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 1931 > Part 16
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DIVISION OF METROPOLITAN PLANNING
The Division of Metropolitan Planning, of which our Chairman is a member, is recommending several highway extensions for the coming year which are: the extension of the present Reedsdale Road in Milton to the Furnace Brook Parkway at Bunker Hill Lane, thence to the Water Street Grade Crossing and thence to Washington Street at Dee Road. Their recommendation calls for a traffic circle at this end. The extension of the Southern Artery from River Street to Washington Street at Dee Road by the way of the Town River; this terminates at the traffic circle. The extension of the Quincy Shore Boulevard from East Squantum Street to the Old Colony Parkway by the way of the Victory Bridge at Squan- tum.
All three of these have been recommended previously by this Board and deserve your support.
A plan showing these recommendations is on file in the office of the City Engineer.
FORE RIVER BRIDGE
The State Department of Public Works have reported their study on this project and recommended the new bridge to be 60 feet in width and 40 feet above high water. This would eliminate about 80 per cent of the present openings. As this is a State highway and used for access to the South Shore we feel the Commonwealth
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CITY OF QUINCY
of Massachusetts should share the greater part of the expense for this improvement.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We are submitting herewith a plan showing the cut-off from the Southern Artery, from Brackett Street to Sea Street, opposite the Quincy Shore Boulevard. We feel that this will help through traffic and eliminate a congestion now existing on Sea Street at the Police Station.
We further recommend the extension of Franklin Street and agreeing upon a desirable location for the Comfort Station.
The development of Neponset River should be so governed as to allow for the extension of the Neponset River Parkway as recom- mended by this Board in 1930. The granting of a permit for oil storage on this location should be restricted to allow for this ex- tension. This would separate the industrial development from the residential district besides helping to eliminate the congestion at the Neponset Bridge.
In the Spring we were able to procure and distribute a supply of copies from a Chicago technical journal of an illustrated article by Herbert J. Kellaway on Faxon Field. This is a beautiful spot in the heart of the City and is progressing into a permanent develop- ment under the continued donations by its donor, Mr. Henry M. Faxon.
Plans are progressing rapidly on the new Quincy Post Office. The Y. M. C. A. is considering the erection of a new building on Upland Road, opposite the Quincy Station. A new Eventide Home is also under consideration. These all will be attractive buildings for our City.
This Board was represented by its Chairman at the Annual Con- ference of the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards called by Governor Ely at Lowell and wishes to express its appreciation of the courtesies and hospitality extended by the officials of that City.
The Chairman was appointed Chairman of the Civics Committee of the Quincy Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Board was included in the completion of that Committee.
We were very fortunate in having Mr. Edward J. B. Desmond appointed to the Board to fill the vacancy of Mr. Joseph Angelo, who resigned after being appointed on the Park Board. Mr. James E. Geary was reappointed by the Mayor for five years.
Through the courtesy of the State Department of Public Works we have been able to have on display maps showing the various State Highways that were under construction each month and the proposed detours.
The December issue shows the entire layout of State Highways that will be kept open by their department during the Winter.
We are including in this report a résumé of the study of the Hull Highway which we distributed this year to various State, Federal and local officials. The original complete report bound in two volumes with maps, tabulations and photographs is on file in the Northeastern University Library in the Boston Y. M. C. A. Building for inspection. There are over 48 miles of waterfront in this area, including Quincy and the four adjoining towns.
We are also including a photograph of the latest broadcasting tower at Station WAAB, Squantum. This is the first of its kind in the world and has an aviation beacon at its top which is 430 feet above the ground.
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REPORT OF CITY PLANNING BOARD
The statistics of Quincy were taken from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Metropolitan Planning, Statistics of the Boston Metropolitan District, correct to January 1, 1931.
Respectfully submitted,
WILSON MARSH, Chairman JAMES E. W. GEARY, Vice Chairman JAMES J. McPHILLIPS CLIFTON H. BAKER EDWARD J. B. DESMOND
WALLACE S. CARSON, Clerk.
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CITY OF QUINCY
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Division of Metropolitan Planning,
Statistics of the Boston Metropolitan District,
correct to January 1, 1931.
