USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1891 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
The work of taking up the old cement-lined pipe, and replacing it with cast-iron, should be continued from year to year. Most satis-
207
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
factory results have already accrued from the substitution, in many of the streets, of the latter for the former, as is evidenced by the decreasing number of breaks. During the present year there have been but thirty-five breaks, as against seventy-one in 1890.
HIGH-WATER SERVICE.
The high-water service, which was put into operation for the first time last year, continues to give complete satisfaction. Until the introduction of this system, residents upon the high lands were subjected to grievous annoyance by the scanty water supply, while their property was in constant peril from fire. In fact, some of the finest residential lands in the city were rendered almost valueless for building purposes in consequence of the lack of water. The high- service has brought permanent relief to the more elevated portions of the city, and largely increased the value of hundreds of building lots. Beautiful and substantial houses are being rapidly erected on the summits of our hills, where are to be found the most eligible and healthful locations for the homes of the people. No intelligent tax- payer will to-day question the wisdom of the expenditure which has been made for the introduction of the high-water service, an invest- ment which, in after years, will yield a considerable revenue to the city.
All of the machinery, structures, and appurtenances of the high- service are in good condition and doing excellent work. Another year's trial of the boiler, pump, and stand-pipe has but confirmed the favorable opinion expressed concerning them by our immediate prede- cessors in office. The pumping plant, as it now exists, is adequate for present needs ; but the consumption of water is constantly increas- ing in our rapidly-growing city, and we believe it will be wise to pur- chase, at an early date, a second boiler, and equip it for service, so that, in case of any mishap to the boiler now in use, water-takers may not be deprived of their supply while repairs are being made. An additional stand-pipe will soon be required for the high-service sys- tem. We would, therefore, recommend that steps be taken towards the purchase of a suitable lot of land for that purpose on the summit of Winter Hill.
208
ANNUAL REPORTS.
PURCHASE OF MYSTIC WATER SUPPLY.
Previous water boards, in their annual reports, have recom- mended that Somerville enter into negotiations with Boston for the purchase of the Mystic water supply and have clearly pointed out the advantages which might be expected to accrue to our city from such a purchase. While we regret that Somerville is not the owner of its own water plant, and should heartily approve any reasonable plan which might be pointed out for the acquisition of a satisfactory and permanent water supply, we do not believe that it would be wise for Somerville to sunder its present relations with Boston and place entire dependence for the future upon a water franchise which Boston would never alienate until convinced that it had become of little value. Boston has not yet solved her own water problem, and if her growth should be as rapid in the future as it has been in the past, not many years will elapse before she will be obliged to incur great expense in making additions to her present supply.
It is, therefore, hardly reasonable to assume that she would part with her control over a fresh-water lake situated within five miles of her borders until she had come to believe that the waters of the lake were deteriorating so rapidly as to render it probable that they would eventually become unfit for domestic use. It is no secret that the location and surroundings of Mystic Lake are such as to raise grave doubts, in the minds of those best informed, as to the possibility of keeping its waters in a condition of reasonable purity. It has already come under the repeated criticism of the highest chemical and sani- tary authorities in the Commonwealth.
Boston, with all her wealth, power, and prestige, has found it a herculean task to keep back the tide of pollution constantly setting towards the lake. It is fed by streams which no human ingenuity or effort has yet succeeded in keeping free from contamination. At its outlet it is menaced by ocean tides. Its water-shed is ob- jectionable, lying as it does in a populous suburban district, where numerous large manufactories are carried on, and is not likely to im- prove as the population increases in density. It is doubtful if any con- siderable improvement in the quality of the water will be brought about by the construction of the so-called Metropolitan sewer. Should it ever become necessary to abandon Mystic Lake as a water
209
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
supply, as Spy Pond has already been abandoned, on account of its impurity, then it might be highly advantageous for Somerville to have a subsisting contract with Boston for the continuance of a water sup- ply. We think the time may come when Boston and all her near suburbs will unite their water systems, and, through the instrumental- ity of an impartial commission, take concerted action towards secur- ing a supply from more distant sources than any yet resorted to. Certain it is that the Commonwealth will never permit any one or more of her municipalities to monopolize all the available waters lying near at hand, in derogation of the natural rights of other cities and towns dependent upon the same waters. Some action may yet be taken by the Legislature which will provide for an equitable distribu- tion of the waters lying within a particular district among the cities and towns situated therein. A precedent for such legislation may be found in the recent act establishing the Metropolitan sewer system. Early in the present year an order was adopted by the city council instructing its committee on water, among other things, to consider the expediency of the purchase of the Mystic Water Works. We doubt not that much light will be thrown upon the whole question under discussion by the report of the committee when it appears, and we trust that the labors and investigations of the committee will be of great assistance to future water boards.
