Report of the city of Somerville 1900, Part 27

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 546


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1900 > Part 27


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The Legislature of 1900 passed an act to regulate the width of tires on draft wagons as follows :--


Chapter 334, an Act to Regulate the Width of Tires on Draft Wagons.


Section 1. On and after the first day of January in the year 1902, it shall be unlawful, except as provided in section four of this act, to use upon any road, street, or way in this Commonwealth a draft wagon or


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STREET COMMISSIONER.


cart having tires of iron or steel, or of any substance equally hard, which are less in width than one and one-half times the diameter of the axle measured at the shoulder thereof; but in no case shall a tire more than four inches in width be required, and wagons or carts built with wooden or hollow axles shall have tires not less in width than the diameter of the axle' measured at the shoulder thereof.


Section 2. This act shall apply to all wagons and carts the axles of which are two inches or more in diameter, measured as aforesaid, and to all stage coaches, tally-ho coaches, barges, and other passenger ve- hicles not built to run on iron or steel rails, and constructed to carry eight or more persons.


Section 3. Whoever violates any provision of this act shall be pun- ished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.


Section 4. This act shall take effect on the first day of January in the year 1902, but shall not apply to wagons or other vehicles owned and used in this state on that date. (Approved May 23, 1900.)


Wayside Advertising.


The custom of advertising by the wayside has caused a great many complaints from property owners, so that it has been neces- sary for me to adopt strict measures to prevent the disfigurement of fences, new buildings, etc.


Brown-Tail Moths.


Many complaints have been made, by residents of the city, of the ravages of this pest, and as fast as evidences of the moth are discovered in the trees on the highways they are promptly removed. Satisfactory results cannot be attained, however, un- less private individuals see fit to care for the trees within their grounds.


Tar Macadam Streets.


Through the courtesy of W. L. Dickenson, superintendent of streets of Springfield for a number of years, I have obtained a copy of the specifications for constructing tar macadam streets. F. M. Shepard, United States consul at Hamilton, Ontario, de- scribes them as being very successful :-


SPECIFICATIONS FOR TAR MACADAM STREET. EXCAVATION.


All earth or other material above the sub-grade shall be excavated so as to conform to the level of the sub-grade, which will be ten inches below the finished surface of the roadway, and should the sub-grade be above the level of the natural ground, then earth shall be deposited until the level of the sub-grade is reached. The sub-grade shall be shaped to the profile and cross section, which will be furnished by the City En- gineer.


ROLLING.


After the sub-grade has been formed to the proper camber of the road, generally one-half inch per foot, or six inches for a twenty-four- foot roadway, to be thoroughly rolled with a steam roller, and if, by this


324


ANNUAL REPORTS.


means, soft spots are revealed, they shall be filled with good solid mate- rial.


SIZE OF STONE.


The first six inches shall be made in the ordinary way for a macadam or Telford roadway, thoroughly rolled. If so required, it may be made of hard broken stone, furnace clinkers, or brick rolled smooth and finished to the required camber of the road. Upon this shall be placed the tarred stone. The first layer, three inches of hard broken stone, to pass through a two-and-one-half-inch ring, then a two-inch layer of machine-broken stone, the whole smoothed off with a hand roller, and, after top dressing is applied, thoroughly rolled with a steam roller. On this a layer composed of fine gravel and quarry chippings, mixed in equal proportions three-quarters inch thick, shall be placed and well rolled in so as to fill all interstices. Before finishing, a dressing of stone screenings for the purpose of coloring shall be scattered broad- cast, to be worked in by the traffic. All layers, including the coloring layer, shall be thoroughly compacted by rolling.


METHOD OF MIXING TAR.


The stone to be tarred shall, if moist, be heated on an iron floor under which are flues from a fire, until the moisture is driven out. The material in its heated state is then to be thoroughly mixed with a suffi- cient quantity of tar. The broken stone in warm weather may be sun- dried, but in all cases the finer course must be artificially dried. At the same time, care must also be taken not to get this material too hot. The tar should be boiled in iron kettles holding one hundred imperial gal- lons. Eight imperial gallons should be added to each cubic yard of the coarser material, or more if required to completely cover the stone, and eighteen gallons to the finer kinds of stone.


1 TAR


The tar must be pure coal tar, free from all foreign substances, and containing not more than five per cent. of water, and shall contain upon analysis not less than fifty-five per cent. pitch, except on steep grades, when soft pitch must be added. 1


WEATHER.


The work must be done in the summer months, and all work must be suspended during wet weather.


