Report of the city of Somerville 1902, Part 29

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 518


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1902 > Part 29


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The department must be prepared to answer any call, day or night, when notice is received of any poles or wires down in the streets, and take the necessary measures to render public travel safe.


It also answers all alarms of fire and looks after electric wires on the premises, making them as safe as possible until the com- pany owning the same takes them in charge.


Fire Alarm Service.


The equipment of this department consists of the following apparatus: One hundred and one fire alarm boxes, one eight- circuit repeater, one eighteen-circuit fuse board, eight tower bell strikers, twenty-nine gongs, eight indicators, twenty small tap- pers, six relays, three hundred and eighty-eight cells of storage battery, two hundred and eighty cells of open-circuit battery, thirty-five open-circuit tap bells, and one hundred and twenty-two miles of wire.


The city at the present time is well equipped with fire alarm boxes, with the possible exception of some of the new territory now being built upon in West Somerville.


I would again recommend the placing of the wires under- ground; not only the city wires, which are harmless in them- selves, but also the high tension wires, which are a source of dan- ger in time of storm and high winds if crossed with other wires.


360


ANNUAL REPORTS.


During the year a special line has been built connecting the Somerville Hospital with the nearest fire station, so that instant notice may be given in case of fire.


The old storage battery at the Central Fire Station, which had been in service some six years, has been replaced by a new one, which places this part of the equipment in first-class con- dition.


Several miles of old wire have been taken down and re- placed by new. This was necessary to keep the lines in good order.


Police Signal.


This system has received the usual careful attention, and is in good working order. No new boxes have been added this year, as, up to the present time, the number in service has been adequate, but with the increase of officers more boxes will be needed the coming year.


Street Lights.


The total number of lights in the city consists of the follow- ing: Four hundred and seventy-eight arc lights, four hundred and thirty-one incandescent lights, and three Welsbach lights.


The number of arc lights in use in the city having exceeded four hundred and seventy-five, the price, according to the terms of the contract with the electric light company, was reduced from $110.00 to $105.00 for each arc light per year.


I consider the city at the present time remarkably well lighted. During the ensuing year a few lights will be needed, as there is still some territory in need of street lights.


There are only three Welsbach lights now maintained in the city. They are located on Westwood road. The expense of these lights is somewhat in excess of the cost of incandescents, but the abutters prefer them and pay the city the difference in cost, rather than have the incandescents, with the necessary poles and wires.


ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$7,500 00


Receipts :-


George H. Streeter, cutting wires


8 00


R. H. Sturtevant, cutting wires .


6 00


J. F. McCarthy, zinc and copper


19 40


Western Electric Co., wire returned .


22 50


Total credit


$7,555 90


Amount carried forward


$7,555 90


1


COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


361


Amount brought forward


. $7,555 90


DEBIT.


Labor on wires, etc.


$3,576 93


Salary of commissioner


1,300 00


Fire alarm boxes (2)


250 00


Wires, insulators, etc.


1,148 90


Batteries, elements, jars, etc.


547 00


Board of two horses


300 00


Wagon repairs


50 55


Harness, and repairing same


20 65


Printing, expressing, postage


51 61


Incidentals


49 30


Total debit


$7,294 94


Balance unexpended


$260 96


STREET LIGHTS.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$63,000 00


Receipts :---


Abutters on Westwood road, part cost of maintaining Welsbach lights


54 00


Total credit


$63,054 00


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Somerville Electric Light Co., lighting


$62,209 92


Welsbach Street Lighting Co. of America, lighting


154 75


Somerville Electric Light Co., changing location of poles


61 00


Incidentals


113 80


Total debit


$62,539 47


Balance unexpended .


$514 53


EDWARD BACKUS, Commissioner Electric Lines and Lights.


SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS.


SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX CO., MASSACHUSETTS.


Area of city, including land and water, about 4.22 square miles. Population, estimated, 65,500. 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 1, 1903.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :- I present herewith my report for the year ending December 31, 1902, this being the twenty-ninth annual report made by the Water Department :-


Water Income.