CONCLUSION.
It gives the board high satisfaction to be able to say, in conclu- sion, that the performance of its duties during the year has been ren- dered easy and pleasant by the fidelity and zeal manifested by Super- intendent Dennett, Clerk Merrill, Engineer Hayden, and the other officers and employees of the department.
ALBION A. PERRY. GEORGE D. WEMYSS. GEORGE A. KIMBALL.
210
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the Somerville Mystic Water Board :-
GENTLEMEN, - I herewith present a detailed report of the work of the Somerville Mystic Water Works performed under my super- vision during the year ending December 31, 1891. An inventory of tools, appliances, and stock on hand is included.
MAINS.
During the year two miles and 4,094 feet of cast-iron pipe have been laid in extending the main lines, and two miles and 870 feet laid in place of the old cement-lined pipe taken out ; and eighty-four gates were set in connection with the same.
There were also laid for the Middlesex Bleachery and Dye Works 1,543 feet of 6 and 8-inch pipe for fire purposes.
Also for I. H. Brown & Co. 26 feet 4-inch pipe.
Also for Fresh Pond Ice Co. 352 feet 6 inch-pipe.
Also for the American Tube Works 7512 feet of 4-inch pipe.
Making a total of five miles and 1,68012 feet laid and relaid for the city and private corporations.
Making a total in the city of sixty-four miles and 2,105 feet.
The breaks on mains numbered thirty-five, and ninety-five feet of pipe were used in their repair.
Of these breaks, twenty-two occurred on 4-inch, twelve on 6-inch, and one on 8-inch.
HYDRANTS.
Thirty six new hydrants have been set on new and old mains.
Sixteen hydrants have had general repairs, such as new valves, bolts. etc.
One hundred and eighty hydrants have been repacked.
All have been painted the past year, oiled, and carefully looked over.
Five hydrants have been taken out and repaired in the shop, and have been reset in other locations.
Making whole number now in the city 441.
211
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
SERVICE-PIPES.
The whole number of services laid the past year was 508.
Length of pipe used, three miles and 312 feet.
Length of trenching for the same, three miles and 1,328 feet.
Average cost of each service, $18.67.
Twenty- one leaks have been repaired on services.
Ten new services have been put in in place of old.
Forty-six services have been cleared of rust, sediment, and fish.
Forty-four cast-iron boxes have been substituted for decayed wooden ones.
Twenty-eight were shut off for repairs on account of leaks inside the premises, and fifteen for non-payment of water rates.
STAND-PIPES.
One new stand-pipe was located on School street, near the cor- ner of Broadway.
One was removed from Pearl street, near Marshall street.
Eighteen were packed and oiled, and all had new connecting hose, new boxes, and other repairs.
DRINKING FOUNTAINS.
The drinking fountains have had the usual repairs ; have been cleaned out several times, etc .; and one on Broadway has had new stop-cock and new waste.
MISCELLANEOUS. .
In the shop of the department 18,871 feet ( equal to three miles and 3,031 feet) of iron service-pipe was lined with cement, and 518 service-pipes cut and fitted.
Also repairs on gates and hydrants were made, and gate-boxes made and fitted.
The cost of the water works to date is $537,515.18.
Details of the expenditures on the construction, maintenance, and service account may be found in the report of the city treasurer.
In closing this report the superintendent would take this oppor- tunity to acknowledge the uniform kindness and courtesy received
212
ANNUAL REPORTS.
by him from the Water Board, and for their hearty support and cooperation in the work of the department, which has been of great importance the past year.
Respectfully, NATHANIEL DENNETT.
APPENDIX TO SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
STOCK. AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE USE JANUARY 1, 1892.
Cast-iron pipe
$3,270 00
Special castings
1,745 12
Gates and hydrants
.
992 00
Service-pipe and materials
500 00
Sundry materials
466 00
Total
$6,973 12
TOOLS AND FURNITURE.
Special patterns
$1,390 69
Tools and machinery
1,283 00
Tools for water services
424 28
Stable department
1,675 00
Office furniture
475 00
Pumping station furniture
179 00
$5,426 97
213
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
During the year the works have been extended by mains laid in the following streets :-
STREET.
