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 1940 > Part 18
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Atherton Hough School-In this school, new ceilings were built in eight classrooms and two corridors, new electrical fixtures were installed, the exterior of the building waterproofed, roof repaired and new copper flashing installed where necessary. The main entrance platform and steps were repaired.
John Hancock School-The grounds were landscaped and the play yard graded and surfaced with bituminous concrete.
Quincy School-This project included the painting and plastering of various classrooms and corridors, roof repairs and electrical work.
Squantum School-The entire building was painted and plastered, the necessary electrical work done and the roof was re-shingled.
Daniel Webster School-This project was started in November, 1940, and will include the complete renovation of the school. Cranch School-11,000 feet of new flooring was laid in the various classrooms.
318
CITY OF QUINCY
Portable School-This building was formerly located at the Central Junior High School. It was taken down in sections and re-con- structed on concrete foundations at the Water Works yard on Penn Street to make it a permanent building.
Miscellaneous
Quincy City Hospital-The general improvements to the hospital included the excavation of the Hunting Building basement area which provides six additional rooms. The second floor of the Rice building was reconstructed so as to provide ten additional rooms with necessary equipment for private patients. A new fire alarm system was installed, all buildings were waterproofed and the exterior painted. Walks and roadways were constructed and the hospital grounds were landscaped. Work was started late in the fall to enclose the two porches on the M & S Build- ing and one on the Hunting Building.
Tree Rehabilitation-This project aided in the restoration of ar- boreal beauty by repairing 2,278 trees with bracing and necessary surgery work, also the removal of 61 trees and 62 stumps and the disposal of 1,479 truckloads of brush from public property.
Granite Quarry-This project has produced material for many WV.P.A. projects that have been of tremendous and lasting value to the City. It is doubtful if the craft of stone-cutter could continue in this city if we did not have this type of Federal assistance and local sponsorship.
Production of Quarry Project in 1940
Item
Quantity
Unit
Regular Curbing
29134'4"
Foot
Thorat Stones
55
Each
Square Wall Stones
2753
Ton
Rough Stone
971
Ton
Curb Corners
880
Each
Radius Curbing
1813'1"
Foot
Wall Coping
406'4"
Foot
Pier Caps
6
Each
Ashlar Blocks
2659'0"
Foot
Bases
56
Each
Stone Bounds
50
Each
Blue Hill Bridle Paths- Co-operating with the Metropolitan Dis- trict Commission, this Quincy project is improving roads, walks and bridle paths in that part of the Blue Hill Reservation which is located within the Quincy boundary lines.
White Collar Projects
Bookmending Project-This project operates at the Thomas Crane Public Library to clean, mend, rebind and recase books of value that might have been discarded.
Building Department Records Plan-Through this project, the City is provided with plans of city-owned buildings for which there were no records available.
319
REPORT OF WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
District Court Records-A uniform card system of old civil and criminal cases is being established by this project.
Engineering Control Survey-The work done by this project in- cludes the establishing of triangulation stations, running tra- verse lines and levels and is considered of important value to the Federal Government, particularly in regard to the states along the sea coast.
Police Fingerprint Project-This project has been installed to give the Police Department a card system of case histories, crimin- al records and photographic fingerprints.
Sewing Project-The sewing project has more than proved its worth to the community in producing household and clothing articles which are distributed among needy families recom- mended by welfare and social agencies throughout the city. 33,125 units of clothing were made on this project in 1940.
Toy and Furniture Repair-This project provides for the repairing of discarded furniture and toys which, when they have been completely re-conditioned, are distributed to needy families.
Library Card File-Project to prepare a new card catalogue of all non-fiction and reference books for use in the new library building.
Library Picture Collection-Selected educational pictures are being mounted and will be of great value for circulation and refer- ence purposes.
Cleaning Public Buildings-This project provides for the thorough cleaning of walls, woodwork and furniture in all schools and other public buildings.