Water bills have been issued as follows :-


10,549 "Annual" water bills, amounting to $157,738 80


1,995 "Additional" water bills, amounting to 7,907 63


863 "Metered" water bills, amounting to 50,754 76


$216,401 19


Abatements made on the above charges


2,301 18


Leaving net amount of bills rendered .


$214,100 01


This amount includes :-


Uncollected "Metered" water bills, not due until January 1, 1903


$13,891 78


Uncollected "Annual" water bills .


113 40


Uncollected "Additional" water bills 7 50


$14,012 68


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


On "Annual" water bills, 1900 account .


$14 00


On "Annual" water bills, 1901 account . 120 50


134 50


$213,965 51


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, 1902, under Section 3, Chapter 488, Acts 1895 907 53


Total amount credited to Water Income account $214,873 04 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-


$41,780 00


nance


Amount carried forward


$41,780 00


364


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amount brought forward . $41,780 00


Appropriation for Exten-


sion


. 12,700 00


Appropriation for Abate- ·


ments 410 00


Interest on Water Loan


Bonds


6,790 00


Maturing Water Loan Bonds


29,000 00


Metropolitan Water


Works


Assessment


62,397 89


$153,077 89


For other municipal purposes :-


Appropriation for Sewers, Maintenance


Interest on Sewer . 10,500 00


Loan


Bonds


6,622 00


Maturing Sewer Loan Bonds


9,000 00


Appropriation for Fire De- partment


22,000 00


Appropriation for Board of Health .


· 7,500 00


Reduction of Funded Debt (balance)


55,622 00 6,173 15


$214,873 04


Amount to reduction of Funded Debt from Water Department :-


Balance of Water Income $6,173 15


Balance of Water Mainte-


nance Appropriation 6,693 98


Balance of Water Works


Extension Appropria-


tion


135-88


Balance of Appropriation for Abatement


184 30


$13,187 31


In addition to the appropriations from Water Income to other municipal purposes enumerated above, water has been fur- nished without charge to all the city departments that have re- quired its use. The value of this water, based on the charges of the year 1899, is about $12,000.


Department Receipts and Disbursements.


WATER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.


DR.


Cr.


Amount appropriated by Board of Aldermen from water income


Sundry receipts for labor and materials Receipts from other sources


$41,780 00 1,335 06 228 00


Labor and materials furnished sundry per- sons $1,586 84


Amount expended for labor and materials for maintenance of the water works and renewals of pipe 35,062 24


Amounts carried forward


$36,649 08


$43,343 06


365


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Amounts brought forward .


$36,649 08 6,693 98


$43,343 06


Unexpended balance of appropriation .


$43,343 06


$43,343 06


WATER WORKS EXTENSION ACCOUNT.


DR.


Cr.


Amount appropriated by Board of Aldermen from water income ·


$12,700 00


Receipts from 190 Water Service Assess- ments


3,575 80


Labor and materials used in extension of the water works .


$16,139 92


Unexpended balance of appropriation


135 88


REFUND ACCOUNT.


DR.


Cr.


Amount appropriated by Board of Aldermen from water income


$410 00


Amount refunded to Water Consumers


$225 70


Unexpended balance of appropriation .


184 30


Cost of Water Works.


The total cost of the water works on December 31, 1901, as represented by the expenditures from appropria- tions for water works extension, was


$785,690 22


Expended during the year 1902, on extension account


16,139 92


Total expenditures, December 31, 1902 .


$801,830 14


Water Debt.


The indebtedness of the city on account of the water works on December 31, 1901, was $175,000 ; this debt has been reduced during the year 1902 by the payments of bonds, maturing July 1 and October 1, to the amount of $29,000; the indebtedness being now represented by bonds drawing interest as follows :-


$136,000.00 at 4 per cent. per annum. 10,000.00 at 51/2 per cent. per annum.


Total . . $146,000.00 These bonds become due as follows :-


YEAR.


AMOUNT.


YEAR.


AMOUNT.


1903


$23,000


1912


$6,000


1904


15,000


1913


6,000


1905


6,000


1914


6,000


1906


16,000


1915


5,000


1907


17,000


1916


5,000


1908


7,000


1917


5,000


1909


6,000


1918


5,000


1910


6,000


1919


4,000


1911


6,000


1920


2,000


$16,275 80


$16,275 80


$410 00


$410 00


366


ANNUAL REPORTS.