On streets of slight grade, where surface water is turned into the catch-basins at frequent intervals, the cobblestone gutter might be omitted and the tar macadam laid up to the edgestone, giving a good, smooth gutter.


I think the construction of tar macadam streets worthy of considerable further investigation, and in order to ascertain the durability of streets built in this manner it may be advisable to make some experiments with this method of construction.


Boston Avenue Bridge (Old).


This bridge was built in the year 1872, and rested on the piers that supported the viaduct of the old Middlesex canal. The new bridge was constructed to take the place of this old wooden structure.


325


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Boston Avenue Bridge (New).


A granite arch bridge has been constructed across the Mystic river between Somerville and Medford, the two cities and the Boston Elevated Railway Company paying for the construc- tion of said bridge. The design was made by City Engineer Ernest W. Bailey, also the plans and specifications. The con- struction of this bridge was placed in charge of the street com- missioner of Somerville; the contract was made with Holbrook, Cabot, & Daly for the sum of eighteen thousand dollars, and this amount will complete the work.


Subways.


The subways at Kent street and Sacramento street require constant care in stormy weather. After severe rain storms it becomes necessary to close them while the water is pumped out.


Middlesex Avenue Bridge.


This bridge, by an act of the legislature, has to be main- tained jointly by the cities of Somerville and Medford. The custody of the bridge is placed in charge of the city of Medford, that city making all repairs and the city of Somerville paying one- half the cost of same. This bridge is none too safe for the heavy traffic passing over it, and as the city of Somerville is liable for one-half of any damage that may occur, something should be done before it is too late, and I would recommend that a thor- ough examination of this bridge be made by our city engineer.


Broadway Bridge at Alewife Brook.


The stone arch bridge at Alewife brook has been widened to conform to the width of Broadway at that point. Neat iron rail- ings have been placed on both sides along the entire length of the sidewalks, and the bank on the southwesterly side of Broad- way has been cut back to the street line from the bridge to North street.


Street Railways.


The Boston Elevated Railway Company has laid double tracks in Pearl and Medford streets from Cross street to Broad- way, in Broadway from the top of Winter hill to the Arlington line, in College avenue from Broadway to the Medford line, and in Boston avenue from the bridge to the Medford line, a total length of about six miles.


The space occupied by the tracks and the space between the tracks from the junction of Broadway and Main street to Jenny Lind avenue has been paved with asphalt, and granite block pav- ing to the width of eighteen inches has been laid outside the outer


326


ANNUAL REPORTS.


rails, the railway company assuming the whole cost. All mate- rial excavated from these locations has been utilized on old streets or piled up for future use.


A location has been granted the Boston Elevated Railway Company for a double track in Cross street from Broadway to Medford street.


The company has purchased a piece of land at the corner of Cross and Medford streets with a view to lengthening the curve at that point and thereby doing away with a long-endured nuisance, that of the noise made by cars rounding the short curve.


Cross street will be paved from Broadway to Fountain ave- nue with Trinidad asphalt during the ensuing year, the curb- stones reset, and the sidewalks relaid. All this is to be done in connection with the laying of double tracks in said street, a loca- tion for which has been granted the railway company.


Miscellaneous Work.


One hundred street signs and guide signs have been erected during the year ; great improvement has been made in this line, and no city is better equipped than ours. The old iron gas posts are utilized and all work is done in our own shop.


The steam rollers have been kept constantly at work since March twenty-third. The Buffalo Pitts twelve-ton roller is in good condition, and will need but slight repairs, but the Kelley roller demands extensive repairs, and I would recommend that it be sold or exchanged for another. The former has worked 201 days and the latter 192 days during the year.


The wall of Professor Norton's estate on Beacon street has been set back to the city line, thereby greatly improving that part of the street. This was considered necessary to insure safe travel, and $200 of the expense is to be borne by Professor . Norton, as per agreement.


Twenty-four old streets (26,442 feet) have been resurfaced and macadamized and rolled with the steam roller.


Twelve new streets (8,689 feet) have been constructed, macadamized, and rolled with the steam roller.


Twelve streets have been accepted, and two of them, Meacham street (402 feet) and Hall street (456 feet), have been constructed. The remaining ten streets (7,949 feet) were ac- cepted at too late a date to make work upon them possible.


There are 61.76 miles of public streets and 29.26 miles of private streets in the city.


About 7,000 vards of new sidewalks have been laid, and ap- proximately eight miles of edgestones have been set.


