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 1934 > Part 12
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Flood Light Truck Operations
Number of alarms answered. 244
Specials calls
6
Special drills 6
Acetylene gas tanks used 2
Safety lamp used 3
Inhalator used 1
Tanks of oxygen used
2
1000 watt light used 61 hours, 40 minutes.
186
CITY OF QUINCY
500 watt light used 95 hours, 10 minutes.
300 watt light used 29 hours, 40 minutes.
250 watt light used 63 hours, 45 minutes.
Electric saw used 2 hours, 30 minutes.
Number of feet of wire used in above operations, 18,895.
Valuations, Insurance and Losses
Value of property involved
$2,349,866 00
Insurance on same
1,907,419 00
Loss insured and uninsured
296,028 86
Insurance loss
244,373 06
Fire Loss by Months
Month
Buildings
Contents
Losses
January
$9,490 91
$3,116 00
$12,606 91
February
16,915 25
4,504 68
21,419 93
March
14,150 45
7,551 90
21,702 35
April
6,346 00
2,735 80
9,081 80
May
86,566 00
1,249 00
87,815 00
June
3,558 00
865 00
4,423 00
July
12,570 00
23,550 00
36,120 00
August
3,095 00
1,537 00
4,632 00
September
1,425 38
750 00
2,175 38
October
5,939 00
1,375 00
7,314 00
November
13,253 49
3,561 00
16,814 49
December
13,342 00
58,582 00
71,924 00
Totals
$186,651 48
$109,377 38
$296,028 86
The fire loss for the year of 1934 was exceedingly high, due chiefly to the fact that the loss sustained at six major fires was greater than the total loss for the entire year of 1933.
On February 25th a two and one-half story dwelling house of frame construction at 22 School street caught fire and upon the arrival of the apparatus the upper section of the building was heavily involved with fire. Due to the fact that the fire had at- tained great headway before discovery, the loss to the building and contents amounted to $11,286.11.
On May 25th fire was discovered on one of two passenger boats tied together at the dock of the Quincy Yacht and Dry Dock Co. on Town River. Upon arrival of the apparatus it was discovered that a watchman employed on the boats had cut the boats loose, allowing them to float out into the stream, and the fire, being inaccessible to hose streams, destroyed both boats, with a loss of $45,000.
On July 17th a fire occurred at a polishing shop at 6 Penn street, causing a loss of $26,853. Due to the late discovery and inferior construction, the building was totally destroyed. Adjoining this building was a brick storehouse used by a wholesale grocer. The intense heat from the polishing shop fire caused this building to catch fire and also caused the sprinkler system to operate, thereby causing damage amounting to $12,698. The large loss sustained was due to the products stored in the building being susceptible to damage from water.
On November 11th the department responded to an alarm for a fire in an apartment house at the corner of Hancock and Willet streets. Two floors of the building were involved upon the arrival of the apparatus and most of the fire was confined to the interior of the building. There was considerable damage to the building
187
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
and contents, as the department was obliged to use heavy streams of water to extinguish the fire. The loss sustained was $12,094.
Delayed alarms are an important factor in large loss fires. It is obvious that fire departments, no matter how efficient, cannot overcome the handicap of delayed discovery and delayed notifica- tion. An example of this occurred at the Grossman Lumber Yard on the morning of December 30th. The fire evidently originated in a building of large area and of frame construction and extended to piles of lumber in the yard. The unfavorable weather condi- tions and the large amount of burnable material present were other factors tending to cause a loss of $59,135.
The total loss at the above fires amounted to $167,135.11.
Total loss for 1934.
$296,028 86
Total loss for 1933 147,785 54
Increase
$148,243 32=100.2%
Responses to Alarms
Dwelling houses
19%
Stores, factories, sheds, etc. 9%
Grass, dumps, rubbish, etc. 43%
Automobiles
9%
Miscellaneous
6%
False
14%
100%
Permits granted for sale of fireworks.
53
Permits granted for public display of fireworks. 2
Permits granted fuel oil storage-range burners
2,205
Permits granted fuel oil storage-power burners. 432
Permits granted for outdoor fires 677
Cash received from-Sale of old tires, recharging of extinguish- ers, fees from fireworks permits, court fine for false alarm, $144.05. Paid in to City Treasurer.
During the year the department lost one permanent man and one pensioned member. In the death of Christopher Oliver, who passed away on November 8th, the department lost one of its most loyal and efficient members. He had given many years valuable service to the department, both as call man and of the permanent force; was a highly respected member of the community in which he lived, and had the respect of the officers and men of the depart- ment. His passing is deeply mourned by all who knew him.
