USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1894 > Part 32
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Insurance
40.00
Total expenditures
12,623.46
Balance unexpended
$2,876.54
SCHOOL CONTINGENT ACCOUNT.
(Janitors' Salaries. )
CREDIT.
Appropriation
.
$11,000.00
DEBIT.
Expenditures : -
For salaries paid janitors .
10,686.13
Balance unexpended
$313.87
EXPENDITURES BY THIS COMMITTEE FROM MISCEL- LANEOUS ACCOUNT.
City Hall expenses :
For electric lighting
$275.00
gas ·
22.27
fuel .
183.00
water
22.00
ice .
35.00
telephone connections
176.90
furniture
85.83
repairing furniture
30.87
repairs of building
157.34
Amount carried forward .
$988.21
544
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward .
$988.21
supplies
40.62
rent of P. O. box
4.00
express on bundles
11.90
teaming ashes
16.00
labor
47.50
$1,108.23
City messengers' team :
For maintenance
606.40
City engineers' team : -
For maintenance
270.00
Election expenses .: -
For fitting up voting precincts,
repairs of boxes, fittings, etc. $301.47
Care of rooms for elections and caucuses
109.00
Rent of rooms for elections and
caucuses
85.00
495.47
Moving band stand
20.30
Incidentals
12.50
Total expenditures
$2,512.90
.
Under a contract made with Walter S. Sampson in 1893 (reported in the annual report of the committee of last year), work has been advanced as rapidly as possible on the English High School building, and the building will probably be completed early in the Spring of 1895. The committee understands, however, that it is the intention of the School Board not to occupy the building for English High School purposes until the commencement of the school year of 1895-96. By authority of orders dated July 11 and August 27, respectively, contracts were made with James Tucker & Sons for $3,137 for plumbing, and with J. F. Bubert for $1,530 for electric wiring in this building.
In pursuance of an order dated May 9, a contract was made with A. A. Sanborn for the heating and ventilating apparatus for the High and English High School buildings for the sum of $26,306.
545
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
In pursuance of authority conferred on this committee by an order dated February 28, 1894, the church building on Highland avenue was sold to the First Congregational Society in Somerville for the sum of $400, said building to be removed on or before August 1, 1894. The time for removal of the church building was extended by authority of the City Council to November 5, 1894, and further extended to March 1, 1895, by which date the building is to be entirely removed.
As reported by the committee of 1893, proposals were received for the construction and for the heating and ventilating apparatus for the schoolhouse in Ward Four, south side of Fitchburg Railroad. Under authority of orders dated February 28 and April 11, contracts were made with Frank G. Coburn & Co. for the sum of $12,065, and with A. A. Sanborn for the sum of $1,689, - the first for construction, and the latter for heating and ventilating apparatus, -the committee of 1893 having recommended that contracts be made with said parties, they being the lowest bidders. By an order dated March 28, this school was named the " George W. Durell School." The building was completed during the Summer, and has been used for school purposes since the beginning of the Fall term.
In pursuance of an order dated June 13, a contract was made with the Smith Heating and Ventilating Co. for changing the system of heating and ventilating apparatus in the Edgerly Schoolhouse, from furnace to steam; the amount to be paid for the same to be $2,262, in which sum is included the sum of $597, being the final payment on account of the former contract with said company. The change has been made under said contract, but in the judgment of the committee the results are not in accordance with the contract, and the apparatus has not as yet been accepted.
The Bingham Schoolhouse addition, which was commenced by the committee of 1893, was completed early in the year, and is now in use for school purposes.
During the year the O. S. Knapp Schoolhouse has been enlarged by the addition of four rooms, in accordance with plans prepared by Loring and Phipps, architects. By authority of orders dated May 23 and June 13, contracts were made with John Kelley for construction for the sum of $13,000, and with Braman, Dow & Co. for heating and ventilating apparatus for the sum of $1,600. This building
546
ANNUAL REPORTS.
will be ready for occupancy at the beginning of the Spring term of 1895.
