USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1880 > Part 9
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In June last the filling of the Mill Pond in Charlestown closed the channel through which the Waverly Street sewer discharged ; the sewage was discharged for a time on the marsh and flats, and caused a nuisance. The Boards of Health of Boston and Somer- ville built a culvert under the Mystic Branch of the Boston and Lowell Railroad, and the sewage is now conducted through this cul- vert and an old channel to Prison Point. This is only a temporary outlet, as the railroad companies are now filling the channel and flats near Prison Point, and it is probable that this channel will soon be closed.
The owners of vacant lands at the outlet of the Winthrop Avenue sewer desire to improve them, and have petitioned the City Council to cease discharging the sewage thereon.
166
The sewage from the Canal Street and Tenney Court sewer, built in 1879, is temporarily discharging into a small creek. It. is prob- able that it will soon become a nuisance to the residents in the neighborhood, and provision should be made for extending the sewer into deep water.
PRIVATE DRAINS.
Two hundred and eighteen permits were issued for laying private drains, 211 for new connections, and 7 for repairs.
Two persons were licensed by the mayor and aldermen as drain layers, making the present number of drain layers 23.
CATCH-BASINS.
Fourteen catch-basins were constructed during the year, at an average cost of $61.93, which is higher than the cost of last year, on account of the advance in the prices of bricks and granite work.
A large number of old catch-basins have been partially rebuilt. Thirty-two old and decayed wooden covers were replaced by cast- iron covers. Nine hundred and ninety-three loads of deposit were removed from the catch-basins, at a cost of sixty and seven tenths cents per load.
MANHOLES.
Two manholes have been constructed on the Cross Street sewer, at Webster Street and at Brook Street, and one on the Medford Street sewer at School Street.
We have several miles of old sewers, some of which were con- structed with a slight inclination, on which there are no manholes. I would recommend that they be provided with manholes, as with- out them it is impossible to properly care for the sewers.
EXAMINATION OF SEWERS.
During the year the sewers in East Somerville were carefully ex- amined, and those of which we had no record were located. Nearly all these are without manholes, and it was necessary to excavate and cut into the sewers in making our examination.
167
SIDEWALKS.
The following table will show the sidewalk improvements during the year : -
Street.
Side.
From
To
Materials.
Approx. length of walk.
Cost.
Bonner Av.
Easterly. . .
Washington St.
Columbus Av.
Brick and edgestone. Brick and
350.
$466 82
Bow
Northerly
..
Wesley Sq ..
N. Bow St. Pl.
edgestone.
180.
260 56
Gilman
Both
Cross
Westerly ..
....
Gravel and edgestone. Gravel aud edgestone.
1290.
877 38
Springfield.
Both
Concord Ave ..
Camb'dge Line.
1500.
992 94
Total
3320.
$2,597 70
The Board of Aldermen assessed one half of the cost of the side- walks on the abutters.
PERAMRULATION OF CITY LINES.
The boundary lines between Cambridge and Somerville were per- ambulated in December, W. S. Barbour, city engineer, represent- ing Cambridge, and Alderman Asa Durgin and your city engineer representing Somerville. A granite monument is now in prepara- tion, and will be set early next season on Somerville Avenue, at the East Cambridge line.
BRIDGES.
The new iron bridge on Medford Street, over the Boston and Lowell Railroad, was completed during the spring months. The grade of the new bridge was placed higher than the old one, and in consequence it was necessary to raise the grade of the street on each side of the bridge. The raising of the grade on the south side was a great benefit to Central Hill Park, as by this change the hill can be graded and improved to a better advantage.
STREET NUMBERING.
Six streets have been numbered during the year. There are several houses in the city to which the owners or occupants have
168
neglected to affix the proper numbers, and in some cases the num- bers on the houses are incorrect, causing much confusion. I would recommend that the chief of police be requested to enforce the ordi- nance where parties have not affixed the proper numbers.
ENGINEERING EXPENSES FOR 1880.
