Report of the city of Somerville 1887, Part 10

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 350


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1887 > Part 10


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178


ANNUAL REPORTS.


STOP-GATES.


Thirty-eight gates were set, -34 on extensions, and 4 on old mains, viz. : -


On old mains, -


1 three-inch gate, corner of Ashland and Summer Streets.


1 four-inch gate, corner of Clyde and Murdock Streets.


1 66 corner of Auburn Avenue and Cross Street.


1 corner of Howe and School Streets.


On extensions, -


1 six-inch gate on Joy Street near Washington Street.


1 on Joy Street near Poplar Street.


1


" on Joy Street, midway.


1 four-inch gate on Aldrich Street, corner of Pearl Street. 1 six-inch gate on Appleton Street, corner of Lowell Street. 1 66 " on Austin Street, corner of Mystic Street.


1 " on Berkeley Street, corner of Central Street.


1 66 " on Berkeley Street, half way to Central Street.


1 " on Bigelow Street, corner of Boston Street.


1 eight-inch " on Bow Street, corner of Somerville Avenue.


1 four-inch " on Bow-street Place.


1 two-inch


" on Bradford Avenue.


1 six-inch


" on Cedar Court, corner of Cedar Street.


1 " on Chestnut Street, corner of Cedar Street.


1 66 " Fiske Avenue, corner of Lowell Street.


1 66 " on Garden Street, corner of Concord Avenue.


1 " on George Street, corner of Lincoln Street.


1


66 " on Hillside Avenue, corner of Walnut Street.


1 66


" on Jay Street, corner of Holland Street.


1 66 " on Lexington Avenue, corner of Willow Avenue.


1 " on Montgomery Avenue, corner of Broadway.


1 " on Poplar Street, corner of Somerville Avenue.


1


" on Poplar Street, corner of Linwood Street. No. 66


1. 1 2.


66


" on Poplar Street, corner of Linwood Street. No.


1


66


" on Runey Street.


1


66 " on St. James Avenue, corner of Summer Street.


66 " on Stickney Avenue, corner of Marshall Street. 1


179


REPORT OF SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.


1 six-inch gate on Sunnyside Avenue, corner of Walnut Street.


1


66 " on Sunnyside Avenue, corner of Dana Street.


1 " on Union Glass Co.'s premises.


1


" on Vernon Street, corner of Trull Street.


1


66 " on Virginia Street, corner of Aldrich Street.


1 " on Wellington Avenue, corner of Walnut Street.


1


66 " on Wheatland Street.


On account of re-laying pipe, the following changes in sizes of stop-gates have been made : -


Gate corner of Somerville Avenue and Poplar Street changed from four inches to six inches.


Gate corner of Poplar and Linwood Streets, from four inches to six inches. No. 1.


Gate corner of Poplar and Linwood Streets, from four inches to six inches. No. 2.


Gate corner of Joy and Poplar Streets, four inches to six inches.


Gate corner of Joy and Washington Streets, from four inches to six inches.


Gate on Bow Street, from six inches to eight inches.


Twenty-two gates were packed, 7 had general repairs, and 24 new gate-boxes were substituted for old ones. All gates were carefully inspected and kept constantly in working order.


The total number of gates in the city is 516.


SERVICE PIPES.


The number of services laid in 1887 was 370, at an average cost of $18.16.


The total number of services in the city is now 4,996; total length of pipe 32 miles, 1,162 feet.


Sixty-one services were cleared of rust, sediment, etc. ; 14 of eels ; 40 were dug up and tapped at the corporation ; and 10 were thawed.


Fifty-two new services were substituted for old ones ; of which number 31 were paid for by private parties, and the balance by the service department.


Twenty-four new boxes were set on old services; 101 old wooden service-boxes were replaced by an equal number of new iron ones ; 78 services were shut off for repairs.


180


ANNUAL REPORTS.


There were 53 leaks on services, the causes of which were, -


Pipes burst .


· 8


Broken stopcocks


·


6


Broken leads


15


Broken gates


4


Broken couplings


10


Rust holes


1


Freezing


1


Broken joints


3


Corporation cock .


1


Broken tees


4


HYDRANTS.


Twenty-seven hydrants were set, - 9 on old mains, and 18 on extensions. They were located as follows : -


On old mains, -


Beacon Street, near Park Street.


Bow Street, opposite Bow-street Place.


Joy Street, midway.


Joy Street, near Poplar Street.