The following statistics for the City of Quincy are compiled from the above tabulation:
A. Quincy
B. City
C. Norfolk County
D. Inc. 1888
E. Population 1930
71,983
F. Per cent of population of district 3.68
AREA IN SQUARE MILES
G. Land 16.51
H. Per cent of district 3.62
I. Water .13
J. Percent of district .73
K. Total area 16.64
L. Per cent of area of district 3.51
M. Density of persons per square mile of land area .... 4,363
N. Valuation of land and buildings, 1930 $129,867,000
O. Per cent of valuation of district 3.58
P. Density of valuation, 1930, per square mile of land area $7,850,000
Q. Date of entry to metropolitan district parks. 1893
R. Water
1897
S. Sewers
1899
T. Valuation Chap. 32 Acts of 1929 $140,099,818
U. Apportionment per cent-Sinking fund, bonds, in- terest and maintenance except parks mainte- nance-except Nantasket 3.43
V. Metropolitan parks maintenance except Nantasket 3.39
W. Sinking fund, interest and maintenance-Nantasket 3.42
X. Reservations, acres
2,597.3
Y. Parkways, acres 107.8
Z. Parkways, miles 11.65
HULL HIGHWAY STUDY
The City Planning Board of Quincy has recommended a highway from Houghs Neck to Hull extending from Nut Island at Houghs Neck across to Peddock's Island to Hull at Pemberton Point. They feel that this highway would fulfill a much needed traffic artery to and from Hull and Nantasket Beach. This highway could be con- structed so as to form a storage basin of Hingham Bay, thereby insuring a water level and eliminating the now objectionable marsh and flats at low water. The entrance to Weymouth Fore River and the Back River could be had by the construction of ar ample lock.
The Board feels that this would be an improvement all along the shores of Quincy, Weymouth and Hingham.
This matter has attracted the attention of the Engineering De- partment of Northeastern University, and we are including a re- port made by Samuel Zeitlen and Robert Henry Verner describing their views on this matter. They having made quite a complete report, we are publishing a condensed review for your careful con-
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REPORT OF CITY PLANNING BOARD
sideration. Their original report is on file at this office and con- sists of the following:
1. a. Preface.
b. Table of Contents. c. Table of Illustrations and Plans.
d. Introduction.
2. Prefatory Investigation.
3. Hingham Bay.
4. Riparian Municipalities.
5. Traffic Study.
6. History of Various Proposals.
7. Harbor Development.
8. Recreational Development.
9. Harbor Works and Highway.
10. Development Proposals.
11. Conclusions.
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CITY OF QUINCY
RÉSUMÉ
INVESTIGATION OF THE PRACTICABILITY OF CONSTRUCTING A ROADWAY FROM HOUGH'S NECK TO HULL
There is an increasingly urgent need for further diversification of traffic at present passing through the city limits of Quincy. Much has already been done in that direction-but the present pro- visions are still inadequate. Of some of the proposed changes under consideration, the roadway across Peddock's Island between Houghs Neck and Hull attracts merited attention because of its unique features.
A principal characteristic of Hingham Bay is that it is relatively shallow in view of its considerable area of fourteen square miles. At low tide there are large areas of exposed flats and shallows which distinctly ninder the use of the bay for bathing and boating, as well as more commercial activities. It is proposed to maintain the surface of the bay at an elevation of eight feet or more above mean low water by means of a fill over both channels between Peddock's Island and the mainland. The dyke would also carry the roadway and a parking arca.
If the full development of the bay is to be realized, the mainte- nance of a high water level is necessary. The cost of dredging any areas except narrow ship channels would be far in excess of the advantages gained. Moreover, unless there is a change in existing conditions, residents along the shore, as well as the thousands of visitors from nearby and distant localities, must be content with mud flats and shallow water a considerable proportion of the sum- mer days, when high water would be of the greatest advantage for recreational purposes.
