Report of the city of Somerville 1905, Part 21

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 486


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1905 > Part 21


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Summary for Three Years, 1903, 1904, 1905. Diphtheria Cultures.


No. examined


Males


Females


0-5


5-10


10-20


Over 20


Age not No. stated growth


1903


817


387


430


282


199


125


185


26


5


1904


1,429


629


800


537


400


231


261


34


29


1905


792


346


446


204


260


139


170


19


4


For Diagnosis Clinical Diagnosis Diph. Clin. Diag. not Diph. Clin. Diag. not stated


Positive


Negative


Positive


Negative


Positive


Negative


1903


360


56


35


11


122


27


109


1904


406


72


37


11


96


59


131


1905


263


15


23


10


76


36


103


For Release


Positive


Negative


1903


95


362


1904


233


761


1905


.. .


Sputum for Tuberculosis.


No. Examined


Males


Females


Positive


Negative


Clin, Diag. Tuberculosis Positive Negative


1903


137


66


71


26


111


15


21


1904


124


54


70


28


96


14


29


1905


162


69


93


22


140


11


38


Clinical Diagnosis not Tuberculosis Clinical Diagnosis not stated


Positive


Negative


Positive


Negative


1903


9


61


2


29


1904


5


59


6


43


Blood for Typhoid Fever.


Clin Diag. Typhoid Fever


No. Examined


Males


Females


Positive


Negative


Positive


Negative


1903


72


39


33


27


45


18


1904


76


53


23


32


44


18


4


1905


78


45


33


26


50


11


L


Clinical Diagnosis not Typhoid Fever Clinical Diagnosis not stated


Positive


Negative


Positive


Negative


2


6


7


32


1903


0


6


14


34


1904


1


5


14


-1-1


1905


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK L. MORSE,


Bacteriologist.


11


43


3


21


1905


139


386


-


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.


OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, CITY HALL, January 16, 1906.


To the Board of Health of the City of Somerville :-


Gentlemen,-I herewith submit the report of the inspector of provisions and animals for the year ending 1905.


The following is a statement of the number of animals killed during the year at the slaughtering establishments in the city : John P. Squire Corporation, Medford street, 561,251 swine; North Packing and Provision Company, Medford street, 650,629 swine; New England Dressed Meat and Wool Company, Med- ford street, 16,074 cattle, 64,039 calves, 254,628 sheep; Sturtevant &. Haley Beef Supply Company, Somerville avenue, 6,663 cattle ; Henry Gunsenhiser, North street, 1,325 cattle, 560 calves. Total number of animals slaughtered during the year, 1,555,169.


There are 107 cows and 158 swine kept in this city for do- mestic purposes.


I have examined 2,181 horses in stables where contagious diseases were reported to exist. There were 27 horses killed for glanders, and 1 released.


I have made 2,132 visits to stores and markets and inspected pedler carts from which fish, provisions, and produce were sold.


I have made monthly inspections of all bakeries and barber shops through the city, and find them in good condition.


I have inspected, condemned, and caused to be destroyed 287 pounds of fresh beef, 314 pounds of corned beef, 11 cattle, 1,163 pounds of veal, 327 pounds of fresh pork, 42 pounds of pickled pigs' feet, 614 pounds of fowl, 293 pounds of mutton, 19 dozens of eggs, 379 pounds of haddock, 219 pounds of pollock, 197 pounds of fresh cod, 117 pounds of sword fish, 312 mackerel, 163 dozens of smelts, 71 pounds of salt fish, 93 pounds of halibut, 71 lobsters, 4 gallons of oysters, 3 bushels of clams, 4 gallons of clams, 34 bushels of common potatoes, 24 bushels of sweet pota- toes, 14 barrels of yellow turnips, 5 barrels of white turnips, 3 bushels of beets, 2 bushels of carrots, 11 bushels of onions, 23 barrels of squash, 37 bushels of greens, 5 bushels of lettuce, 3 dozen bunches of celery, 11 crates of grapes, 1,532 quarts of strawberries, 6 barrels of cranberries, 619 quarts of raspberries, 321 dozen bananas, 19 boxes of oranges, 5 boxes of lemons, 6 barrels of flour, 27 crates of melons, 293 loaves of bread, 63 pies, 49 cakes, and performed other duties as the board of health re- quired.


Respectfully submitted, CHARLES M. BERRY, Inspector.


REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR.


OFFICE OF MILK INSPECTOR, - 310 Broadway, Somerville, Mass.


To the Board of Health :-


Gentlemen,-I have the honor to submit the following re- port for the year ending December 31, 1905 :-


The total number of samples collected and analyzed was 768


Samples brought to office 162


Samples brought by citizens and complaint made 7


Samples of cream


8


Total


945


The condition of the milk sold in this city has as a whole proved satisfactory, except for the condition I find in many stores, where it is handled and sold in a very unclean manner.


