Report of the city of Somerville 1901, Part 31

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 552


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1901 > Part 31


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The storage battery at present in use, now on its sixth year of service, has proved itself a great saving to the city, in com- parison with the old gravity battery, as the total cost of running the storage battery for the five years has been less than fifty dol- lars, against four hundred fifty dollars a year to maintain the old gravity battery. During the year new plates will have to be pur- chased for the storage battery, which will make it serviceable for the next five or six years.


381


COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


A new fuse board made from special plans prepared by the Commissioner has been installed in the operating room, thus adding greatly to the safety of the delicate instruments of the central station.


Would recommend the placing of two or more whistles in connection with the fire alarm service, which will be a great bene- fit to call-men in case of fire, and to teachers and pupils in stormy weather. Under the present circumstances, the latter cannot al- ways hear the bells.


A notice has been placed on every fire alarm box in the city giving the penalty under the new ordinance for tampering with the fire alarm, which is five hundred dollars, or two years' im- prisonment, or both. This has had a beneficial effect in keeping down the number of false alarms.


The police signal system, which comprises some forty-eight boxes, has received its usual careful attention, and is now in good condition.


Street Lighting.


During the year there have been installed forty-four arc lights and one hundred thirty-one incandescent lights, making a total of four hundred forty-nine arc lights and four hundred and ten incandescent lights. All the arc lights are of the latest im- proved pattern enclosed lamps, which are a great improvement over the old open arc lamp of last year.


The contract with the Welsbach Street Lighting Company having expired, their lights, with the exception of three in West- wood road, were replaced by incandescent lamps. The city at the present time I consider one of the best lighted cities in the state, and should think, with the exception of the new territory now being built up, very few lights will be needed during the en- suing year.


During the year several changes have been made in the lo- cation of lamps. By moving arc lights from some of the side streets to main thoroughfares, and replacing them with incan- descent lights, quite an improvement has been made in the light- ing system.


The electric lights are furnished by the Somerville Electric Light Company, under a contract made December 1, 1900, for a period of six years.


The arcs are alternating enclosed arc lamps, requiring an electrical energy of not less than 422 watts on the average, and not less than 410 watts in any case.


The incandescents are the so-called 32-candle power lights.


The lights burn every night and all night, the time not to exceed, however, an aggregate of 3,828 hours a year for each light.


All poles, fixtures and lamps are furnished at the company's expense ; but when the locations of lights and poles are changed,


382


ANNUAL REPORT.


the city pays therefor five dollars for moving each arc light, and three dollars for moving an incandescent.


The contract prices per year for arc lights are as follows :-


When the number is less than 475, the price shall be $110 each; when the number exceeds 474, but is less than 550, the price shall be $105 each; and when the number is 550 or more, it shall be $100 each.


The price for incandescents is $30 each per year.


For each arc light out when it should be burning, the rebate to the city is as follows :-


When the price is $110, two and 87-100 cents per hour ; when it is $105, two and 74-100 cents per hour ; and when it is $100, two and 61-100 cents per hour.


The rebate on each incandescent light not burning is 78-100 cents per hour.


ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$7.500 00


Receipts :-


Allowance on bill of Murphy Varnish


9 60


Total credit


$7,509 60


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


For labor on wires, etc.


9


$3.350 68


Salary of commissioner


1,300 00


Fire alarm boxes (3)


375 00


Wires, insulators, etc.


1,447 24


Protector board


392 05


Board of two horses


312 00


Wagon repairs


53 10


Harness, and repairs to same


55 10


Printing, expressing, and postage .


59 13


Incidentals


91 35


Total debit


$7,435 65


Balance unexpended


$73 95


STREET LIGHTS ACCOUNT.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$59,042 98


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Somerville Electric Light Co., lighting $55,015 00


Somerville Electric Light Co., moving lamps


145 00


Amounts carried forward


$55,160 00


$59,042 98


Co.


383


COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


Amounts brought forward


$55,160 00


$59,042 98


Welsbach Street Lighting Company of


America, lighting


3,061 17


Incidentals


68 59


Total debit


$58,289 76


Balance unexpended


$753 22


ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT-Bell for Engine Two House -Account.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$500 00


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


For removing bell from car, cartage, and hoisting same at house


$46 00


Carpentering and stock


67 22


Hardware


3 10


Bell


360 00


Total debit


$476 32


Balance unexpended


$23 68


EDWARD BACKUS, Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights.


SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS.


SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX CO., MASSACHUSETTS.


Area of city, including land and water, about 4.22 square miles. Population, 1900 (census), 61,643. Entire population on line of pipe and supplied with water.