FROM.
To.
LENGTH IN FEET.
DIAMETER IN INCHES.
Adrian St.
Angle in street
Westerly
256
6
Albion St. .
Cedar St.
Southeasterly
1,440
6
Arthur St.
Bonair St. .
Southwesterly
31
6
Bennett St.
Prospect St.
Southeasterly
439
6
Bradley St. .
Pipe laid in 1890
Near Veazie St.
169
6
Calvin St.
Washington St.
Southwesterly
248
6
Conwell St.
Francis St.
Southwesterly
71
-2
Delaware St.
Angle in street
Northeasterly
79
2
Dell St.
Angle in street
Southeasterly
6
6
Elliot St.
Park St.
Southeasterly
207
8
Elm St.
Jacob St.
Southwesterly
57
10
Elston St.
Elm St.
Summer St.
424
S
Francesca Ave.
Pipe laid in 1890
Southeasterly
451
8
Francis St.
Porter St.
Conwell St.
205
8
Giles Pl.
Walnut St.
Northwesterly
176
2
(Tlen St. .
Tufts St.
Northeasterly
342
6
Gould Ave.
Porter St.
Southeasterly
161
2
Greene St.
Laurel St.
Southeasterly
198
6
Grove St.
Winslow Ave.
Southwesterly
125
S
Hancock St.
Elm St. .
Northeasterly
412
6
High St.
Opp. C. H. North
Prospect Hill Ave.
150
6
Holt Ct.
S. Wyatt St.
Westerly
160
2
Howard St.
Willow Ave.
Northwesterly
260
6
Jacob St.
Elm St. .
North westerly
162
8
Knapp St.
School St.
Northwesterly
394
4
Knowlton St. .
Tufts St.
Northerly .
340
6
Lee St.
Medford St.
Southwesterly
12
8
Lowell St.
245 ft. southwest
Southwesterly
464
6
Medford St.
Central St.
Southeasterly
75
8
Melrose St.
Mystic Ave.
Northeasterly
791
6
Miner St.
Ames St.
South westerly
36
6
Moreland St.
Heath St.
Southeasterly
240
10
Morrison St.
Willow Ave.
Rogers Ave.
433
10
Mt. Vernon
Ave.
Heath St.
Northeasterly
176
S
North St.
Pipe laid in 1890
Northeasterly
859
6
Park Pl.
Angle in place
Northeasterly
195
2
Porter St.
Highland Ave.
.
Southwesterly
38
6
Roberts St.
Lawrence St. .
Northwesterly
107
2
Rogers Ave.
Morrison Ave.
Northeasterly
554
6
Runey Pl.
Runey St. . .
Northeasterly
195
6
Sumner St.
Driveway to city stable
Southeasterly
99
2
Thurston St.
Pipe laid in 1890
Northeasterly
35
6
Trull St.
Medford St.
Southwesterly
302
S
.
.
Hudson St.
Near Benton Ave.
Northwesterly to
angle in street .
1,364
8
of Summer St. .
101
4
+
133
4
77
6
214
ANNUAL REPORTS.
STREET.
FROM.
To.
LENGTH IN FEET.
DIAMETER IN INCHES.
Vinal St.
Richardson St.
Northeasterly
185
2
Warren Ave.
Bow St.
Northeasterly
40
8
.
Warwick St.
Pipe laid in 1887
Southeasterly
229
6
Washington St. .
E. side Beacon St.
W.side BeaconSt.
49
6
Wesley St.
170 ft.n.e.PearlSt.
Northeasterly
5
6
Wesley Pk.
Summer St.
Northeasterly
8
6
Wigglesworth St.
Pearl St.
Northeasterly
234
6
Winslow Ave.
Grove St.
Northwesterly
149
6
Waldo St.
Hudson St.
Southwesterly
221
6
TOTAL
14,380
STREETS RELAID.
STREET.
FROM.
To
LENGTH IN FEET.
DIAMETER IN INCHES.
Bow St. .
Union Sq.
Summer St.
652
8
Cedar St.
Elm St.
Highland Ave.
1,760
12
Franklin Ave.
Washington St. .
Northerly
10
6
Franklin St.
Washington St. .
Northeasterly
42
8
High St.
Boston St.
Opp. C. H. North
364
6
Ivaloo St.
Beacon St.
Harrison St. .
406
6
Joy St.
Washington St. .
Southwesterly
24
6
Laurel St.
Somerville Ave. .