Joy Street, near Washington Street.


Lowell Street, near Appleton Street.


Lowell Street, midway.


Somerville Avenue, near Granite Street.


Tufts Street, opposite schoolhouse.


On extensions, -


Appleton Street, leading from Lowell Street. Berkeley Street, near Central Street.


Boston Street, near Bigelow Street. Chandler Street, opposite Chapel Street. Chandler Street, near Park Avenue. Fiske Avenue, near Hinckley Street. Hillside Park, leading from Walnut Street. Jay Street, near Cambridge line. Lake Street, near New Church Street. Pearl Street, near Aldrich Street. Preston Street, leading from School Street.


181


REPORT OF SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.


Sunnyside Avenue, near Dana Street.


Vernon Street, near Trull Street.


Warwick Street, leading from Cedar Street. Wellington Avenue, near Montgomery Avenue. Wheatland Street, leading from Broadway.


Wyatt Street, leading from Concord Avenue. Union Glass Co.'s yard.


Five flush hydrants were removed and new Chapman hydrants substituted on the 24-inch main, in accordance with agreement with city of Boston. These were : 1 on Fremont Street, near the corner of Main Street ; 1 on Brooks Street, corner of Heath Street ; 1 on Jacques Street, corner of Heath Street ; 1 midway of Heath Street; and 1 near the corner of Temple and Heath Streets.


The flush hydrants on Joy Street and corner of [Myrtle and Washington Streets were abandoned.


Eight hydrants were taken out, repaired with new valves and wastes, and reset ; 18 had other repairs ; 4 were found frozen and thawed out ; 270 were repacked. Chains, etc., were repaired on 25. Five decayed wooden jackets were replaced by 5 iron ones. All hydrants were carefully looked over, oiled, and received other attentions.


The following are the private hydrants : -


One on C. H. North & Co.'s premises.


One on American Tube Works' premises.


Five in grounds of McLean Asylum.


Two on premises of Middlesex Bleachery.


Three on premises of John P. Squire & Co.


One on premises of Union Glass Co.


STAND-PIPES.


Two new stand-pipes were set, - one on the corner of Linwood and Poplar Streets, the other midway of Gilman Street.


One stand-pipe was removed from Pearl Street to Otis Street for the sake of convenience.


All stand-pipes were kept in thorough repair, and no complaint was received concerning them.


The total number in the city is twenty-six.


182


ANNUAL REPORTS.


It has been customary in years past to use the hydrants for sup- plying the street watering-carts, for which purpose they were not intended and are not adapted. The practice invariably causes trouble, by changing the currents and roiling the water, and I rec- commend that a sufficient number of stand-pipes be set to fully meet the requirements of the city.


DRINKING FOUNTAINS.


These received all customary care, and are in good condition. The one in Union Square was destroyed by a heavy team, and the fountain formerly located there was repaired and replaced in posi- tion. It is now in perfect working order.


MISCELLANEOUS WORK.


In the shops, 422 services were cut and fitted ; 500 lead connec- tions were made ; 14,167} feet of 1-inch, 14-inch, and 12-inch pipe were lined ; gates and hydrants altered and repaired ; gate-boxes constructed ; and all incidental work was performed.


As usual, a large number of trenches were repaired, and many places paved.


MACHINERY, TOOLS, AND FURNITURE.


Stable department


$1,264 00


Tools and machinery for water works


658 72


Office furniture .


280 00


Tools and machinery for water service


500 00


STOCK AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE USE, JAN. 1, 1888.


Cast-iron pipe .


$3,016 80


Cement-lined pipe


119 50


Service pipe, lined and unlined .


374 60


Iron hubs . 19 89


Service materials


1,934 73


Materials for water works . .


153 13


REPORT OF SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD.


183


EXTENSION OF PIPE IN 1887, GATES AND HYDRANTS SET.


EXTENSION.


STOP-GATES.


LOCATION.


2 in.


4 in.


6 in.


8 in.


2 in. 3 in.


4 in. 6 in.


8 in.


Hydrants.


Aldrich Street


264' 0'


418' 0''


Ashland St., cor. Summer


-


1


1


1


ʼ


1


Berkeley Street


744/ 04/


Bigelow Street .