In pursuance of an order dated April 25, extensive alterations have been made in the basement of the police building. Six addi- tional cells have been constructed, a room prepared for the use of the matron, and a battery and work room fitted for use in the operation of the police-signal system.
In the report of the Superintendent of Public Buildings may be found a detailed statement of repairs and improvements of the school- houses and public buildings under the care of this committee.
For the Committee,
JOHN ANDREWS, Chairman. WILLIAM P. MITCHELL, Clerk.
.
REPORT
OF THE
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 30, 1895.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 30, 1895.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports, in concurrence.
CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS, January 1, 1895.
To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL :
Gentlemen,- In accordance with city ordinance the following report of this department for the year ending December 31, 1894, is respectfully submitted.
The number of building permits issued during the year was 513, classified as follows : -
WARDS.
TOTAL.
Single dwellings
17
47
128
126
318
Dwellings in blocks
6
3
8
17
Apartment houses
3
1
4
Additions and alterations to buildings
14
24
19
11
6S
Stablės
5
16
16
12
49
Stores
5
5
20
9
39
Shops
2
2
3
1
S
Sheds
2
1
1
Churches
I
1
2
Manufactories
1
1
2
Laundry
1
1
Office
1
1
43
18
192
17
513
1
2
3
4
Frequent examinations have been made of buildings in the course of construction and those upon which alterations have been made.
2
Dry House
1
1
Business block (brick)
550
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Notices have been sent to owners and builders in cases where faulty construction, violation of ordinance, or danger from fire was dis- covered, and in all cases, owners and builders have acceded to re- quests or notices sent, and cheerfully complied with the suggestions of the Inspector.
Special attention has been given to the following cases :
Building in a dangerous and unsafe condition 1
Woodwork too near chimney 10
Cellar walls improperly constructed (rebuilt)
3
Boiler setting and chimney unsafe
1
Woodwork against furnace pipe
2
.
Brick wall ordered between buildings . 1
Brick party wall improperly built (ordinance violated) 1
Chimney resting on iron columns
2
The number of city buildings built or additions made thereto is as follows : -
City stables (built)
1
Fire houses (built)
: 2
Schoolhouses (built)
1
Schoolhouses (now building)
1
Schoolhouses (additions) .
2
The average dwelling of to-day is being built in a more thorough manner than that of a few years ago, which means progress and sta- bility. I would recommend a change in the Building Ordinance, requiring girts instead of ledger boards for the support of floor beams.
Under an Act of the Legislature approved June 10, 1893, requir- ing the Inspector of Buildings to make an appointment of an Inspec- tor of Plumbing, the Inspector appointed Duncan C. Greene, on May 2, 1894, for the probationary term of six months, in accordance with the Civil Service rules, and Mr. Greene at once entered upon his duties. On November 3, 1894, his appointment was made permanent, and he will be continued in office under the law until he resigns or otherwise vacates his office, or is removed for cause. Previous to the appoint-
551
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
ment of Mr. Greene, Mr. Gustavus F. Andrews acted as Inspector of Plumbing, he having been appointed by me and approved by the Board of Health.
The laws further require the Inspector to act as one of the Board of Examiners of plumbers making application for licenses, to examine all plans for which plumbing permits are to be issued, grant certificates and permits to do plumbing, and also to fix the amount of compen- sation of the Inspector of Plumbing. After consultation with the Finance Committee of the City Council, your Inspector fixed his pay at $100 per month.
The total number of permits for plumbing was six hundred and fifty-two, covering six hundred and forty-six buildings.
Permits for plumbing in new buildings 341
Permits for plumbing in old buildings 311
The Inspector of Plumbing reports that six hundred and twenty- five buildings for which permits to do plumbing were issued, have been inspected with the following results : -
Number of buildings where the pipes were tested with
water
523
Number of buildings with defective pipe or fittings 71
Faulty construction of waste or vent system 49
Faulty connection with drain 11
Insufficient number of clean-outs . 33
Vent pipes not carried through the roof 8
Insufficient number of traps . 26
These violations were pointed out to the plumbers having charge of the work, and the plumbing was reconstructed in accordance with the provisions of the plumbing ordinance. The Inspector has kept him- self informed of the condition of the plumbing as the buildings have progressed, and as necessity required, given directions how the work should be done.
