USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1895 > Part 29
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Amount brought forward .
$8,152.52
DEBIT.
Expenditures : -
For repairing sewers and drains $ 158.82
inspecting house drains
474.09
flushing sewers and filling catch- basins
403.01
cleaning sewers .
648.62
cleaning catch-basins .
2,565.48
repairing catch-basins
280.24
opening mouths of catch-basins .
272.00
changing lines and grades of catch-basins ·
145.16
examining catch-basins
·
3.75
changing lines and grades of manholes .
81.66
repairing manholes
112.00
cleaning manholes
353.16
examining sewers
94.15
cleaning ditches
242.14
changing locations of catch-basins
32.75
digging to locate old sewers .
4.00
cleaning and dredging Bridge street sewer outlet . 1,148.86
repairing Medford street sewer
2,461.96
sundry expenses
59.89
books, stationery and printing .
35.35
Highways, paving Medford street
17.39
arranging tools and property ·
49.74
repairs of tools and property
70.28
Depreciation in value of tools and property
157.45
Value of materials on hand December 31, 1895 63.46
Amounts carried forward · $9,935.41
$8,152.52
5
L-REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SEWERS.
Amounts brought forward . $9,935.41 $8,152.52
Value of tools and property on hand December 31, 1895 (including purchases during the year, $212.00) 786.80
Total debit .
$10,722.21
Amount overdrawn
$2,569.69
Labor and materials have also been furnished and credit has been received for the same as follows : -
Public Grounds account, materials furnished for setting tablet, Elm street $ 4.60
Sewers, Construction account, labor digging for ledge 3.25
West End Street Railway Company, changing lines and grades of catch-basins and manholes, etc. 139.73
Total
$147.58
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.
CREDIT.
Appropriation .
$50,000.00
Unexpended balance of 1894 7,978.07 .
$57.978.07
Receipts and credits : -
For catch-basin curbs in Sidewalks, received credit from Sidewalks account $58.25
fee for drainage of estate into Taylor street sewer 40.20
unpaid bills of 1895 . · Value of materials on hand January 1, 1895
$ 98.45
331.90
30.00
Total credits
$58,438.42
Amount carried forward
$58,438.42
6
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward
$58,438.42
DEBIT.
Expenditures : -
For twenty-five sewers constructed and partially constructed dur- ing the year $13,806.87
Less amount paid in 1894 for in- spection of and advertising Pitman street sewer 64.25
$13,742.62
Less assessments . 5,338.12
$8,404.50
For thirty-eight catch-basins (average cost $ 74.69) investigation and study for connections with Metropolitan sewer at junction of Somerville avenue and Poplar street .
747.58
study and plans for and partial construction of connection with Metropolitan sewer at junction of Mystic avenue and Moreland street .
117.76
survey and plans for sewer, Boston avenue, Wil- low avenue and Broadway
100.45
laying outlet from Wyatt's Pit to
.
Bowdoin street sewer $43.70
less amount paid by Health Department 30.84
12.86
sundry expenses
396.86
books, stationery and printing
14.50
unpaid bills of 1894
2,425.84
tools and property 120.60
Value of materials on hand December 31, 1895
1,468.08
Total debit
$16,647.32
Balance unexpended
$41,791.10
Seven thousand and sixty and one-half feet of sewers have been constructed during the year, and 925 feet are in process of con- struction.
2,838.29
·
1-
L-REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SEWERS.
For detailed statement showing length of sewers constructed, cost of construction, assessments and net cost to city, see table in City Engineer's Report.
Labor and materials have also been furnished, and credit has been received for the same, as follows : -
John Herbert et al., constructing sewer, Pearl street, from the end of the sewer built in 1894, westerly, sixty feet $53.41
Joseph F. Wilson, constructing sewer, Albion place, from the sewer in Albion street, northeasterly, one hundred and fifty feet 97.50
Total $150.91
Thirty-eight catch-basins have been built during the year, which is seventeen less than the number built in 1894.