Charles Hayden, a faithful member of the department for many years, passed to his eternal reward on May 6th after a short illness. He retired from the department on pension in 1928 after serving many years as call and permanent man. He was a citizen of the highest type, an excellent fireman and admired by the members of the department and a host of acquaintances.
The increase in alarms during the year was due to many calls received for grass and brush fires. In past years the department was assisted by men from the Welfare department in burning over vacant plots of land. This year we were unable to burn over tracts due to the fact that no help was sent to us to assist. As the department operates with a limited number of men, it was neces- sary to let many places go unburned.
The department received many calls for flooded range burners during the year. Very slight loss resulted from this type of fire. The burners in the main were found to be properly installed and
188
CITY OF QUINCY
the principal cause of the burners flooding was in the careless operation by the owners.
During the year the department answered 143 false alarms rep- resenting an increase of 57 over 1933. In an effort to stop the sounding of false alarms the department placed notices .on each fire-alarm box warning persons of the danger of sending in a false alarm and also the penalty for the same. It is hoped that the placing of these notices on the boxes will produce favorable results during the coming year.
The practice of sending members of the department through the business and mercantile districts of the city is still being continued. The inspectors are trying hard to make the proprietors and clerks in the stores "fire conscious," and are continually calling to their attention conditions of a hazardous nature that might cause fire. Managers and officials of factories are instructed in the proper storage of inflammable liquids, proper placing of fire fight- ing equipment and the importance of periodical inspection of the same, and the necessity of providing self-closing metal receptables for oily rags, waste, etc. In most cases the inspectors are received cordially, as their advice and knowledge are appreciated.
Many calls are received from doctors for an inhalator, and in most cases the Deputy Chief of Department responds. Many times the inhalator was successful in saving a life and in other cases the patient was so near death the use of the inhalator proved of no avail.
Recommendations
The following recommendations are respectfully submitted for your consideration:
That eight captains be added to the department and the vacan- cies of lieutenants promoted to captains be filled, so that each piece of apparatus would be properly officered. This would provide for ten captains and twelve lieutenants in place of the present per- sonnel of two captains and twelve lieutenants. Provided that the vacancies of the men promoted to the position of lieutenant were not filled, this change could be made at a total cost of twenty-four hundred dollars per year.
That ten privates be added to the department and at least six of these be assigned to the ladder truck at fire headquarters, three men on each platoon. This truck has a large running card, being the first truck to reach the high value district of the city. It is also the first truck to arrive at the Quincy City Hospital, two convalescent homes, thirteen school houses, and many other im- portant buildings. Although all ladder trucks in this city are undermanned, I believe that at least this truck should be ade- quately manned.
That pumping engine be purchased each year until three en- gines that have been in service for sixteen years have been re- placed,
That an eighty-five foot aerial ladder truck be purchased, as the present extension ladders now in service will not reach the roofs of many apartment houses, schoolhouses and other buildings in this city.
That a new car be purchased for the use of the deputy chiefs. The car now in use has had a great deal of hard service and should be replaced.
That three new fire stations be constructed to replace the pres- ent fire headquarters and the stations located at West Quincy and
189
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
Quincy Point. These stations were built forty years ago and were suitable for horse-drawn apparatus and call men, but are entirely inadequate for the present-day needs of the department.
In conclusion I wish to express my sincere thanks to His Honor the Mayor, the City Council, the various city departments, and to the officers and men of the fire department who, through their zealous and untiring work, have earned my sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM J. SANDS, Chief of Fire Department.
190
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL DEPARTMENT
JANUARY 1, 1935.
HON. CHARLES A. Ross, Mayor, City of Quincy, Quincy, Mass .:
DEAR SIR :- I respectfully submit the annual report of the Fire and Police Signal Department for the year ending December 31, 1934.
Personnel of Department Superintendent, Thomas J. Smith Maintenance Men
George N. Leonard Patrick H. Reddington
Richard Williams George B. Howie
Fire Alarm
A major portion of the past year has been occupied with keeping pace with various public service companies in transfer and new construction work in all sections of the city, plus the regular routine.
Fourteen miles of wire with crossarms and hardware were in- stalled in extending and replacing various circuits to accommo- date changing conditions.
The cable system has been augmented with the addition of five thousand three hundred and fifty feet of multiple conductor lead and loom covered cable in order to add to ease in routing circuits.
Six new boxes have been added to the system and four replace- ments were made of out-of-date types that were a liability rather than an asset on the streets.
Eighty-four battery units were replaced with new type spray- proof cells of longer potential life and greater reserve capacity.