208' 0''


1


Boston Street


Bow Street


Bow-street Place


173' 0''


117' 0''


285' 0"


Chandler Street


7' 0'


1


Chandler Street


7' 0'


1


Chestnut Street


218' 0"


1


1


1


Fremont Avenue


244' 6''


121' 0"


1


George Street


79' 0'


Hillside Avenue


221' 0'


1


Howe Street, cor. School


553' 0'


1


Joy Street


462' 0''


647' 0'


1


Lowell St., near Appleton . Lowell Street, near Wilton. Maple Street .


''ס 'ד


12' 0''


Montgomery Avenue


314' 0''


1


1


Murdock Street


123' 0'


North & Co.'s yard


24' 0'


Oxford Street


87' 0'


Park Street, to Beacon


11' 0'


Parker Street


50' 6"


7' 0"


Poplar Street


-


6' 6ª


59' 0'


Runey Street


176' 0''


1


1


Stickney Avenue


508' 0'


Sunnyside Avenue


347' 0'' 7' 0"


1 1


Union Glass Co.


137' 0'


1


Vernon Street


623' 6''


1


1


Virginia Street .


410' 0'


Wellington Avenue


260' 0''


1


1


Wheatland Street .


277' 0'


1


1


Wyatt Street


312' 0'


Warwick Street


6' 0"


Beacon Street


1032' 0'


Bow Street


-


470' 0'


Bow-street Place


31' 0''


Cross Street


36' 0'


Cross Street .


36' 0'


Durham Street


22' 0''


Joy Street


1139' 0'


Medford Street


15' 0''


Park Street


22' 0''


-


Poplar Street


730' 0'


School Street


51' 0'


Summer Street


46' 0'


Vine Street


22' 0'


-


1


Lake Street


Lexington Avenue


7' 0'


Preston Street


Richdale Avenue


Somerville Av., nr. Granite


St. James Avenue


294' 0'


Tufts Street .


50' 0'


509' 6"


1


1


Bradford Avenue


1


Buckingham Street


Cedar Court .


1


I


Appleton Street


1


Auburn Avenue


Austin Street


81' 0''


Beacon Street


408' 9''


Clyde Sreet .


Fiske Avenue


Garden Street


1


1


Jay Street


Mystic Avenue .


Pearl St., near Aldrich


1 1


Respectfully submitted,


N. DENNETT, Superintendent.


1


REPORT


OF THE


OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Jan. 25, 1888.


Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.


DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk pro tem.


Concurred in.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, Jan. 26, 1888.


CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.


BOARD OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


COL. HERBERT E. HILL .


Ward One.


CHARLES S. LINCOLN, EsQ., Chairman .


Ward Two.


HON. EDWARD GLINES


. Ward Three.


MR. CHARLES G. BRETT .


. Ward Four.


C. C. FOLSOM, General Agent.


188


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT OF THE. BOARD OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR, 1887 ..


To the Overseers of the Poor of the City of Somerville.


GENTLEMEN, - I herewith submit to you my annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1887.


The amount appropriated for the expenses of the Poor Depart- ment for the year was $14,000, or $1,000 less than for the preceding year. This amount has been sufficient ; and we now have on hand an unexpended balance of $2,126.44.


The year past has been quite noticeable in the decrease in number of persons calling for " temporary aid," and in the reduction of expenses in this department.


Every case of destitution coming to my notice has been relieved ; yet I believe there will always be more or less suffering among that class of poor persons who are brought to their poverty by the use of strong drink, because, however large the amount of aid the city may give, they will cling to their old habits, and spend their small earnings for drink rather than for food and clothing for their fami- lies. But I believe that the year past has been as free from suffer- ing and destitution as any year in the history of this city, or any other in the commonwealth.


The need of an almshouse grows more apparent every year, owing to the increase in the number of paupers who have to be fully supported.


We have at present in neighboring almshouses nine paupers, distributed as follows : Boston two, Lowell one, Taunton two, and Peabody four. We are liable at any time to receive orders to remove any or all of these paupers, owing to the crowded condi- tion of the several almshouses. And it seems hardly fair or reason- able to expect other towns to provide accommodation for our paupers, even though we are willing to pay for the same.


We have at present sixteen persons boarding in private families in this city and vicinity, and we may be called upon to remove them at any time.


189


ANNUAL REPORTS.


In addition to the above, we always have quite a large number of sick or disabled persons whom we are obliged to support a few weeks or months in the year. The number the last year has been 29. I have had to send them either to a Boston hospital or into some private family. The last named who are willing to take pauper boarders are very hard to find.