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


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


1895


19,000 00


32,007 44


89,431 46


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


200,735 03


1899


32,500 00


19,978 59


214,280 83


1900


32,500 00


24,927 06


222,322 15


1901


32,000 00


19,205 59


212,072 56


1902


29,000 00


16,139 92


213,965 51


$1,017,000 00


$871,000 00


$801,830 14


$2,054,251 28


Total issue


$1,017,000 00


Total payments


871,000 00


Present water debt


$146,000 00


Inspection and Waste.


During the year 11,010 house visitations have been made for data in assessing the water charges. As a result of the careful inspection which has been made for leaks and wastes of water, the number of defective fixtures reported is somewhat less than that of a year ago, the figures being :-


514 13


11,584 89


1879


367


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Water closets and tanks .


1,404


Faucets


757


Pipes


56


Total


2,217


It is noticeable that by far the largest number of leaks exist in the automatic water closet valves. There would be some recompense for this loss of water if it served the useful purpose of flushing the soil and drain pipes, but the quantity thus wasted, while very large in the aggregate, is, in any particular case, too small in its flow to be of any sanitary benefit.


Numerous instances have been found of water waste by the occupants of premises fastening open the float valves and leaving faucets open, to allow the water to run continuously during cold weather.


It has been decided to place meters on all premises where a wilful waste of water is known to exist.


Extension of Street Mains.


To keep pace with building operations, and to secure water circulation, main pipes have been laid in Powder House boule- vard, Boston avenue, Warner street, Prichard avenue, Pearson avenue, Sumner street, Munroe street, Calvin street, and Fen- wick street.


A twelve-inch high-service main has been laid in Holland street, from Gorham street to a point near the Boston & Maine Railroad crossing, connecting there with the high-pressure pipe line previously laid from Cedar street, through Highland avenue and Davis square. This makes a connecting link between the formerly separated high-service districts of the city, and is of ad- vantage in equalizing the pressure over the high-service system, and in giving the system the benefit of two connections with the Metropolitan high-service main, one in Professors row, at Bos- ton avenue, and the other in Broadway, at Cedar street.


The total length of main pipes extended was 6,622 feet, making the entire length of street mains in the city about 8? miles, 4,261 feet.


Renewal of Street Mains.


The work of replacing the old cement-lined mains still goes on; 10,060 feet of pipe were thus renewed during the year. The principal streets thus benefited were: Hathorn street, Howe street, Lincoln street, Prospect Hill avenue, and portions of Bos- ton street, Broadway, Central street, Munroe street, Packard avenue, Pearl street, and Preston road. In addition, there were many renewals of side street connections and of hydrant branches.


368


ANNUAL REPORTS.


As there is but little more than a mile of this old pipe now in use, it seems good policy to complete the substitution of cast- iron mains the coming season.


Hydrants, Gates, Etc.


Forty-three hydrants have been set, and fourteen have been removed, making the net increase twenty-nine and the total num- ber in the city 955. Two fire hydrants have been set by the Mid- dlesex Paper Company in their yard, increasing the number of private fire hydrants to forty-four.


Fifty-eight water gates have been set and twenty-three re- moved, making a net increase of thirty-five; the total number in the city is 1,283. Eight blow-off connections have been made and one abandoned, the total number now being 123.


Two new waterposts have been set for the benefit of the street watering department in the following locations :-


Cedar street, near Morrison avenue, Pleasant avenue, near Walnut street,


making the total number in the city sixty-eight.


The waterpost formerly standing on Highland avenue, in front of No. 237, has been removed to Lowell street, thirty-four feet north from Highland avenue, and the one on Columbus ave- nue, opposite Stone avenue, has been moved to a point fifty-four feet east from Walnut street.


Service Pipes.


During 1902 there were laid 190 new service pipes; the total length was 7,569 feet. The amount received therefor was $3,575.80, which has been credited to water works extension ac- count. The total length of service pipes in the city is about sixty-eight miles, 1,130 feet, and the number of house connec- tions 10,710.


