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 1929 > Part 15
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Inspection in Buildings
The following specified schedule of electrical inspections made of lights and other appliances installed:
Number of permits issued in 1929 1,276
Fees received for the above.
$1,812.00
Fees received from January 1 to December 31, 1929, inclusive:
January
$264 00
July
$143 00
February
110 00
August
218 00
March
86 00
September
96 00
April
124 00
October
150 00
May
137 00
November
111 00
June
246 00
December
127 00
$1,812 00
Number of electricians doing work in 1929
187
Inspections made as per permits issued.
1,411
Number of unfinished installations
81
Number of installations reinspected.
90
Total inspections made during the year.
2,076
Total amount of permits issued to the Quincy Electric Light & Power Co., to install service and electrical appliances
1,142
Number of lights wired for.
21,386
Number of motors wired for
273
Total horse power of above
717
Number of New Buildings Wired
Single houses
461
Two-apartment houses
71
Three-apartment houses
12
Four-apartment houses
41
Mercantile houses
20
Manufacturing
7
Garages
25
Miscellaneous
75
712
249
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES Number of Old Buildings Wired
Single houses
29
Two-apartment houses
20
Three-apartment houses
10
Four-apartment houses
1
Mercantile houses
19
Manufacturing
14
Garages
12
Miscellaneous
10
115
Additional Wiring in Old Buildings
Single houses
171
Two-apartment houses
42
Three-apartment houses
2
Four-apartment houses
5
Mercantile houses
3
Manufacturing
27
Garages
12
Miscellaneous
94
356
Respectfully submitted,
A. J. SOUDEN, Inspector of Wires.
250
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF TREASURER OF THE TRUS- TEES OF WEYMOUTH FORE RIVER BRIDGE
For the Year Ending December 31, 1929
Balance brought forward from 1928
$474 19
Receipts :
City of Quincy, assessments Nos. 217 to 229
$4,290 00
Town of Weymouth, assessments Nos. 214 to 229
1,600 00
Town of Hingham, assessments Nos. 217 to 229
1,430 00
Town of Hull, assessments Nos. 217 to 229
260 00
Town of Cohasset, assessments Nos. 217 to 229
780 00
Town of Scituate, assessments Nos. 217 to 229 260 00
Town of Marshfield, assessments Nos. 214 to 229
160 00
County of Norfolk, assessments Nos. 217 to 229
2,600 00
East. Mass. St. Ry. Co., assessments Nos. 217 to 229
1,950 00
Entered on deposits
28 38
Total
13,358 38
$13,832 57
Disbursements:
Harry W. Pray, services as bridgetender .... $2,000 00 Wm. W. Cushing, services as assist- ant bridgetender 1,249 50
George A. Stitt, services as assistant bridgetender 425 00
Harold Delaney, services as gate-
tender
750 00
Harry Brown, services as gatetender Fred E. Tupper, engineering and in- spection services
200 00
City Fuel Company, fuel
64 00
New England Tel. & Tel. Co., service 61 50
Quincy Electric Lt. & Pow. Co 42 00
Weymouth Lt. & Pow. Co 34 56
F. W. Thompson, electrical repairs
65 45
City of Quincy, Public Works Dept., material and repairs
6,309 24
City of Quincy, Police Dept., police duty during repairs 22 00
Arthur H. Pratt, Chief Police, police duty during repairs
70 00
750 00
251
TRUSTEES OF WEYMOUTH FORE RIVER BRIDGE
W. H. Brewster & Co., premium on Public Liability and Workmen's Compensation Insurance
282 01
Edmund Daly, postmaster, postage and stamps
5 00
J. R. Worcester & Co., examination and report on condition of bridge .... J. Irving Botting, auditing accounts- 1928, 1929
325 00
Thomas J. McGrath, services as
150 00
H. Franklin Perry, services as trustee
150 00
Wm. L. Foster, services as trustee,
secretary and treasurer
200 00
Total
13,175 26
Balance carried forward
657 31
$13,832 57
Hingham, December 31, 1929.
WM. L. FOSTER, Treasurer.
Trustees of Weymouth Fore River Bridge.
GENTLEMEN :- I have examined the accounts of William L. Fos- ter, Treasurer of the Trustees of Weymouth Fore River Bridge, for the year 1929, reconciled the bank account, and I hereby certify that the same are correct with proper vouchers.
(Signed) J. IRVING BOTTING, Town Accountant.