All boxes were tested periodically and kept painted, cleaned and oiled.
A summary of alarms is not included in this report as it is included in the report of the Fire Department.
I should like at this time to stress the pressing need of more circuits in the central office. All present circuits are overloaded to the danger point and no room is available to install more equip- ment in the present structure. The central office is also located at the dead end of the underground duct system, making it ex- tremely expensive and ill advisable to add on to the present build- ing. A more centrally located building designed to fit future re- quirements would fill a need of this department.
Police Signals
The police signal system has also benefited by the additional cable extensions, as spare conductors were provided in all cable installations for police signal and recall service requirements. One new police box was added to the system and all other boxes were maintained in first-class operating condition at a minimum of expense. The recall system proved its merit on all occasions, be- sides being of value in locating fire-alarm box positions in all sec- tions of the city.
191
REPORT OF FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL DEPARTMENT
Traffic Signals
The major construction project in traffic signal installation was at Wollaston Beach intersections at two points on the boulevard. Other intersections were kept in operating condition at all times, sometimes under great difficulty because of worn-out control mech- anisms. The intersection at Hancock St. and Billings Rd. was changed from simple vehicular to pedestrian and vehicular pro- gression in order to help pedestrians cross this busy street with more security. This same procedure would be of great benefit to other locations if funds were available to purchase the controllers.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS J. SMITH, Superintendent.
192
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF DOCK AND WATERFRONT COMMISSIONER
QUINCY, MASS., JANUARY 1, 1935.
Received by water from January, 1, 1934, to January 1, 1935.
For Quincy Point Power Station:
Bituminous coal
61,711 tons
Coke
5,190 tons
For J. F. Sheppard & Sons, Inc., not received: Amount of coal of all kinds. 58.20 tons coal
27.20 tons coke
For City Fuel Company: Amount of coal of all kinds $13,523 05
Amount of lumber received by water:
For Quincy Lumber Company. 530,248 ft.
Approximate cost $159,074 40
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD M. WIGHT, Commissioner.
193
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
JUNE 1, 1935.
HONORABLE LEO E. MULLIN, Acting Mayor:
The report of the Public Works Department for the year 1934 is hereby respectfully submitted.
ANGELO P. BIZZOZERO, Commissioner of Public Works.
Net Expenditures-Highway Division
Maintenance
$284,824 14
Pensions
13,567 44
Sidewalks
18,500 00
Civil Works
37,969 42
$354,861 00
Sanitary Division
131,628 92
Gypsy Moth
12,770 60
Street Lighting
109,345 32
Public Buildings
$26,527 03
Public Buildings Civil Works
12,750 43
39,277 46
Total
$647,883 30
New Equipment
Highway Division
$8,823 34
Sanitary Division
8,909 00
Gypsy Moth
1,200 00
Total 18,932 34 For Itemized report, please refer to City Auditor's report.
Street Parks
More than sixty flower beds were planted and maintained with E.R.A. labor under the supervision of Mr. Stewart; the plants were all grown at the City Nursery on Penn Street. Grass seed, sod, equipment and general maintenance were furnished by the Highway Department.
Highway Civil Works Account
Materials, supervision and equipment were furnished for proj- ects as follows: Detailed accounts, please see the reports of the City Auditor and City Engineer.
194
CITY OF QUINCY
Merrymount Park Roadway
Victory Park Playground Private Way Repairs Central Junior High Curbing Quarry Rental Faxon Park Clearing Forestry (Wood for Welfare) Faxon Field Pfaffman Oval
Elm Street Playground
Sanitary Division
In addition to the collections of garbage and rubbish and the care of dumps, 291 cesspools and 25 vaults were cleaned.
At the disposal plant 10,445 yards of garbage were sold as shown in the report of the City Treasurer.
Public Buildings Civil Works
Materials, equipment and supervision were furnished for the remodeling of City Hall, made necessary by the abandonment of the basement offices and the consequent removal of the offices of the Public Works Department, Engineering Department, Wire In- spector and Building Inspector to the Ledger Building.
The old Police Station was remodeled to accommodate the Com- missary Department and offices of the E.R.A. All Fire Stations and the Police Station were repaired and painted as scheduled.
For detailed account please refer to Auditor's report.
Street Construction
New streets accepted in 1933 were constructed in accordance with Council Orders. For specific locations please refer to City Engineer's report, and for expenditures, the report of the City Auditor.
