USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1896 > Part 32
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The addition was completed and the school ready for occu- pancy for the fall term. The building has been fitted through- out with improved heating and ventilating apparatus, and as completed is one of the largest Grammar schools of the city.
The total cost of the addition, together with the improved heating and ventilating apparatus, furniture, etc., was $27,260.71.
SCHOOLHOUSE, LUTHER V. BELL, HEATING, VEN- TILATING AND SANITARY APPARATUS.
During the summer vacation the heating, ventilating and sanitary apparatus of the Luther V. Bell Schoolhouse has been greatly improved. Under authority of the City Council a con- tract was awarded to Lynch & Woodward for the sum of $6,566.00. The contract was completed for the fall term, and the building as now ventilated by the fan system has been ap- proved by an inspector of the District Police force.
The total cost of the change was $6,850.76.
613
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.
CITY HALL IMPROVEMENT.
The question of increased accommodations for the various departments in the City Hall has been before the City Council for a number of years, and had reached such a point that some action in the matter could not be longer deferred. This question was one of the first to be considered by the City Council of 1896, and it received the most careful attention of all the mem- · bers. Several methods of enlargement were considered, and va- rious suggestions embodied in one plan and another, until the plans which were finally determined upon were adopted.
Although the committee regrets that the financial condition of the city was not such as to warrant the erection of a new City Hall, it is felt that the present building as enlarged will comfortably accommodate the departments for a number of years, and at an expenditure of money more satisfactory to the citizens of our city than would have been necessitated by the erection of a new building at this time.
Plans were prepared by Thomas M. Sargent, architect, the work to be carried on under the direction of the Inspector of Buildings, and under authority from the City Council contracts were awarded to Alfred H. Hines for $18,400.00 for construction, and to Foster, Ellingwood & Harvey for $1,325.00 for heating apparatus.
The offices in the new part of the building were completed and occupied near the close of the year 1896, and th offices in the old part will probably be completed early in the spring. In addition to the increased accommodations afforded the several departments already located in City Hall, suitable offices will be provided for the Water Board.
A detailed statement of the various repairs and improve- ments which have been made in the schoolhouses and public buildings during the year will be found in the report of the Su- perintendent of Public Buildings.
For the Committee,
LEONARD B. CHANDLER, Chairman.
WILLIAM P. MITCHELL, Clerk.
REPORT
OF THE
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, March 10, 1897.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 11, 1897. Referred to Committee on Printing to be printed in the Annual Reports in concurrence.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS, January 1, 1897.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the City Council :-
Gentlemen,-In accordance with City Ordinance, the follow- ing report of this department for the year ending December 31, 1896, is respectfully submitted.
The number of building permits issued during the year was 463, classified as follows :-
WARDS.
1
2
3
4
Totals.
Single dwellings
Business blocks
Additions and alterations.
Stables
7
2
9
13
31
Stores
1
4
8
4
17
Shops
1
3
2
2
8
Offices
1
1
2
Sheds
6
2
8
10
26
Storehouses
1
2
1
4
Manufactories
1
1
2
44
60
154
205
463
Families
.
.
51
114
228
363
756
17
23
91
153
284
1
1
9
22
34
20
85
1
2
Stores and tenements
3
618
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Frequent examinations have been made of buildings in course of construction or alteration, and in all cases of faulty construction, violation of ordinance, or danger from fire, the owners and builders have, on notice, complied with the orders of the Inspector.
Special attention has been given to the following cases :-
Woodwork too near chimney 115
Cellar walls improperly built 5
Brick partition walls ordered
Ordinance violated 2
City buildings have been erected or additions made thereto as follows :-
Fire Department Station,-Extensive alterations and addi- tions were made on Engine No. 4, ward 4.
Fire station finished in ward 1, corner of Broadway and Cross Street.
One six-room school building, corner Webster and Glen Streets, is now being constructed.
A new twelve-room school building finished on Holland Street, ward 4.
I would recommend the following changes in the Building Ordinance :-
1. That the use of ledger-boards, in place of girts, be pro- hibited.
2. That all woodwork be required to be kept two inches from chimneys and fireplaces, instead of one inch, as is now pro- vided.
3. That notice be sent Inspector when buildings are ready to lath.
4. That a copy of all plans of houses built, or alterations made, shall be deposited in office of Inspector.
5. That other provisions be inserted with a view to the prevention of the spread of fire in large buildings.
6. That fire limits be established in Davis Square. Gilman Square, Union Square, and sections including John P. Squire's and North Packing Company. Also that no wooden buildings or wooden additions to existing buildings be erected hereafter. within said limits.
619
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
The Plumbing Ordinance was changed during the past year, specifying the weight of lead pipe, requiring a uniform weight of cast-iron pipe throughout the buildings, the ventilation of apartments, separate water-closets for each family, etc.
