USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1886 > Part 9
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This lamentable and irreparable loss of time and manifest in- ability to retain permanently what has been acquired should excite earnest inquiry into the cause, and lead to the diligent and vigorous application of the remedy.
It is a very generally admitted statement, that " whatever is soon forgotten was never thoroughly learned." Carlyle says, " Be careful not to stamp a thing as known only when it is so stamped on your mind that you may survey it on all sides with intelligence." Impressions that endure are deeply engraved. Nothing truly valuable is gained without earnest, persistent effort, Knowledge that has durability was acquired by close application, patient, continuous thinking. The permanency of knowledge is commensurate with the labor bestowed upon its attainment. What is communicated to us and of which we are merely passive re- cipients, is soon forgotten.
The frequent recollection and repetition of what has been learned, assists greatly the permanent remembrance of it. Hence
164
ANNUAL REPORTS.
the importance of a system of examinations, oral and written, which compels frequent reviews of what we would have indelibly stamped upon the mind.
In order, however, that the desired results from examinations may be obtained, they must never be regarded as an end. What is learned for the sake of an examination merely, will soon be for- gotten when that event is passed. Unexpected examinations, and occasional examinations of topics at periods remote from the time of their consideration, are valuable as correctives of hasty and superficial preparation.
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.
We respectfully invite attention to the following extracts from a paper by Dr. W. T. Harris : -
" The pillars on which school education rests are behavior and schol- arship. Deportment or behavior comes first, as the sine qua non. The first requisite of the school is order; each pupil must be taught to conform his behavior to the general standard, and repress all that interferes with the function of the school. . . . Lax discipline in a school saps the moral character of the pupil. It allows him to work merely as he pleases, and he never can re-enforce his feeble will by regularity, punctuality, and systematic industry. ... Too strict discipline, on the other hand, under- mines moral character by emphasizing too much the mechanical duties, and especially the phase of obedience to authority, and leaves the pupil in a state of perennial minority. He does not assimilate the law of duty and make it his own. The law is not written on his heart, but is written on lips only. The tyrant teacher produces hypocrisy and deceit in his pupils. All manner of fraud germinates in attempts to cover up short- comings from the eye of the teacher. . . . There is no independence and strength of character developed. The best help one can give his fellows is that which enables them to help themselves. The best school is that which makes the pupils able to teach themselves. The best instruction in morality makes the pupil a law unto himself. Hence strictness, which is indispensable, must be tempered by such devices as cause the pupil to love to obey the law for the law's sake."
It is our pleasure to report that, pro rata, the number of cases of corporal punishment reported this year is smaller than on any previous year. Thirteen teachers report no case of punishment during the year ; eleven, one case each; and eleven, two cases each.
165
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
MORAL TRAINING.
We cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of the moral element in education. " The whole school life should be moral in tone and tendency." An eminent statesman has said, " Whatever you desire to have in your nation, you must introduce through your schools." Only a few years, and the children and youth com- prising the public schools and higher institutions of learning in our land, will have in charge all the vast interests of society. Their fitness for the responsibilities awaiting them will depend in large measure upon the quality of the instruction they are now receiving, and the influences by which their characters are being moulded.
It is a cheering indication of the advance of popular sentiment in the right direction, that schools and teachers are being esti- mated and prized more and more by their moral character and influence. We seek for well-educated teachers, teachers who understand the best methods of instruction, and are skilful in ap- plying them, but the thought that overshadows all other con- siderations regarding them, pertains to their moral character and influence.
It has been wisely said : " Mere teaching, without formative in- fluences on character, is simply a trade. Character is a man's deepest love, and will determine his ultimate destiny. Hence the highest form of benevolence is in seeking to improve it. He who appreciates the value of character clearly, and devotes himself with energy and self-denial to its improvement in himself and others, is the highest style of a man ; and the institution that does most for character will do most for the individual and the country."
J. H. DAVIS, Superintendent of Public Schools.
SOMERVILLE, Dec. 27, 1886.
·
REPORT
OF THE
SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, Feb. 23, 1887.
Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 24, 1887.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council :
GENTLEMEN, - It is with more than ordinary satisfaction that your Board reviews the work of the past year, and contemplates the relation of this department to the city government in the future.
