USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1901 > Part 2
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Plans have been made and legislation is under way whereby the old Middlesex-avenue bridge over Mystic river will be re- placed by a new and wider structure, designed for carrying the boulevard travel and heavy traffic combined, to be built under the direction of the Metropolitan Park Commission ; in conjunction with this work our city proposes a change in the bulkhead, or property line, along the river front at this point, which will lessen the length of the new bridge, and also add more taxable property to the city's valuation.
Grade Crossings.
The matter of grade crossings is deserving of the most careful consideration. The present numerous street crossings over railroads at grade are the cause of great inconvenience, both to pedestrians and persons using street cars and vehicles, as well as a constant source of danger.
I would recommend that such legislation be urged, at an early date, as will accomplish the abolition of these crossings.
Engineering Department.
Under this department is carried on a varied line of work. There is no department of the city which does not require infor- mation or assistance from it, and hardly an order is passed by the City Government but what some portion of the work before
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
completion comes under the Engineer's Department in some form, and in many cases the designing and entire construction work is done by it. The employment of twenty assistants at various times during the year has been required by this depart- ment.
A number of street names have been changed during the year, new streets numbered, and various old streets renum- bered. The numbering of all buildings throughout the city was completed prior to May first, enabling the assessors to locate property more accurately.
Lines and grades have been given for laying over three miles of new water mains, and all hydrants, gates and water services accurately located and recorded in this office for future reference.
All plans filed at the Registry of Deeds, East Cambridge, showing property in Somerville, have been copied and indexed, and abstracts made from all deeds where assessments have been levied for sewers and sidewalks constructed and streets accepted.
Eight granite tablets, suitably inscribed, have been made, and are to be erected in different parts of the city to mark his- torical points of interest.
The City Engineer suggests that a set of block plans could be made of the entire city from accurate surveys made during the past twenty-five years, and compared, section by section, with the deed dimensions and areas recorded in the Assessors' Department. In this manner the correct areas of land could always be determined ; this set of plans would also be of value to the Water Department and various other city departments, and would more than pay for the cost of making.
Stone bounds should be set at all intersections whenever new streets are laid out, so that the lines and angle points may be accurately defined and preserved for future reference. This im- portant matter has been neglected for the past twenty years.
The City Engineer has direct charge of all sewers and parks, and we are fortunate in having a man of such large executive ability to assume this varied responsibility.
In this connection, attention should be called to the need of the greatest possible efficiency for the least expenditure. We simply have not the money to do all that is desirable, so that every dollar saved is of the utmost importance.
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
A year's careful observation and study of conditions makes it apparent that the day is not distant when the streets, sewers and parks should all be brought under one head, presumably under the City Engineer. The Highway Department, outside of the Engineer, requires a good administrator, an official director of men, a technical superintendent. Large ultimate saving would result from such a change.
Sanitary Conditions.
Every year magnifies the importance of the most approved sanitary arrangements. It is a relief when a year passes with no alarming epidemic. When we realize that 63,000 persons are living above a network of sewers, which reach into every house and into school buildings in which 13,000 children spend several hours each day, one shudders at the liability of dread diseases. It speaks well for the Board of Health and the Sewer and Public Buildings Departments that no flaw in our sanitary arrangements has caused inconvenience or danger.
In two respects the year has been memorable. Two contro- versies with the Boston & Maine railroad officials, one of four- teen years' standing having annoyed five administrations, have been settled in a manner highly satisfactory. One year ago attention was called to the urgent need of immediate relief in the vicinity of Morrison avenue and Willow avenue by means of an overflow drain along the northerly side of the Lexington and Arlington Branch railroad, with outlet into Tannery brook storm drain at Davis square. The obstacle in the way of this was the attitude of the Boston & Maine railroad authorities. Their objections have been overcome, and their permission has been granted. The other and more serious sanitary complica- tion was in connection with the drainage of the eastern district of the city into the Mystic river through the Boston & Maine lands. This has been settled by the agreement of the Boston & Maine road to build and maintain the sewer at its own expense, and to the entire satisfaction of the City of Somerville, giving us for all time an easement of twenty feet, or absolute right of way, for purposes of examinations or of cleaning the sewer, of a tract of land twenty feet wide above the sewer, throughout its entire length. This will save the city upwards of $50,000, and will
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
give us every right and privilege desired. It will also tend to bring into the market for building purposes, at no distant day, a large and valuable tract of land.
The outlet of the "Tannery Brook Drain," so called, in Cambridge, has been extended the past year through the Laminar Fibre Company's land and under Muller's tannery buildings, by agreement with these parties, completing the out- let on this work commenced in the year 1896, over which there has been much controversy as to water rights.
The capacity of the Somerville-avenue sewer between Bel- mont and Lowell streets has been increased by the laying of a 24-inch pipe drain for storm water. This will partially relieve the flooding heretofore experienced in this locality.