Salary of City Engineer, including maintenance of team, $1,900 00 Salaries of assistants · 961 00
Repairing instruments, stationery, spikes, tools, etc. . 155 04
$3,016 04
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. KIMBALL,
City Engineer.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON SEWERS. 1880.
. CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMAN, Dec. 28, 1880. Accepted and referred to the next city government with instructions to print the same in the Annual Report, and sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Dec. 28, 1880.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN COMMITTEE ON SEWERS, Dec. 28, 1880.
To His Honor the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :
Your Committee on Sewers, having reported upon all matters referred to them, submit the following statement of the expenses of the department for the current year : -
Appropriation for sewers,
$7,500 00
Materials on hand Jan. 1,
219 17
$7,719 17
EXPENDED.
For 15 new sewers, as per
accompanying table, $16,350 20
Less assessments, 10,009 50
Net cost to the city,
$6,340 70
For rebuilding sewer in Pearl Street,
1,323 29
" 14 new catch-basins (average, $64.93), 909 07
" 2 small catch-basins in private lands on Palmer Ave. and Fountain Ave. sewer, 24 42
" 3 new manholes,
132 20
" repairing sewers,
52 25
66 catch-basins,
416 42
66
manholes,
16 74
66 flushing sewers,
93 75
Amounts carried forward, $9,308 84
$7,719 17
172
Amounts brought forward,
$9,308 84
$7,719 17
For cleaning sewers,
186 27
66 catch-basins,
602 87
66
66 manhole dirt-catchers,
30 37
66 ditches,
45 50
" clearing mouths of catch-basins,
88 38
" filling catch-basins with water,
5 25
" changing grades and lines of catch- basins, 18 25
" changing grades of manholes, 16 75
" examining sewers,
145 62
catch-basins,
5 62
" tools and personal property, 26 67
" books and stationery, 67 50
" repairing tools and personal property, 13 66
" arranging " 3 49
28 43
" ¿ of the cost of engineer's transit,
124 00
" damages by laying Holland, Elm- wood, and Mead Street sewer,
142 00
" clerk's salary,
200 00
Net depreciation of materials,
1 06
Value of materials on hand this day,
236 93
Total expenses, 11,297 46
Excess of expenses over appropriation,
$3,578 29
Your committee have recommended the construction of such sewers only as the public necessity or the health of the citizens seemed to demand without delay, and, in addition to the petitions for these sewers, we have had before us eleven others, all of which appeared to merit favorable consideration, but which, owing to the condition of the appropriation, we have recommended to be referred to the next Board of Aldermen.
Appended hereto is a table, prepared by the City Engineer, of
" sundry small expenses,
173
sewers built and rebuilt during the year, with their lengths, dimen- sions, etc. In closing this report we desire to express our appre- ciation of the faithful and efficient manner in which the City Engineer has aided us in our duties.
For the committee,
MARTIN W. CARR, Chairman.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
CITY ENGINEER'S OFFICE, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS., Dec. 28, 1880.
To the Committee on Sewers :
I hereby submit the following report : -
SEWERS BUILT IN 1880.
Street.
From
To
Materials.
Size
in inches.
Manholes.
Inlets.
Length (in feet).
Total cost.
Assessments.
Cost to city.
Appleton ...
End of old sewer .. Appleton Street ...
Willow Ave.
Brick.
0
2
73.0 }
$150 98
$115 90
$35 08
Willow Ave ...
Northerly .
Veazie Street ..
.
Akron pipe ...
12
2
31
357.0
370.0
435 84
398 26
37 58
Cameron Ave ... ..
Holland Street. . . ..
12
0
5
106.0 }
589 37
444 07
145 30
Holland .. .
Near Newbury St ...
...
...
12
1
9
188 0 }
329 35
188 93
140 42
Broadway ..
Near Clarendon Ave. Westerly. .
Brick ...
24×17
1
25
300.0
. 415 80
312 55
103 25
Greenville.
Near Arlington St .... Near Davis Square ...