Water works owned by City of Somerville. Construction commenced in 1868. Source of supply : Metropolitan system, taking water of the Nashua river at Clinton, Mass.


Mayor HON. EDWARD GLINES.


Water Commissioner


FRANK E. MERRILL.


Office of the Water Department,


Room 10, City Hall.


Department Buildings and Yard,


Cedar street, near Broadway.


REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER.


OFFICE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER, January 6, 1902.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


I have the honor to present herewith the twenty-eighth an- nual report of the Water Department, covering the operations of the year ending December 31, 1901.


It is a pleasure to be able to say that our eighty-seven miles of street mains, carrying water under pressure varying from thirty to one hundred pounds per square inch, have caused very little trouble from bursts and leaks during the past year, and that the condition of our water distribution system was never better than at the present time. The troubles from bursting pipes will not be entirely eliminated, however, until all the old cement-lined mains are removed.


As all the expenses of the department for operation, main- tenance, and construction (except house services), including in- terest and payment of maturing bonds, are paid from the revenue . from water rates, the statement of primary interest is naturally that of


Water Income.


Water bills have been issued as follows :-


10,428 "Annual" water bills, amounting to . $155,359 75


2,079 "Additional" water bills, amounting to


8,711 23


753 "Metered" water bills, amounting to


51,116 54


$215,187 52


Abatements made on the above charges


2,845 99


Leaving net amount of bills rendered


$212,341 53


This amount includes :-


Uncollected "Metered" water bills, due


January 1, 1902


$13,366 25


Uncollected "Annual" water bills


276 85


Uncollected "Additional" water bills


17 17


$13,660 27


and should be reduced by the amount of abatements on water charges of previous years as follows :-


On "Annual" water bills, 1899 account


$6 65


On "Annual" water bills, 1900 account .


12 65


On "Metered" water bills, 1900 account


4 64


23 94


Amount carried forward


$212,317 59


386


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amount brought forward $212,317 59


The account has credit for the amount received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, distribution of entrance fees, water supplied outside of district, and water furnished water companies, 1901, under Section 3, Chapter 488, Acts 1895 1,815 77


Total amount credited to Water Income account $214,133 36


This amount was applied under provisions of the appropria- tion order of the Board of Aldermen as follows :--


For water works purposes :-


Appropriation for Mainte-


nance


$30,000 00


Appropriation for Exten-


25,000 00 sion


Appropriation for Abate-


ments 500 00


Interest on Water .


Loan


Bonds


8,270 00


Maturing Water Loan Bonds, 32,000 00


Metropolitan Water Works


Assessment 56,816 76


$152,586 76


For other municipal purposes :-


Appropriation for Sewers,


Maintenance $10,350 00


Interest on Sewer Loan


Bonds . 6,440 00


Maturing Sewer Loan Bonds, 8,000 00


24,790 00


Reduction of Funded Debt (balance) . 36,756 60


$214,133 36


Amount to reduction of Funded Debt from Water Department :- Balance of Water Income $36,756 60


Balance of Water Mainte- nance Appropriation 3,120 47 Balance of Water Works Extension Appropria- tion


107 93


Balance of Appropriation for


·


Abatement


264 97


$40,249 97


Water has been furnished without charge for all municipal purposes, the same as during the year 1900. The reduction in water income resulting from this policy is about $12,000 based on the charges of the year 1899.


There is a further reduction in the water income of 1901 of about $6,000 resulting from the lowering of the rate for use of hose from $5.00 to $3.00. In 1901 there were 3,171 hose assess- ments paid, in 1900, 2,838, and in 1899, 2,607.


387


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Department Receipts and Disbursements.


WATER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.


DR.


CR.


Amount appropriated by City Council from water income


$30,000 00


Amount transferred from Water Works


Extension account .


6,000 00


· Collections from sundry accounts for labor and materials


14,365 01


Collections from other sources


162 00


Materials furnished service department


$2,682 30


Materials furnished construction depart- ment


10,133 06


Labor and materials furnished sundry per- sons


1,213 45


Amount expended for labor and materials to be used in maintenance of the water works and renewals of pipe


33,237 49


Applied to Water Service account


140 24


Unexpended balance of appropriation


3,120 47


$50,527 01


$50,527 01


WATER WORKS EXTENSION ACCOUNT.


DR.


CR.


Amount appropriated by City Council from water income


$25,000 00


. Collections from sundry accounts for labor and materials


313 52


Amount transferred to Water Maintenance account


$6,000 00


Labor and materials used in extension of the water works .


19,205 59


Unexpended balance of appropriation


107 93


$25,313 52


$25,313 52


WATER SERVICE ACCOUNT.