Seven stone flagging street crossings and ten vitrified brick crossings, three stone flagging driveways and seven vitrified brick driveways have been constructed. Eleven street crossings have been relaid.


BOSTON-AVENUE BRIDGE (NEW).


327


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Granolithic sidewalks to the extent of 277 1-2 yards have been laid.


I would recommend that edgestone be laid in Washington street and that the gutters be paved with block stone on the southerly side from the Charlestown line to the railroad bridge; that Medford street from the Lowell railroad to Broadway be paved with blockstone; that Washington street from Union square to the Cambridge line be resurfaced and macadamized ; that Main street from Broadway to the Medford line be paved.


Repairs are needed in Union square, which has been torn up so many times during the past four years; Highland avenue should have a coat of hard stone; Pearl street from Cross street to Gilman square needs repairs, as does also Medford street from Gilman square to Dartmouth street. The southerly end of Middlesex avenue is in bad condition, and should be macadam- ized, and College avenue, which has been widened ten feet on the northerly side, should also be macadamized.


Two hundred and one permits have been issued granting the right to obstruct streets and sidewalks, to blast, etc.


Eighty-four permits have been given by the City Engineer for house drains.


One thousand five hundred defects in streets and sidewalks have been reported by the police.


Ten miles of streets have been dug up by the water depart- ment, sewer department, and gas and electric light companies for the laying of pipes and wires.


Fifteen thousand five hundred and two loads of debris, 6,375 loads of old macadam, 7,086 loads of street sweepings, 1,358 loads of snow, and 200 loads of ashes have been removed from sundry streets.


We have been fortunate during the past year in having but few snowstorms.


I would recommend that vacant lots of land in different sec- tions of the city be provided for storage purposes. There are many opportunities to purchase sand, gravel, and stone at a low cost, and money might be saved if there were available lots for storage. These lots are much needed for storing materials used for repairs, to save teaming them from a long distance, and thereby reduce expense.


I would recommend that the sum of five thousand dollars be appropriated for street paving.


An act to make eight hours a day's work for city employees having been adopted by our city will tend to increase the appro- priation for highways, to what extent I am at present unable to state.


Shade Trees.


Americans are fond of planting shade trees on roads and .streets in cities large and small, and this disposition to make cities


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ANNUAL REPORTS.


more beautiful is one worthy of encouragement. Many trees which are properly planted and which flourish for a time are poisoned at the roots by leaking gas, some are burned by electric wires, and many are injured by horses gnawing the bark. A horse can ruin in fifteen minutes a tree which has been watched over for thirty years.


I would recommend that when trees are planted they be pro- tected by means of wire or wooden protectors placed about them. During the year the department has set 115 trees furnished by residents, and 118 trees provided by the city. One hundred and twenty-five tree protectors have been used. Thirty-eight trees which were in a dangerous condition and sixteen decayed trees have been hewn down.


Street Openings.


There is no feature of the work of this department which stands in such dire need of reform as that of putting into proper condition streets which have been dug up. During the past year I have been obliged to emphasize its importance repeatedly. The work of constructing the sewerage system, laying water and gas pipes, replacing poles, and laying underground wires has in- terfered with the keeping in proper condition of several of the main thoroughfares. All trenches should be properly rammed and puddled. Sandy soil should be puddled, but in a heavy soil 10 water should be used, and there should be twice as many rammers as shovellers.


Criticism.


The street commissioner of any city is subjected to much criticism, both just and unjust, and during the past year I realize that my labors have been criticised to a certain extent. People living in unaccepted streets make complaint that these streets are not properly cared for, not considering the fact that the city is not responsible for their condition, except in so far as to keep them safe for . travel and close them when necessary. I have always attempted to keep such streets in as good condition as my authority permits.


The work of the highway department differs from that of the sewer and water departments in that both sewer and water pipes are covered and out of sight, while the results of my labors remain on the surface for critics to walk over, drive over, and talk over.


Employment of Home Labor.


The claim of those who, as long time dwellers in our city, demand a share of employment on her public works is one which should be met with a fair recognition, while at the same time it


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BROADWAY BRIDGE AND WALL AT ALEWIFE BROOK.


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STREET COMMISSIONER.


should not be permitted to conflict with public affairs or to in- fluence its officials in the economical administration of their duties. The men who constitute the working force of the high- way department are picked men; they are able-bodied men, and no person who is not a resident of Somerville is employed in the department. All our work is done by the day, and during the past year all unruly men and orators have severed their connec- tion with the department.


Detailed Statement.


