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 1948 > Part 2
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During 1948, fifteen meetings of this Board were held. The pro- posal most often discussed was that concerned with the widening of Canal Street and Revere Road from the Southern Artery to Hancock Street. The Board was instrumental in gaining several Council hear- ings in regard to its recommendation that this proposed widening be cut from eighty to sixty feet. A great deal of study on this widening was given to the possibility of constructing an underpass from the
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junction of Revere Road and Mechanic Street under Hancock Street and ending in the Parking Area; and also the possibility of taking the existing buildings west of Hancock Street opposite the intersection of Revere Road.
A diagrammatic plan of the Municipal Parking Area west of Hancock Street between Granite and School Streets, with the inclusion of a comfort station on the east side of the Area, was completed during the year. In further relation to this Parking Area, consideration was given to a proposal which called for the taking of the N. Y. N. H. & H. freight yard, located west of the railroad tracks, for parking purposes, facilitated by the construction of an underpass extending from the existing Parking Area to this proposed additional location.
In reference to the Parking Area, plans were discussed concerning the exchange of certain parcels of land, in this section, between the City of Quincy and the Hia-Pearl Corporation. As a result of this exchange, the Board was instrumental in advocating the construction, by the Hia-Pearl Corporation, of a retaining wall on the new portion, lying easterly of the railroad tracks, which had been obtained by the City.
At the present time, the Board has high hopes that the State Legislature will vote favorably on the request of the City of Quincy that Municipalities be allowed to borrow money outside the debt limit for the purpose of financing the development of offstreet parking areas.
In further reference to the parking problems in Quincy Square, the Planning Board successfully recommended use of the Coddington School yard for the relief of parking during the Christmas season.
Two proposed projects which have not yet reached the stage of definite action by the City Council were discussed during the year. One of these recommends the construction of a rotary at the junction of Coddington Street, Sea Street and the Southern Artery. The other is concerned with the possibility of the construction of a secondary artery from the Neponset Bridge to the Southern Artery, west of and parallel to Hancock Street.
A serious problem existing in Quincy Square at the present time is that of the congestion caused by the buses in this area. In 1948 a recommendation of the Planning Board called for the placing of a new offstreet bus terminal in the section immediately to the rear of the present Chamber of Commerce building. No definite action has been taken on this proposal as yet.
A recommendation has been made that the easterly side of Hancock Street from Dimmock Street to Sayville Street be widened, and the Board is pleased to report that this widening will be accom- plished in 1949.
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During the year, a major advancement in the alleviation of traffic congestion in Quincy Square was made. This project, approved by the City Council and set up in operation, called for the arrangement of a rotary or one-way traffic pattern in and around Quincy Square. Reliable sources, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, have stated that this plan is one of the most forward looking of its type undertaken by the City in the past twenty years.
Board of Survey
This Board is made up of three members whose chief duty is to hold meetings for the consideration, and ultimate approval or denial, of street lay-outs.
During 1948, there was but one meeting of this Board held. This particular hearing was concerned with a petition requesting the ex- tension of Woodcliff Road in West Quincy. There being no opposition, the Board granted tentative approval for the construction of this road, subject to the usual conditions.
Purchasing Department
Increases in the number of Departmental requisitions, purchase orders and contracts handled by this Department during 1948 over the number for 1947, indicated further that the shortage of certain materials and supplies brought about by the recent World War is being relieved. Many items not manufactured during the war which were in short supply during the immediate postwar years, are now more easily obtainable by the various Departments. Some Depart- ments have replaced automotive equipment for the first time since before the war, and some have purchased certain types of special equipment which is essential for the completion of Municipal programs necessarily curtailed by the aforesaid war.
This system of centralized purchasing has proved most beneficial to the financial problems confronting this City during the inflationary postwar years. An increased volume of orders placed at a time when the price index is steadily increasing, would normally lead to a Municipal spending increase at least as high as the percentage increase of the cost of living. However, the percentage increase of City expenditures in the field of supplies and other materials was maintained at a point much lower than that of the cost of living. This achievement is due in no small part to the system of purchasing
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centrally and to the careful and sensible ordering of the various Departments.