Maintenance of the water level would create a huge basin readily developed for the use of the public as a playground, as well as for such other purposes as the growth of this region will warrant. A circuit route along the shores of the bay would also aid immensely in reducing the burden carried by existing roadways, as a diversifi- cation process would take place. A body of salt water of such size would be a magnet not only for tourists, but for those seeking a location for home-building. A consequent growth in population and industry along its shores can be predicted as a result of trans- mutation of Hingham Bay to a tidal basin; a simplification of traffic problems will follow the construction of the road from Houghs Neck to Hull.
One of the most potent arguments for carriage of the roadway to and from Peddock's Island by means of a dyke is the ease by which the intervening channels can be filled at low cost. Peddock's Island has at both extremities hummocks of about eighty feet in height, composed of sand and gravel. These can be easily levelled to provide large quantities of excellent filling material. Stone blocks and fragments are obtainable for fill at little more than the cost of transportation from various granite quarries in Quincy. The task of making Hingham Bay a landlocked basin is then com- paratively simple. The problem of maintaining communication with the outer waters is more difficult, but is entirely feasible of solution.
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REPORT OF CITY PLANNING BOARD
There are four elements in the problem of communication to con- sider: (a) The passage of ships, (b) the passage of small craft, (c) the admission of water, (d) the disposition of surplus.water. For the first it would be necessary to build a large ship lock of adjust- able length, while boat locks would suffice for the smaller vessels. To provide for the entrance of water, sluices can be located on the eastward side of the lock, which would be constructed through a low spot in Peddock's Island. The lock sluiceways can be used as outlets for surplus water. A continual circulation entirely ade- quate to maintain sufficient purity of the water can thus be as- sured.
The ship lock is one of the most interesting features in the project as proposed. This is, in effect, a canal about one thousand feet long, in which the height of water is adjustable on the closure of two of its three gates. These gates are of the rolling type, ca- pable of withstanding pressure on either side. Their use makes a drawbridge across the lock unnecessary, as one gate can be readily designed to carry the roadway. The width of the lock is 110 feet, and the length is dependent on which two of the three gates are closed, being either 450, 535, or 1,000 feet.
The inlet sluices and boat locks form a minor part in the pro- gram of construction. About ten 8 by 12 sluices located in Hull Gut or other suitable sites would be sufficient to admit the requisite water. The boat locks would be of the tidal type, requiring a mini- mum cost of construction and upkeep. The larger vessels, such as yachts, could make use of the ship lock.
Summarizing the effects and advantages of making Hingham Bay a tidal basin, it would be a stimulant to trade, industry and residential development by reason of the ease of navigation to all parts of the bay at all times by commerce and pleasure vessels and because of the greater capacity for enjoyment by the public of its recreational facilities. The creation of the shore route to Hull and Nantasket Beach would relieve traffic conditions in Quincy and other towns on the present Nantasket routes. As a forward step in municipal planning and development the Quincy to Hull highway merits the study of the public-spirited citizen, too prone to dismiss it as impractical and visionary.
SAMUEL ZEITLEN, B.C.E. ROBERT HENRY VERNER, B.C.E. of Northeastern University
June, 1931.
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CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF BOARD OF SURVEY
JANUARY 1, 1932.
To His Honor the Mayor and Members of the City Council.
GENTLEMEN :- The members of the Board of Survey respect- fully submit herewith its seventeenth annual report for the year ending December 31, 1931.
The Board organized early in the year and elected Mr. George H. Newcomb chairman of the Board.
There was very little new development in real estate during the year requiring approval by the Board of Survey.
The trustees of the Sailors' Home Property on Fenno Street laid out a portion of that estate, but are holding out the larger portion until a later date. This eventually will be developed into house lots.
Mr. Ranay Saulnier laid out the former Goucher Estate on Adams Street and proceeded to build about ten houses. This property was laid out to fit in with the development of the Forbes Hill Estate which is adjoining.
The Board has continued its practice of the past year in visiting each property petitioned for previous to the Public Hearing.
Public hearings were held on the following petitions:
March 24, 1931, on Petition of Trustees of the Sailors Home for layout of streets off Fenno Street. Tentative approval was granted on the design.
August 20, 1931, on Petition of Ranay Saulnier for layout of streets on the Goucher property on Adams Street. Tentative approval was granted on the design.