The whole number of persons aided during the year has been 685, or 211 less than the previous year.


The number of families aided temporarily during the year has been 171, or 30 less than the previous year.


I will call your attention for particulars to the statistical tables.


CHARLES C. FOLSOM,


General Agent Overseers of the Poor.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


To the Honorable the City Council of Somerville.


GENTLEMEN, - At the request of the Overseers of the Poor, the General Agent has submitted to them his report, giving an account of the work of the Board for the year ending Dec. 31, 1887; so it becomes hardly necessary to make a detailed report, as it would simply involve a needless repetition ; they therefore adopt as the official report that of the General Agent, as containing all the information generally required, and request that the same may be printed.


They deem it important, however, to emphasize his appeal for the erection of an almshouse for the accommodation of the unfor- tunate poor.


Frank W. Kaan has been elected Clerk in place of George T. Lincoln resigned, and has entered upon the duties of the office.


They present herewith schedules which will show the monthly expenditures and the different purposes for which the appropriation has been distributed.


CHAS. S. LINCOLN, Chairman: EDWARD GLINES. HERBERT E. HILL. CHAS. G. BRETT.


TABLE NO. 1.


OUT-DOOR RELIEF.


Number of families aided during the year . 171


66 " persons


685


having a settlement in this city ·


410


" other towns and cities 148


Number of persons aided having no settlement, chargeable in part to State 137


191


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


Number of persons aided in other towns and cities, charge- able to Somerville 102


Number of persons given permits to State almshouses 8


aided in House of Correction 3


refused assistance for good reasons 15


6 " visits of General Agent to paupers, examining


records, etc.


225


TABLE NO. 2.


FULL SUPPORT.


Number of persons who have been fully supported during


the whole or any part of the year in hospitals, alms- houses, private families, etc. ·


66


Number of persons supported during the whole year . 34


39


Number of sane persons supported during the whole or any part of the year . · Number of insane persons supported during the whole or any part of the year . ·


27


Number of sane persons supported during the whole or any part of the year in almshouses · Number of persons supported during the whole or any part of the year in private families (including one insane ) . 21


10


Number of sane persons supported during the whole or any part of the year in Boston hospitals


8


TABLE NO. 3.


PAY ROLLS FOR


1884.


1885.


1886.


1887.


January


$2,913 20


$2,578 43


$3,296 01


$2,769 44


February


980 45


1,198 38


965 30


834 62


March .


1,487 43


2,293 47


90S 12


1,296 90


April


1,716 54


1,400 97


1,805 75


1,073 43


May .


718 23


639 81


662 41


691 49


June


1,750 43


1,211 58


972 22


927 13


July .


1,415 09


2,373 39


1,663 89


1,500 01


August.


1,231 11


710 83


590 00


510 11


September


2,072 35


S98 50


774 84


1,431 86


October


1,023 72


1,773 42


1,395 11


725 01


November.


S28 79


434 94


669 28


696 69


December


1,135 1S


916 60


638 90


974 20


Total .


$17,272 52


$16,430 32


$14,341 83


$13,430 89


192


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TABLE NO. 4.


ITEMS OF EXPENDITURES.


Paid for rent of paupers $1,467 00


" board of " 1,665 23


" groceries for paupers 1,761 26


to other cities and towns for support of pau- pers ò


1,643 35


to public institutions, hospitals, etc., for sup- port of paupers 4,003 85


for fuel for paupers


665 64


" boots and shoes for paupers .


186 00


" dry goods and clothing for paupers


41 25


" burials of paupers


80 00


" sundries *


467 31


" salaries of general agent and secretary


1,450 00


Total expenditure


. $13,430 89


* This item includes $182.20 expended in repairing the McKone house on South Street, given to the city by Mrs. Ann McKone, who is over ninety years old.


TABLE NO. 5.


RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURES, AND BALANCE.


Received for the support of paupers from common- wealth of Massachusetts ·


$441 22


Received for the support of paupers from city of Boston .


275 37


Received for the support of paupers from city of Cambridge 27 65 · Received for the support of paupers from city of Newburyport . 25 70 · . Received for the support of paupers from city of Lowell . 38 65 .