The total number of permits for plumbing was six hundred and seventy-two, covering six hundred and sixty-seven buildings.
Permits for plumbing in old buildings 351
Permits for plumbing in new buildings 316
Number of recorded inspections 1444
Number of buildings where pipes were tested with water 612
Number of buildings with defective pipes or fittings 35
Faulty construction of waste or vent system 24
These violations were pointed out to the plumbers having charge of the work, and the plumbing was reconstructed in ac- cordance with the provisions of the Plumbing Ordinance.
The Inspector has kept himself 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 number of licenses and renewals of li- censes issued to plumbers during the year under the Acts of 1893 and 1894, and receipts for the same paid to the City Treasurer :- Number of master plumbers' licenses issued 5 $10.00
Number of journeymen plumbers'licenses issued 6 3.00 Number of master plumbers' licenses renewed 15 7.50
Number of journeymen plumbers' licenses re-
newed 11 5.50
·
$26.00
Applicant for master plumber's license not appearing to receive license 1
Applications for master plumbers' licenses rejected 2
Applications for journeymen plumbers' licenses rejected 4
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK C. FULLER,
Inspector of Buildings.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, March 10, 1897. Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Re- ports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 11, 1897.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Re- ports. in concurrence.
CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, January 1, 1897.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the City Council :-
Gentlemen,-In compliance with City Ordinance No. 19, Section 8, this report is respectfully submitted.
Repairs, alterations and additions have been made during the past year at the several city buildings as follows :-
City Hall .- An addition of fifty by seventy-two feet has been built, making commodious offices for the several departments assigned to the new part. The mayor's office has been refinished and furnished in the old part of the building. The city clerk's office will be enlarged and refurnished, also new vault with in- creased accommodations. The water board will be assigned room vacated by the city engineer.
Beach Street School .- New windows cut in north side; fur- niture repaired.
Luther V. Bell School .- Extensive changes have been made and fan system of heating and ventilating put in; two new boilers replacing old one; new toilet-room placed on upper floor; window cut through partition for lighting hall and stairway; new coat and hat room finished in schoolroom; furniture repaired and varnished.
Bennett School .- New fences around yard, also woodwork in building varnished.
Bingham School .- New furniture added to two rooms; blackboards enlarged and repaired.
624
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Burns School .- All inside woodwork varnished; new flag- staff put on building.
Cedar Street School .- Building painted outside and in; ceil- ing tinted; yard filled in and slight repairs on furniture.
Cummings School .- Basements whitewashed; outside en- trances raised and brick foundations put under; furnace repaired.
Davis School .- Walls painted; boys' sanitaries raised and repaired.
Edgerly School .- Ceilings whitened; walls painted in two rooms; principal's room painted and new carpet.
English High School .- Alterations were made in closets; platform lowered in music room; cases built for typewriters; of- fices for banking room; room fitted up in basement for manual training department; lathes, saws and planer, with benches, sinks, and motor for supplying power; all latest improved equipments for the several branches of work.
Forster School .- Extensive changes were made in sanitaries, all re-located and new material substituted for old style closets; new dressing-rooms added to two schoolrooms; new entrance for girls on south side; one boiler retubed; gas pipe, new coal- bins and painting done.
Franklin School .- One new floor put down; furniture cleaned and varnished; steps repaired; new walks and new shades to part of windows.
Jacob T. Glines School .- Extensive additions have been made the past year. Five rooms, with all modern improvements for heating and ventilation, have been added.
Harvard School .- New fences and house reshingled; slight repairs on inside as required.
Highland School .- New book-case added; walk covered from basement to outside sanitaries on girls' side.
Jackson School .- Furniture repaired and varnished; fences rebuilt; inside wood-work varnished.
O. S. Knapp School .- New concrete walks; edgestones for grading yard have been put in; new curtains for one room; ceil- ings whitened; cords, pulleys and other repairs made.
625
REPORT OF THE SUPT. OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Latin School .- A new floor was laid in one large room; windows repaired and curtains fixed; walls in basement painted and necessary repairs made.
Lincoln School .- New grate put in for boilers; sanitaries repaired.
Morse School .- Gutters repaired; new case in hall for storage of supplies; cords and pulleys for maps; tables for num- bers, etc.
Charles G. Pope School .- Small room made for storage of supplies; gas piping in hall; pointing of brick work; room for janitor in basement.
Prescott School .- Ceilings whitened; walls painted; furni- ture repaired and varnished.
Prospect Hill School .- This building has been damaged by fire, but repaired and strengthened by iron rod through building; new floors and doors, also newly painted; ceilings whitened.
Spring Hill School .- This building is still used for storage purposes and as a work-shop.