DRAINAGE THROUGH NORTH CAMBRIDGE.
By an order dated January 30, 1895, the mayor was authorized to petition the General Court for such legislation as might be necessary to enable the city to construct a sewer through the City of Cambridge to the Metropolitan sewer, near Alewife Brook, for the drainage of that portion of the section in West Somerville, lying between the Middlesex Central Railroad location and Holland street, which is too low to be drained into our system of sewers, and the natural drainage of which is into the brook which flows from West Somer- ville, westwardly, through North Cambridge, and is called Tannery Brook.
An Act was passed by the Legislature and approved April 25, 1895, giving Somerville the right to take land in the City of Cambridge and construct a sewer, as desired, and also to take land in said city and construct a drain, channel or water-course for the disposal of storm water from an overflow from such sewer and from overflows from the sewers of a certain territory in addition to that which was to be drained into said contemplated sewer, using, if desired, Tannery Brook for the purposes of such drain, channel or water course for storm water. Cambridge has the right to use both the common
8
ANNUAL REPORTS.
sewer and the storm-water drain, channel or water course, to be con- structed under the Act, within the limits of that city. The Act is to be void unless accepted by the city council of each city within one year from the date of the passage thereof.
Numerous conferences have been held with the committee on sewers of the City of Cambridge, at which the details of the measure have been fully discussed.
Surveys have been made of Tannery Brook and also of another route, through North Cambridge, to the Metropolitan sewer at Ale- wife Brook, and negotiations opened for much of the land required.
The condition of the westerly portion of the city, with reference to both sewerage and storm-water drainage, has been carefully in- vestigated and considered. It has been found that the sewers in the vicinity of Davis square have become inadequate for the ready removal of storm water, as many of the cellars are flooded during heavy rains. As this territory is not covered by the provisions of the Act, but should receive the benefit of the system of storm-water drainage thereby contemplated, we recommend that the necessary legislation be petitioned for early in the coming year.
By the death, in November, of the City Engineer, Mr. Horace L. Eaton, work upon the project was suspended before a final under- standing had been reached with the authorities of the City of Cam- bridge, but we trust it will be promptly taken up by the incoming City Government and prosecuted to an early completion.
JOINT DRAINAGE WITH MEDFORD.
In pursuance of an order of the City Council requesting His Honor, the Mayor, to petition for legislation authorizing the con- struction of joint sewers for the cities of Medford and Somerville, in both cities, to connect, at different points, with the Metropolitan system, such legislation was granted, and the construction of the said sewers is now under contract and will soon be completed.
METROPOLITAN SEWER CONNECTIONS.
Your committee would report, in regard to the Metropolitan con- nections, that plans have been made for the same, and a contract has been let for one on Mystic avenue at Moreland street.
9
L-REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SEWERS.
A communication was received, early in the year, from the city of Cambridge, asking that all the drains from the packing houses be connected, directly, with the Metropolitan sewer, without any over- flow into our local sewers, so that, after such connection, no sewerage or drainage of any sort from these establishments should be dis- charged at the present sewer-outlet in Charles River. In consequence of this request, the city engineer entered into a large amount of detail work, to find some way of disposing of the storm water and the im- mense quantities of salt water that were being emptied, by the pack- ing houses, into the Somerville sewers. It appeared, upon a very thorough investigation, that the daily discharge of liquid waste from the packing houses amounted to about 5,000,000 gallons, of which over one half was clear salt water, pumped from the river for refrig- erating purposes and, after being used, discharged into the sewer. Owing to the fact that all of this water, if emptied into the Metropol- itan sewer, would have to be raised, by pumping, about forty feet before being discharged into deep water, and also to the fact that the city is endeavoring to exclude from its sewers all surface and other inoffensive drainage, on account of the cost of such pumping, - your committee objected very seriously to the emptying of this large amount of clear water into Somerville sewers. For these reasons it was necessary to enter into some agreement with the packing-house pro- prietors, and such an agreement was very nearly completed when the sudden death of our engineer stopped all negotiations for the present. Therefore your committee can only report that the plans for this con- nection are practically completed, and the matter of the negotiations is in the hands of the City Solicitor.