Hingham, January 7, 1930.
20 00
trustee
252
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF CITY PLANNING BOARD
To His Honor the Mayor and Members of the City Council :
There is still ample material in our fourteen previous reports that could be judicially studied by your legislative body that if acted upon would add immeasurably to the well-being of our metropolis.
Outstanding, as in every developing community is the overbur- dening question of traffic and parking upon our main arteries. This is shown to an extreme degree upon Upland Road in the busy hours. Originally a secondary street of 40 feet in width there is now an actual necessity of at least adding a 10 foot building line on either side through its entire length. With a possible reloca- tion of the N. Y., N. H. & H. roadbed for its four track system a little to the west access to the new Franklin Street extension can be obtained, also entrance to the station yard from Granite Street without encroachment upon the cemetery.
Our view herewith of the widened Chestnut Street taken at a time when it was free of traffic emphasizes possibilities of a steady and ample flow of vehicles were it not for the continuous parking in our streets. This problem will naturally need to be considered upon broad lines and if continued a 60 foot street is imperative.
A study of the Metropolitan Planning Division redirects traffic from Adams Street at Brook Road in Milton to the Furnace Brook Parkway in Quincy, but will require the utmost caution in travel where the Parkway crosses in the valley at Adams Street.
The Metropolitan plan for an extension of the Southern Artery along Town River to a new Fore River bridge is in line with our original plan for the Pilgrim Highway and will be beneficial and attractive without encroaching upon industrial development upon the river or working any hardships upon the merchants at Quincy Point.
Study of a new connection from the Old Colony Boulevard to the Quincy Shore Drive will eventuate in increased facilities for entering and leaving the city. In connection with this we wish again to emphasize the possibilities of continuing the Pilgrim Boulevard at Merrymount direct through the City Home grounds to Field Street and entering the Southern Artery direct, obviating the crowding Sea Street and joining the Artery at an already con- gested point.
Our consideration of a through highway continuing Reedsdale Road in Milton direct to Willard Street, West Quincy, along the line of the former Quarry Railway, while more properly a state or county proposition may well call for your cooperation.
Quincy should be prepared to widen Willard Street from the Milton line to Copeland Street when Milton undertakes widening Granite Avenue, which is a continuation of the same thoroughfare. Traffic from Boston over Granite bridge to the concrete highway on Willard Street is increasing and becoming a pronounced factor in movement to and from the southerly portion of the county and state.
253
REPORT OF CITY PLANNING BOARD
Traffic Lights
Our system of traffic lights in the city has been highly beneficial, although it is our recommendation that those at Chubbuck Street in Ward 2, and Wibird Street, Ward 1, should be dispensed with. Also as the ground is covered by the police where children are passing to and from school the lights at Myrtle Street, Ward 6, and at Fifth Avenue on the Southern Artery, Ward 2, could be eliminated. It would seem that further study would result in dis- continuing one light at West Squantum and Hancock Streets, per- mitting the light at the Atlantic engine house to cover the point. The same applies to the discontinuance of one light at Elm and Washington Streets, where the Canal Street light would perform the service.
Green arrows in every instance have been the success that was anticipated. It would be an improvement if the design of these arrows could be more prominent. In some instances owing to their size and indefinite shape they have been mistaken for the green signal light.
Public Buses
The operation of public buses in our streets can be better regu- lated if the city provides stopping points at curb lines definitely marked. Today a bus stopping in the middle of street to receive and discharge passengers constitutes a blockade and menace. With rerouting of the South Quincy and Adams Street-West Quincy bus lines there is opportunity for discontinuing car tracks in Water, Copeland and Willard Streets.
Fore River Bridge
The need of an adequate Fore River bridge was demonstrated as far back as 1927 when actual traffic count showed a total of 15,912 cars passing in 16 hours, an average of 497 per hour. During that period the draw opened for five minutes, held up 117 autos, and later during 10 minutes there was a hold up of 318 cars. With four lines of state highway traffic pouring its flood on to this three way bridge hampered by a street car line, it would seem in all justice to conditions that the State should adopt a policy of sharing construction and maintenance.
With ten feet more of clearance a saving of more than 90 per cent of draw openings can be obtained. By actual count for four months a total of 655 openings could have been reduced to 54.
Regarding a new location just to the east below the present bridge it is not a difficult engineering problem although there is a 7 foot Edison conduit crossing at that point.