No previous year has closed of late without regret on the part of the Board that no change had been effected in our contract re- lations with the Boston Water Board. Hence our pleasure in re- ferring to the fact, announced in the early summer, that a new contract has been made, whereby $18,000 a year is saved to the city at present, which amount will increase in our favor with the city's growth. In contemplating this new contract, we not only share the gratification of the general public, but, having labored long in the face of many obstacles, the success gained means more to us than it can mean to others. It is but justice to say that this contract, in which Chelsea and Everett share, was secured largely through the instrumentality of our Board ; and to Walter S. Barnes, our representative on the special committee, are we in- debted more than to any other one, because through his devotion, untiring energy, and good judgment the desired result was at- tained.
We have been especially fortunate, also, in the matter of damage to persons and property, and have no unsettled claims at this time. We wish to express our appreciation of the prompt service of the police and private citizens in notifying us of bursts in the mains, thereby in some cases preventing great damage.
We have been enabled, out of the appropriation of the past year, to relay some of the weakest mains, and our chief regret, as we review the work of the department, is that the appropriation did not enable us to relay more mains. If double the number of feet could have been relaid during the past year, indeed during the past four years, the maintenance account would have been greatly les- sened, and the condition of the service much improved. Con-
170
ANNUAL REPORTS.
sidering the time, however, during which these mains have been in use, we have reason to congratulate ourselves that they have en- dured so long ; and they are now in better condition than the most favorable estimate would have allowed us to expect, when we remember that they were laid by contract, more than twenty years ago, and warranted for only five years. It is not strange, there- fore, that in some instances the streets, notably Beacon and Poplar Streets, are positively dangerous. The most important work to be done during 1887 is the relaying of the main in Beacon Street, where the breaks in the street are frequent and expensive, in con- sequence of the pipe being under the horse-car track. Although the relaying will be attended with some difficulty and more than usual expense, there should be no delay in doing the work. Both economy and safety demand that these mains be relaid as soon as the frost is out of the ground.
There have been 2,273 feet of mains replaced by new pipe the past year, and 6,698 feet of new mains laid, to accommodate new dwellings ; 292 services have been put in, mostly in new houses. The whole number of services is now 4,626. There are now in the city 50± miles of mains and 292 miles of service pipe. During the past year nearly all of the old wooden service gate- boxes, that used to stand up from the sidewalk at a convenient height to trip the passers-by, causing much annoyance and some serious accidents, have been replaced by iron boxes of an approved pattern.
We have few recommendations for 1887, other than those already referred to. The ten-inch main which now leads from the reservoir to the corner of Grove Street and Highland Avenue, near the Brastow hose house, should be extended on Highland Avenue to Central Street. This will complete the original plan of the works, and add materially to the pressure on Highland Avenue where it is needed, and also will improve the circulation and con- sequently the quality of the water. This will certainly have to be done soon, and until then all the devices of running small pipes to houses along the line cause a waste of money, and are unsatisfac- tory to all concerned. This work would cost probably $5,000, and would not directly increase the revenue ; but we owe it to all the water-takers in that part of the city to make the improve- ment.
Another matter that has had the attention of the Board concerns
171
REPORT OF SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.
those citizens near the Cambridge line who are supplied by the Cambridge department. The Cambridge pipes are old, in bad condition, and when they are relaid it should be done by the Somerville department. The service is unsatisfactory, and water- takers are petitioning us for relief. There are probably 7,000 feet of this pipe. It is in a thickly settled portion of the city, and we should reap a good revenue at once. The most annoying circum- stance connected with the work of the department is the fact that the large works of J. P. Squire & Co. take water from Cambridge, most of which is used in buildings located in Somerville, Cam- bridge making a special rate to them of about one half that paid by other consumers. The Boston Board is not at liberty to com- pete in this way, and the policy of the State in relation to the water supply would not for a moment approve of Cambridge's making a special bid which takes from us several thousand dollars each year. The introduction of water is principally for the benefit of the homes, and they should have it at the lowest possible cost. The law of wholesale prices for large quantities does not hold good in public works of this kind.
With this new contract already in working order there remains but one desirable thing of any magnitude to be obtained, namely, a never-failing supply of pure water. The Board has taken an active interest in preliminary steps to obtain the pure water of the Shawsheen River, to be used as a substitute for the Mystic, or as an additional supply.
As this matter is before the Legislature, we trust that our sena- tor and representatives will consider the interest which Somer- ville has in this measure, and that all citizens acquaint themselves with the facts upon which this legislation is asked.