The Cedar-street sewer, in the vicinity of Summer street, has been of insufficient capacity for years, and was reconstructed and enlarged between Sartwell avenue and Highland avenue, a length of 1,175 feet, and at the same time two small pipe sewers laid on each side of the large storm drain structure with which the house drains were connected, so that in the future there will be no cause for complaint on account of back water from the sewer in times of heavy storms. By the extension of this small side sewer along the northerly side of Highland avenue, a few houses in this locality that are occasionally troubled with back water in rain storms will be relieved.
The length of storm drains constructed during the year amounts to 3,497.5 feet.
In the southwesterly part of the city the "separate system" sewers (those taking house drainage only) have been extended in various streets, ten in number, a length of 7,574.5 feet. This practically completes the system in this section, with the excep- tion of a few laterals to be built.
The only portion of the city that remained unconnected with the Metropolitan sewer system has been so connected during the year by the construction of a regulator chamber and connections at North Union street.
In other parts of the city eleven sewers have been laid, as petitioned for during the year, a length of 4,777.7 feet, and the cost assessed on the estates benefited.
The total length of all sewers constructed for the year past has been 14,037.5 feet (2 2-3 miles).
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
The total length of sewers in the city is 80 miles; total length of storm drains, 3.66 miles.
Forty-seven catch basins have been constructed during the past year, and as the storm drain system is added to, year by year, the old sewer system improved, and new basins built, the drainage of streets can be taken care of better.
There are 1,165 catch basins in the city for street drainage. The maintenance of the entire sewerage system, such as cleaning and repairing the mains, catch basins, drains, etc., is an important item in the city's welfare as to the sanitary condition ; and every day of the year sections of these underground channels are being scraped, flushed, and kept in working order.
Three hundred and eighty-eight permits have been issued to licensed drain layers for connecting houses by new drains, and twenty old drains have been repaired during the year. The cost of maintenance for the year has been about $10,200, and the new construction work has amounted to about $41,150.
Health of the City.
We are again to be congratulated on the health of the city, and for this great credit is due to the watchful care of the able chairman of the Board of Health, Allen F. Carpenter, and the agent, Caleb A. Page, who are always on the watch and alert to meet any case which may be detrimental to the public health.
The board has had a busy year; all pedlers desiring to peddle in the city must first obtain a permit, and under this regulation 123 permits have been issued during the year.
Twenty-eight petitions to keep 150 cows have been received ; twenty-five petitions have been granted to keep 129 cows and three petitions have been refused to keep twenty-one cows.
Thirty-nine petitions have been received to erect and occupy stables, twenty-three of which were granted, fourteen were re- fused, and two have been referred to the board of 1902.
Fourteen licenses have been granted to undertakers, and two have been refused.
Sixteen permits to keep swine have been granted and two refused, and four permits have been granted to keep goats.
Thirteen persons have been licensed to collect grease.
Over 900 nuisances have been abated, and twenty-five dis- eased horses have been killed.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
Three hundred and thirty-seven cases of diphtheria have been reported during the year, with twenty-eight deaths, against 5.20 reported in 1900, with forty-nine deaths; 130 cases of scarlet fever have been reported against 231 in 1900, with seven deaths for each year; and seventy-eight cases of typhoid fever have been reported, with ten deaths, against seventy-two in 1900, with nine deaths.
Smallpox having broken out in Boston and the surrounding cities, every precaution has been taken to prevent the spread of the dreaded disease in this city ; fifteen physicians have vaccinated free all persons seeking vaccination, the city providing the physi- cians with the vaccine virus points, and paying them twenty-five cents for each person so vaccinated. Fifteen thousand circulars were distributed at the houses by the police, urging all persons to be vaccinated ; 10,800 points were furnished the physicians, and it is estimated that at least 15,000 persons were vaccinated, includ- ing those who employed their own physicians at no expense to the city. I wish to express at this time my appreciation of the promptness with which our people responded to the call to be vaccinated. In my judgment it has done much to check the spread of the disease in a city so thickly populated as our own.
A contagious hospital has been purchased during the year, which was the house formerly situated on the Cook estate, on Broadway near the Arlington line. The building has been moved to land formerly purchased by the city, known as Wild Cat hill, and is remote from other buildings. It has been fitted for the care of smallpox patients, and four persons have been cared for in the house by a very efficient nurse. Three of these are con- valescent, and will be fully recovered in a few days.
One other smallpox patient, a woman, is quarantined at her home on Dell street.
Eight hundred and twenty-three deaths have occurred dur- ing the year against 967 deaths during the year 1900, which, with a largely increasing population, shows a most satisfactory record as regards the health of the community.
Department of Electric Lines and Lights.