12
3
37
471.5
543 48
407 34
136 14
Highland Ave ..
Grove Street ..
Fitchburg R. R .....
Brick.
24×17
2
35
463.0
Kent ...
Beacon Street ...
Garden Court ..
24×17
1
174.0
1,470 24
784 28
685 96
Akron pipe.
12
1
22
288.0
Brick.
24×17
2
12
197.0)
Private Lands ...
Palmer Ave .. .
Fountain Ave ...
24×17
2
29
353.0
2,261 47
1,135 38
1,126 09
Fountain Ave ....
Private lands ..
Near Cross Street ...
22×15
1
26
250.0
Pearl ..
End of old sewer .. Dane Street .. ...
Near Hanson Street ..
Akron pipe ...
12
2
25
297.5
315 15
237 48
77 67
Russell Square ....
Sewer in Elm St ...
Summer Street ..
Brick ..
24×17
1
6
144.0 }
1,379 60
1,035 78
343 82
Summer.
Russell Square . ..
Willow Ave ...
24×17
3
75
881.0
Washington ..
Tufts Street ...
36×24
1
32
385.0 ¿
1,444 79
1,112 04
332 75
Tufts ..
Franklin Street .... Washington Street. South Street.
Northerly ...
12
3
42
548 05
134.0
187 68
93 70
93 98
Willow Place
.
Totals ..
44
724
9,191.0
$16,350 20
$10,009 50
$6,340 70
SEWER REBUILT IN 1880.
Pearl.
Cross Street ....... | Westerly.
| Brick ...
36×24
2
36
499.0
$1,323 29
·
$1,323 29
$17,673 49
$7,663 99
-
GEORGE A. KIMBALL,
City Engineer.
·
Near Walnut Street. . Near Holland Street ..
....
....
12
3
29
358.0}
398 07
293 04
105 03
Hathorn.
Akron pipe.
. ..
..
12
2
22
279.5
Garden Court ....
Fitchburg R. R ... .
Near Somerville Ave.
Palmer Ave.
Franklin Street. ...
Private lands.
24×17
1
20
223.0
Fountain Ave ...
Marshall Street ..
36×24
6
147
1,841.0
5,495 16
2,747 15
2,748 01
Skehan ...
Near Cambr'ge Line.
12
2
9
.
Bradley ...
Pearl Street ......
933 22
703 60
229 62
12
2
32
Claremon ...
.
Holland. ..
Broadway ...
...
12
6
62.0 )
.
. . .
7
65.0
2
32
382.5 }
Veazie ...
Bradley Street ..... Near Mead Street. . End of old sewer .. Claremon Street ... Near Newbury St .. Holland Street ..... Medford Street .... Broadway ...
F. R. R. Location ..
Kent Street ....
.
176
Akron pipe ..
.
.
20×13} 20×13] 24×17
0
FINAL REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS,
FOR THE
YEAR 1880.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Dec. 28, 1880.
Report accepted, and referred to the next city government, to be printed with the City Reports for the year 1880, and sent down for concurrence. CHARLES E. GILMAN, City Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Dec. 28, 1880.
Concurred in.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS, Dec. 23, 1880.
To the City Council :
The Committee on Highways respectfully submit this their annual report, showing briefly the operations undertaken and accomplished during the year 1880.
An item that often enters largely into the expenditures of this department is the expense incurred for the removal of snow and ice, and repairs for damages, caused by the elements, both of which are beyond the control of your committee and cannot be estimated in the making up of the appropriations for the year.
These causes at times are a severe and unprovided for drain upon the resources of the department.
Your committee are glad to report therefore, that for the year ended the expenditure called for in this direction has been very moderate, the cost of removing snow and ice for the year being only $478, and no serious damage has occurred to the highways of the city from the effects of rain or storms.