Household Aid-Needy families throughout the city have been greatly aided through this project. There were 3,942 visits in 1940 to provide household assistance to families where sickness and other physical handicaps prevailed.
Veterans Graves Record-The objective of this project is to pre- pare maps of all the burial grounds in the city showing the locations of all Veterans' graves, and also a card record of all deceased Veterans.
Recreation Project-A personnel of 40 has conducted this project in 28 locations in all sections of the city. Instruction is given in baseball, basketball, softball, boxing, gym classes, boys' clubs, play periods, ballroom dancing, tapdancing, drama, pot- tery, knitting, dressmaking, woodworking, navigation, hobby clubs, bridge and metal craft. Total participants and spectators in all activities for 1940 was 222,070. The W.P.A. Recreation Project is conducted in co-operation with the Quincy Park Board.
Survey of Strect and Sidewalk Surfaces-The location and physical characteristics of the streets and sidewalk surfaces, curbings and catch basins existing on the streets in the City of Quincy are being made into a permanent record.
320
CITY OF QUINCY
National Defense Project-This project has been in operation since July 16, 1940 under the sponsorship of the Quincy Defense Council. The men selected from the certified W.P.A. workers are paid their regular W.P.A. wages for 480 hours while attend- ing this refresher course in the various skills involved in pro- duction for National Defense. The course is conducted at the Quincy Trade School under supervision of the Massachusetts State Board of Education and the W.P.A. Defense Division. The total number of men enrolled to date is 243. The average number of men receiving private employment after taking the course has been approximately 40%.
Federal Surplus Commodities-The City of Quincy has received from this department in 1940-
Surplus Food
$171,521.09
Clothing
31,405.70
Total
$202,926.79
Distribution of Federal Food will be discontinued in 1941 as the City of Quincy has accepted the Federal Food Stamp sys- tem. However, the distribution of clothing will continue as usual.
National Youth Administration-The number of young men and women between 18-25 years of age employed on the N.Y.A. for the year was 203. The young women are employed in municipal offices, hospital service and on sewing projects while the young men are employed at the city garage and on outside park beau- tification projects. The total amount of the N.Y.A. payroll for 1940 was $43,656.00.
Summary of W.P.A. Earnings of Quincy Residents and Number Employed on Local Projects for the Year 1940.
Personnel
Amount
Men
Women
January
$ 93,036.25
1331
164
February
94,422.39
1432
184
March
94,910.04
1334
183
April
121,443.66
1345
163
May
65,700.40
1057
115
June
61,738.34
919
117
July
56,139.68
908
136
August
68,603.42
901
129
September
89,153.22
778
122
October
67,181.84
820
141
November
64,983.08
812
159
December
64,675.80 Est.
788
15'9
$941,988.12
Average personnel for 1940-
Men
1035
Women
148
321
REPORT OF WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
GENERAL SUMMARY OF 1940 EXPENDITURES IN QUINCY (FEDERAL)
W.P.A. Earning of Quincy Residents for the year 1940 on W.P.A. . $941,988.12
Federal Surplus Commodities for the year 1940 202,926.79
National Youth Administration for the year 1940 43,656.00
$1,188,570.91
Respectfully submitted,
PATRICK J. DUGGAN Quincy W.P.A. Co-ordinator
322
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE CITY PLANNING BOARD
January 2, 1941
HONORABLE THOMAS S. BURGIN Mayor of the City of Quincy
Dear Sir:
We herewith submit the twenty-sixth annual report of the City Planning Board.
The members of this re-organized Board held their first meet- ing on May 3, 1940, in your office, at which time many things of vital importance to our City were discussed.
One of the first problems studied by the Board was the devel- opment of the Municipal Parking Area. After receiving a number of sketches and studies prepared by the City Engineer's office, one of the studies was selected and unanimously approved by the Board. Certain recommendations in connection with the proposed Park- ing Area have already been carried out and it is expected that construction on the main area will take place early in 1941.