SEWER COMMISSION.
Your committee would most earnestly recommend, to the incom- ing city government, that the whole matter of sewerage be taken from the hands of committees and placed in charge of a commission, to be formed in such manner as the city council may determine.
MEMORIAL.
In closing this report, we desire to express our profound sorrow for the death of Horace L. Eaton, the late city engineer, who had
10
ANNUAL REPORTS.
immediate charge of the sewers of the city. His untiring and con- scientious application to the arduous duties of his position, doubtless hastened his decease ; and he should be remembered by all as a faith- ful, self-sacrificing public officer.
For the Committee on Sewers,
EDMUND S. SPARROW, Chairman. WILLIAM P. MITCHELL, Clerk.
M
REPORT
OF THE
CITY ENGINEER.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, March 11, 1896.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 11, 1896.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports, in concurrence.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER, SOMERVILLE, February 28, 1896.
To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE : -
Gentlemen, - Herewith is submitted a report of work done in the City Engineering Department, under Horace L. Eaton, for the year ending December 31, 1895.
By the death of the City Engineer, Mr. Eaton, on the morning of November 23, 1895, the department was deprived of its honored chief ; the work being carried on for the balance of the year under the direction of the undersigned, who was the principal assistant engineer, and was appointed City Engineer January 22, 1896.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
The number of assistants permanently employed during the year has been nine, while three more have been employed for part of the year.
Outside of the regular office force a surveying party was employed to make surveys in the Tannery Brook Valley district in the city of Cambridge, for the purpose of drainage ; also a special assistant was employed to make examinations, studies, and design plans for the drainage of the different slaughtering establishments situated on Somerville avenue and Medford street, near the East Cambridge line.
The cost of maintaining the department has been as follows :-
4
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Salary of City Engineer
$2,400.00
Board of Engineer's horse 270.00
Consulting and extra engineering services
348.55
Salaries of assistants
7,162.90
Supplies and incidental office expenses
285.04
Car fares .
133.04
Total
.
.
$10,599.53
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES, ASSISTANTS' SALARIES.
SEWERS - comprising surveys, profiles, lines, grades, titles, plans and assessments . $2,842.90
HIGHWAYS - comprising plans, profiles, titles, estimates, lines and grades · 629.00
EDGESTONE -comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, titles, costs and assessments 693.00
WATER WORKS -comprising lines, locations of mains and services . 335.00
PUBLIC GROUNDS- comprising surveys, plans, profiles, grades and estimates 303.00
PUBLIC BUILDINGS - comprising surveys, lines, grades and estimates 319.00
STREET NUMBERING- comprising locations of buildings, plans, and affixing street numbers on houses 184.00
WEST END STREET RAILWAY Co. - comprising grades, plans and profiles . ·
134.00
MIDDLESEX REGISTRY-comprising copying of plans and abstracts from deeds filed 56,00
OFFICE WORK - comprising indexing, records of all loca- tions, miscellaneous lines, grades, plans and esti- mates
830.00
CITY SURVEY
476.00
CITY MAP
361.00
Total
· .
$7,162.90
5
M -REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.
SEWERS.
Comparatively little work has been done the past year in the construction of main line or trunk sewers, but a number of short lateral sewers have been built.
The greater part of the time has been occupied in making exten- sive studies and designs for the drainage of large sections, in differ- ent localities of the city, necessitated by the completion of the Metropolitan Sewer System.
Large tracts of unoccupied land heretofore unable to be drained can now be completely sewered, and thus bring into the city many desirable house lots ; also, certain sections in the low districts where cellars are flooded during storms, can be wholly or partially relieved by diverting the storm water from the old sewers into new channels and emptying into the natural water-shed outlets.
TANNERY BROOK VALLEY SEWER.