Summer St.
991
6
Linwood St.
Connection with
Washington St. .
24
6
Medford St.
Somerville Ave.
Cambridge line
9
8
Mondamin Ct.
Ivaloo St.
Northwesterly
305
4
Myrtle St ..
Washington St.
Northerly .
8
8
Prescott St.
Summer St.
Highland Ave.
1,104
8
Professors' Row .
Packard Ave.
Southeasterly
1,091
8
Prospect St.
Bennett St.
Southwesterly
18
6
Shawmut St.
Washington St. .
North westerly
9
6
Summer St.
Bow St. .
Northwesterly
175
10
Tufts St.
Washington St. .
Northwesterly
78
6
Walnut St.
Bow St. .
Northeasterly
L
264
12
Washington St. .
Myrtle St.
Medford St.
700
18
792
20
TOTAL
10,842
42
6
1,735
14
24
6
51
6
3
6
52
10
100
14
6
6
5
4
9
8
215
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
The following table shows hydrants set in 1891 : -
STREET.
LOCATION.
SERVICE.
KIND.
Adrian Street
220 feet south of Joseph Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Albion Street
421 feet southeast of Cedar Street
Low.
Boston Machine.
Bennett Street .
150 feet east of Prospect Street
Low.
Coffin.
Boston Street
Corner High Street
High.
Holyoke.
Cedar Street
289 feet north of Elm Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Cedar Street
90 feet north of Sartwell Avenue
Low.
Holyoke.
Cedar Street
50 feet north of Hall Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Dell Street
275 feet west of Glen Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Elm Street
Opposite Jacob Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Elliot Street
Corner Park Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Francesca Avenue .
305 feet southeast of Elm Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Fresh Pond Ice Co.
In yard
Low.
Holyoke.
Green Street
200 feet south of Summer Street
High.
Holyoke.
Highland Avenue
Corner Grove Street .
Low.
Holyoke.
High Street .
300 feet west of Boston Street
High.
Chapman.
Hudson Street .
292 feet southeast of Lowell Street
Low.
Chapman.
Hudson Street .
At angle in street
Low.
Chapman.
+Linwood Street
385 feet southeast of Washington Street
Low.
Holyoke. Coffin.
tLinwood Street Lowell Street
227 feet northwest of Poplar Street .
Low.
Holyoke.
Medford Street
98 feet .north of Fitchburg R. R. .
Low.
Chapman.
Medford Street
70 feet south of Fitchburg R. R. .
Low.
Chapman.
Medford Street
30 feet north of Ward Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Medford Street
91 feet south of Ward Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Medford Street
93.5 feet northwest of Warren Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Medford Street
17 feet southeast of Warren Street
Low.
Holyoke.
Medford Street
80 feet southeast of Grand Junction R. R. At Harrison Street
Low.
Boston.
North Street
190 feet northeast of City Bound No. 17
Low.
Holyoke.
Prescott Street
.
326 feet southwest of Highland Avenue
High.
Holyoke.
*Prescott Street
582 feet southwest of Highland Avenue 257 feet northeast of Summer Street
High.
Holyoke.
Professors' Row
.
140 feet west of College Avenue .
Low.
Holyoke.
*Professors' Row .
300 feet west of College Avenue .
Low.
Holyoke.
Rogers Avenue
300 feet north of Morrison Avenue
Low.
Coffin.
Washington Street
Near Franklin Avenue .
Low.
Holyoke.
Laurel Street
8 feet north of Park Place
High.
Bigelow.
Melrose Street .
665.5 feet southwest of Summer Street . 600 feet north of Mystic Avenue
High.
Low.
Bigelow.
Low.
Holyoke.
Mondamin Court
High.
Holyoke.
Prescott Street .
* Boston Machine replaced by Holyoke.
1 Reset in new location.
216
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The following table shows gates set in 1891 :-
GATES.
STREET.
2//
3/1
4/
6//
8//
10//
12//
14//
18//
20//
Albion
American Tube Works .
Arthur
Bennett
Bow
Calvin
Cedar .
2
Elliot .
Elston
Francis
1
Fresh Pond Ice Company . Giles Place .
1
Glen
Gould Avenue.
1 1
Hancock
1
1
Hadley
1
Holt Court
Hudson
ʹ
1
Ivaloo
ʹ
1
Jacob
1
Joy
1
Knapp
2
Knowlton
1
ʹ
Laurel
3
Lee
1
Linwood
1
Lowell
1
Medford .