The Board cannot recommend too strongly that Cliveden Street be accepted so that when the Parking Area is completed, it can be properly policed.
During the course of the Board's deliberation, the area in the vicinity of Fore River was discussed and recommendations made for its improvement. It is gratifying to know that one of the recom- mendations-mainly, the acceptance, widening and construction of Cleverly Court to a width of 55 feet, was carried out during the year.
The Board also recommends that East Howard Street be laid out to a minimum width of 55 feet and a maximum width of 60 feet. Plans are now under way and it is hoped that the City Council in the near future will adopt an order for the widening and con- structing of East Howard Street.
The Board held a meeting with the Commissioner of Public Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Chief Engineer of the State Planning Board to discuss with them the general traffic conditions in our City. The Board feels that something drastic must make place to handle the volume of traffic coming across the Ne- ponset Bridge to relieve the present conditions on Hancock Street and Quincy Shore Boulevard.
It would be possible to construct a double-barrel highway along the present route of the Broad Meadows to the Southern Artery nd thence to a point near Edison Park, then swing left along he Town River waterfront to Avalon Avenue and Dee Road to the Fore River traffic circle. This seems to be a drastic course to rec- ommend but if it can be carried out at not too great an expense and without too much damage to property values along the route, it would do much to relieve the traffic conditions on Hancock Street and other main arteries.
323
REPORT OF CITY PLANNING BOARD
We will continue to work in co-operation with the Common- wealth to devise some means to remedy this condition.
We have made some preliminary studies for the development of Foster Street and Cottage Street and the general conditions in that part of Quincy Square between Maple Street and Revere Road. We expect in the near future, to present to you certain rec- ommendations for their improvement.
The Board feels that for public convenience a comfort station should be built somewhere in Quincy Square. At some future date, recommendations will be made to fulfill this urgent need.
Many other projects and problems in City Planning have been discussed and are too numerous to mention; therefore we have only touched on the highlights, and as other problems present themselves that need your action, they will be recommended to you.
May we take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the co-operation we have received from His Honor the Mayor, the City Engineer, City Solicitor, and others who have contributed their time and efforts so that the functioning of this Board can be of real benefit to the City.
Respectfully submitted.
WALTER A. SCHMITZ, Chairman DELCEVARE KING HENRY H. PIERCE HARRY H. KERR FRED E. AHEARN
GERHARD F. SCHAFER, Clerk
324
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SURVEY
January 2, 1941
HONORABLE THOMAS S. BURGIN
Mayor of the City of Quincy
Dear Sir:
We herewith submit the twenty-fifth annual report of the Board of Survey.
During the year, hearings were held on the following petitions: Walter H. Sealund-development and laying out of a portion of the National Sailors Home property; William R. McNulty-approval and laying out of Theresa Road extension. The petitions were given tentative approval subject to proper execution of the necessary work as required by the Board.
The Board has under consideration, the holding of public hear- ings to eliminate duplication and similarity of names on the unac- cepted streets in our city. They also recommend that the City Council take similar action on accepted streets.
Respectfully submitted,
LOUIS F. R. LANGELIER, Chairman JOHN J. MANNING SAM WOOD
GERHARD F. SCHAFER, Clerk.
325
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
REPORT OF THE HIGHWAY DIVISION
HONORABLE THOMAS S. BURGIN Mayor of Quincy Quincy, Massachusetts
Dear Sir :
I respectfully submit the annual report of the Public Works Department for the year 1940.