MIDDLESEX AVENUE
has been the cause of considerable outlay and anxiety to your committee during the year. Early in the season its condition be- came so bad, from the overflow of tide water and other causes, that attention was called to it by the county commissioners ; and the temporary repairs that were then being made by the superintend- ent of streets were under the direction of your committee enlarged and increased, and the result is, that a stone wall has been con- structed to preserve the avenue from the invasion of tide water ;
180
some 916 feet in length on the westerly side, from Mystic Avenue towards Wellington ; and the road-bed, kept in a passable con- dition, and the whole avenue materially improved and repaired.
MEDFORD STREET BRIDGE.
A new and handsome iron bridge has been erected at this point, across the Lowell Railroad, towards which the city of Somerville has paid as its proportionate part, the sum of $5,000, from the - annual appropriation assigned to this committee. The approaches to the bridge have been put in good order, and the unsightly and unsafe edifice that marred the city at this point has disappeared forever, and a massive stone and iron structure of great strength and perfect proportions, replaced it.
Your committee, after a careful examination, are of the opinion that a new bridge must be built over the Lowell Railroad at School Street, at an early day, as the structure now there is in a dilapi- dated condition, the approaches not in good order, and the whole not in accord with the surroundings. The attention of the next City Coun- cil is respectfully invited to this question, and if it is deemed proper to take any action, it is hoped that a specific appropriation will be made for it, and that the Committee on Highways will not, as in this year in the case of the Medford Street bridge, be obliged to deduct so large a sum as $5,000 from their appropriation for current run- ning expenses, to pay for the completion of a bridge, ordered by the City Council of two years previous.
SOMERVILLE HORSE RAILROAD COMPANY.
A double track has been laid from the Cambridge line at Miller's River, on Somerville Avenue to Union Square, the city paying from the appropriation of this committee, as its proportion for paving between the tracks, the sum of $1,000.
This piece of work has effected a complete paving of Somerville Avenue between the limits above named, of sixteen feet in width, a matter of great value to the city, in the estimation of your com- mittee, and largely decreasing the expenses which are necessary to keep an unpaved street in repair, especially a thoroughfare like this.
181
It will be acknowledged by all who have given attention to the construction and preservation of highways, that Somerville Avenue must eventually be paved its entire length, and in the estimation of your committee it is only a question of time ; and as at no period will the city be in a position to expend the necessary amount for this purpose in any one year, it is recommended that an annual appropriation, of say $5,000, be made for this special purpose, and that the money so appropriated be expended in paving so much of the avenue as possible each year until completed ; in this way the work will be consummated, and the expenditure will be gradual, and not extraordinary.
STONE-BREAKER.
The subject of the purchase by the city of a stone-breaker has been agitated for several years past, and in the early part of this year, the City Council appropriated the sum of $2,000 for the pur- chase of a stone-breaker, boiler, engine, and suitable building.
Your committee visited several places where breakers were in operation, and as a result, purchased a 9 x 15 inch machine man- ufactured by the Farrell Foundry and Machine Company, at An- sonia, Conn. The machine was set up in what is called the Holland Street ledge, and was put in operation early in the summer ; and your committee are under obligations to Mr. S. L. Marsden, agent for the company, for assistance and advice to the superintendent of streets, in arranging and starting the machine.
The results obtained have more than satisfied your committee that the expenditure has been a wise one. With this machine, all loose stone and material lying about the city is pulverized and cracked to any given size, and distributed upon any of the high- ways that may need repairs ; thus obviating an outlay for that indispensable article in road building and repairing, - namely, cracked stone.
Everything in the shape of stone can be fed to this machine, at a nominal cost, and redistributed upon the highways in its most valuable form. It is considered an invaluable adjunct to the economy aimed at in the repairs of highways, and it now seems impossible to conceive how the department has ever done without it so long.
182
FITCHBURG RAILROAD CROSSING OVER SOMERVILLE AVENUE NEAR MILLER'S RIVER.
This is a point that will be remembered by all, where several railroad tracks, public and private, cross a wide avenue and throughfare at a very long and awkward angle, and at the outlet or intersection of several streets which terminate or commence at or near this point.