1
1
ʹ
Melrose .
1
Middlesex Bleachery
1
Miner
Mondamin Court
Morrison
1
Mt. Vernon Avenue
1
1
2
Professors' Row
Roberts
111
111
ʻ
Sumner
1
Tufts
ʼ
Trull
Vinal .
Warren Avenue
1
Waldo
1
1
Washington
Wigglesworth
1
ʹ
Winslow Avenue .
1
1
-
Total
5
1
7
27
18
5
4
4
1
4
HYDRANTS DISCONTINUED.
One on High street.
One on Highland avenue, corner Grove street.
One on Medford street, near railroad crossing.
One on Tufts street, near Washington street.
-
2
-
-
1
-
-
1
1
1
2
1
1
Greene
1
1
North Packi'g and Prov'n Co. Prescott .
1
3
1
ʹ
Rogers Avenue
Runey Place
Summer
1
1 1111
ʻ
1
1
3
Medford .
4
11.
-
1
1
217
REPORT OF THE WATER BOARD.
ENGINEER OF PUMPING STATION'S REPORT.
HIGH-SERVICE PUMPING STATION, SOMERVILLE, Dec. 31, 1891.
To the Somerville Mystic Water Board :-
GENTLEMEN, - Below please find statement of the work per- formed by the high-service pump from January 1st to December 31st, inclusive, 1891 : -
Number of days on which pump was run
365
Total pumping time in hours 1,825
Average pumping time per day in hours
4
Average number of strokes per minute 30
Number of tons coal consumed
193
Total gallons of water pumped, allowing one per cent. for loss of head . 122,717,000
Average steam pressure
55
Average back-water pressure
38
Respectfully submitted,
SIDNEY E. HAYDEN.
REPORT
OF THE
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 27, 1892. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 27, 1892. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
BOARD OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
HON. CHARLES G. POPE, Chairman, ex officio.
NATHAN H. REED
Ward One.
EDWARD B. WEST
Ward Two.
DANIEL C. STILLSON
Ward Three.
CHARLES G. BRETT, President
Ward Four.
COMMITTEES :
On Investigation and Relief MR. BRETT AND MR. WEST.
On Finance MR. STILLSON AND MR. REED.
CHARLES C. FOLSOM, General Agent.
FRANK W. KAAN, Secretary.
ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D., City Physician. Office : Police Building, Bow Street.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR, Jan. 20, 1892. To the Honorable the City Council :-
GENTLEMEN, - In accordance with the requirements of the city ordinances, the overseers of the poor herewith respectfully submit their seventh annual report under Chapter 6 of the Acts of 1885.
For information in reference to the receipts and expenditures of this department for the year, we would refer to the tabulated state- ments prepared by the general agent and the secretary. A careful supervision of these expenditures has been maintained by the board . throughout the year, and we are pleased to report that they have been kept within the appropriation, while at the same time no injustice has been done those dependent upon this department for aid.
It gives us pleasure at this time to express our satisfaction with the faithful and efficient manner in which the general agent and the secretary have performed their respective duties.
CHARLES G. POPE, Chairman. CHARLES G. BRETT, President. NATHAN H. REED. EDWARD B. WEST. DANIEL C. STILLSON.
223
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
TABLE No. I.
PARTIAL SUPPORT (OUT-DOOR RELIEF).
Families aided . 225
Persons aided
. 748
TABLE No. 2.
FULL SUPPORT.
In almshouses . 8
" private families
14
" Boston hospitals
10
" Massachusetts School for the Feeble-minded
4
" House of the Angel Guardian
2
Insane persons in private families
5
66 " hospitals
42
TABLE No. 3. GROSS EXPENDITURES.
1885. $16,430 32
1886. $14,341 83
1887. $13,430 89
1888. . $13,375 98
1889. $14,610 92
1890. $15,261 14
1891. $15,980 49
TABLE No. 4. EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR 1891.
Rent.
Board.
Groceries.
Towns and Cities.
Public Institutions.
Boots and Shoes.
Dry Goods.
Burials.
Salaries.
Fuel.
Sundries.
Totals Monthly Pay rolls.
January .