Respectfully submitted, EZEKIEL C. SARGENT Commissioner of Public Works
HIGHWAY DIVISION
The appropriations for Highway Maintenance, with the ex- penditures, have been as follows:
Appropriated Expended Balance
General Maintenance
$256,268.27 $250,221.87 $
6,046.40
Pensions
10,630.00
10,629.88
12
Garage and Stables
7,900.00
7,867.17
32.83
Street Lighting
110,000.00
109,941.48
58.52
Miscellaneous Activities
27,500.00
27,499.09
.91
New Equipment
4,800.00
4,749.50
50.50
The General Maintenance appropriation has been expended as follows:
Street Cleaning
$ 55,566.38
Tar Patching
25,559.89
Street Oiling
1.515.64
Snow Removal
106,250.25
Drains
13,679.46
Equipment Repairs
5,097.10
Tools
4,056.56
Street Repairs
2,890.20
Vacations
12,508.89
Sidewalks
1,857.43
Miscellaneous
19,529.51
Weymouth Back River Bridge
1,710.56
$250,221.87
The greatest single expenditure was for snow removal, in large part due to the Snow Storm of February 14th, 1940, when a fall of about fourteen inches of snow accompanied by strong northeast winds made plowing during the night, all but impossible. The de- partment was able to open all main highways in the early morning, but many of the side streets were closed for one or two days. This storm cost the city approximately $70.000.00. The City Council authorized the purchase of a new Snow Ladder which was a great help in removing snow in Wollaston and Norfolk Downs. We are requesting the purchase of one more loader for this year.
326
CITY OF QUINCY
Street cleaning has been done as usual with a crew in each district, while the business section has been cleaned with the Elgin Sweeper. The Council has been requested to provide for an addi- tional sweeper this year.
The surface treatment of bituminous macadum streets is, in my opinion, very necessary, but the amount of money appropriated is not sufficient to do much of this work. We expect, this year, to allocate the sum of $10,000.00 for this work.
Sidewalks have been repaired where necessary, but no new sidewalks have been built except on streets where the entire sur- face has been rebuilt. All other sidewalks have been constructed by the W.P.A. who have furnished and laid edgestone as shown in the report of the City Engineer.
STREET CONSTRUCTION AND REBUILDING
The sum of $262,765.29 has been expended during the year for the construction of newly accepted streets; the rebuilding of thirty or more streets or portions of streets, together with the widening of Adams Street from Hancock Street to the Old Colony Railroad Bridge. On all streets rebuilt or widened, the entire street has been rebuilt between street lines, including the sidewalks where necessary. Edgestone has been laid either by the City or the W.P.A. where possible. The paving on that portion of Hancock Street between Dimmock Street and Saville Street has been covered with bituminous mixed material and this work, together with the wid- ening of Adams Street, makes a marked improvement to the ap- proach of Quincy Square from the north. A detail table of these improvements will be found in the report of the City Engineer.
STREET LIGHTING
On December 31st, there was a total of three thousand, six hundred and seventy-three street lights in service as follows:
100 Underground 1000 C.P. Lights on Twin Standards
18 Underground 600 C.P. Lights on Twin Standards
89 Underground 600 C.P. Lights on Special Standards
21 Underground 400 C.P. Lights on Single Standards
22 Underground 250 C.P. Lights on Poles
16 Overhead 1000 C.P. Lights
289 Overhead 600 C.P. Lights 147 Overhead 400 C.P. Lights
2318 Overhead 60 C.P. Lights
The expenditures for street lighting was $106,045.52. The total expenditures including traffic lights and temporary lighting was $109,991.48.
327
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
SANITARY DIVISION
The appropriations and expenditures were as follows:
Appropriated Expended
Balance
Salaries and Wages
$117,500.00 $114,878.54 $
2,621.46
Pensions
5,392.00
5,392.00
Equipment Rental
13,000.00
12,116.91
883.09
Equipment Maintenance
9,500.00
9,166.96
333.04.
New Equipment
725.00
724.46
.54
Care of Dumps
6,500.00
6,468.05
31.95
The department has been greatly handicapped this year through lack of proper equipment. Two of the Ash Trucks are beyond re- pair, and most of the others should be replaced with new trucks. An appropriation order is now before the City Council for the pur- chase of new equipment. There has been the sum of $65,387.43, ex- pended for the collection of Rubbish and $52,720.99 for the collec- tion of Garbage. The receipts from the sale of Garbage were $6,615.00.