DR.


CR. $4,041 39


Balance from Water Maintenance account,


140 24


Labor and materials used in water service construction


$4,181 63


$4,181 63


$4,181 63


REFUND ACCOUNT.


DR.


CR.


Amount appropriated by City Council from water income


$500 00


Amount refunded to Water Consumers .


$235 03


Unexpended balance of appropriation . .


264 97


$500 00


$500 00


229 water service assessments


388


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Cost of Water Works.


The total cost of the water works on December 31, 1900, as represented by the expenditures from appropria- tions for water works extension, was $766,484 63


Expended during the year 1901, on extension account 19,205 59


Total expenditures, December 31, 1901 . $785,690 22


Water Debt.


The indebtedness of the city on account of the water works. on December 31, 1900, was $207,000 ; this debt has been reduced. during the year 1901 by the payments of bonds, maturing July 1 and October 1, to the amount of $32,000 ; the indebtedness being now represented by bonds drawing interest as follows :-


$165,000.00 at 4 per cent. per annum. 10,000.00 at 51/2 per cent. per annum.


Total


$175,000.00


These bonds become due as follows :-


YEAR.


AMOUNT.


YEAR.


AMOUNT.


1902


$29,000


1912


$6,000


1903


23,000


1913


6,000


1904


15,000


1914


6,000


1905


6,000


1915


5,000


1906


16,000


1916


5,000


1907


17,000


1917


5,000


1908


7,000


1918


5,000


1909


6,000


1919


4,000


1910


6,000


1920


2,000


1911


6,000


The following table, exhibiting the financial condition of the department from its first movements, is presented for reference. and comparison :-


*


389


WATER DEPARTMENT.


YEAR.


Water Loan Bonds Issued on Funded Debt Account.


Reduction of Funded Debt by Payments of Water Loan Bonds.


Expenditures for Construction of Water Works.


*Revenue from Water Works.


1869


$80,000 00


$92,203 27


$911 39


1870


60,000 00


66,546 50


1,907 63


1871


60,000 00


43,648 66


3,151 30


1872


90,000 00


$50,000 00


43,288 33


3,719 91


1873


60,000 00


20,000 00


27,691 26


5,084 97


1874


15,000 00


34,294 06


6,818 20


1875


20,000 00


13,375 76


9,652 37


1876


70,000 00


60,000 00


6,409 49


10,268 06


1877


10,000 00


13,845 74


10,735 90


1878


30,000 00


30,000 00


791 56


12,341 60


1880


60,000 00


60,000 00


12,999 79


1881


40,000 00


40,000 00


14,697 37


1882


90,000 00


90,000 00


19,354 28


1883


7,500 00


7,500 00


19,661 67


1884


20,000 00


20,000 00


20,085 95


1885


20,000 00


20,000 00


21,542 28


1886


55,500 00


55,500 00


21,444 91


1887


9,000 00


9,000 00


42,650 57


1888


25,000 00


96,500 00


19,338 89


50,419 07


1889


90,000 00


19,000 00


81,117 43


51,470 91


1890


55,000 00


13,000 00


53,411 79


55,879 72


1891


10,000 00


+11,000 00


40,708 48


60,150 80


1892


28,000 00


28,000 00


34,863 17


77,640 91


1893


17,000 00


35,545 30


78,459 73


1894


18,000 00


28,375 67


83,401 30


1896


¥12,000 00


18,500 00


16,631 83


95,719 69


1897


21,000 00


10,000 00


99,688 57


1898


22,000 00


26,970 22


a 200,735 03


1899


32,500 00


19,978 59


b 214,280 83


1900


32,500 00


24,927 06


c 222,322 15


1901


32,000 00


19,205 59


d 212,072 56


$1,017,000 00


$842,000 00


$785,690 22


$1,840,285 77


Total issue


Total payments


842,000 00


Present water debt


$175,000 00


* From 1869 to 1886, inclusive, the basis of Somerville's water revenue was as follows : - The entire revenue from sale of water in Somerville was collected by the city of Boston and payments were made to this city on the following sliding scale : -


On annual receipts up to $20,000.00, Somerville's proportion was 15 per cent.


On annual receipts


$20,000.00 to $30,000.00, Somerville's proportion was 20 per cent.


$30,000.00 to $40,000.00,


25


66


$40,000.00 to $50,000.00, exceeding $50,000.00, Somerville's proportion was 40 per cent.


30


In 1887 the contract was changed so that Somerville should receive 50 per cent. of the revenue, and this contract existed until January 1, 1898, on which date it was annulled, the revenue since that time being collected by the city of Somerville.