Final approval was given on the following streets:
Hoover Avenue-petitioned by Hilda Almquist, off Franklin Street, Ward 3, approved August 20, 1931.
Theresa Road-petitioned by Ranay Saulnier, off Adams Street, Ward 5, approved September 23, 1931.
Myopia Road-petitioned by Ranay Saulnier, off Theresa Road, Ward 5, approved September 23, 1931.
The Board wishes to express its appreciation for the cooperation of the various departments of the City who are instrumental in making their work effective.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE H. NEWCOMB, Chairman, WILLIAM A. CRESSWELL ARTHUR CARUSO
WALLACE S. CARSON, Clerk.
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REPORT OF CITY SOLICITOR
ANNUAL REPORT OF SOLICITOR
MARCH 23, 1932
HON. THOMAS J. MCGRATH, Mayor of Quincy :
DEAR SIR :- The work of my office during the year 1931 has been routine, in advising the Mayor, City Council and heads of departments; and assuming charge and supervision of claims against the City and actions pending in court wherein the City is involved.
Respectfully submitted,
J. J. McANARNEY, City Solicitor.
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CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
To His Honor the Mayor and Members of the City Council.
GENTLEMEN :- I herewith respectfully submit the thirty-second annual report of the Engineering Department for the year end- ing December 31, 1931.
The majority of the work in this Department is done for con- struction departments in preparation for and during construc- tion of the various municipal projects, but several other depart- ments call on us for information during the course of the year.
They each have their individual requests which I shall not endeavor to itemize in this report.
City Solicitor
The City Solicitor calls on us for plans and surveys to be pre- pared for any Court actions which are filed against the City.
Plans and descriptions of lands taken by the City for street widenings, parking spaces, playgrounds, or any other municipal purpose from which the proper deeds are prepared and passed.
Reports of all accidents which are filed with the City Clerk are received and investigated immediately and information prepared in contemplation of Court action by the individual inconvenienced.
City Council
The City Council demands are increasing every year as there are so many projects that come before them.
This Department prepared all plans for public hearings on acceptance of streets, parking spaces and playgrounds which are held by the Council.
Plans were prepared for one hundred hearings of this nature with estimates as to the cost of the same during the year.
This year the Council sponsored a Zoning Ordinance which was prepared by their Committee and all plans were prepared by this Department. All hearings were attended by the City Engineer.
The City Engineer was required to attend all Council meetings and Finance Committee meetings to give whatever information was desired on the costs and merits of the various projects brought before them.
All orders pertaining to the acceptance of streets, land takings. assessments of betterments, and construction of sidewalks are prepared by this Department before being given consideration by the Council.
City Clerk
The City Clerk was furnished with all plans and orders for the acceptance of streets and land takings for parking spaces, play- grounds, and street widenings. Also all orders for the construc- tion of sidewalks and the assessment of all betterments for re- cording in the Norfolk Registry of Deeds.
Tax Collector
The Tax Collector made 404 requests for information on better- ments outstanding on streets or sidewalks during the year. He
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REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
receives requests from private individuals who are checking liens on properties which are referred to this Department for the proper information.
Description of about 4,500 parcels of land were prepared for the Tax Collector in contemplation of the Tax Sale for 1930 taxes.
Owing to the increase of properties being put through the Land Court this work is increasing each year.
Assessors
Plans made up for the Assessors Department showing the vari- ous parcels assessed in the City, together with the owners, build- ings, areas, and plot designations, are prepared and kept up by this Department.
The Building Inspector notifies this Department of each permit which is issued for any buildings. When they are constructed they are located and placed on these plans.
The Assessors receive a copy of each transfer of property from the Registry of Deeds which are turned over to this Department about January, and the names and subdivisions are placed on these plans.
This work could be better taken care of and more thoroughly checked if these transfers were placed in this Department when they are received by the Assessors instead of creating an accu- mulation of nine to ten months, which are supposed to be com- pleted for assessing purposes on April first.
The continued changes of owners, making erasures necessary, cause the plans to be replaced often. There were 100 new plans drawn up during the year.
Park Department
The Park Commissioners in preparation for the baseball sea- son request our laying out the diamonds at each playground, and later in the season lay out football playing fields.