The disposal of Rubbish is a difficult problem. At present, there are three dumps in use, but as they are located in the southerly sec- tion of the City, long hauls are necessary and therefore expensive. His honor, Mayor Thomas S. Burgin, in his Inaugural Address, rec- ommended the construction of an incinerator and I believe that this is needed and should be constructed this year.
The receipts for cleaning Cesspools this year were $1,183.00, while the ' expenditures were $1,992.78.
GARAGE AND STABLES
All city owned Cars are repaired, supplied with gasoline and oil, at the Municipal Garage. Bills are rendered monthly for such service.
The City Stable is used in the winter months to stable horses loaned to the City from November 15th to March 15th. The horses so loaned are used by the department for sidewalk plowing and any other work where they can be of service.
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
The sum of $27,500.00 was appropriated this year for Miscellan- eous Activities, to which amount is charged the cost of activities not necessary to Highway General Maintenance. The sum of $27,- 499.09 has been expended as follows:
Brooks S 1,513.49 370.03
Bridges
Fences
1,385.72
Street and Traffic Signs
9,963.51
Highway Street Parks
7.249.56
Public Landing and Floats
723.66
Parking Area
116.13
Storm Damage
2,680.53
Miscellaneous
3,496.46
328
CITY OF QUINCY
In addition to the above the City Council passed a special appropriation of $10,000.00 for repairs along the water front caused by the extreme high tides and winds in the early Springtime.
The money was expended mostly in Houghs Neck, at Post Is- land, Sea Street and Edgewater Drive.
WARREN AVENUE FOOT BRIDGE
In the Spring of this year, the Warren Avenue Foot Bridge was condemend and closed to travel. In September an appropriation of $6,000 was passed for repairs on this bridge. The work was let by contract to R. R. Jacobucci, Inc., and completed.
The bridge is now in a satisfactory condition and should last with proper care, many years.
GYPSY MOTH AND FORESTRY
Appropriated Expended
Balance
Salaries and Wages
$ 15,350.00 $ 15,350.00
Pensions
785.00 785.00
Supplies and Expense
2,000.00 1,916.77 83.23
Equipment Maintenance
1,350.00 1,334.65 15.35
This department is required by Law to spray trees and destroy nests of Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths in the City.
This work has been done as usual. The department has main- tained about seventy-eight Highway flower beds together with the traffic circle at the Fore River Bridge. All plants have been raised at the City Greenhouse. The sum of $7,249.56 was expended for this work from the Miscellaneous Activities account.
Trees about the City have been trimmed or removed when necessary. Many trees have been planted this year, particularly on newly constructed streets.
All tree trimming for the Quincy Electric Light and Power Co., and New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. have been done at the company's expense.
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
Salaries and Wages
Appropriated Expended Balance $ 7,758.32 $ 7,687.82 $ 70.50
Maintenance
22,003.33 21,136.92 866.41
Wages and salaries have been expended for Janitor service at City Hall, City Hall Annex and the Atlantic Community Build- ing, also for the telephone operator at the City Hall switchboard.
The maintenance appropriation has been expended as follows:
City Hall and Annex $ 15,091.54
Six Fire Stations 3,790.97
Police Station 477.70
Infirmary 244.29
Welfare Building 748.78
Dispensary 62.40
Atlantic Community Building 721.24
329
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SEWER DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
January 2, 1941
MR. EZEKIEL C. SARGENT
Commissioner of Public Works Quincy, Massachusetts
Dear Sir :
I respectfully submit the report of the Public Works Depart- ment, Sewer Division, for the year ending December 31, 1940:
For financial statement, see Auditor's report.
Construction
One and three-quarter miles of sanitary sewers and one and one-half miles of storm sewers were built during the year by this department. A tabulation descriptive of the sanitary sewers is in- cluded with this report; a tabulation descriptive of the storm sewers may be found in the report of the City Engineer.