+ In 1891 $5 000.00 of Water Loan Bonds were cancelled, City Loan Bonds being substituted for them,


# Renewal.


a. Includes amount received from city of Boston for collections of metered water charges for 4th quarter of 1897, but does not include Somerville metered water charges for 4th quarter of 1898.


b. Includes collections of metered water charges for 4th quarter of 1898, but does not include charges for 4th quarter of 1899.


c. Includes collections of metered water charges for 4th quarter of 1899, also amount of charges for 4th quarter of 1900. Does not include credit for water supplied to city departments.


d. Includes metered water charges for 1901 only.


514 13


11,584 89


1879


19,000 00


32,007 44


89,431 46


1895


$1,017,000 00


390


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Inspection and Waste.


Ten thousand eight hundred and forty-eight inspections have been made in the annual canvass for water assessments. In- creased attention has been given to the subject of waste of water, and the number of defective water fixtures reported indicates an opportunity for householders to perform valuable service in the matter of conserving our present water supply. Two thousand, seven hundred and fifty six defective water fixtures have been dis- covered, viz. :-


Tanks and water closets 1,944


Faucets


740


Pipes


72


The Metropolitan Water Board calls attention to the fact that the per capita consumption of water in the Metropolitan dis- trict has increased forty-nine per cent within the last decade, and the Board is now considering the advisability of metering the water supplied to the several municipalities, hoping thereby to produce a direct incentive for a prevention of the waste.


There is no desire to restrict the legitimate use of water, but on the other hand to furnish an abundance for all domestic and sanitary purposes. It is only the careless and ofttimes wilful waste of water that calls for restriction ; such waste as occurs from defective plumbing fixtures, from constant running of water to prevent freezing, and from other causes, all of which could be remedied by the expenditure of a little care and money on the part of the tenant or owner. For those who are persistently neglectful of their duties in such matters the best remedy seems to be the installation of water meters, and the consequent charge for the actual quantity of water consumed and wasted.


Hydrants, Gates, etc.


It is cause for congratulation that our firemen have not been hampered in their work of extinguishing fires by defective or frozen hydrants.


Great care is exercised, especially throughout the winter sea- son, to keep all fire hydrants in proper working order, and there have been no complaints of improper or insufficient service. All the city fire hydrants receive a careful inspection annually, and are left in proper condition. The hydrant formerly standing in what was called the "island" in Union square has been removed and set in the sidewalk in front of Hill building ; it has also been connected with the high service system.


Old hydrants have been replaced with new ones, and addi- tional hydrants have been set where conditions called for them as well as in several localities suggested by the Chief of the Fire Department.


The tables which follow give details of this work, and show that seventeen hydrants have been moved or abandoned, and


391


WATER DEPARTMENT.


forty-six have been set, making the net increase twenty-nine, and the total number now in the city 926, or one to about every 500 feet of main pipe throughout the city, or, approximately, one to each sixty-seven inhabitants.


In connection with the construction and renewal of pipe lines, sixty-two main gates have been set, and seventeen have been removed, making a net increase of forty-five. The total number in the city is now 1,248. One eight-inch check valve has been set between the high and low service systems in Mt. Vernon avenue.


Eleven blow-offs have been added to the system during the year, making the total number 119.


Seven new waterposts have been set at the request of the Highway Department for street-watering purposes, in the follow- ing locations :-


Adams street, near Broadway.


Bonair street, near Wigglesworth street.


Dana street, near Pearl street.


Medford street, near Ward street.


Mt. Vernon street, near Broadway.


Somerville avenue, near Oak square.


Temple street, near Heath street.


The total number of waterposts in the city is sixty-six. The waterpost on Beacon street, formerly standing 160 feet west from Buckingham street, has been moved to thirty-three feet west from Concord avenue.


Renewal of Street Mains.


The removal of the old cement-lined water pipes has made further progress during the year. Between two and three miles of this pipe now remain in use, the oldest being that in portions of Central street which was laid in 1868. There is also cement- lined pipe of considerable age in several other streets which is- liable at any time to give out and cause damage.


There has been some hesitation in entering upon certain of these streets to relay the pipes before the danger became actually apparent, on account of the present excellent condition of their roadways, but it is probably better to make the necessary disturbance of the street surface now than to take further chances with the old water mains.


The total number of feet of iron pipe laid during the year in place of the cement-lined pipe was 6,549.


The number of bursts and leaks on the system of distribu- tion mains was fourteen, none of which caused any property damage.


Extension of Street Mains.