The Massachusetts Legislature passed an Act, April 25, 1895, which allowed the City of Somerville to take private land in Cam- bridge for the purpose of laying and maintaining a common sewer for house drainage, having its connection with the Metropolitan Sewer near Massachusetts avenue where Tannery Brook empties into Alewife Brook, including the greater part of the territory in West Somerville situated south of Holland street and Broadway and west of Davis square, comprising about fifty-one acres. Also, the right of disposing and conducting storm water, covering a considerably larger area, through Cambridge and discharging into Alewife Brook.
A number of routes were proposed, plans made showing the areas to be taken from the land owners, the sizes of the sewers to be constructed determined, and approximate estimates of the cost made ; but the two cities came to no definite agreement on the matter, either from the excessive land damages wanted by the property owners or some other unforeseen difficulty arising so that nothing in the line of construction was commenced; but the coming year it is hoped that all obstacles will be overcome, and a long needed sewer constructed.
When this storm-water drain is constructed the cellars in Davis square and vicinity, which are now flooded in heavy storms, will be greatly relieved.
6
ANNUAL REPORTS.
METROPOLITAN SEWER CONNECTIONS IN SOMERVILLE.
The City of Somerville is paying yearly a State tax for maintain- ing the Metropolitan Sewer System, but at present is not receiving any benefit for the money so expended, as no connections have been made between the City sewers and the State sewer.
About twenty-three thousand dollars was paid in 1895 on the construction account, and nearly seven thousand dollars was paid for the maintenance of the Metropolitan System during the past year, making a total of about thirty thousand dollars, which amount will increase yearly.
Somerville Avenue and Poplar Street Connection .- The largest, most important and expensive connection will be on Somerville avenue at Poplar street, where more than two thirds of the total sewerage system of the city is at present passing. Probably this connection would have been made the past year, but the question arose as to the drainage of the three packing establishments, Squire's, North's, and the New England Dressed Meat & Wool Company.
These places use large quantities of salt water, about two and one- half million gallons daily being emptied into the city's sewers ; this, the Metropolitan Commissioners will not allow to enter their sewerage system, and must first be disposed of before making the Somerville avenue connection.
The slaughtering establishments will have a separate connection at the same point, and probably conduct the salt water used to the river from which it is pumped.
No agreement as to the cost has been made as yet between the city and the different companies, but the Metropolitan connection should not be further delayed ; this connection will also reduce the cost which Somerville pays yearly for the dredging of the Bridge street outlet in Cambridge.
Mystic Avenue and Winthrop Avenue Connection. - The East Som- erville and Winter Hill districts, lying north of Pearl street and the Lowell Railroad and as far west as Magoun square, comprising about four hundred acres, have their outlet across the marsh land, at the end of Winthrop avenue, into Mystic River.
A connection with the Metropolitan Sewer should be made at the junction of Mystic and Winthrop avenues, which would do away with the open sewer running along Mystic avenue at the northeasterly
7
M -REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.
end of Broadway Park, and also remove the sewage matter from the water course across land owned by F. O. Reed.
Mystic Avenue and Moreland Street Connection .- A sewer is being constructed at the present time on the northerly side of Winter Hill, and, when completed, will give house drainage (surface and roof water being excluded) for an area of about forty-one acres adjacent to the Medford city line.
The connection with the Metropolitan Sewer is at the junction of Mystic avenue and Moreland street, which is the first connection Somerville will make with the State sewer.
The City of Medford also drains about seven acres through the Somerville Sewer into this outlet.
North Somerville District .- An agreement has been made between the cities of Somerville and Medford, whereby a district comprising about eighty-two and two-tenths acres in North Somerville, between the City Farm lands and the Nathan Tufts Park, and also the easterly slope of College Hill, can be discharged through the City of Medford sewers and thence into the Metropolitan System.
One of these sewers is in the process of construction on Broad- way, east of the Lowell Railroad, and has its outlet at Winchester street into Medford. This sewer, when completed, will provide sewerage for about ten acres, including the houses situated in the low parts on Wilson avenue and Cedar street, near Broadway, which heretofore have had no sewer connections.