The following is a detailed statement of the expenditures of the department, with tables of streets, sidewalks, gutters, and crossings constructed, and streets repaired, and other informa- tion.


Highways Maintenance Account.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$7,000 00


Receipts and credits :-


Balance brought forward from last year's account


$29,471 71 1


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, street railway tax 55,776 28


Labor and materials furnished prior to


January 1, 1900, the bills for which remained uncollected that day .


17 31


85,265 30


Value of materials on hand January 1, 1900


751 30


Value of tools and property on hand January 1, 1900


16,376 30


Net gain on tools, property, and materials .


5,151 94


Total credit


$114,544 84


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


For repairs of sundry streets, as appears by table B at end of this report


$14,845 83


General repairs of streets


12,917 30


Repairs of stone paving


684 40


Repairs of gravel sidewalks


2,165 90


Repairs of City scales, Union square


19 15


Removing and rebuilding stone wall, Beacon street, in · front of estate of Professor Norton


1,778 00


Cutting embankment in front of sundry estates caused by the construction of sidewalks


295 30


Widening of Broadway, from Jenny Lind avenue to Magoun square ·


90 80


Changing grade of driveway, Broadway, corner Frank- lin street


18 90


Removing snow and ice and care of slippery sidewalks . Setting edgestones and grading in front of estate of Margaret E. Osborn, Porter street


1,760 60


Cleaning streets


79 87


9,689 40


Amount carried forward


$44,345 45


330


ANNUAL REPORTS.


$44,345 45


Maintenance of Middlesex-avenue bridge


446 37


Removing trees


567 95


Setting trees


152 60


Trimming trees .


493 90


Street signs


575 96


Blacksmithing


1,219 25


Carpentering


484 60


Superintendent's salary


2,000 00


Superintendent's team (board of one horse)


238 68


Care of subway


168 75


Private work, the bills for which remain uncollected Sundry expenses


2,930 54


Books, stationery, and printing


113 75


Value of materials on hand this day


2,519 49


Value of tools and personal property on hand this day :-


Horses


$3,690 00


Carts and implements used with horses


3,989 69


Harnesses and horse clothing


634 50


Stable utensils and property


160 05


Tools


1,179 95


Steam road rollers


4,200 00


Stone crusher and fittings .


2,497 25


16,351 44


$74,142 39


Balance unexpended


$40,402 45


Highways Construction Account.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$12,000 00


Receipts and credits :-


Highway Betterment Assess-


ments


$948 99


Sale of old buildings


40 00


988 99


Total credit


$12,988 99


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


For advertising laying out Columbia, Edmands, Fosket, Lowell, Mansfield, South, Sycamore, and White streets, Morrison avenue, and Windsor road .


$99 00


Construction of streets, as appears by table A at end of this report Samuel F. Woodbridge, award for opening of Kingston street


11,569 81


Recording releases


17 95


Total debit


$11,865 26


Balance unexpended .


178 50


$1,123 73


Amount brought forward


1,533 66


331


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


DEBIT. $12,000 00


Expenditures :-


Ashland street, paving of gutters, south-


easterly side, from Summer street to Sartwell aventie . .


$268 85


Atherton street, northeasterly side, from Central street to Carr school lot 105 95


Atherton street, southwesterly side, from Central street to Beach street


127 35


Benton road, both sides, from Summer street to Highland avenue


1,023 08


Belmont street, both sides, from Somer- ville avenue to near Summer street . 1,252 32 Belmont street, both sides, from Summer street to Highland avenue 446 41


Broadway, southwesterly side, from Bart- lett street to Arlington line, and north- easterly side, from Hollis estate to Arlington line · .


6,629 82


Cameron avenue, southerly side, from


411 72


Holland street to the Cambridge line Eliot street, both sides. from Park street to Vine street


232 88


Glen street. southerly side, from Oliver street to Morton street


298 75


Glen street, southerly side, in front of es- tate of George H. Turner . Grove street, easterly side, from Highland school lot to Elm street


34 28


90 88


Harrison street, northerly side, from Kent street to Mondamin court, and southerly side, from Mondamin court to Ivaloo street


239 23


Harrison street, northerly side, from Mondamin court to Ivaloo street


122 40


Hall avenue, northeasterly side, from Elm street to Liberty avenue, and south- westerly side, from Elm street to east- erly line of estate of Ida M. Wyman . Heath street, southwesterly side, from Temple street to estate of William B. Holmes


716 84


Highland avenue, southwesterly side,


1,342 71


from Central street to Gordonia road Jay street, northwesterly side, from Hol- land street to Howard street


194 55


Joy street, northerly side, from Washing- ton street to Poplar street . Kent street, westerly side, from Somer- ville avenue to subway


552 73


Meacham street, both sides, from Dover .