Your committee early in the year gave their attention to the subject of having a series of permanent and systematic gates and fences erected, and for that purpose submitted to the Fitchburg Railroad corporation a plan and system of gates which it was thought would decrease the danger at this point. Unfortunately the arrangement was not consummated, on account of the dis- agreement between your committee and the Fitchburg Railroad corporation as to the maintenance of a certain light to be erected ; and, although in the general features of the proposed erection of fence and gates, they were agreed, they differed on this point.
The attention of the next city government is respectfully invited to this question, and it is hoped that some arrangement may be agreed upon, and a much-needed system of fence and gates erected.
As the matter now stands at present, your committee, being un- able to make an arrangement, caused an order to be introduced into the Board of Aldermen, which was adopted, calling upon the Fitch- burg Railroad Company to erect the necessary gates called for by law, and warning them that they would be held liable for any acci- dent that might occur. Up to the present time no action has been taken by the Fitchburg Railroad Company towards complying with this notice.
GRAVEL BANKS AT WALTHAM.
Early in the year an arrangement was made (which is not yet ended) with the Fitchburg Railroad Company to open up the gravel banks, supposed to exist in the land belonging to the city at Waltham, and to utilize them. For this purpose an arrange- ment has been made for the Fitchburg Railroad Company to remove a large number of squares of earth, in such localities
183
as the City Engineer shall point out, leaving such gravel "as may be exposed for the use of this city. Several short shafts have been sunk, and quite a large lot of superior gravel exposed, which it is believed, as the work goes on, can be used and utilized by this city at a small cost.
Appearances point, so far, to an excellent bed of seemingly inex- haustible gravel, which, after the filling material which covers it has been removed by the Fitchburg Railroad Company, will be at the disposal of the city. Samples of the gravel obtained have been pronounced by those capable of expressing an opinion as being of an excellent grade and quality.
WATERING STREETS.
This perplexing subject has been agitated throughout the year by the local press and by citizens ; and your committee desire, in view of the prominence to which it has arisen, and which, of course, has given them cause for serious thought throughout the year, to make the following suggestions and to record the following opinions : -
It should be remembered that Somerville is not a paved city, and yet by its geographical position, and proximity to Cambridge and Boston, is traversed by large thoroughfares, over which enormous travel of the severest kind is done ; the heavy teams of an immense business grinding its thoroughfares into impalpable dust, which is taken up by the wind and distributed in every direction, to the slow but sure destruction of the road-bed and the discomfort of all.
In the first place, it is recommended that the care of watering the streets be placed under the charge of the Committee on High- ways, to which department, it is thought, it naturally belongs, and that the appropriation for that purpose be disbursed by the Super- intendent of Streets, under the direction of that committee.
The question of the watering of streets is, in the opinion of your committee, greatly a question of the repairs of highways; far below that of comfort and convenience, lies the question of preservation and protection to the thoroughfares and arteries of the city by the legitimate use of water; in the same manner as by the legitimate use of gravel or cracked stone.
181
In the opinion of your committee, the principal arteries and thoroughfares of the city should be watered under the supervision of the Committee on Highways, by the Superintendent of Streets, as he may direct.
It is too well known for repetition here what criticisms have been made during the last year, on the condition of the highways of the city for the want of water, and it is also, as is well known to your committee, a question, as to how much should be done by the city alone in this direction, unaided by private subscription. It is also well understood that there is a great diversity of opinion on this subject, and also that it is difficult to know where to commence and where to end. All agree that something must be done, and your committee, with all due deference, desire to express the fol- lowing opinion, namely : -
That the great thoroughfares of this city are used for the general convenience of all of its citizens, and also those of the neighboring towns and cities, whilst the smaller streets are, as a rule, used almost exclusively by those who reside upon them.