The Dennis O'Neil Playground at Hollis Avenue was graded this year so that it was put into use. The settlement has not all been taken up as yet, so that it will require additional grading from time to time.
Andrew Stewart has kept up his flower beds and beauty spots and has added a few more in various parts of the City. These were laid out by this Department.
A playground was laid out on Palmer Street on land owned by the City of Quincy and required very little land to be taken from the adjoining abutters. This is on the Town River and is in an ideal location for the children.
The Ward Two Playground was partly graded during the year, but there is considerable material to be removed before this will be available for the children.
Cemetery Department
The Mount Wollaston Cemetery is the only available area we have at this time for burial purposes. The Cemetery Committee of the City Council have been studying new locations for future growth, but up to the present time have not recommended any additional area.
Grading is being done on the remaining seven acres of avail- able area at Mount Wollaston. Several sections have been lotted up during the year by this Department.
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CITY OF QUINCY
School Department
The addition of the east wing to the North Junior High School was completed during this year, which was put in use at the opening of the Fall session. The grounds, which have been un- finished since 1926, were graded and driveways, lawns and shrubs constructed, making this school yard one of the beauty spots of North Quincy. This work was done by the Highway Department.
An addition to the Central Junior High School was constructed, which consisted of locker rooms for the gymnasium. The grading around this addition has not been completed.
An addition to the Quincy School is now under construction and will be completed in the Spring of 1932.
The addition to the Adams School was completed and is now being used. The grounds about this addition have been graded.
The Wollaston school yard has been resurfaced with a hard surface this year, and also the Gridley Bryant School.
Fences have been erected around several of the school play- grounds during the year.
Lines and grades for all of this work have been furnished by this Department.
Building Department
This Department has practically become a part of the Building Department during the past few years.
All applications for new construction are turned over to this office, and the City Engineer views the location and fixes the grade for the contemplated building before the permit is granted.
This has been working out very satisfactorily, and is eliminat- ing the construction of buildings where it is impossible to drain the cellars.
This also keeps the general alignment of houses and the proper height in conformity with the existing structures.
During the year there were 433 of these applications referred to this Department and personally cared for by the City Engi- neer. The charge for this work has been $2.00 for each applica- tion, making a total of $866.00, which was turned over to the Treasurer as receipts from this Department.
October was the largest month, with 56 applications.
This work has been of material benefit to the builder and also will be to the City in future years when the private ways are accepted.
Lines and Grades
During the year we are called upon to give lines and grades on accepted streets by the property owners. These requests are generally made when the owner is contemplating improving his property. The lot corners are not furnished by this Department upon these requests.
If this service was not restricted to accepted streets it would require a survey party almost full time to do this work. About one hundred requests were taken care of during the year.
Sewers
The main sewers that are installed are laid out by this Depart- ment. All lines and grades were furnished on 4.838 miles of sewer during the year. For itemized list see schedule attached.
Sewers were installed in all streets which were accepted during the year which had not previously been done.
The installation of sewers in Squantum was continued and
Montclair Brook Before Installing 60" Reenforced Concrete Pipe
-
Montclair Brook-Installing 60" Reenforced Concrete Pipe
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REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
· about two miles were constructed. The low level main was con- tinued from Dorchester Street around the shore and will be com- pleted during the early part of 1932.
The Metropolitan Sewer Division awarded a contract for the construction of the Pumping Station required in this section and the construction is practically completed. When this is completed it will enable us to connect about five miles of sewer which is now in place.
The sewer on Edgewood Circle was relaid on account of settle- ment and required piles forty-five feet in length for a bearing. Several of the most recent developments were taken care of this year.
All · sewers were constructed by the Sewer Department of the City of Quincy.
The total of main sewer now in place in the City is 136.665 miles.
Surface Drains
The installation of surface drainage was continued as in the past, and 5.84 miles of various sizes were installed during the year.
The main drains are gradually being improved, and this year the Montclair Brook from Wilson Avenue to Holbrook Road was completed by the installation of a 60" reinforced concrete pipe. When the culverts under Holbrook Road and West Squantum Street are constructed this main drain will have been lowered about two feet.
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