Amory Street, Ballou Street, Bellevue Road, Bird Street, Bloom- field Street, Division Street, Elmwood Avenue, Fenno Street, Forbes Hill Road, Henry Street, John Street, Keating Street, Lor- ing Street, Mears Avenue, Myopia Road, Newport Avenue, Stoney Brae Road, Tinson Road and Wallace Road, a total of 2.457 miles.
Streets Rebuilt
The following named streets were reconstructed, some made necessary by the relocation of Sachem Brook, others by recom- mendation of the City Council:
Adams Street, Bates Avenue, Beale Street, Billings Street, Brooks Street, Chapman Street, Coe Street, Common Street, Dim- mock Street, East Squantum Street, Elliott Avenue, Hamden Cir- cle, Marsh Street, Sagamore Street, Scammell Street, School Street, South Central Avenue, South Walnut Street, Standish Avenue, Sumner Street, South Street Widening, Water Street, Washington Street, West Street, Willard Street, Willett and Wood- bine, a total of.6.846 miles.
Approximately thirty-five miles of asphalt sidewalks were con- structed in accordance with schedule submitted. For details of expenditures please refer to the Auditor's report, and for specific locations the report of the City Engineer.
195
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
Sea Wall-E.R.A.
In accordance with an agreement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, money was appropriated for materials, equipment and supervision for the construction of a sea wall on Edgewater Drive, Hough's Neck, which was started in October and is about one-third completed.
Gypsy Moth Department
The Fall cleaning program was completed in accordance with the State requirements and the street trees sprayed and trimmed. The work of special trimming for street lighting service was car- ried on by our men, but was charged to the Electric Light Com- pany on weekly payrolls. In addition to the regular schedule three hundred and twenty-five properties were sprayed and charged to the owners through the Treasurer's office. About 100 loads of leaf mold were collected in the wards and hauled to the nursery for use in potting plants and seed splats.
The Arnold Arboretum gave Mr. Stewart some surplus shrub- bery the first week of June, and 142 shrubs were set out in seven rows at the nursery for propagation.
No money was spent for fuel as wood was used in the steam boiler.
A building for the storage of the sprayer was constructed at the plant on Penn Street. This building is 18 by 20 feet.
Materials
Salvaged lumber
1 keg 8A nails
20 lbs. spikes
10 lbs. roofing nails
10 lbs. clapboard nails
5 rolls roofing paper
2 rolls of tar paper
Some of the oak timber cut in Faxon Park was sawed into boards and planking at a cost of $10.00 per 1,000 board feet. A platform truck body was built at the City Nursery Shop from some of the lumber and put on the Forestry Chevrolet truck. Total cost, $5.00, E.R.A. labor being used.
C. W. A. Project
One hundred men were employed on woodlot in Faxon Park, where over 500 cords of hardened wood were cut and distributed to the Welfare Department. Three hundred and eleven trees were planted, distribution being to all parts of the City. This project started October, 1933, and was in operation until May, 1934.
E.R.A.
The E.R.A. expenditures, $41,049.00, under the supervision of the Forestry Department.
A tree trimming E.R.A. project was obtained and all the trees between Merrymount Park, Hancock Street and the Boulevard down to Atlantic Street have been trimmed of all dead and dan- gerous limbs; about 200 large cut-leaf maple trees that were in dangerous condition were cut down with E.R.A. labor, the wood going to the Welfare Department.
The grass area at the flower beds and park areas were main- tained with E.R.A. labor.
196
CITY OF QUINCY
Our Nursery on Penn Street has been regraded, about half an acre of land reclaimed from the swamp area. The loam has been removed and piled where the city dump is going to be filled in in the fall.
In the fall 790 trees were planted.
In October a Gypsy Moth Control Project for twenty laborers and two foremen was obtained to cover the entire City area of 16 square miles.
Also a project for providing wood for the Welfare Department, calling for 50 laborers, 2 axemen, 2 foremen and 1 timekeeper, cutting wood on the Abbott and Granite City Ice Co. property at the Quincy-Braintree line of Newcomb Square.
197
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
REPORT OF SEWER DEPARTMENT
DECEMBER 31, 1934.
ANGELO P. BIZZOZERO, Commissioner of Public Works:
Sewer and drain construction was carried on throughout the entire year 1934 under P. W. A. and E. R. A. projects and by our own force account.