The following is the total number of licenses and certificates issued to plumbers during the year, under the Acts of 1893 and 1894, and receipts for the same paid to the city Treasurer : -
552
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Number of master plumbers' certificates issued 18 Receipts $36.00
journeymen "
40
20.00
master 66 licenses
15
30.00
66 journeymen " 66
66
11
5.50
Total receipts .
. $91.50
Applications for master plumbers' licenses rejected ·
2
66 journeymen " .
66 2
.
Applicants for journeymen plumbers' licenses not ap-
pearing for examination ·
4
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS R. ROULSTONE,
Inspector of Buildings.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 30, 1895.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 30, 1895.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports, in concurrence.
CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, January 1, 1895.
TO THE HONORABLE, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL : -
Gentlemen, -In compliance with city ordinance No. nineteen, section eight, this report is respectfully submitted. Repairs, altera- tions, and improvements have been made at the Police building, City Hall, and the several schoolhouses of the city. The following is a brief summary of the nature of such repairs, etc. : -
Police Station .- Six cells have been constructed in the basement, a battery room built and fitted with shelves for the jars, and conven- iences for filling and cleaning the battery. The room formerly used as a battery room was fitted for the matron's use. A storage room has been fitted, room for supplies built, and a main trap placed in the drain outside the building. The room used by the clerk of the court was enlarged, newly plastered, new hardwood floor laid, cases built for books and papers, etc.
City Hall. - Slight repairs have been made, such as shellacing floors, new window cords, etc.
Beech Street School .-- The old sanitary building in the yard has been removed ; seats and desks in one room replaced by those of a larger size, taken from the Franklin School ; hall was repapered.
Luther V. Bell School. -- All the room and hall ceilings have been whitened, and the walls painted ; dressing rooms ventilated by open- ings cut into the hall; one half the desks and seats in two of the rooms removed to the Franklin School, and new desks and seats of the adjustable pattern furnished ; seats and desks in four rooms redressed and varnished ; all the basement windows screened, and additional concrete laid in the yard.
556
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Bennett School. -- New plank walks have been laid, and repairs made in the janitor's quarters.
Bingham School. - An addition of four rooms has been completed, and was first occupied in April. The boys' sanitaries have been en- larged and new sanitaries for the girls built in the east side of the basement, with an entrance from the yard. In the old part of the building, the walls and ceilings of the halls and rooms have been painted and whitened, and the furniture refinished and varnished. The fence in front of the building has been moved back to conform with the line of the street.
Burns School. - The boiler has been retubed and the fire-box re- paired, and platforms built in front of blackboards.
Cedar Street School. -- Slight repairs have been made to building, walks, etc.
Cummings School. -- Rooms have been whitened, and general repairs made to building.
Davis School .-- The ceiling of the furnace room has been plastered ; chimney topped out, and alterations made in the flues, im- proving the draft; desks and chairs in all the rooms refinished and varnished.
George W. Durell School .- This is a four-room brick building heated by direct and indirect steam. It has been erected during the year, and was occupied in September. A flagstaff has been placed on the building, walks laid, and two hundred feet of fence built.
Edgerly School .- The old furnaces have been removed and a steam heating plant substituted, designed to heat the building by direct and indirect steam. Slight repairs have been made to doors, windows, etc.
Forster School. - Walls and ceilings in four rooms have been whitened and painted ; one heating boiler retubed ; case for books built in Principal's office ; slate blackboards put in two of the upper rooms ; furniture in one room redressed and varnished.
Franklin School .- Ceilings have been replastered ; inside wood- work and walls painted; platforms removed, and the furniture removed from the Bell School put into one of the rooms on the second floor.
Jacob T. Glines School. - An iron gate has been placed at the entrance to the ward-room, and slight repairs have been made to the roof.
557
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Harvard School .- Slight repairs have been made to the out-build- ings and walks.