It is considered but fair that all such minor streets, courts, and avenues, if watered at all, should be watered as at present ; but the great thoroughfares are for the general use and convenience of all, and the city, even on the plea of repairs, preservation, economy, and its good name, should see to it that they are watered at the discretion of the Committee on Highways, the abutters paying a fair proportion of the expense. Such action would, in the estima- tion of your committee, redound to the honor of the city, and be for the general good of the whole community. 4
It seems reasonable to your committee that citizens should dis- cern a great difference between the watering and preserving of the great unpaved thoroughfares of the city, and the necessity to water, therefore, all and every smaller and less important street.
It certainly cannot be denied that something should be under- taken to prevent a recurrence of the state of affairs of last year, if it is desired to see the city advance, and to offer inducements to strangers to take up their dwelling amongst us, and to that end the foregoing suggestions are respectfully advanced for your con- sideration.
185
Attention is invited to the following tables, schedules, etc., which present in a concise form the general work of the committee for the year.
NEW STREETS CONSTRUCTED.
NAME.
FROM
To
Columbus Avenue
Walnut Street.
Warren Avenue.
66
66
Bonner Avenue
Clark's Field.
Medford
Walnut Street
Marshall Street.
Hathorn
Broadway
Arlington Street.
STREETS GRADED, REPAIRED, ETC.
NAME.
FROM
To
Main
Broadway ...
Medford Line
800 ft. mac'ized and gravelled.
Springfield. . .
Concord Ave ...
Camb'ge Line
700 “
66
Gilman
Cross
650 “
66
66
Bonner Ave ...
Columbus Ave ..
Washington ..
350 “
66
Somerville Av.
(East Side) Cam- bridge Line ...
1450 “
66
66
School
1500 «
66
Laurel
200 “
66
SIDEWALKS CONSTRUCTED. (Abutters paying one half of the cost of construction.)
NAME.
SIDE.
FROM
To
Feet of edgestones.
Yards of brick.
Bonner Ave.
South ..
Washington
Columbus Ave .. ..
346
207₴
Bow
North .
Summer
Bow Street Place.
181
138}
Gilman
Both
Cross.
12823
Springfield .
Both
Concord Ave. ..
1561}
186
PRIVATE SIDEWALKS CONSTRUCTED. (City contributing only the labor of construction.)
NAME.
STREET.
Yards of brick.
Feet of edgestones.
D. L. McGregor
Walnut
55
L. B. Stetson
Chestnut Court
127
200
Wm. Canavan
Somerville Avenue.
24
26
Martha Hunt
Thurston
100
George C. Bonner
Columbus Avenue
244
H. G. Ashton
91
STREET CROSSINGS CONSTRUCTED.
MEDFORD STREET, at Walnut Street. WASHINGTON STREET, at Franklin Street. CROSS STREET, at Bonner Street. WASHINGTON STREET, at Franklin Avenue. COLUMBUS AVENUE, at Walnut Street.
HATHORN STREET, at Broadway. HATHORN STREET, at Arlington Street. SOMERVILLE AVENUE, at Hawkins Street. SPRINGFIELD STREET, at Concord Avenue. CONCORD AVENUE, at Springfield Street. BROADWAY, at Mt. Pleasant Street. COLUMBUS AVENUE, at Bonner Avenue. ELM STREET, at Willow Avenue.
STREET CROSSINGS RECONSTRUCTED.
MEDFORD STREET, at Marshall Street. MARSHALL STREET, at Medford Street. GILMAN STREET, at Cross Street. PEARL STREET, at Walnut Street. UNION SQUARE, at Bartley's.
187
STREET SIGNS ERECTED. Myrtle Street,
Bow Street,
Holland Street,
Otis Street.
Tufts Street,
CULVERTS (WOODEN).
School Street, 1; Medford Street, 4; Highland Avenue, 1.
Gutters repaved, 1,000 yards ; edgestones reset, 1,800 feet ; brick sidewalks repaired, 300 yards ; number of loads of ashes collected, 3,835.
GRAVEL PURCHASED, 1880.
. H. Willis, 34 loads at $0.25, $8 50
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