For a detailed statement of the work and condition of the de- partment, we refer you to the appended report of the Superintend- ent, Mr. Nathaniel Dennett, to whose industry we are largely indebted for the efficiency of the service.
J. O. HAYDEN. WALTER S. BARNES. CHAS. H. BROWN. JOHN M. WOODS.
172
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the Somerville Mystic Water Board :
GENTLEMEN, -The annual report of the Superintendent of the Somerville Mystic Works is respectfully submitted, giving a de- tailed account of all work performed during the year 1886. The schedules hereto annexed show the sizes and locations of the exten- sions of main pipe, and of the pipe relaid ; and also the stop-gates, hydrants, and stand-pipes set. The inventory of tools and stock on hand is included.
DISTRIBUTION MAINS.
These were extended 6,693 feet or 1} miles, 98 feet, of which 132 feet was hydrant pipe; making the total length in the city 50} miles, 98 feet ; 2,273 feet of cast-iron pipe have been relaid in place of cement-lined pipe ; 798 feet of this pipe was relaid for the Trustees of the McLean Asylum, and the expense was borne by them. For the better protection of the Middlesex Bleachery and Dye Works, 215 feet of cast-iron pipe was laid in their premises, and a 6-inch hydrant connected with the same, the whole at the expense of the proprietors; 141 feet of cement-lined pipe was relaid in place of old, for repairs on the same.
There have been 50 breaks and leaks, 23 on 4-inch cement-lined pipe, 18 on 6-inch, and 9 on 8-inch.
The streets referred to in my last report continue to give about the same trouble. Poplar Street especially has given out, and only a portion of the pipe is now in use.
STOP-GATES.
Twenty-one new stop-gates have been set, 8 on old mains and on 13 extensions, viz. : -
On old mains, -
1 six-inch gate, corner of Broadway and School Street.
1 four-inch gate, corner Evergreen Avenue and School Street.
1 eight-inch gate, Broadway, near drinking fountain.
173
REPORT OF SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.
1 four-inch gate, Wesley Park, corner Summer Street.
1 Winter Street, corner Holland.
1 six-inch gate, Franklin Street, corner of Flint.
1
corner Preston and School Streets.
1
66 Summer and School Streets.
On extensions, -
1 four-inch gate, Summer Street, corner of School.
1 six-inch gate, Runey Street, corner Eglantine.
1 ' Dartmouth Street, Evergreen Avenue.
1 four-inch gate, Buckingham Street, corner Beacon.
1 Magoun Street, corner Medford.
1 six-inch gate, Beacon Street, corner Kent.
1
Warwick Street, corner Cedar.
1 four-inch gate, Essex Street, corner Medford.
1 eight-inch gate, Walnut Street, near Bonair.
1 four-inch gate, Sanborn Street, corner Walnut.
1 66 Parker Street, corner Washington.
1 six-inch gate, Austin Street, corner Benedict.
1 Somerville Avenue, near Bleachery Court.
On account of relaying the pipe, the following changes in size of the stop-gates have been made : -
Gate corner Walnut Street and Broadway from six inches to eight inches.
Gate corner Bonair and Walnut Streets, from four inches to six inches.
Gate corner Mills and Walnut Streets, from four inches to six inches.
Gate corner Maple and Poplar Streets, from four inches to six inches.
Gate corner Medford and Poplar Streets, from four inches to six inches.
Twenty-three gate-boxes have been raised to conform to the present grade ; 4 have been taken out. repaired and reset ; 26 wooden gate-boxes have been set in place of old decayed ones ; 81 gates found leaking have been repacked, and all have had the usual care, and are in good order. The total number of gates in the city is 482.
174
ANNUAL REPORTS.
HYDRANTS.
There are 343 fire hydrants ; during the year 21 hydrants were set,-14 on old mains and 7 on extensions,-located as follows : - On old mains, -
Dartmouth Street, near Broadway.
Dover Street, opposite car stables.
Austin Street, near Mystic Avenue. Austin Street, opposite Benedict. Chestnut Street, 400 feet from Joy. Everett Street, opposite Emerson. Washington Street, corner Tufts.
Broadway, between Cutter and Franklin Streets. Walnut Street, opposite Pleasant Avenue.
Chester Street, near Orchard. Park Avenue, near Chandler Street. Washington Street, corner Myrtle. Washington Street, corner Franklin.