In addition to the above, ordinary repairs have been made as occasion has required.
FREDERICK C. FULLER,
Supt. of Public Buildings.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTRIC LINES.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 13, 1897.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 13, 1897.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports, in concurrence.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS, CITY HALL, December 24, 1896.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the City Council :-
Gentlemen,-I herewith present my first annual report, for the year ending December 31, 1896.
The fire alarm system has been put in first-class working order. Thirteen new boxes have been added, covering a large amount of territory before unprotected. A device whereby the key is left in the box door at all times has been attached to the boxes, doing away with the old system of having keys at different houses. In this way an alarm can be given much quicker than formerly.
Local tapper circuits have been built from the different en- gine houses, so that the call men are notified of every alarm at once, thereby greatly increasing the efficiency of the fire de- partment. A special line has been built from Engine 4's house of West Somerville to Engine 4's house of Cambridge, thereby allowing an interchange of alarms between the two cities. An attachment has been placed in the different engine houses so that in case of a still alarm the members of that company can be notified without giving a general alarm.
I would recommend that the old fire alarm boxes now in service be replaced by more modern boxes, which have improve- ments in regard to non-interference much superior to the old boxes.
630
ANNUAL REPORTS.
I would also recommend the use of the storage battery system, which is now being used by all the adjoining cities, as being much more economical to maintain than the present gravity battery.
The police signal system has received constant attention and is in good working order.
Several new hard pine poles have been set to replace old poles condemned as unsafe. Many abandoned poles have been removed, thereby greatly improving the appearance of our streets. Dead wires have been removed, and several buildings inspected that have been wired for electric lighting.
I would also earnestly recommend the placing of wires under ground, as it would greatly improve the appearance of our streets and also the efficiency of the fire alarm and police signal systems.
Thanking His Honor, the Mayor, and members of the City Council for the kind consideration shown me during my short term of office, I respectfully submit this report.
EDWARD BACKUS,
Supt. of Electric Lines and Lights.
REPORT
OF THE
INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, December 31, 1896. Referred to next City Council to be printed in the Annual Reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Reference concurred in. IN COMMON COUNCIL, December 31, 1896. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR, December 30, 1896.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Somerville :-
Gentlemen,-I herewith present the annual report of the inspector of milk and vinegar, for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1896.
The work in this department did not come under my charge until late in March; consequently I can only report the work of nine months of the year. Taking up the work about the first of April, I had to pick up the lines as left by my venerable pre- decessor, Capt. Cunningham, who had had many years of ex- perience in this line of work. In order to find out definitely who were engaged in the sale of milk I made a thorough canvass of the city in April, and found about two hundred places where milk was sold from stores of various kinds.
There were seventy of these places that had no registration. During the month of May I issued one hundred and thirty-three licenses, mostly to teams. For the nine months I have issued one hundred and ninety-seven annual licenses and registered one hundred and five stores; making three hundred and two of both kinds. I have receipts from the city treasurer showing one hundred and fifty-one dollars received as fees for the licenses.
At the last session of the Legislature 12 per cent. milk solids was made the standard for the months of April, May, June, July and August, instead of May and June only, as hereto- fore. So the standard now is 12 per cent. for five months and 13 per cent. for seven months of the year. I have from time to
634
ANNUAL REPORTS.
time taken samples from teams and stores in all parts of the city, testing them with the lactoscope and lactometer, and when in doubt have had them analyzed by a chemist, and found most of them up to the standard or only a fraction of one per cent. below. I have notified all dealers when I have found samples taken not up to the standard, and have always found them anxious to improve the quality, from whatever source they ob- tained their supply. Many dealers have brought samples that they suspected were not up to the standard to have them tested. Further tests from those dealers have shown marked improve- ment in quality. I am satisfied that the milk produced within ten or fifteen miles of Boston, while it has the advantage of freshness, is poorer in quality in many cases than it otherwise would be, consequent upon the feeding of the cows on brewers' grains. By such feeding the quality is often sacrificed for quan- tity.
The dealers licensed in Somerville distribute in this city and vicinity 8,369 cans, or 16,738 gallons of milk daily, of which amount only 552 cans are produced by the dealers.
Somerville has a larger number engaged in the sale of milk than many cities of 20,000 more inhabitants; consequently much time must necessarily be given by the inspector to the work, in order that the best results may be obtained.
I have heard no complaint of the vinegar sold in this city and understand from the inspectors of Boston and Cambridge that it is generally up to the standard in this vicinity.
The sale of oleomargarine is virtually abandoned since the law prohibiting the coloring to resemble butter has been in force. People who would use it when it resembled butter, will not use it when it is in its natural or white state, and dealers in butter have no use for a license for the sale of oleo any longer.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES S. PHILBRICK,
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar.