Our two landscape views in this report are taken within the city limits at an altitude of 570 feet and while not on a large scale will show what may be viewed and accessible to the public in a 10 min- ute drive from the heart of the city and a 10 minutes' walk to the Metropolitan fire tower.
254
CITY OF QUINCY
William Chapman
Early in the year our board met with the loss of a member of high standing in his profession and one devoted to the city's wel- fare. In the passing of William Chapman we shared with Metro- politan Boston, sincere grief and the deprivation of fellowship of a good companion.
Respectfully submitted,
CITY PLANNING BOARD, WILSON MARSH, Chairman JAMES E. W. GEARY, Vice Chairman THEO J. CRAIG JAMES J. McPHILLIPS JOSEPH ANGELO
WALLACE S. CARSON, Clerk.
255
1
BOARD OF SURVEY
BOARD OF SURVEY
JANUARY 1, 1930.
To His Honor the Mayor and Members of the City Council.
GENTLEMEN :- The members of the Board of Survey respect- fully submit herewith its fifteenth annual report for the year end- ing December 31, 1929.
The Board organized early in the year and elected Mr. William G. Shaw Chairman of the Board.
The largest new development during the year was by the Willard Welsh Land Company on the Forbes estate on Adams street. This company cooperated very satisfactorily with the Board on any suggestions for changes that were made from the original design. They constructed the streets to their proper grade, placing six inches of gravel on the surface; constructed sidewalks; installed drains and catch basins and installed stone monuments where re- quired. This is the type of development that the Board are insist- ing on from petitioners for new layouts.
During the year the Board has made a practice of viewing the site of each request before the public hearing, thereby familiariz- ing themselves with the natural topography of each project. In so doing they have been able to insist on changes that would ordi- narily be correct on the plans.
The rules and regulations of the Board were revised and new copies printed for the use of the public.
A petition was received for an extension of Harris street to within 120 feet of Quarry street. The Board approved this exten- sion and also recommended that the City Council make a taking of two lots 20 feet wide to insure the extension of this street to Quarry street in the future. The City Council adopted this and made the proper takings so that Harris street will extend from Reardon street to Quarry street, thereby eliminating a dead-end street.
Public hearings were held on petitions for new layouts as fol- lows:
May 24, 1929, on petition of Willard Welsh Land Co., for layout of streets on the Forbes Estate.
July 2, 1929, on petition of Charles V. Douse, for the extension of Morgan road.
October 31, 1929, on petition of T. E. Kyllonen, for the extension of Harris street.
November 21, 1929, on petition of Sigrid Nylund, for layout of new streets off Adams street on Goucher property.
The Board gave tentative approval on each petition subject to the petitioners complying with all the rules set down by the Board.
Final approval was given on the following streets:
Morgan Road extension, petitioner Charles V. Douse, Ward 5, 340 feet long, approved July 2, 1929.
Forbes Hill Road, petitioner Willard Welsh Land Co., Ward 5, 1500 feet long, approved Oct. 31, 1929.
256
CITY OF QUINCY
Stoney Brae Road, petitioner Willard Welsh Land Co., Ward 5, 610 feet long, approved Oct. 31, 1929.
Myopia Road, petitioner Willard Welsh Land Co., Ward 5, 600 feet long, approved Oct. 31, 1929.
Hatherly Road, petitioner Willard Welsh Land Co., Ward 5, 635 feet long, approved Oct. 31, 1929.
Harris Street extension, petitioner T. E. Kyllonen, Ward 4, 155 feet long, approved Nov. 21, 1929.
Total 3840 feet long. = 0.73 miles.
The Board at this time wish to express their appreciation for the cooperation that they received from the various city officials dur- ing the year, as the work of the Board would be of no avail if they did not receive this cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM G. SHAW, Chairman GEORGE H. NEWCOMB WILLIAM A. CRESSWELL
Board of Survey.
WALLACE S. CARSON, Clerk.
257
REPORT OF CITY SOLICITOR
REPORT OF CITY SOLICITOR
JANUARY 1, 1930.