SUMMARY 1947 - 1948
1947
1948
Requisitions Received from Departments
7,055
7,325
Orders placed for Departments
9,263
9,897
Contracts entered into
67
93
The system of purchasing utilized by the City of Quincy is simple, direct, and in every respect efficient. Each order is in a constant state of check by the Ordering Department, the Purchasing Depart- ment, the Office of the Auditor of Accounts and the Supplying Agency. Ths system results in complete satisfaction to all parties concerned and excludes the possibility of a Department unwittingly exceeding its budget limitations.
SECTION II
PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY
POLICE DEPARTMENT
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE AND POLICE SIGNALS
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
WIRE DEPARTMENT
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
FORESTRY AND GYPSY MOTH
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Police Department
The Police Department of every Municipality is charged with a twenty-four hour watch over the persons and property of all residents in the community. The policeman is called upon to handle every sort of situation, emergency or otherwise, many of which are actually beyond the call of his official responsibility. His service is always taken for granted, but the results of his efforts have proved beyond a doubt that he has on all occasions performed in a creditable fashion.
The responsibilities of caring for the 85,000 citizens of Quincy is great, and a glance at the comparative figures which follow show that these were handled in a most efficient manner comparable, it can be freely stated, with any modern Police Department of any City of like size.
ARRESTS
1947
1948
Total Arrests
2,786
2,189
Native Born
2,527
2,032
Foreign Born
259
157
Male
2,576
1,936
Female
210
253
TRAFFIC BUREAU
1947
1948
Accidents
586
495
Persons Injured
623
524
Persons Killed
5
2
Prosecutions
668
705
Warnings to Motor Vehicle Violators
461
722
Tags Issued
8,205
8,327
Auto Sales Transfers Received
6,703
8,894
Bicycle Registrations Issued
493
301
JUVENILE BUREAU
1947
1948
Juvenile Court Cases
177
143
Informal Hearings at Probation Office
11
21
Informal Hearings at Police Headquarters
125
138
Malicious Damage to Property
89
89
Miscellaneous Investigations
78
86
The above tables of activity are self-explanatory, and the im- provements of 1948 over similar conditions of 1947 are in like respect self evident. The most notable of these improvements is found in the Traffic Bureau. Accidents and resultant injuries and deaths showed a marked decrease during 1948 compared with 1947. This, in spite of the fact that local automobile registrations reached an all-time high during 1948, is a strong indication of increased activity in the field of accident prevention as well as intensified vigilance for would-be vio- lators of traffic ordinances and laws. The decrease in the number of
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juvenile court cases in 1948 from 1947 coupled with the increased number of informal hearings held at the probation office and police station is a healthy sign. This situation should be a very interesting item to follow in the ensuing years, especially with the increased activity and interest being demonstrated these days in the problem of juvenile delinquency.
A most important activity of any Police Department is that which is carried on by a modern, well-equipped and adequately staffed Bureau of Investigation. The figures of this Bureau, for 1948, show an overall decrease in the case load from that of 1947; the one type of case showing an increase during 1948 was that of "breaks." However, this increase from 272 breaks investigated in 1947 to 306 in 1948 is not significant to offset the decrease of total cases from 1407 in 1947 to 1314 in 1948.
The Bureau of Photography reports the photographing and print- ing of eighty prisoners, pictures of forty-eight accident and street scenes and thirty-seven claims against the City.
The Radio Department, maintaining two-way radio communication with Department vehicles, reports transmission of 36,761 messages and reception of 22,662 messages. This is a decided increase of activity over that of 1947.
LIQUOR BUREAU
1947
1948
Liquor Inspections
8,154
6,973
Complaints Investigated
67
51
Hearings before License Board
8
10
Licenses Suspended
2
7
PERSONNEL
1947
1948
Chief
1
1
Captains
4
4
Lieutenants
8
8
Sergeants
10
10
Radio Supervisor
1
1
Patrolmen
112
112
Police Woman
1
1
Reserves
3
0
140
137
Fire Department
A well equipped Fire Department with personnel adequate in number and properly trained is a good investment for the citizens of any community.