$81 86
$207 53
$227 31
$777 59
$1,501 70
$8 25
$1 75
$35 00
$120 83
$277 60
$17 30
$3,256 72
February
75 00
56 00
210 05
622 54
March
75 86
194 55
276 58
312 17
951 35
4 25
10 00
120 84
84 02
31 90
2,061 52
April
75 57
44 79
130 50
146 39
668 14
27 75
14 75
25 00
120 83
25 50
1,279 22
May
83 86
63 11
168 16
8 00
40 50
120 83
17 56
29 38
531 40
June
93 57
205 86
85 55
968 42
16 00
3 60
10 00
120 84
95 96
1,599 80
July
124 86
45 68
136 77
372 55
3 83
-
45 00
120 83
23 61
1,476 13
August
80 86
65 40
220 72
30 00
538 25
September
80 57
180 21
96 00
13 53
1,141 23
1,691 54
October .
82 86
91 54
85 96
45 71
489 73
2 50
20 00
120 83
14 30
953 43
November
82 57
81 93
198 00
12 75
20 00
120 83
94 06
51 79
661 93
December
130 86
241 39
150 50
504 85
48 00
9 75
14 61
-
120 84
70 71
16 50
1,308 01
Totals
$1,068 30
$1,477 99
$1,986 10
$2,202 79
$6,383 40
$111 05
$41 46
$230 50
$1,450 00
$637 09
$391 81
$15,980 49
.
.
.
-
-
120 83
20 44
120 84
59 16
36 55
25 00
120 83
93 14
5 97
-
225
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
TABLE NO. 5.
REIMBURSEMENTS.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$995 39
Cities and towns
871 64
Guardians and relatives
305 96
$2,172 99
TABLE NO. 6.
RECAPITULATION.
Appropriation
$14,000 00
Reimbursements
2,172 99
Total receipts
$16,172 99 .
Total expenditures
15,980 49
Balance .
$192 50
REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, March 9, 1892. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 10, 1892. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, February 29, 1892.
To the Honorable the Mayor and the City Council :-
GENTLEMEN,- We respectfully submit the following as the fourteenth annual report of the Board of Health, in which is pre- sented a statement, tabulated and otherwise, of the sanitary condition of the city and the business of the board for the year ending December 31, 1891 : -
MEMBERSHIP.
The membership of the board has remained the same as in 1890. January 28, J. Frank Wellington was reappointed by the mayor and aldermen for a term of two years.
ORGANIZATION.
February 2, officers were elected as follows :-
Chairman, J. FRANK WELLINGTON. Clerk, WILLIAM P. MITCHELL. * Inspector, CALEB A. PAGE.
NUISANCES.
A record of nuisances abated during the year, in compliance with notices issued by the board or under the board's direction, is pre-
*Title changed to Agent June 12.
230
ANNUAL REPORTS.
sented in the following table, under the heads of the months when the complaints were made : -
NUISANCES ABATED IN THE YEAR 1891.
January.
February.
March.
April.
May.
June.
July.
August.
September.
October.
November.
December.
Total.
Cellar damp
Cesspool offensive
Cesspool overflowing
Connections of drainage pipes de- fective
1
2
3
1
2
5
2
1
2
4
1
27
Drainage defective
1
3
2
4
-
1
-
14
Drainage emptying into cellar
1
2
1
1
2
-
1
8
Drainage emptying on surface
1
3
8
Drainage not ventilated
11
Drain-pipe defective
1
1
1
T
5
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
3
Manure exposed and offensive
1
6
4
3
2
1
21
Offensive odor in and about dwel- lings
1
2
2
4
5 1
6
1
28
Pigs kept without license
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
3
Premises filthy
1
1
4
2
1
1
1
1
3
Privy-vault defective
6
1
2
3
4
2
2
2
98
Privy-vault offensive
4
12
15
11
16
11
22 97
6
6
3
113
Removal of bodies of animals
burned at fires
Rubbish in cellar
Sewer-gas in house
Slops thrown on surface
Stable infected with glanders
1
1
1
I
1
2
3
7,
1
1
1
1
9
Waste-pipe not trapped
1
3
1
5
1
1
4
8
2
4
2
30
Water-closet insufficiently supplied with water
1
2
5
-
6
?
17
Water-closet offensive
1
2
1
3
11
Total
55
10
55
64
43
70
54
86
64
28
31
11
571
-
-
-
-
-
1
1
2
13
Drying straw on sidewalk
Hennery offensive
Hens kept in cellar
Offal on land
3
2
2
1
1
8
2
Premises untidy
1
-
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
Stable and stable premises filthy and offensive
1
2
Stagnant water in house cellar
Stagnant water on surface .
Waste-pipe defective
1
3
1
01 2
-
4
2
1
Water-closet defective
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.