P. W. A. Project 2051 was a sanitary sewer project executed by force account and under the inspection and supervision of Fed- eral Engineer Inspectors. The project comprised the installation of a system of sewers for the Adams Shore section, Post Island, the Willows section of Houghs Neck and the extension of the Squantum belt line and laterals. This work was about 70% com- pleted at the end of the year. Considerable difficulty is being found in carrying out the work mainly due to limited hours im- posed by the government regulations and the inability to secure experienced labor. All labor was secured from the National Re- employment Service and limited to thirty hours' employment per week. A survey of the previous occupations of the laborers fur- nished will show not over 15% of a total of over five hundred men employed on this project have had any experience on sewer con- struction. Work of this type should be carried on as continuously as possible and with the least interruption. Under such conditions we are finding it impossible to carry on the work expeditiously or economically, especially by the force account method.
Project 1985 comprised the relocation of a portion of Town Brook and the construction of lateral storm drains to connect with it, the construction of a box culvert at Adams Street and Furnace Brook Parkway and the laying of a 72" and 60" concrete pipe line in Montclair Brook, together with construction of a tide chamber and gates at the outlet in Sagamore Creek. This work was also carried on on the same basis as Project 2051.
The Adams Street Culvert is complete and Town Brook Relo- cation nearly so, but the piping of Montclair Brook will not be finished until the summer of 1935.
Attached to this report will be found tables showing the loca- tion of sewers built during the year.
Particular Sewers
One hundred and sixty-three connections were put in in 1934. The average length of each connection was 50.50 feet at an aver- age cost per foot of $.88 as follows:
Ward 1 31 Ward 4 27
Ward 2
13 Ward 5
33
Ward 3
5 Ward 6 54
Single houses
137
Two-family houses
12
Three-family houses
1
Business
11
Recreation
2
Church
1
Maintenance work as usual has been carried by the regular Sewer Department force.
WALTER S. MCKENZIE, General Foreman.
198
SEWERS CONSTRUCTED DURING 1934
Size of Pipe
Street
Location
8"
10"
12"
18"
20"
24"
30"
Albatross Road.
Sea Street to Plover Road.
1,920
Babcock Street.
Newton Street to Oswego Street ..
1,103
Bay Street.
Main Sewer to near Bellevue Road.
552
Bellevue Road.
South of Huckins Ave. to South of Bay St ...
648
Bittern Road ..
Plover Road to Albatross Road.
904
Bloomfield Street.
Huckins Avenue, Southerly.
500
Braintree Avenue ..
Sea Street, Southwesterly ..
195
Curlew Road.
Albatross Road to Plover Road
870
East Howard Street.
From Station 2567 to Station 2703
136
Forbes Hill Road.
Beale Street to Hilda Street .. ....
284
Gannett Road.
Mallard Road to near Sea Street.
697
Harbor View Street.
Main Sewer to Angle in Street.
434
Hatherly Road.
Stoney Brae Road, Northerly
200
Keating Street.
From Proposed Street, Northerly.
300
Lee Street ..
Sea Street, Southerly ..
Lenox Street.
Newton Street, Easterly.
500
Loring Street ..
Hayden Street, Southerly.
150
Loring Street.
Hayden Street Northerly through
Private Property to Doble Street.
500
..
CITY OF QUINCY
233
SEWERS CONSTRUCTED DURING 1934-Continued
Size of Pipe
Street
Location
8"
10"
12"
18"
20"
24"
30'
Mallard Road.
Shellton Road to Albatross Road.
Manet Avenue.
Priv. Land near Babcock St. to Winthrop St.
2,194
Myopia Road ..
Reservoir Road to Stoney Brae Rd.
311
Newton Street.
Lenox Street to near Sea Street.
150
Pelican Road.
Curlew Road to Albatross Road.
1,143
Petrel Road.
Curlew Road to Pelican Road ..
320
Plover Road.
Bittern Road to Shellton Road.
481
Raycroft Street.
Cleverly Court, Westerly ...
504
Riverside Avenue.
Sea Street, Southwesterly.
200
Sea Street ...
Lee Street to Shellton Road
Sea Street.
Shellton Road, Westerly
681
Sea Street.
681' West of Shellton Road to Curlew Road.
2,452
Sea Street.
Lee Street, Easterly to Manet Avenue ....... ...
2,629
Sea Street ..
Newton Street, Easterly to Winthrop Street Sea Street to Mallard Road.
1,062
Shellton Road.
1,260
Shellton Road
Swan Road to Plover Road.
1,002
-
786
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
199
45
200
SEWERS CONSTRUCTED DURING 1934-Continued
Size of Fipe
Street
Location
8"
10"
12"
18"
20"
24"
30
Squantum Main Sewer
Huckins Avenue through Private
Property to Sumac Road ..
341
Stoney Brae Road.
Hatherly Road to Reservoir Road.
178
Sumac Road
Main sewer to angle in street.
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