There are several petitions for sanitary sewer extensions on file and will be taken care of during the year 1941.
The increase in the number of persons employed at the Fore River Plant of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation will ser- iously tax the capacity of the Quincy Point main line, and a re- lief sewer will have to be built very shortly to remedy this con- dition.
The problem of keeping the sanitary sewer lines in good con- dition and repair increases with the growth and age of the system. This year, aside from the scraping and cleaning of pipe lines, ex- tensive repairs were made to the sewer in Sherman Street.
Particular Sewers
Three hundred twenty-eight connections were made to the common sewer to take care of three hundred thirty-two buildings located by wards as follows:
Ward 1 106
Ward 4 46
Ward 2. 27 Ward 5. 49
Ward 3. 13 Ward 6. 87
Total number of feet laid 15,904.00 Total cost $ 17,919.28
Average cost per connection S 54.63
Average cost per foot 1.127
Average length per connection Classification :
48.49 ft.
330
CITY OF QUINCY
Single Houses 268
Churches 1
Two-family Houses
10
Clubhouse
1
Three-family Houses
4 Garages and Filling Stations ..
7
Four-family Houses
24 Post Office
1
Forty-eight Apartment
1 Radio Station
1
Business Buildings
13
Telephone Building
1
Respectfully submitted,
McK:hrg
WALTER S. MCKENZIE General Foreman, Sewer Division
1940 SEWER EXTENSIONS
Ward
Street
Location
Manholes
Size
Length
5
Andrews Road
Havilend Street Easterly
3
8"
528.00
Ashworth Road
Sonoma Road Southerly
1
8''
255.00
Bayside Road
Middlesex Street Northerly
1
8"
125.00
1
Crosby Street
Ratchford Street to Bay View Ave.
3
8"
458.00
Essex Street
Aberdeen Road Southerly
1
10"
145.00
6
Essex Street
Sonoma Road Southerly
2
8''
505.00
5
Fenno Street
Rice Road Southerly
1
12"
83,00
Hancock Street
Walnut Street to Newbury Sticet ..
3
12"
922.00
Havilend Street
Fenno Street to Roberta Line.
6
8''
604.00
1
Lakeside Avenue
Winthrop Street Easterly
1
8""
150.00
Lansdowne Street
Station 0 4- 00 Northerly
1
17.00
Lansdowne Street
Station 1 + 45.0 to Station 1 + 89.0
2
10"
44.00
4
Martell Road
Hall Place Westerly and Northerly Crosby Street to Bay View Ave ... Clay Street Westerly
2
318.00
I
Parking Area Sewer
Quincy Centre
3
10"
599.00
3
Penn Street
Station 9 + 01.0 to Station 10 + 50.0
1
8''
141.00
Private Land
Lansdowne Street to Essex Street.
0
8''
240.00
Private Land
Lansdowne Street to Essex Street.
0
10"
240.00
6
Private Land
Essex Street to Ashworth Road ...
2
8''
267.00
Private Land
Lansdowne Street to Lansdowne St.
6
1("
1189.00
4
Robertson Street
Station 4 + 20.0 to Station 4 + 50.0
0
30.00
6
Standish Road
Dundee Road Southerlv
1
ão
158.00
1
Sturtevant Rond
Station 6 + 85.4 to Station 7 + 18.4
1
8''
33.00
1
Turner Street
Rock Island Road westerly
1
8''
314.00
1
Utica Street
Palmer Street Westerly
6
1100.09
Watson Road
Broadway Southeasterly
0
209.00
C11
Winthrop Street
Lakeside Avenue Northerly . ..
1
8""
61.00
52
9434.00
·
.
Total constructed during 1940-9434.00 feet or 1.78 miles Total miles of sewer built to January 1, 1941-162.44
Total manholes built to January 1, 1941-4051
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