No extensive demands have been made during the past year for water mains in undeveloped territory. A large portion of the work on construction account has therefore been in perfecting the


392


ANNUAL REPORTS.


water circulation system of the city. One of the most important portions of this work was the laying of a 12-inch high-service main in Central street, from Highland avenue to Monmouth street, and connecting thereto the water mains in Gibbens street, Cambria street, Westwood road, Monmouth street, Oxford street, Berkeley street, and Avon street, all of which had previously been "dead ends." The old cement-lined main on the easterly side of the street, laid in 1868, is still in service as a circulation pipe on the low-service system, but can, if necessary, be cut off without causing any deprivation of water to houses or fire hy- drants. This line of pipe should be retained in service as a cross connection between the southern and northern low-service sys- tems, and should, as soon as practicable, be replaced with an iron main.


The 12-inch high-service pipe line in Highland avenue has been extended from Grove street to Cedar street, and connected there with the Spring-hill high-service system. Davis square now enjoys a high-pressure fire supply, the water pressure at the outlets of the hydrants attached to this line in and near the square being about ninety-five pounds per square inch. In all, nine fire hydrants are connected to this line, four in the immedi- ate vicinity of Davis square and five on Highland avenue.


On account of peculiar difficulties and dangers connected with the construction of the Highland-avenue pipe line, the trench being of considerable depth and but eighteen inches from the rails of an electric car line carrying a heavy traffic, it was deemed advisable to have the excavation and back-filling per- formed by contract and it was so awarded to Mr. Charles A. Kelley. One of the stipulations of the contract was that only citizens of Somerville should be employed on the work.


Other streets in which new pipe lines have been laid during the year are East Albion street, Evergreen avenue, Heath street, Holyoke road, Josephine avenue, Lowell street, Meacham street, Miller street, Mt. Vernon avenue, Mystic street, Pearson road, Powder House terrace, Pritchard avenue, Rogers avenue, Win- dom road, and Wyatt circle.


The tables which follow give further details of this work.


The total number of feet of new mains laid in 1901 is 11,652.


The total main pipe mileage of the city is now about eighty- six miles, 2,919 feet.


Drinking Fountains and Troughs.


A new ice-water drinking fountain of ornamental design has been set in front of the Masonic building in Gilman square, and was well patronized and appreciated during the heated term. Three drinking fountains of the bubbling type have also been set, one each in Lincoln park, Franklin park, and Belmont park.


The ornamental horse trough in Gilman square has received some heavy blows from passing teams, and has been considerably


393


WATER DEPARTMENT.


damaged thereby ; its light structure is hardly fitted for a location on a main thoroughfare where it stands as a butt for the poles of heavy teams handled by careless drivers.


The old drinking fountain on Highland avenue, in front of City Hall annex, was removed on account of its defective condi- tion.


There are now in the city six drinking fountains, four horse troughs, and one combination fountain.


Service Department.


Two hundred and twenty-nine new service pipes were laid in 1901, of a total length of 8,733 feet. The total mileage of ser- vice pipes in the city is about 66 miles 4,121 feet, and the number of house connections 10,520.


A prominent feature of the service department work is found in the repair and renewal of old service pipes which are gradually becoming corroded and filled up, in setting stop gates and gate boxes, and in the renewal and re-adjustment to grade of old boxes.


Two cases of electrolytic injury to service pipes have oc- curred during the year, one in Webster avenue opposite number 79, the other in Willow avenue opposite number 130. Both these cases have been brought to the attention of our Commis- sioner of Electric Lines and Lights and of the officers of the Boston Elevated Railway Company.


Meter Department.


But few new meters have been set during the year.


At the beginning of the year the number of meters in operation was 202


The number of operating meters added during the year was 30 .


Meters removed during the year 8


Total number of meters in operation December 31, 1901


224


Motor and elevator clocks in operation December


31, 1901


8


METERS IN USE DECEMBER 31, 1901.


3/.11


1"


11/2"



4'


Total.


Empire


1


1


Crown .


6


6


4


1


1


1


1


1


21


Gem


1


Hersey


1


1


3


12


Hersey Disc


1


10


Torrent


41


41


20


5


6


1


1


115


Union


6


8


9


2


5


1


2


33


Union Special


11


6


17


Lambert . .


13


13


Totals


68


66


52


10


15


6


5


2


224


1


1-0


1


2


1


1


Trident


394


ANNUAL REPORTS.


There was consumed in 1901, 47,918,011 feet, or about 359,385,082 gallons of metered water for which the city received $51,116.54.


Summary of Pipes and Fixtures.


Following is a general summary of the pipes and fixtures of the water system, December 31, 1901 :-


Number of feet of main pipe (approximately) . 456,999


Number of feet of service pipe (approximately), 352,601




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