Another sewer. should be built in this district, through Willow avenue and Broadway, having its outlet on the westerly side of the railroad, at Boston avenue, and discharging through Medford.
This line will sewer the Ayer and Tufts estates, located on either side of Willow avenue.
In this annual report will be found an ordinance, together with plans annexed, showing the districts covered by, and terms of, the foregoing-mentioned agreement between the cities of Somerville and Medford.
Raymond Avenue and Vicinity .- This section is beginning to be built upon somewhat, and would increase rapidly if sewers were con- structed giving land owners house drainage.
It is designed to build a main sewer through Raymond avenue, extending through the low lands and connecting with the Metropol- itan Sewer, which runs along the easterly bank of Alewife Brook ;
8
ANNUAL REPORTS.
laterals could then be constructed in the intersecting streets, giving sewerage for the larger part of the territory lying west of Curtis street and north of Broadway.
SEWERS BUILT IN 1895.
Twenty-three sewers have been built the past year, a length of seven thousand and sixty and one-half feet or one and thirty-four hundredths miles, at a cost of thirteen thousand eight hundred twenty- two dollars and twenty-two cents.
Abutters were assessed five thousand four hundred eighty-nine dollars and three cents, the city assuming the balance.
Three sewers were contracted for in 1895, which have not been completed within the year ; their total length constructed being nine hundred and twenty-five feet.
The total length of sewers in the city, December 31, 1895, is sixty-four and five-tenths miles.
PRIVATE DRAINS.
Four hundred and eighteen houses have been connected with public sewers, and twenty-seven drains have been repaired during the year.
The cost of inspection of house drains has been four hundred and seventy-four dollars and nine cents.
CATCH-BASINS.
Thirty-seven new catch-basins have been built, at a cost of two thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine dollars and twenty-eight cents, making the total number of basins in the city, December 31, 1895, eight hundred and thirty-nine.
The cost of changing the grade, repairing, cleaning, flushing and general maintenance of catch-basins has been three thousand two hundred and ninety-nine dollars and thirty-eight cents.
REPAIRING AND CLEANING SEWERS.
The cost of changing the grade, cleaning dirt-catchers of man- holes, and the repairing and cleaning of sewers has been two thou-
TABULAR STATEMENT OF SEWERS BUILT IN 1895.
LOCATION.
ITEMS OF COST. -
COST AND ASSESSMENT.
PIPE SEWER. Cost per lineal foot.
NAME OF STREET.
FROM
To
CONTRACTOR.
Size in incbes.
Length in feet.
Material excavated.
Average cut.
excavation.
Manholes.
Chimneys.
Inlets.
foot.
Total Cost.
Assessment.
Cost to City.
Albion place
Sewer in Albion st.
Northeasterly
Dennis C. Collins
150.5
Clay with gravel .
7.5
. ..
1
.42
.18
.02
S .64
$ 97.50
$ $ 97.50
Banks .
Sewer in Banks st.
Southwesterly
Charles A. Kelley
8
282.3
Sand and clay
7.8
1
...
.55
43.00
.18
.02
.02
.93
261.48
260.73
0.75
Bartlett
Sewer in Medford st.
Near Broadway
Charles A. Mongan
10
554.6
small
9.5
3.
4
.70
.19
.05
1.28
860.88
859.24
1.64
Crocker
Sewer in Highland ave.
Southwesterly near Crown st.
Charles A. Mongan
12
131.6
Coarse gravel and small boulders
8.7
0.5
2
45
25
.01
.07
1.01
485.96
484.58
1.38
Cross .
Old sewer built in 1871
Southwesterly
Maurice Buttimer
66.0
Ledge .