Vine Street, near Beacon.
On extensions, -
Summer Street, near School.
Summer Street, opposite Preston. Medford Street, near Thurston. Dartmouth Street, corner Evergreen Avenue. Richdale Avenue, corner Thurston Street.
Medford Street, opposite School. Dartmouth Street, near Medford.
Eight of the old disk hydrants, which have given considerable trouble in years past, have been taken out and altered to the Holyoke pattern. All the hydrants have had the usual attention paid them, having been carefully looked over once a month ; 140 have been repacked, and other needed repairs have been made. They are now in good working order, none having failed at fires.
The hydrant on Washington Street, near the Lowell Railroad bridge, having been struck several times by teams and its position being dangerous to the same, it has been removed ; also, the one near the corner of Washington and Franklin Streets has been re- moved, and one set in its place some twenty feet up Franklin Street.
175
REPORT OF SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.
One new post hydrant has been set in place of a flush hydrant in the Asylum grounds.
SERVICE PIPES.
The whole number laid in 1886 was 292, at an average cost of $18.84 ; the length of pipe used was 11,6962 feet. The whole number of services is now 4,626 ; total length of pipe, 292 miles, 494₺ feet.
Thirty-six old services have been replaced by new ones ; 23 at the expense of the owners, as the old service pipes had become too small for their increased requirements; the remainder at the expense of the service department, as the old pipes furnished by the city were rusty and unfit for use.
Twenty-five leaks have occurred, and were caused as follows : 14 by defective soldering, 5 by pick-holes, and 6 by settling of the earth.
One hundred and thirty-nine services were stopped ; 38 by eels, 68 by rust, and 33 by sediment or other causes.
Thirty-nine were shut off' for repairs on account of leaks inside the premises, and 35 for non-payment of the water rates.
One hundred and eighty-four iron service boxes have been sub- stituted for decayed wooden ones. Quite a number of wooden boxes should be removed as soon as convenient.
STAND-PIPES.
Five new stand-pipes have been set :
One on Concord Avenue, near Adrian Street.
One on Mystic Avenue, corner Union Street.
One on Highland Avenue, corner Central Street.
One on Pearl Street, near. Marshall.
One on Summer Street, corner Cedar
All the stand-pipes received the usual attention, were repaired when necessary, and are in good order.
DRINKING FOUNTAINS.
All have received the customary care, requiring but few repairs. A large iron fountain at the easterly end of Union Square, which was set to take the place of a similar one, has proved unsuitable for the place. It has been broken by heavy teams a number of times and is now beyond repair. I recommend that your honora-
176
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ble Board confer with the committee on highways, in regard to re- placing it with a granite fountain like the one in Davis Square, as that is the only one in the city adapted to the requirements of Union Square.
BUILDINGS.
The buildings used by the department - the exterior repairs on the old police building having been completed - now conform to the appearance of the other public buildings.
MISCELLANEOUS WORK.
Fifty-three trenches were repaired and 59 places were paved. In the department shops, 12,300 feet of service pipe have been lined with cement; gate-boxes were constructed and gates re- paired ; hydrants altered and repaired ; and a large amount of incidental work performed.
STOCK AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE USE, JAN. 1, 1887.
Cast-iron pipe
$2,740 00
Cement-lined pipe .
295 30
Sheet-iron shells
24 64
Service pipe, lined and unlined
799 40
Service materials .
600 80
Materials for water works
592 65
MACHINERY, TOOLS, AND FURNITURE.
Stable department . .
$1,190 50
Tools and machinery for water works. .
810 92
Tools and machinery for service department 523 00 .
Office furniture
. 280 00
EXTENSION OF PIPE IN 1886, IN FEET. GATES AND HYDRANTS SET.
EXTENSIONS.
STOP-GATES.
LOCATION.
1} in.
2 in.
4 in. 6 in. 4
4 in.
6 in.
8 in.
Hydrants.
Arnold Court .
137
1
Austin St., near Mystic Ave .
Austin St., corner Benedict .
Austin St., opposite Benedict
1
Beacon Street
498
1
Benedict Street
128
Bond Street
48
Broadway, corner School Street
66 near drinking fountain, 66 b'n Cutter & Frank'n sts.
1
Buckingham Street
Chandler Street
426
190
Chapel Street .