154 85


street northerly and westerly to a point about fifty feet north of Glover circle and Lester terrace (labor)


23 15


Amounts carried forward


$14,705 95


$12,000 00


437 20


332


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amounts brought forward


$14,705 95


$12,000 00


Melvin street, both sides, from Broadway to Bonair street


524 17


Oxford street, both sides, from Central street to School street


967 19


Oxford street, in front of the estate of the Oxford Trust ·


49 23


Prospect street, easterly side, from land of the City of Somerville to Fitchburg Railroad ·


230 15


Sacramento street, in front of the estate of Margaret P. Thierry .


28 93


Thurston street, easterly side, from Ever- green avenue to Medford street . . Union street, both sides, from Mystic ave- nue to Benedict street


51 05


Wesley street, both sides, from Pearl street to Otis street


489 10


Willow avenue, both sides, from Elm street to Highland avenue


632 85


William street, northerly side, from the estate of C. H. Lockhart to Chapel street


133 75


Wyatt street (North), easterly side, from Washington street to Lincoln Park- way


441 14


Wyatt street (South), both sides, from


450 95


Lincoln Parkway to Concord avenue Street crossings


1,313 06


Total debit


20,302 44


Amount overdrawn


$8,302 44


Highways .- Paving Davis Square.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$8,500 00


Receipts :-


Highways Maintenance, paving stock


171 90


Total credit


$8,671 90


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Eastern Paving Brick Co., bricks


$3,800 00


Portland Stone Ware Co., bricks


167 50


John Turner & Co., paving


4,903 35


F. C. Ayer, lumber


3 74


Changing line and grade of manholes


26 71


Inspection


87 40


Total debit


8,988 70


Amount overdrawn


$316 80


.


284 92


333


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Highways .- Watering Streets.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


15,050 00


Less transfer to Sidewalks Construction


Account


4,000 00


Total credit


$15,050 00


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Nathaniel C. Barker, looking after street watering


$620 50


Teaming


11,307 50


J. L. & H. Potter, two new carts


700 00


Repairing carts


228 72


Incidentals


87 84


New standpipes


55 20


Maintenance and repairs of standpipes


322 71


Total expenditures


13,322 47


Balance unexpended


$1,727 53


Highways, Shade Trees.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$500 00


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Belmont Hill Nurseries, 109 trees


$109 00


Thomas W. Watson, 9 trees


9 00


Morss & Whyte, 125 tree guards


75 00


Labor, setting out trees


96 00


Total debit


289 00


Balance unexpended


$211 00


Highways, Boston Avenue Bridge.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$6,500 00


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Holbrook, Cabot, & Daly, on account of contract


$8,484 04


Inspection


225 00


Digging test pits


8 75


Printing specifications


39 00


Amounts carried forward .


$8,756 79


$6,500 00


.


$4,000 00


Contributions from Abutters


$19,050 00


334


ANNUAL REPORTS.


$8,756 79 $6,500 00


Amounts brought forward .


2 25


Advertising hearing before Harbor and


3 25


Land Commissioners


2 65


Recording deeds


20 38


Car fares


2 50


Carriage hire


4 50


Total debit


$2,292 32


The profit and loss account, on city teams, tools, property, and materials is as follows :-


CREDIT.


Carts, plows, rollers, etc.


Sandstone and gravel, from Wild Cat Hill .


2,051 95


Edgestone and paving stock .


186 75


Sand


333 71


Holland-street ledge


3,286 30


Wesley-street ledge


159 55


Gravel


765 40


City teams


3,396 33


Total


$11,013 72


DEBIT.


Tools (depreciation)


$728 66


Repairs of tools


102 02


Repairs of steam road rollers


348 83


Steam road rollers (depreciation)


800 00


Stone crusher and fittings


50 00


Crushed stone


3,826 47


Cement


5 80


Total


5,861 78


Net excess of credits over charges .


$5,151 94


No charge for the use of the steam road rollers has been made where they have been worked during the year, except for the time of the engineers, which was at the rate of $3 per day for each day of actual work.


On all streets where crushed stone has been placed, a charge of seventy-five cents for each single load has been made, exclu- sive of the teaming. Sixteen thousand seven hundred and thirty- two tons of stone have been placed on the streets.




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