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The City of Quincy maintains and operates seven up-to-date fire stations located and strategically placed in wide-spread parts of the City. The largest of these, the Central Station, compounding Fire headquarters with Fire and Police Signals and equipment of all types is situated in a position readily accessible to two of Quincy's greatest fire hazards, namely, the combustible industries in Quincy Point, and the downtown shopping district in Quincy Center. The Quincy Point district is immediately protected by the services of a station composed
HOUGHS NECK FIRE STATION
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of one engine, but is sufficiently reinforced by the above mentioned services of the close-by Central Station. Other stations are located in Atlantic, Wollaston, West Quincy, Houghs Neck, and Squantum.
In the elections of 1947, the people of Quincy voted, by referendum, approval on the question of a 48-hour week for its firemen. This shortening of working hours made necessary the addition of a con- siderable number of new men to the Department and the resultant promotion of several existing members of the Department.
The following is a comparison of the Fire personnel prior to and following the adoption of the 48-hour week:
QUINCY FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL BY RANK
RANK
1947
1948
Chief
1
H
Deputy Chiefs
3
4
Captains
12
13
Lieutenants
11
23
Privates
108
154
Mechanics
1
1
Clerks (Civillian)
1
Total
136
197
Further discussion of the personnel requirements under the 48- hour week can be found in "recommendations" at the close of this report.
During 1948, the Fire Department responded to a total of 2,022 alarms. This figure is a decrease of 397 alarms from the 1947 total of 2,419 alarms. The most notable decrease in fires by classification is contained in the more common types, those of dwellings, and grass and dump fires. False alarms, always a dangerous and expensive nuisance, accounted for the remarkably small number of 99 alarms in 1948. This is a decrease of 77 alarms from the 1947 total of 176.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This oft quoted slogan is used as the prime rule of fire protection. In this end, the Department maintains a very active Bureau of Fire Prevention. This Bureau issues permits for, acts on complaints, and makes routine inspections of all potential fire hazards. During 1948, a total of 2,802 permits were issued, and 15,276 inspections were made. Of the per- mits issued, 984 were for outdoor fires, 87 for the keeping of Class A fluids, and 39 were issued for blasting. Stores, factories, etc., were the objects of the greater majority of inspections, 12,011 in number.
Fire losses for 1948 amounted to a total of $389,582. This figure is an increase of 28% over the 1947 total of $303,000.
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The following is an analysis of fire losses for 1948 as compared to 1947.
1947
1948
Percent of Increase
Value
$1,759,087
$3,563,732
102.5
Insurance Carried
1,553,442
2,762,446
77.8
Loss
303,000
389,582
28.5
Loss Paid
205,399
365,181
43.7
RECOMMENDATIONS
APPARATUS: Ladder 5, a 23 year old piece of equipment, at the Atlantic Station should be replaced with an 85-foot aerial equipped truck. This station serves an industrial area as well as the large North Quincy High School, and many multi-family apartment houses.
The City ordinance requires that the ladder formerly located at West Quincy should be reactivated. This area is rapidly expanding with housing units of the multiple type. At the present time, this section is being covered by ladder companies from Headquarters and the Wollaston Station.
STATIONS: A survey of the physical condition of all the stations was recently completed; a report of which was submitted to the Com- missioner of Public Works. Recommendations contained in this report must be given immediate consideration in order that extensive repairs will not be necessary in the future.
PERSONNEL: At the time of the adoption of the 48-hour week, requirements which had been submitted to properly man the com- panies were not wholly agreed upon. As a result the Wollaston, Atlantic, and Squantum Stations are being maintained by low manual forces. A minimum of 1 Lieutenant and 14 men are needed to bring these companies to a strength consistent with the manual coverage of the rest of the City.
FIRE PREVENTION: At the present time, this Bureau is operated by 2 men. As their duties under the laws of the Commonwealth are broadened, as is the case yearly, the work of these men necessarily increases. It is recommended that the personnel of this Bureau be increased by 1 man.
RADIO: At the present time, the only means of communication between apparatus and Headquarters is through the use of the police radio system. It is quite obvious that this twofold use of the very busy Police radio service cannot be efficient at all times. Therefore, it is recommended that a separate radio system be set up in the Fire Department.
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Fire and Police Signals
During 1948, all fire alarm, police signal, and traffic signal systems were maintained in efficient operating condition by this Department.