This department has the care of all electrical appliances used by the city, which includes the fire alarm, police signal, and all electric lights, bells, and telephone systems used in our school-
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
houses and other public buildings; also the supervision of all poles, wires and lights in the city.
During the year a new tower bell has been placed in the building of Engine 2. Two new fire-alarm boxes have been located, one at the electric light station, and one on Lowell street, near the Bingham school. A new fuse board has been installed at the Fire Alarm headquarters in the Central Fire Station, thus adding greatly to the safety of the instruments from damage by electric light currents or lightning.
I would renew my recommendation of last year, that the wires of this service be placed underground, and also recommend that a move be made towards securing legislation compelling the companies using high tension wires to bury a portion of them each year.
The Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights recommends that arrangements be made for placing one or more whistles in connection with the fire-alarm service, as the recent growth of the city makes the present system of bells inadequate to warn all the firemen of alarms, but more particularly to notify all teachers and pupils of the no-school signal in stormy weather.
Street Lighting.
During the year there have been installed forty-four arc lights and 131 incandescent lights, making a total of 449 arc lights and 410 incandescent lights. All the arc lights are of the latest improved pattern enclosed lamps. The contract with the Wels- bach Street Lighting Company having expired, their lights were removed and replaced by incandescent lamps, with the excep- tion of three which have been retained in Westwood road, as the residents objected to the placing of the large wooden poles in the new granolithic sidewalks. The expense to the city will be the same as for incandescent electrics-$30 per year, the resi- dents paying the excess of $18 per light, which is to be charged on account of the small number of lights. The city at the present time I consider one of the best-lighted in the Com- monwealth, and, with the exception of some of the territory now being built upon, very few new lights will be needed in the en- suing year. The number of lights already installed entails an annual expenditure of more than $61,000. This amount of money seems to me to be exorbitant, and out of proportion to what
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
ought to be expended, when our income is considered. Serious thought should be given to this matter.
The time is approaching to consider seriously the advisa- bility of putting in a city plant for the lighting and heating of all the city buildings on Central hill. It costs $1,800 to light the Public Library alone, and as much more to light the other build- ings. This amount represents four per cent. interest on $90,000. If an investment of $50,000 would give us better service than we get at present, it would be wise economy to prepare for such in- dependence.
Buildings Department.
This department has the general custody and care of all pub- lic buildings, alterations on same, and erection of new buildings, together with inspection of all new structures, public and private. It is responsible for the proper observance of all building and plumbing regulations. To it is also committed the employment and direction of all schoolhouse and other janitors.
Among the more important work accomplished this year is the following :-
Completion of the Benjamin G. Brown schoolhouse in Ward 6, and the George L. Baxter schoolhouse in Ward 2;
Preparation of plans and construction of the new Clark Bennett schoolhouse, now in process of erection in Ward 1;
Completion and furnishing of the new stack-room in the Public Library ; installing of a new system of sanitation in the Lincoln schoolhouse : laying of new floors in the Bell school- house; extensive repairs, installation of bathroom, etc., in the Police building ; erection of a new wagon shed for the Health Department.
About 1,350 inspections of private buildings have been made, while such were in process of erection, besides the required work of plumbing inspection.
Public Grounds and Boulevards.
Somerville is now admirably supplied with small parks and playgrounds. No city in the country, probably, now has a popu- lation so universally well-provided for in this respect. There is no residence more than one mile from some well-appointed park
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
or playground. During the past year, both Lincoln Park and Franklin Park have been well supplied with athletic appliances, equal to those of any large city playground.
It is expected that, by an agreement with the Metropolitan Park and the Harbor and Land Commissions and the Boston and Maine Railroad, the railroad authorities will fill in the Mystic marshes, making a narrow river and a better channel. This will add materially to the taxable property of the city. In this con- nection it is hoped that an attractive bathing beach can be made for the use of Somerville citizens, at slight cost. This will be of much interest to our citizens.
The Powder House Boulevard has also been completed, which, taken in connection with the Nathan Tufts Park, is a highly attractive feature of the city. It will add greatly to the value of this boulevard if it can be extended in the city of Med- ford to the Mystic Valley Parkway, which can be done for com- paratively small cost. Steps should be taken at once to arrange with the Metropolitan Park Commission to take this boulevard and connect it with said parkway, and maintain it in its entire length as a part of the Metropolitan system. Somerville has made a beautiful driveway of this at an expense of about $35,000, and it will add materially to the perfection of the Metropolitan system.
The next important feature of the Somerville park system is the grading and filling upon the Prospect Hill Park, the land for which has already been purchased. The completion of this work will add more than anything yet done for the beautifying of the city. It is one of the most interesting historic spots in America. From this hill floated the first American flag ; here was made the first successful stand against the British aggression in 1775. The time has come for the perfecting of this, one of the most sightly spots in the Metropolitan district. If laid out as designed, a roadway connection over the hill and through the park to Union square will be constructed, and a portion of the old hill will re- main as a Revolutionary mark.