REPORT
OF THE
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, February 10, 1897. 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, Febuary 11, 1897. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS, ) February 1, 1897.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the City Council :-
Gentlemen,-I herewith present the report of the work performed by me since assuming the duties of the office of in- spector of animals and provisions, April 1, 1896, after the resig- nation of my predecessor, Captain Thomas Cunningham, who held the office for many years.
Somerville is the largest city this side of Chicago in the amount of slaughtering done annually; and the Massachusetts laws are now more strict than ever in regard to the inspection of animals.
There are five establishments in this city where slaughtering is done; the North Packing and Provision Co., the New Eng- land Dressed Meat and Wool Co., the John P. Squire Co., the Sturtevant & Haley Beef and Supply Co., and Hartz Gun- senheiser. At the North Packing Co. and the John P. Squire Co. only swine are slaughtered; at the New England Dressed Meat and Wool Co., sheep, cattle and calves, and at the other two smaller establishments the slaughtering is principally cattle.
The number of animals slaughtered during the nine months in which I have been inspector is as follows: North Packing Co., 607,774; John P. Squire Co., 437,199; New England Dressed Meat and Wool Co., total of all kinds, 345,259; Sturte- vant & Haley Beef and Supply Co., 5,532; Hartz Gunsenheiser, 1,117; a grand total of 1,396,881.
638
ANNUAL REPORTS.
I have made 346 visits to the several slaughtering estab- lishments, and visited twice a month the provision stores of the city. I have also inspected 380 cattle, 23 swine, and 2 sheep, kept in the city. Ten cows have been quarantined and three of that number were ordered killed; the remainder were re- leased. I have also measured 112 barns, as required by law. I have found 17 cases of glanders among the horses during my term.
Provision stores and provision wagons have been regularly and carefully inspected, and in only a very few instances have I found anything wrong. I am also glad to report that all places where provisions and meat are sold in this city are kept in good and clean condition.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAS. M. BERRY.
Inspector of Animals and Provisions.
REPORT
OF THE
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES:
-
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, March 10, 1897.
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, 1897.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the Annual Reports, . in concurrence.
CHAS. S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, 316 Broadway, Somerville, March 1, 1897. -
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the City Council :-
The undersigned was appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures in March on the death of Capt. Ammiel Colman, who had held the office for several years.
Notice was given by advertisement in the Somerville papers for all parties buying or selling by weight or measure to bring their scales, weights and measures to the office to be sealed, and in the months of June, July, August and September the Sealer visited all places in Somerville where goods were sold by weight or measure. More than 6,000 different utensils used in trade, including scales of every description and all kinds of measures were tested by the state standard. The larger number were sealed and some were condemned.
The Sealer is glad to report that most of the scales were quite up to the standard. Those parties whose scales were found accurate were always glad to have the test applied.
In the factory where the largest contributions were made to the expense of the department the scales and weights were found as correct as human ingenuity well could make them.
In some stores great care was found to be used, but in some places weights and measures unfit for honest dealers were in daily use. When possible, the inaccurate were corrected and
642
ANNUAL REPORTS.
improved but sometimes necessarily condemned as unsuitable for use. Scales, particularly in smaller stores, were oftentimes so covered with dirt as to render it impossible to give accurate weight.
Much of the time of the Sealer was given to instructing per- sons how to correct their scales and to keep them in proper order; for the measure which is right today may be adjusted so as to be wrong tomorrow. Where parties thought there was no need of the Sealer's services they were almost always found most needed.
Peddlers are the most difficult parties to handle. In order to reach all of them an officer would be obliged to spend his entire time on the streets. If practicable, where a peddler is re- quired to obtain a city license, I think it would be well before granting it to oblige him to produce a certificate from the sealer that he was furnished with measures and scales properly tested and suitable to carry on his business. In many of the smaller stores old and cheap scales are used, frequently to the disadvantage of the dealer. The beam should tip quickly. Pur- chasers want weight, and should be given that, but dealers can- not afford to give 17 ounces for a pound as I found them doing in several instances.
I think it would be well to have an office at the City Hall where the sealer could be found at certain hours of the day or certain days of the week, and that the compensation should be such as to furnish a team suitable for a city official.
An association of sealers of weights and measures for the state has recently been formed and it is believed that it will re- sult in great good to the community. As the sealer stands be- tween two parties in the business world, the seller and the buyer, both equally interested, I see no reason why the expense should entirely or partially be borne by the seller It seems to me the expenses of the department should be paid by general rather than by special tax, and then with changed conditions the sealer should devote his time to securing accurate measurement in all dealings of man with man.
643
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
ACCOUNT TO JAN. 1, 1897.
Expenses -- Man and team $66.00
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