Many additions were made and alterations completed to the Signal equipment. New traffic signals which were installed during the year have brought about added improvement in the flow of traffic.
Sealer of Weights and Measures
The average person is daily confronted with the system of weights and measures. Every item purchased by the consumer is weighed or measured by an approved set of standards which is established by law. The responsibility of enforcing these laws at the local level lies in the Sealer of Weights and Measures. During the course of a year, commodities of every type are weighed and reweighed for accuracy by the Sealer. Weights and scales of all types, both volu- metric and linear, are checked for accuracy.
Sealer of Weights and Measures - 1948
Type
Sealed
Adjusted
Not Sealed®
Condemned
Scales
1,312
361
63
70
Weights
2,958
170
0
6
Volumetric Measures
391
0
0
41
Automatic Liquid Measuring Devices
767
110
407
64
Linear Measures
86
0
0
1
Taximeters
14
0
2
0
Totals
5,528
641
472
182
A total of 4,882 inspections were made by this Department during the year. Examples of these inspections are those concerned with the checking of paper or fibre cartons, markings of bread and food pack- ages, coal and kindling wood in paper bags, clinical thermometers and oil jars.
The Sealer by law is also responsible for the issuing of transient vendors', hawkers' and peddlers' licenses.
Wire Department
The Wire Inspector has complete authority and jurisdiction over all wiring installed in the City.
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In order that wiring shall be safely and properly installed, appli- cations for the installation of such must be approved by the Wire Inspector before permits are issued.
Permits Issued 1947 - 1948
Wiring
1947
1948
New Wiring in Old Buildings
56
93
New Wiring in New Buildings
184
246
Additional Wiring in Old Buildings
2,727
2,352
Fees received from the issuing of the above permits during 1948, amounted to $4,290.50. This is slightly less than the amount of $4,833.70 collected during 1947.
In conjunction with the issuing of wiring permits, inspections are made on all applications. During 1948, 2,691 inspections of all types were made by this Department. These inspections, to name a few, were for heat regulators, oil burners, signs, gas burners, and re- inspections made after fires.
Building Department
Notwithstanding the fact that there was a decrease in the number of building permits issued in 1948 from the number issued in 1947, the total of the estimated cost of building operations in 1948 was actu- ally more than a half million dollars greater than the total for 1947.
Ward
BUILDING OPERATIONS - CITY OF QUINCY Permits Cost Permits
Cost
1
479
$1,083,371
441
$1,294,500
2
191
250,381
197
286,956
3
208
339,948
162
272,015
4
249
814,598
208
717,356
5
358
611,005
316
916,138
6
366
796,524
276
1,006,330
Total
1,851
$3,895,827
1,600
$4,493,295
Of the permits issued in 1948, 206 were for one family dwellings comprising $1,400,000 of the estimated cost of building. Twelve mer- cantile permits accounted for almost $600,000 of the building totals. The largest single permit classification is that of the 934 issued for residential alterations comprising approximately $494,000 of the 1948 total. Some of the other types of permits issued were for 5 two family dwellings, 9 four family dwellings, 3 manufacturing, 170 garages, and 180 "other alterations." The last classification accounted for over $900,000 worth of building operations, which is approximately twenty per cent of the 1948 total.
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Permits issued during the year resulted in the receipt of $9,234.00 in fees. This is a slight increase over the 1947 total of $8,924.50 in fees received.
An encouraging note, in the light of the still present housing shortage, is that a total of 326 new dwelling units were made avail- able by building operations. Of these 278 were provided by new construction and 48 by alterations.
The Board of Appeals for Zoning held hearings on twenty-one appeals during the year. Twelve of these were granted eight were denied, and one appeal was withdrawn.
In 1948 ten applications were brought before the Board of Appeals for the Building Code. Decisions rendered by the Board resulted in eight applications being granted, several with provisions, and two denied.
During the month of April, in accordance with Chap. 143, Sec. 48 of the General Laws, all fire appliances were tested. In like manner, as provided by the aforesaid Chap. 143, all elevators were inspected during the year.
Due to the increase in building operations public safety enforce- ment was considerably less in volume during 1948 than in the previous years. As a result the closing of the year saw only about forty per cent of the buildings coming under this particular law being inspected and certified.