A piece of land comprising about 4.4 acres located between Broadway and the Powder House Boulevard, near Nathan Tufts Park, has been leased by Tufts College to the city for a term of ten years, free of rental, for an athletic field ; the city is to grade and fence the property and construct seats and dressing rooms. A
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
portion of the field has been graded and will be completed in the early spring.
Another ball field in process of construction is located at the corner of Broadway and Cedar street, and the grading will be completed within a short time.
The lot of land at Glen and Oliver streets could be improved in shape as a playground, by exchanging an area of the city's lot on Oliver street for the vacant land in the rear of the present lot ; also the enlargement of the Webster avenue lot, by taking the land through to Columbia street, would make this small play- ground more desirable.
The outlook of our beautiful Central Hill should not be further encroached upon, beyond what new high school accom- modations may, perhaps, render necessary. The view from this park is unsurpassed near Boston, and we should seek to add to, rather than detract from, the sightliness of our commanding hills.
Paul Revere Park.
At the junction of Broadway and Main street there has been laid out a miniature park, which has been designated by the his- toric title "Paul Revere," whose ride, in which he passed this very spot, has been so emblazoned in history. It is hoped that the munificence of the public-spirited citizens of Winter Hill will in the near future result in placing upon this spot an imposing equestrian statue of this hero of the "midnight ride."
Clarendon Hill Ledge.
A question of considerable moment to a large number of resi- dents of West Somerville is the disposition of the Clarendon hill ledge property on Clarendon avenue. That it cannot indefinitely remain in its present condition must be admitted. It is, in a measure, a menace to life and limb and a preventive factor against the development of neighboring property.
The City Engineer has prepared a plan which goes a great way, at least, toward solving this perplexing problem. It com- prehends the lowering of the altitude of the precipice by blasting away the valuable stone at the top and filling in the excavation already existing; the construction of Clarendon avenue so as to connect Broadway and Massachusetts avenue ; and ultimately, the
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MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
conversion of the ledge property into an attractive pleasure park. The necessary blasting could be done without danger or annoy- ance, as was demonstrated last spring in that part of the ledge owned by the City of Cambridge, if conducted under the super- vision of proper officials and at given hours each week. The re- fuse stone could be utilized for filling, but the bulk of such ma- terial would consist of the ashes and other solid matter collected by the city, and this would, for a considerable time, be of decided advantage to the Health Department.
The City of Cambridge and residents of Somerville, as well as outside parties, are owners of this property, and are directly inter- ested in its proper disposal, and it is to be hoped that action look- ing toward some such amicable and advantageous adjustment of this problem, which has so long occupied the minds of many peo- ple, may be arrived at early in the year.
Connecting Fells and Fens.
Ultimately the Fells and Fens will be connected by a beauti- ful boulevard through Somerville and Cambridge, but for various reasons this is not an opportune time to press for its immediate accomplishment. It could not be secured without carrying with it several other park and boulevard schemes, and until the rates of assessment upon the cities and towns of the Metropolitan Dis- trict have been agreed upon, and until payments have been made, the Governor will not sign any bill calling for large outlays, and the public sentiment of the state will sustain him in this position. It is less a question as to when the Fells and Fens are connected than it is that the plan be satisfactory and the time opportune. An injudicious agitation of the matter this year might postpone the accomplishment of it many years.
Schools.
There is more and more cause for congratulation over the Somerville schools.
The past year the women teachers have had the advantage of the increase in salaries voted the previous year. This was de- served, but its full significance can only be appreciated when it is understood that this increase absorbed sixty-five and one-quarter per cent. of the entire additional tax income from the annual in-
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
crease of assessment, which means that it is the annual tax on nearly $875,000 of property.
In this connection it must be borne in mind that the cost of maintenance of the city must be increased only in emergencies, or from the greatest necessity. This is especially applicable in con- nection with additional accommodations for the high schools. It must be kept in mind that the additional rooms should not neces- sitate great additional expense for maintenance.
It is not the province of the Mayor to pass judgment on the action of the School Board in the matter of salaries, or upon the proportion of high-salaried teachers, but he may be pardoned if he urges the application of strict business principles. All business men understand how easy it is to increase salaries, and to increase the proportion of high-salaried employees. With a twelve-dollar limit to the tax available for the maintenance of the. city, the School Board should strive to keep its expenditures as low as is practicable. The law gives the School Board exceptional powers in the voting of money, but this law did not anticipate a time when such absolute authority was to absorb a large portion of a ยท limited taxation.
Two new elementary school buildings must soon be erected, one in West Somerville and one in Ward Five. This ought to put the city beyond the necessity of providing more schoolhouses for the elementary schools for several years.
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