Received for the support of paupers from city of Fitchburg 42 21


Received for the support of paupers from town of Arlington · . Amount carried forward


32 55


$883 35


193


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


Amount brought forward $883 35


Received for the support of paupers from town of Natick . 9 90


Received for the support of paupers from town of Manchester 49 50


Received for the support of paupers from town of Medford · 64 55


81 82


Received for the support of paupers from town of Woburn · Received for the support of paupers from town of Revere . · Received for the support of paupers from town of Melrose · · Received for the support of paupers from town of Milford . ·


9 90


3 70


4 70


Received for the support of paupers from town of Hopkinton · Received from Westboro' Insane Asylum, check re- turned . 42 71 ·


19 40


Received for furniture from F. H. Mixon .


5 00


from (cash returned) William Ross 5 00


for board of insane person from S. W. Dow, guardian 109 77


Received for board of insane person from O. S. Knapp, guardian . .


172 96


Received for board of insane person from Martha Osgood, guardian . 42 71


Received for board of insane person from C. C. Folsom, guardian . 42 71


9 65


Received for barrels, work, etc., from C. C. Folsom, Appropriation


14,000 00


Total receipts


$15,557 33


Total expenditures


13,430 89


Balance


$2,126 44


194


TABLE NO. 6. RECAPITULATION OF EXPENDITURES.


Rent.


Board.


Groceries.


Towns and Cities.


Public Institutions.


Boots and Shoes.


Dry Goods.


Burials.


Salaries.


Fuel.


Sundries.


Monthly Total.


January.


$120 50


$134 11


$239 25


$913 26


$980 97


$59 00


$6 00


-


$116 66


$162 95


$36 74


$2,769 44


February


126 50


120 00


298 00


60 00


8 00


-


-


116 66


99 10


6 36


834 62


March


126 50


146 53


114 63


28 72


584 17


14 00


$35 00


116 66


113 90


16 79


1,296 90


April.


.


156 50


144 63


164 10


444 SS


3 00


133 33


26 99


1,073 43


May .


.


114 50


130 54


111 50


110 30


37 75


4 00


10 00


120 83


25 45


26 62


691 49


June . .


118 50


147 06


132 00


109 00


261 49


8 00


120 83


30 25


927 13


July .


116 50


137 18


186 92


289 51 5


60S 22


7 50


5 00


120 83


28 35


1,500 01


August .


·


116 50


123 43


68 50


27 14


21 71


1 25


3 50


120 83


27 25


510 11


September .


116 50


149 03


103 00


717 27


15 50


10 00


120 83


199 GS


1,431 86


October . .


116 50


146 47


106 82


56 21


SS 93


6 25


7 50


10 00


120 83


39 25


26 25


725 01


November .


116 50


123 36


13S 54


49 21


5 50


10 00


120 83


104 51


28 24


696 69


December .


121 50


162 S4


98 00


296 21


28 25


12 25


-


120 SS


120 48


13 79


974 20


Total . .


$1,467 00


$1,665 23


$1,761 26


$1,643 35


$4,003 85


$186 00


$41 25


$S0 00


$1,450 00


$665 64


$167 31


$13,430 8


-


-


-


-


-


.


·


.


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


·


ANNUAL REPORTS.


-


-


-


-


1


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Feb. 1, 1SSS.


Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.


GEO. I. VINCENT, Clerk pro tem.


Concurred in.


IN COMMON COUNCIL, Feb. 9, 1SSS. CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE.


OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, Jan. 30, 1888.


To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council.


GENTLEMEN, - The following is respectfully submitted as the tenth annual report of this board.


MEMBERSHIP.


Jan. 26, George A. Kimball was re-appointed for two years. March 23, Mr. Kimball tendered his resignation, to take effect on the appointment of his successor ; and June 22, J. Frank Welling- ton was appointed to succeed him. Otherwise the membership ' has been the same as in 1886. Mr. Kimball had been a member of the Board ever since its formation in 1878 ; and his services to the city in that capacity have been invaluable, while his relations with his fellow-members were always of the most pleasant char- acter.


ORGANIZATION.


Feb. 7, the Board was organized as follows : -


Chairman, GEORGE A. KIMIBALL.


Clerk, GEORGE I. VINCENT.


Inspector, WILLIAM H. BRINE (40 Houghton Street).


July 7, Thomas M. Durell, M.D., was chosen chairman, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Kimball's resignation.


NUISANCES.


The number of nuisances abated is shown in the following table, which is arranged by the months when the complaints were received : -


198


ANNUAL REPORTS.


NUISANCES ABATED IN THE YEAR 1887.


January. *


February.


Mareh.


April.


May.


June.


July.


August.


September.