High School. - The heating and ventilating system in this building has been entirely remodelled. The two old boilers have been replaced by three of a larger capacity, designed to heat the new English High School as well as the old building. By the alteration, drains were cut off, making it necessary to build new ones, and also to place conduc- tors on the outside of the building. Most of the plumbing had to be taken out and replaced at quite an expense, but nothing has been done to improve the sanitaries. In addition to the work done by contract, the city constructed the cold air ducts and heating ducts in the chemical room and placed a radiator in the upper hall. Slate blackboards have been put in the recitation rooms.
Highland School. - One room was fitted with new furniture, the old being too small ; one room has been painted and whitened, and addi- tional concrete laid in the yard.
Jackson School. -- The old sanitaries have been removed, and new ones constructed in the basement, and a portion of the yard has been graded.
O. S. Knapp School. - An addition to this building of four school- rooms and a ward-room has been completed during the year. This part of the building is heated independently from the old part by direct and indirect steam from one boiler. The old portion of the building needs extensive repairs.
Lincoln School. - The walls of the rooms were painted ; new tin put on roofs of porches ; desks and chairs redressed and varnished.
Morse School. - All the outside woodwork and tin roofs have been painted two coats ; a portion of the boys' yard concreted ; walls of dressing room and office painted.
Charles G. Pope School. - Slight repairs have been made to the roof and plumbing.
Prescott School. - The furniture in four rooms was redressed and varnished, and dressing rooms painted.
Prospect Hill School. - This building has had but slight repairs.
Spring Hill School. - This building has not been in use for school purposes, but has been used for storage of old school furniture.
Webster School. - This building was destroyed by fire during the year 1893. What remained of the old building was sold.
(35)
558
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The usual repairs have been made to out-houses, walks, fences steps, floors, sanitaries, plumbing, furniture, blackboards, furnaces stoves, boilers, clocks, doors, windows, roofs, drains, electrical ap- paratus, etc.
Respectfully submitted,
THOS. R. ROULSTONE, Superintendent of Public Buildings.
REPORT
OF THE
INSPECTOR OF MILK.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 16, 1895.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Reference concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 16, 1895.
CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK, ? January 8, 1895.
To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL : -
Honored Sirs, - Respectfully I submit to you the following brief report of the work of milk inspection, and the giving of licenses for the past year.
I have licensed as milk producers, contractors and sellers, two hundred and twenty-six men. These men handle daily nine thousand and fifty-nine cans of milk. There are also owned by the various dealers, five hundred and twenty-eight cows. There are one hundred and eighty-one wagons running almost constantly through the city, for the purpose of distributing milk.
I have registered this past year thirty-three new stores. There are now in the city, four hundred and sixty-two stores where milk is sold. I have also licensed seventeen men, with wagons, to sell oleomargarine and other imitations of butter. Total number of milk and oleomarga- rine licenses, and store registers, equals two hundred and seventy-six. Therefore, at fifty cents each, one hundred and thirty-eight dollars have been turned into the city treasury, for which I have the city treasurer's receipts.
I have examined and tested, during the year, the usual number of samples of milk, and found them to compare favorably with those of previous years. Hence there have been no causes for prosecution.
Trusting, gentlemen, that this report will meet with your approval, I remain respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM, Inspector of Milk.
REPORT
OF THE
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 16, 1895.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Reference concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 16, 1895. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS, January 8, 1895.
To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL :-
Honored Sirs, -In the month of October I made the usual semi- annual tour of inspection of all the cattle in the City of Somerville. There are one hundred and twenty-one owners of the same. Total number of cattle, four hundred and twenty. There are three hund- red and ninety-seven cows in milk, twelve cows dry, two bulls, and nine young stock. From a physical examination all appeared to be in a very good and healthy condition. At the April examination, some eight or ten were slightly unwell from various temporary causes. In October all had recovered. With this sole exception, the report and examination for April do not differ from the same for October.