40
Chauncy Avenue
1
Chestnut Street, 400 ft. from Joy . Dartmouth Street .
577
66 corner Evergreen Av.,
1
1
66 near Medford .
1
Dover Street, opposite car stables,
19
248
1
Everett Street, opposite Emerson, Evergreen Avenue .
13
1
Franklin Street
84
Linden Court .
141
159
1
Medford Street
213
1
1
Oxford Street .
24
1
Parker Street .
214
1
Preston Street
378
1
Richdale Avenue
219
1
Runey Street .
284
1
Sanborn Street
3103
1
School Street .
169
Somerville Av., near Bleachery Ct.,
1
1
Summer Street, near School . Summer Street 66 opposite Preston
695
1
1
Vine Street, near Beacon
Walnut Street, near Bonair
1
opposite Pleasant Avenue, Warwick Street
583
1
Washington Street, corner Tufts
corner Myrtle .. corner Franklin
1
Wesley Park . .
62
1
Winter Street, corner Holland
1
Hydrant pipe .
132
Middlesex B. & D. Works
215
1
Essex Street .
.
1
1
High Street
near Broadway .
197
1
1
1
294
Chester Street, near Orchard
1
1
Magoun Street
66 near Thurston . opposite School
Park Avenue, near Chandler
1 1
1
1
1
1
12
178
ANNUAL REPORTS.
CAST-IRON PIPE RELAID IN 1886, IN FEET.
LOCATION.
6 in.
8 in.
Adams Street .
36
Bonair Street .
15
Franklin Street
36
Maple Street .
715
Mills Street
25
Tufts Street
36
Walnut Street
612
McLean Asylum
798
CEMENT-LINED PIPE RELAID ON ACCOUNT OF BURSTS.
LOCATION.
4 in.
6 in.
8 in.
Beacon Street
16
Broadway
8
Chester Street
17
Ellsworth Street
7
Everett Street
7
Evergreen Avenue
7
Homer Square
7
Morrison Street
6
Mystic Avenue
18
Professors' Row
6
Somerville Avenue
21
Springfield Street
14
Washington Street
Respectfully submitted, NATHANIEL DENNETT,
Superintendent.
WATER CONTRACT.
WATER CONTRACT.
This agreement, made this first day of July, 1886, between the city of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, by the Boston Water Board, first party, thereto authorized by an order approved by its mayor, March 24, 1886, and the city of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex, by its Water Board, second party, thereto authorized by an order approved by its mayor, May 18, 1886, witnesseth : -
1. That the said parties cancel any and all agreements hereto- fore made between the city of Boston or the city of Charlestown and the second party relating to rates or rents for the use of water supplied by the city of Charlestown or the city of Boston, within the territory of the second party.
2. That the said first party shall furnish to the second party and its inhabitants water from the Mystic water supply, or any increase of or substitute for the same hereafter authorized by the Legislature, and that the supply of the same shall not be discon- tinued or restricted, unless the quantity of water from the said supply, or any substitute therefor, fails to exceed the requirements of the inhabitants of the Charlestown district of said city within its present territorial limits, and of the inhabitants of the city of Chelsea.
3. That the said sccond party shall, at its own cost and ex- pense, lay and maintain all the pipes, hydrants, and stop-gates necessary for conveying the water from the pipes laid by the first party, and distributing the water within the limits of the territory of the second party.
4. That for all the water furnished by the said first party to, and used by the second party, or by any person within the terri- tory of the second party, the said first party shall, at its own ex- pense, collect water rents at the same rates and prices, and under the same rules and regulations as are now, or may hereafter be, established by the said first party, for the use of water in the city of Boston ; provided that the price to be collected for fire hydrants shall be twenty-eight dollars per year for each three
181
WATER CONTRACT.
hundred and fifty inhabitants, as shown by the semi-decennial census next preceding ; in computing the amount, the fraction shall not be taken into account, unless it exceeds one half, when the full price shall be charged ; said hydrants to be as many as said second party may determine, but not to be used for any pur- pose whatever except for fire purposes ; that the water for public fountains shall be supplied at cost, and that the second party shall not be held responsible in any case for the payment of said water rates except for water used for hydrants. public fountains, and other city purposes.
5. That the said first party shall pay to the said second party, in the months of January, April, July, and October of each year, a rebate of fifty per cent of the rates collected for the use of water within the territory of the second party.
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