October.


November.


December.


Total.


Cellar damp


Cesspool defective


66 offensive


overflowing


Connections of drainage pipes defective .


8


1


2


5


1


1


4


3


1


31


Drainage defective


5


1


2


2


3


3


1


3


8


3


1


32


1


1


1


1


5


1


2


12


6 not ventilated


12


3


5


3


4


5


5


1


57


Drain-pipe clogged . 66 defective


9


20


Hennery offensive


1


1


1


Horse kept in L of house .


1


1


24


Offal on land .


1


1


8


Offal barrel offensive


Offensive odor in and about


dwellings


1


IHIN


1


3


6


11


-


4


5


1


2


2


1


1


9


Water-closet defective


4


1


- 1


-


2


1


2


11


insufficiently sup- plied with water .


5


1


1


2


-


-


1


1 1


-


14


Water-closet offensive


13


1


4


2 HNI 1


5


5


2


1


41


Wooden waste-pipes and


drains .


1


1


9


Total


127


17


26


87


57


55


78


46


43


58


40


18


652


* Including nuisances referred to us by the Board of 1886.


Number of nuisances abated


652


66


66 referred to the Board of 1888


79


66


66 complained of .


731


" complaints (many covering more than one nui-


sance) .


of houses ordered vacated


15


66 " same since made habitable .


12


66


" " vacated in compliance with our orders .


1


-


1


1


1


Privy-vault defective


full


3


66 offensive


10


1


12


80


Slops thrown on surface


2


5


Stable and stable premises filthy and offensive


1


2


·2


4


1


2


10


3


10


121


not trapped


25


2


16


16


7


12


12


IN TIHNI


1


1


2


22


Offensive odor from factory .


1


Opening in drain-pipe in cellar, Premises filthy


1


1


5


Premises without privy or


water-closet


1 - IHHTH HIHN |HTATI 1


1 1 NOOIT HITO INIHI


5


2 1


6


Furnace without cold-air box


1


3


Hens kept in cellar .


5


HHIH


1


4


1


1


-


-


-


6


66 emptying into cellar emptying on surface


2


1


-


2 IHINI! 1


1


1


-


-


-


35


21


1


1


1


5


4


9


13


Waste-pipe defective


1


1 8 1 011HI


2


2


-


1


Water-closet not supplied with water .


3 co 201


2


1 6 1 1 91


1


1 1 N HIHI 2


18


Stagnant water in house cellar . on surface


1


10 2


2


2


24


1


Manure exposed and offensive . No house drainage .


3


1


1 2


-


1


1


2 1 1 NI


299


·


13


199


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


Number of houses caused to be vacated by the chief of


police at our request


4


of notices mailed 325


66 served by constables · 33


66 " letters written . 53


PRIVATE STREETS. - Occasionally some of our private streets require attention for sanitary reasons ; and, as it is seldom prac- ticable for the abutters to unite iu working a remedy, it becomes the duty of the city to take action.


South Street, until the coming of the cold weather, was in a condition dangerous to the health of the people. The heavy team- ing, the rains of the fall season, and the refuse materials deposited there, caused an accumulation of mud and filth which will again become a serious nuisance when milder weather returns. The street is much lower than the abutting lands, and should be filled to the proper grade.


Columbia Street became so bad late in the fall, that we felt compelled to act in the matter. The street is at a low grade, and its surface is uneven, and, in consequence, stagnant water stood there in such quantities as to make the street nearly impassable, as well as to endanger health. We therefore employed the sewer department to build a catch-basin in the street, and connect it with a common sewer, and engaged the ashes collector to dump ashes, which are spread so as to make the surface of the street regular and turn the water toward the catch-basin, thus abating the nuisance for the time being. Nearly all the abutters have raised their houses to a proper grade, and have put them in good repair, and they are now anxious to have the city lay out and construct the street under the betterment law, as they are ready to pay their part of the cost. We hope the City Council will see its way clear to accede to their wishes, as such action would not only subserve the public health, but would also improve very materially the appearance of that portion of our city.


SLAUGHTER-HOUSES. - An investigation, under the joint direc- tion of the Boards of Health of Cambridge and Somerville, has been prosecuted during the year, for the purpose of ascertaining to what extent the sewage from the slaughter-houses on the borders of the two cities, contributes toward the nuisance at the mouth of the Bridge Street sewer, and also to learn the cause of


200


ANNUAL REPORTS.




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