One hundred and seventy-six leaks on service pipes were re- paired during the year. New gates and boxes have been set, old boxes raised and lowered to grade, pipes cleaned, and general re- pairs made as became necessary.


Meters.


The policy of metering all new apartment houses of three or more tenements was determined upon early in the year, and in pursuance thereof twenty-six meters were set on this class of premises. The number of meters in operation December 31 was 269, a net increase for the year of forty-five, as shown in detail in the following table.


369


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Under the ruling of the Metropolitan water and sewerage board, it will be necessary to meter premises where the occupants desire to use a lawn sprinkler or to use a hand hose at any other time of the day than between 5 and 8 o'clock A. M. and 5 and 8 o'clock P. M.


At the beginning of the year the number of meters in operation was . . The number of operating meters added during the


224


year was


53


Meters removed during the year . 8 Total number of meters in operation December 31, 1902 269


Motor and elevator clocks in operation December 31, 1902 . .


9


METERS IN USE DECEMBER 31, 1902.


5/8"


3/4"


1"


11/2"


2"


3"


4"


Total.


Nash


4


4


Empire


1


1


Crown .


6


G


4


1


1


1


1


1


21


Gem


1


Hersey


12


Hersey Disc


S


6


1


2


17


Torrent


Trident


52


47


20


6


6


1


1


133


Union


6


10


2


6


1


2


36


Union Special


13


7


20


Lambert . .


23


23


Totals


100


76


53


11


16


6


5


2


269


In 1902 there passed through the meters 47,349,160 cubic feet, or 354,171,716 gallons, of water, for which the city received $50,733.53, an average of about 10.71 cents per 100 cubic feet, or 14.32 cents per 1,000 gallons. This quantity of water represents an average per capita consumption of about fifteen gallons daily. Of this quantity, about 301,000,000 gallons was used for manu- facturing and industrial purposes ; this is about eighty-five per cent. of the whole quantity, or a daily per capita use for these purposes of about thirteen gallons.


Summary of Pipes and Fixtures.


Following is a general summary of the pipes and fixtures of the water system, December 31, 1902 :-


Number of feet of main pipe (approximately) . 463,621


Number of feet of service pipe (approximately) 360,170


Number of service connections (approximately) 10,710


Number of public fire hydrants


955


Number of private fire hydrants


44


Number of gates


1,283


Number of check valves


7


Number of meters


269


Number of waterposts


68


Number of blow-offs


123


1


1


3


1


1


1


370


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The annual inventory of stock on hand, tools and machinery, teams and stable equipment, pumping apparatus, and furniture shows a valuation of $20,791.08; the land and buildings of the department are assessed at a valuation of $32,000, and the gen- eral distribution system of the water works has an estimated valuation of $850,000.


Metropolitan Water Works.


The water furnished by the Metropolitan water works has been of good quality throughout the year.


An average daily quantity of 107,268,000 gallons has been supplied by the Metropolitan water works to the 874,000 people inhabiting the cities and towns in the district. This quantity represents a daily consumption of about 123 gallons per head, an increase from the previous year of 5.6 per cent.


The aqueducts of the Metropolitan water works were greatly taxed during the cold period in December ; the consumption on December 9 was over 151,000,000 gallons, or about 28,000,000 gallons greater than the carrying capacity of the aqueducts. The per capita consumption during a portion of this period rose to the high figure of 171 gallons daily, and it was found necessary to draw upon the reserve held in Spot pond. A long continuance of the conditions existing at that time would have led to a serious water famine.


In pursuance of its plan to measure the water supplied to the cities and towns in the district, the Metropolitan Water and Sew- erage Board has set during the year the following Venturi meters :-


Size. Throat Diam.


Location.


Service.


Inches.


Inches.


Professors row, at Boston avenue


High


12


3.75


Broadway, at Willow avenue


Low


16


5.25


Broadway, at Marshall street


Low


12


4.25


Webster avenue, near R. R. crossing. Low


20


5.75


Several more are to be set during the coming season.


The assessment to be paid by Somerville in 1903 for its water is estimated by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage. Board at $81,700. This amount may be somewhat reduced, as was the estimated assessment for 1902, by a division of the amount re- ceived in premiums on water bonds sold by the State Treasurer.


