and are sent here by physicians by the Board of Health, the Massachusetts General Hospital and by social references. The nurse also visits and gives relief in the homes when patients are unable to call at the dispensary.
A great amount of good is being accomplished in a quiet way by the dispensary in its simple and inexpensive quarters under skilful and able management.
Tree Nursery.
An industry which concerns the beauty of our city is but little known and the Planning Board wishes to commend the forethought and enter- prise of a city official which made it possible. We refer to the Tree Nursery upon the Old High School lot adjacent to the new dispensary. We give a brief outline of the project in the words of its originator and custodian, Andrew Stewart, local Moth Superintendent.
"Under the administration of Ex-Mayor Stone, Commissioner Tupper freely granted me the use of the Old High School lot on High School Avenue, for a Tree Nursery in the spring of 1912. There are
.
221
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
approximately between 900 and 1000 trees in the nursery, of which about 65 are oak and the balance mostly maples. Up to the present time the nursery has cost the city nothing, as the trees have been collected from different parts of the city, as saplings. During the present year about 65 maple trees have been set out along the various streets. The city will soon be in a position to replace all old or dead trees as removed, and also to set out trees on new streets when opened to beautify them."
1917.
This coming year the Planning Board has a list of projects to con- sider for the betterment of the city. It will appreciate helpful suggestions from any one who has the progress of our community at heart. The new departure of nine councillors will throw added burdens upon these busy members as well as upon the executive, but we ask continued co-operation looking to the civic good.
WILSON MARSH, Chairman, EUGENE C. HULTMAN, CHARLES A. HADLOCK, GEORGE W. ABELE, JOHN R. RICHARDS, PATRICK F. O'BRIEN, Clerk.
1
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS 1916.
Hon. Joseph L. Whiton, Mayor,
Quincy, Mass.
Sir: I herewith submit the annual report of the Department of Public Works for the year 1916.
For a detailed account of the expenditures of the department, I would refer to the itemized report of the city auditor, and I simply present the tables showing the appropriations, expenditures and balances.
Net Appropriations $832.00
Expendi- tures $S32.00
Balances
Clerical.
Office expenses .
275.00
275.00
Repair public buildings
8,045.30
8,033.90
11.40
Care City Hall.
4,150.60
4,150.60
Maintenance highways, removal of snow, repair of bridges
65,200.14
65,200.14
Street sprinkling .
19,932.79
19,564.83
367.96
Street lighting.
39,080.21
39,080.21
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
Net Appropriations
Expendi- tures
Balances
Crusher repairs
$700.00
$700.00
Paved gutters.
4,350.00
4,350.00
Sea Street
6,000.00
5,988.23
11.77
Sea Street
2,000.00
1,818.72
181.28
Beale Street bridge .
1,100.00
1,100.00
Apthorp Street quarry .
2,000.00
2,000.00
200.00
Dispensary lot grading .
700.00
700.00
Granite sea wall
500.00
500.00
Accepted streets.
30,000.00
24,624.04
5,375.96
Monroe Road .
3,000.00
2,917.68
82.32
Beach Street widening.
450.00
450.00
Adams Street widening.
5,000.00
2,894.05
2,105.95
SURFACE DRAINS.
Surface drains, 1912.
$269.68
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