Forestry and Gypsy Moth
(Department of Public Works)
One of the chief functions of this Division of the Department of Public Works is the spraying and destroying of the gypsy moth and browntail.
During the latter part of the Summer, facilities of this Division were used for the spraying of areas where the Japanese beetle had caused considerable damage to the foliage.
The Dutch Elm disease, a scourge which made necessary removal of many fine old elms during 1947, continued to be a problem. A program which had been initiated in 1947 for the control of this disease was continued during the year. The usual methods of re- moving infected trees and widespread spraying were employed.
The unusually dry weather of the Fall season forced a curtail- ment in the tree planting program. Orders were received and carried
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out for the spraying of privately owned trees and shrubs. All owners were billed for these services.
This division is also responsible for the planting and maintenance of the City's beautiful street parks. Almost all of the plants used in these parks are raised in the City nursery and greenhouse.
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FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
SECTION III HEALTH AND SANITATION
HEALTH DEPARTMENT QUINCY CITY HOSPITAL SEWER DIVISION SANITARY DIVISION
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Health Department
Of all the activities and accomplishments of this Department dur- ing the past year, the most important by far was the authorization by the City Council of the Mayor's proposal for the construction of a modern, fully equipped Health Center. This building, partially financed by the Federal Government, promises to be one of the finest of its type and one of the first to be constructed under this particular law, in the country. It is predicted that this building will be completed and ready for use by Spring of 1950.
The annual report of the Health Department consists of individual reports of its six divisions, namely: Administration, Contagious Dis- eases , Child Welfare, Dental, Tuberculosis Control, and Inspection.
ADMINISTRATION: The past three yearly reports emphasized the fact of a long waiting list and resultant delays in admissions of tubercular patients to the Norfolk County Hospital in Braintree. These delays lasting, at times, from three to four months per patient nec- essarily created an adverse effect on the Department's program of Tuberculosis Control, which calls for immediate hospitalization both for the welfare of the patient and the protection of family contacts. However, the increase of facilities at the Hospital during 1948 brought about a significant improvement in this matter, so that by the close of 1948 there were no males and very few females on the hospital waiting list. As of December 31, there were 53 Quincy patients hospitalized at Norfolk County, one of the peak totals for the past several years.
Partial clean up of the Quincy coastline is being accomplished by the construction of a new sewage treatment plant at the outlet of the South Metropolitan Sewerage System on Quincy Bay. When this project and a like one recommended for the North Metropolitan System are completed, only the Main Boston System at Moon Island will be left for improvement. The present session of the State Legislature will probably take some measures for the alleviation of the latter condition.
The Department Dental program which at present is available to the first three grades of the Public and Parochial schools will be greatly expanded in the near future, and the initiation of the new sodium fluoride treatment for the prevention of tooth decay is being contem- plated for Quincy children.
The following are a few of the vital statistics compiled by this division during the year. Complete figures are available at the Health Department office.
Vital Statistics 1948
Population
86,704 (est. s'atistically)
Births (residents)
1,924 (estima ed)
Birth Rate (estimated)
22.2 per 1,000 population
Deaths (residents)
846
Death Rate
9.6 per 1,000 population
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CONTAGIOUS DISEASES: There were three notable features in this particular field of Public Health during 1948. The first of these was a true epidemic of measles which began in early February in the Houghs Neck section of Quincy and soon spread throughout the entire City. The peak of incidence was reached in April and the epidemic was over by the middle of June. A total of 2331 cases of measles was reported during the year with 2259 or 97% of the cases occuring during the epidemic period.
In spite of the measles epidemic, the most significant feature in the control of communicable diseases was the sudden drop in the inci- dence of whooping cough in 1948 from that of 1947. The total whoop ing cough cases in Quincy during 1947 were the highest for many previous years, numbering 172 cases. This fact was considered so alarming that it received considerable publicity, receiving subhead- lines in the results of the special report of the Greater Boston Com- munity Fund Survey which was released during the year. However, the total number of cases reported during 1948 was only fourteen, or 85% below the average incidence of the previous five years. This sudden and pleasing drop is mystifying in some respects but it is probably due to the total of immunized children which had accumu- lated during the past few years. A similar low occurrence of this disease in 1949 will probably bear out this conclusion.
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