As a matter of interest, the amount of assessments thus far paid by Somerville toward the cost and operation of the Metro- politan water system, and their distribution, is here given :-


Year.


Sinking Fund. Maintenance.


Interest.


Total. $14,250 19


1898


No division made 66


20,975 58


1899


66


28,689 24


1901


$12,491 73


$12,033 79


$32,291 24


56.816 76


1902 19,014 85


12,955 64


30,427 40


62,397 89


1900


371


WATER DEPARTMENT.


The total amount of Metropolitan water loan bonds thus far authorized by the Legislature is $40,000,000, of which $33,000,000 has already been expended. The proportion of this indebtedness which Somerville is called upon to pay is about four per cent.


The Metropolitan water act of 1895 provides that the mini- mum rate to be paid for water in the cities and towns of the water district shall be subject to the approval of the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board. Under date of December 11, 1902, this board notified the Water Commissioner as follows: "On Novem- ber 28, 1902, the board voted 'That, until otherwise provided, the minimum rate which shall be approved for the use of hand hose for lawn sprinkling shall be fixed at $4.00 per annum, such use to be in conformity with the regulations of the board which were made August 2, 1901.' "


Efforts were made to induce the board to grant a continu- ance of the $3 hose rate which was authorized in 1901, but with- out avail.


The regulations of the board, above referred to, were printed in the report of the Water Commissioner for 1901, and have been incorporated in the department rules governing the use of water.


Equalization of Water Charges.


The subject of a reduction or readjustment of the water rates has been one of annual recurrence, either the Board of Water Commissioners or the present Commissioner having brought the matter before the Mayor in some form of recommendation every year since authority over the rates was vested in the officials of this city.


Under provisions of the Statutes, the water rates cannot be changed except with the approval of the Mayor.


Much study has been given to this subject the past year, taking into consideration the uncertainty as to the amount of our ultimate annual assessment on account of the Metropolitan water works, the conservation of our present water supply, the probable result of the action of the Metropolitan Water and Sew- erage Board in measuring the water supplied to us, and the desir- ability, in making any change, of placing the individual water charges on an equitable basis.


Two methods of assessing water charges are in common use in cities, viz., the "flat rate" system of charging a fixed yearly sum for an unlimited quantity of water, and the "meter" system of charging for water according to the quantity used. Both these systems are now in use in this city. Our present flat rate schedule is inconsistent, and in common with any schedule estab- lished on a basis other than that of water consumption, is in- equable. A flat rate schedule can be devised, however, that will be more equitable in its distribution of the assessments among our water tax-payers than is the one now in force. Such a schedule


-


372


ANNUAL REPORTS.


was prepared and submitted to the Mayor in 1900 for approval, as required by statute, but it did not become operative, as the necessary authorization of the Mayor was withheld.


Present conditions, however, point to the extension of our meter system as the rational solution of an equalization of the water charges and, at the same time, of a conservation of the water supply. It is generally admitted that the only truly equit- able basis of charging for water is that of assessing the consumer according to the quantity that he uses; it is well known, also, that the meters used for measuring water are now so perfected as to be practically accurate in their registration.


That the water meter has passed the experimental stage is shown by the large numbers now in use throughout the country.


Under the meter system we should furnish, under our pres- ent schedule of fourteen cents per 100 cubic feet, 53,573 gallons of water, an abundant supply for an average family for a year, for the sum of $10. As this quantity represents about one barrel of water per day for each member of a family of five persons, there would seem to be no reason to fear any unsanitary or un- hygienic conditions as a result of metering.


The adoption of a meter system should, therefore, result to our water consumers in a reduction of their payment for water for all household purposes in any single family of average size, to $10 per year. In many cases this sum would be sufficient to allow, also, the use of water in a stable or the use of hand hose.


It would, undoubtedly, increase the water bills on a certain class of tenement and apartment houses where the charges under our present schedule are disproportionately low.


The statements made by the Metropolitan Water and Sew- . erage Board relative to the large consumption of water in the Metropolitan district, and the consequences thereof, as given in the Board's annual report for 1901, pages 62 to 65, are reasons for the adoption of a meter system that are even more important than the equalization of the rates.




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