HON. THOMAS J. MCGRATH, Mayor, Quincy, Massachusetts :
DEAR SIR :- The outstanding cases in the Legal Department acted on during the year 1929 were the Edison Electric Illuminat- ing Company of Boston and Henry M. Faxon tax adjustments, and the case entitled "Merrymount Company vs. the Metropolitan Dis- trict Commission," an action wherein the petitioner seeks to con- test the validity of all proceedings taken by the city of Quincy and the Metropolitan District Commission in carrying out the purposes of an act of the Legislature entitled, "An Act Authorizing the City of Quincy to Acquire Land for Purposes of the Extension of the Quincy Shore Reservation in said City." The proceedings under this last case have been heard before a single justice of the Su- preme Court, and on September 27, 1929, a final decree was entered sustaining the position of the Metropolitan District Commission and the city of Quincy. From this decision the petitioner has ap- pealed, and the matter is now pending before the full bench of the Supreme Court. The above referred to tax adjustment cases have been settled satisfactorily to the parties thereto.
There have been many claims made on account of highway in- juries and several tort actions are now pending in Court.
Many conferences have been held on the grade crossing matter, and all physical and legal aspects of the case have been agreed upon. There only remains the resubmission and formal approval by the Court to authorize the construction to begin at once.
Respectfully submitted,
J. J. McANARNEY, City Solicitor.
258
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
JANUARY 1, 1930.
To His Honor the Mayor and Members of the City Council:
DEAR SIRS :- I herewith respectfully submit the thirtieth annual report of the Engineering Department for the year ending De- cember 31, 1929.
This department is called on by most every other department in municipal work, and in my report I shall endeavor to explain the work for these various deparments.
Financial Statement
Appropriations and transfers:
Assistants' salaries
$22,215 64
Clerk
300 00
Office supplies
600 00
Miscellaneous items
5,100 00
$28,215 64
Expenditures:
Assistants' salaries
$21,705 67
Clerk
300 00
Office supplies
556 21
Miscellaneous items
4,645 51
27,207 39
Balance
$1,008 25
Receipts paid to Treasurer
Services rendered on building permits.
$1,560 00
City Solicitor
This department is notified by the City Clerk when an accident on the highways occurs where it is claimed that the city is at fault. These are investigated and surveys and plans made for court action if it is necessary.
Information is prepared for the City Solicitor or the Police De- partment for any court cases where the city is involved.
Plans and descriptions are also prepared for the City Solicitor on land takings and damage cases.
City Council
All orders for the City Council pertaining to streets, land tak- ings and granolithic sidewalks, including betterment assessment orders, were prepared by the Engineering Department during the year.
259
REFORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Plans were prepared for public hearings on 111 streets for ac- ceptance or widening and estimates given as to their costs for con- struction.
The City Engineer was required to attend every meeting of the City Council and meetings of the Council Finance Committee to answer any requests for information as to the costs of construc- tion and feasibility of projects that were being considered.
Tax Collector
The Tax Collector receives requests from individuals as to any liens on properties for betterments at all times.
This department was requested to give him the information on streets and sidewalks, something that had previously been done by another department up to 1929. Four hundred and thirty-six of these requests were received and the information required com- plied with.
In preparation of the tax sale of 1928 delinquent taxes, the de- scriptions of over 3,000 parcels of land were prepared for the Tax Collector for advertising purposes. These descriptions could be reduced if the date of the sale was decided on in advance as a large number of these taxes are paid before they are ready for advertising.
Assessors' Plans
The plans for the Assessors, numbering about 800, show each parcel of land in the city with buildings thereon, also the lot num- ber, plot number, area and owner. During the year 4,700 parcels changed ownership, requiring these plans to be changed.
A copy of each building permit issued in 1929 was obtained and 1,708 new buildings during the year were measured and placed on these plans. Early in the year the buildings of 1928 were meas- ured and plotted, these not having been up to date.
When the Asssessors were out on their field work in April they made a note of every building that was not on the plans, due to oversight or laxness in former years. £ They found about 500 buildings that were not on these plans. These were measured and located and placed on the plans during the year. The plans now are as complete as possible owing to the ever changing and new construction.
All new subdivisions of properties have been made and placed on these plans during the year.
The life of these plans is very short on account of the continual changes in ownership, causing considerable erasures and new plans are required from time to time which have been made when nec- essary.
The apportionment of assistants salaries for this work during the year amounted to $3,773.29.
Park Department
The Park Department regraded several playgrounds during the year which were planned and laid out by this department, such as Ward 3 Playground, Ward 2 Playground and Sqantum Playground.
All playgrounds in the city had baseball diamonds laid out on them and later in the season football playing fields were laid out
260
CITY OF QUINCY
where they were used for such. Several small parks were laid out and planned for beauty spots in various sections of the city which were very successful in their accomplishment.