There are in the city two establishments where cattle are slaughtered. The largest one, " The New England Dressed Meat and Wool Company," is located on Medford street. At this place, in August and. September, four hundred and fifty-eight cattle were slaughtered, all in good order ; also three thousand, five hundred and fifty-nine calves were killed, only nine of which were condemned as unfit for use. In October, two hundred and fifty-four cattle, and three thousand, three hundred and seventy-two calves were killed, none of which were condemned. Since October, until December 31, four hundred and twenty cattle, and three thousand, three hundred and forty-six calves have been killed. Of these last, two cattle and eight calves were condemned and consigned to the tank. Total number of cattle killed since August equals one thousand, one hundred and thirty- two, only two of which were unfit for market. Total number of calves killed since August equals ten thousand, two hundred and seventy-
566
ANNUAL REPORTS.
seven, only seventeen of which were two young and consequently unfit for market.
Since August this firm have been engaged in transporting cattle and sheep to Europe. During four months they have shipped thirteen thousand cattle, and thirty-eight thousand, one hundred and forty-two sheep. These animals are all inspected before leaving the West, by a United States Inspector, and again, on arrival here, they are inspected by a United States Inspector. All the animals that are injured on the trip are considered unfit to be shipped. These are retained by the firm, and are slaughtered for market.
All the cattle and calves slaughtered, I am required by the " State Board of Cattle Commissioners " to examine.
Hartz Gunsenheiser, of North street, owns a small slaughtering establishment which has been duly licensed. He has killed during the year, on an average, about twenty-four cattle and sixty calves per month ; also sheep in proportion. This place is kept clean and in good order. Gunsenheiser kills mostly for the Jewish population of Boston and vicinity.
I have, during the year, visited about two hundred stores and markets for groceries and provisions, also fish wagons, and have found that everything for sale has been all right and fit for use.
This condensed report will give you some idea of the duties re- quired of your inspector. I sincerely hope, gentlemen, that it will meet with your approbation.
Very respectfully,
THOMAS CUNNINGHAM,
Inspector of Animals and Provisions.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTRIC LINES.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDRMEN, January 30, 1895.
Referred to the Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 30, 1895.
Referred to the Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports, in concurrence.
CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS, City Hall, January 1, 1895.
To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL : -
Gentlemen : - I have the honor to herewith submit the annual report of the department for the inspection of wires.
In April, 1894, a heavy sleet storm took down a line of fifty-two round poles on Highland avenue, from Central street to Davis square, eleven on Broadway, from Lincoln School to Arlington line, nineteen on Mystic avenue, and eleven on Linwood street. All of these poles were owned by the New England Telephone Co. These lines were soon rebuilt, the round poles being replaced by square hard pine poles, and joint locations being given to the Telephone Co., the Electric Light Co., and the West End Street Railway Co. as far as practicable.
The Commercial Union Telegraph Co. have rebuilt their line on Mystic avenue, having been granted locations jointly with the Somer- ville Electric Light Co. Square hard pine poles have been substituted for inferior round poles on the following streets, joint locations being given where it was possible to do so,- Summer street, from Belmont street to Cutter square, Orchard street, Willow avenue, and Dover street.
The new English High School, the Central Fire Station, and Ladder Two House have been wired for electric lighting, and the last two houses connected with the bridge metallic telephone line which is used for direct communication between the different departments of the city.
A number of private residences and stores have been inspected for electric wiring, and a large number of dead wires have been removed throughout the city.
570
ANNUAL REPORTS.
FIRE ALARM AND POLICE.
The fire alarm has been transferred from the old engine house on Highland avenue to the Central Fire Station, the entire upper floor being devoted to electrical apartments. A large battery room, capable of holding one thousand jars, provides for the future growth of the city and affords a relief from the crowded condition that existed in the old building. A new eight-circuit repeater with two bell circuits com- bined has been put in. The circuits have been increased from three to seven, thus affording a better protection to the city. Formerly, if a break occurred, one third of the city was left unprotected until the trouble on the line could be remedied ; now, by the running of seven- teen additional miles of wire, the arrangement of boxes and lessening of territory covered by each circuit, but a small portion is left unpro- tected during a break or trouble on the line.
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