9.0
35.0
1
Boulders
4.50
8.00
.14
.05
.06
4.26
281.39
118.86
162.53
Edmands
Old sewer built in 1889
Southwesterly
Hervey A. Hanscom
10
19.0
Coarse gravel
7.9
4.4
1
.44
.19
.19
.02
.07
.73
107.76
78.00
29.76
Greenwood terrace
Sewer in Beacon st.
Northeasterly .
Charles A. Kelley
8
180.00
Sand
7.2
.60
.18
.04
.01
.83
149.04
138.53
10.51
Ibbetson
Sewer in Somerville ave.
Northerly
Charles A. Mongan
12
295.0
Sand, gravel and ledge
7.7
32.7
4
.50
3.50
40.00
.03
.09
1.32
925.01
806.96
118.05
Lowell
Sewer in Highland ave.
Southwesterly Near Crown st.
Dennis C. Collins
12
229.0
9.5
3
.53
35.00
.26
.04
.01
1.08
622.66
621.26
1.40
Mt. Vernon ave.
Sewer in Heath st.
Southwesterly
Richard Falvey
8
173.8
8.0
... 1
1
.48
5.00
.18
.12
1.52
182.80
132.83
49.97
N. Union st. sewer extension
Sewer in N. Union st.
Northeasterly to Mystic river
Dennis F. O'Connell
18
* 599.5
Marsh mud
7.1
2
Passageway off Craigie
Sewer in Craigie st.
Westerly
Charles A. Kelley
10
148.3
Sand and gravel .
8.9
1
.48
2.00
.20
.04
.03
.82
133.53
74.54
58.99
Pearl .
End of old sewer built in 1894
Westerly
Charles A. Mongan
8
63.2
Compact gravel aud clay
6.7
1
.45
4.00
.19
.04
.01
.85
53.41
$ 53.41
Pitman
Sewer in Spring st.
Westerly
Crimmings & Collins
10
168.6
Ledge .
126.6
1
.75
168.6
15.00
.73
1,106.56
206.34
900.22
Richardson terrace
Sewer in Richardson st.
Northeasterly
Maurice Buttimer
6
193.3
Compact gravel
10.3
1
.35
2.00
11
.02
.49
95.94
95.69
0.25
Richmond highlands
Sewer in Madison st.
Southerly
Charles A. Mongan
6
139.5
Compact gravel
9.1
.48
.12
.03
.63
88.66
88.49
0.17
Spring Hill terrace
Sewer in Highland ave.
Southwesterly
Dennis C. Collins
8
158.8
Sand and gravel
3
.50
37.00 .17
.05
.01
1.01
560.26
559.82
0.44
§ Stanford terrace
Sewer in Beacon st.
Northerly
Westerly to centre of Sycamore st.
Charles A. Mongan
12
22.5
8.8
1
1
,50
40.00
.31
.08
.09
1.13
181.86
181.48
0.38
Sycamore st. .
Southwesterly to near Madison st.
139.0
Union st. and Mystic ave. sewer extension
A point on Mystic ave. near Austin st.
N. Union st. .
Maurice Buttimer
12
± 554.
Clay and hardpan
2
.40
60.00
2.19
1,215.53
1,215.53
Walnut
Sewer in Pearl st.
Southwesterly
Charles A. Kelley
250.8
Compact gravel and ledge
8.8
1
.65
35
4.00
.18
.05
.07
1.19
297.26
250.10
17.16
Washington
Sewer in Somerville ave. near Union sq.
Southwesterly
Charles A. Mongan
335.0
Sand
8,9
2
.80
43.00
.25
.08
.09
1.50
502.45
260.67
241.78
Total length and cost of new sewers built in 1895
# 18'' Akron and 20'' iron pipe laid in brick and concrete masonry, on pile foundation. # 12'' Akron pipe on timber foundation. § Cost paid by private parties.
SEWERS CONTRACTED FOR IN 1895, AND UNCOMPLETED DECEMBER 31st, 1895, FOR WHICH NO ASSESSMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
NAME OF STREET.
FROM
To
CONTRACTOR.
Size in inches.
Approximate length in feet completed.
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