Suggestions by the City Engineer were appreciably received on these beauty spots.
Schools
The new Merrymount and Adams Shore Schools were completed for the fall opening. The plans for grading were made by this department and grades given during construction.
The grading of the Merrymount School was rather difficult on account of the rough topography of the original surface. This required a fill of ten feet and a cut of twelve feet in various parts and in conjunction with this grading part of the playground was sub-graded.
The Adams Shore School was on a more even lot of land but required special study in grading on account of the size of the lot, which is rather small for the building.
The addition of the Montclair School was practically complete at the end of the year, and this lot was graded after the brook had been covered in the rear by a concrete culvert.
The addition to the Atherton Hough School was also practically complete at the end of the year.
Drains were placed on the grounds of the John Hancock School.
Lines and Grades
On request of property owners, lines and grades were given on accepted streets where the property owners were contemplating improving their properties, such as grading lawns, drives, walks or constructing retaining walls at the line of the street.
There were 65 requests of this nature which was charged off in Engineering Miscellaneous, amounting to $536.59.
These requests are only considered on streets that are accepted by the city. If this department delved in requests from owners on private ways it would, utilize the time of a survey party prac- tically all of the year.
Grades for Buildings
The City Council adjusted the ordinances of the Building In- spector compelling him to get a written statement from the City Engineer as to what the grade of any contemplated building should be before he could issue a permit for building the same.
This ordinance was passed on April 8, 1929, from which date 780 permits were investigated and statements issued as to the proper grade for construction. These statements included the grades of the street, drain and sewer or any proposed grades of same.
This was an additional labor thrust upon the City Engineer as no appropriation accompanied the order.
Each applicant was charged $2.00 for the services rendered, which accounts for the receipts of this department of $1,560.00, which was not available for this work.
261
REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
This has been carried on very satisfactorily and the builders have always been favorable in cooperating.
The object of this ordinance is to prohibit speculative builders or others from placing houses so low, in the sections that are not drained freely, that they get water in the cellars in the rainy seasons.
It also helps the builder to locate his plumbing fixtures to insure access to the sewers or drains.
Sewers
During the year sewers were laid on 63 streets amounting to 6.06 miles.
Lines and grades were given on this 6.06 miles of sewer after surveys had been made locating the existing houses, the grades of the cellar floors and plumbing fixtures.
This work was done between March 15th and December 15th. For itemized statement see schedule under Commissioner of Public Works Report (Sewer Division).
Assessment plans were made for these sewers showing the loca- tion of properties, buildings, owners, assessment numbers, areas, frontages and profiles showing the grade of the sewer.
This work required the complete time of one survey party and office assistant. The apportionment of the assistants' salaries for this work amounts to $4,672.64.
Surface Drains
The total length of drains placed in various streets was 4.503 miles.
Lines and grades were given by this department for the con- struction of these drains.
A survey was made in December on catch basins with the result that 3,010 catch basins were located.
One of the important features of surface drainage during the year was the construction of the so-called Dysart Street Drain. This drain serves a water shed from the Town Brook at Miller Stile Road to the Braintree Town Line at Franklin Street. This drain has been entirely too inadequate at its outlet, thereby flood- ing cellars in the Dysart Street section. This outlet was recon- structed with a culvert from Town Brook to Dysart Street, a dis- tance of 593 feet.
The culvert was built by the Sewer Department, being reen- forced concrete and 4'-6" high by 6 feet wide. This has been working very satisfactorily since its construction.
A culvert was also built on a portion of the Montclair Drain from West Squantum Street to Holbrook Road in the rear of the Montclair School.
This replaced an open brook in the rear of the school but did not improve the drainage of this brook, as' the culvert on West Squantum Street was not removed and lowered to the depth of the new culvert. The new section was located properly for the future construction of this drain. This culvert was built by the Sewer Department, being reenforced concrete and 4'-0" high by 6'-8" wide.
The drainage area of the Montclair Brook was enlarged by cut- ting the Sachem Brook off at Harvard Street and turning it into
262
CITY OF QUINCY
the Montclair Brook by an open brook across the swamp land of the Wollaston Land Company. This results in getting the head waters from Milton to tide water over the shortest distance and relieves the Sachem Brook where it is narrow in the Wollaston Station section.
Accepted Streets
There were 24 streets accepted during the year in various parts of the city, covering a distance of 3.098 miles.
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