I desire to recommend that a rule be passed to keep all milk in a separate iced tank, in all places where milk is retailed.


I would recommend a rule having all milk kept at a tem- perature not exceeding fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit at any time while it is for sale. This temperature will prevent the develop- ment of bacteria to a great extent, and will, in my opinion, greatly assist in checking infantile diseases in the hot months, as well as preventing many intestinal troubles in adults arising from the large amount of milk used as food in the hot months.


There has been a marked effort on the part of the majority of milkmen to sell cleaner and better milk, which is to be com- mended.


I am glad to say I have found no milk containing preserva- tives this year.


I have visited some of the stables and milk houses of men outside of Somerville, and find them in very bad condition; this is in part owing to the lax or lack of inspection by the proper authorities in these towns, and think the aid of the state board of health should be asked.


The stables and milk rooms in our city, with a few excep- tions, are in a good sanitary condition.


I have issued to stores 100 licenses, and to milk pedlers 129 licenses, a total of 229.


Paid the city treasurer $114.50 for the same, and sixty cents for stamps; total of $115.10.


279


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


Summary of prosecutions made during the year :-


One milkman, selling milk below the standard; fined $15 00


One milkman, selling milk below the standard; on file.


One milkman, selling milk without a license; fined 30 00


One milkman, selling milk without a license; on file (sickness).


One milkman, selling milk without name on wagon; on file. One milkman, selling milk below the standard; fined 10 00


One milkman, selling milk below the standard, second offence; fined 100 00


One milkman, selling milk below the standard; fined


10 00


One milkman, selling milk below the standard; on file.


One storekeeper, selling milk below the standard; fined


5 00


One storekeeper, selling milk below the standard; fined


00


One storekeeper, selling milk below the standard; fined


100 00


One storekeeper, selling milk below the standard; fined 10 00


One storekeeper, selling milk below the standard; fined One storekeeper, selling milk below the standard; on file.


10 00


Total amount of fines $295 00


Days in court, eighteen ; one in superior.


One storekeeper paid an appealed fine of $100 at superior court.


I have one case of $100 fine waiting trial in superior court.


This department needs about $250 worth of chemical appa- ratus for inspecting butter and vinegar.


I repeat my statement of last year, that any citizen having any just complaint to make about their milk has a right to do so, and I invite them to do so at my office, which is open every day from 8 A. M. to 9 P. M. Telephone, Somerville 21-137.


Respectfully submitted,


JULIUS E. RICHARDSON,


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar.


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Board of Overseers of the Poor. EDWARD B. WEST, President. ALBERT W. EDMANDS, Vice-president. HERBERT E. MERRILL.


Committees.


ON FINANCE, INVESTIGATION AND RELIEF, AND CITY HOME. - Mr. West Mr. Edmands, and Mr. Merrill.


Secretary. CORA F. LEWIS.


General Agent. CHARLES C. FOLSOM.


City Physician. ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D.


Warden of "City Home." J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN.


Matron of "City Home." MRS. CATHERINE COLQUHOUN.


Office. City Hall Annex, Highland Avenue.


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1905.


To the Honorable, the Mayor, and Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :-


Gentlemen,-We beg leave to submit, for the year 1905, the report of our agent for miscellaneous account, and of the warden for the city home, with tables attached, showing re- ceipts and expenditures.


The work in each department has been very satisfactory and the results we believe very creditable.


Some slight alterations and much needed repairs at the city home, which we have every assurance will be done, will place the home in first-class condition for some time to come.


To the agent and assistant and also to the warden and matron, we offer congratulations and thanks for the faithful and satisfactory work of the year.


EDWARD B. WEST, Overseers ALBERT W. EDMANDS, of the


HERBERT E. MERRILL, Poor


1


REPORT OF GENERAL AGENT.


OFFICE OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR, Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1905.


To the Board of Overseers of the Poor, Somerville, Mass .:-


Gentlemen,-I herewith submit my report for the year 1905. As your agent, I have reported matters of interest to the board from month to month, and have conferred with the presi- dent whenever it seemed necessary, but in compliance with the vote of the board, I submit the following :-


Where there is a man in the family aided, who is able to work, I have required him to go to the city farm and do what- ever the warden had for him to do. One hundred and forty-four days' work, such as they were, have been performed during the year, and have been paid for in fuel or groceries from the mis- cellaneous account. More persons have been committed to the state hospital at Tewksbury from Somerville than in any former year. There have been quite a number of perplexing questions in connection with some of the families and persons aided, but no serious friction has resulted, the persons interested having generally been satisfied. A dispute with Worcester in reference to the settlement of a pauper may lead to a friendly lawsuit with very little expense. The same is also true in relation to a family residing here, whose legal settlement is in dispute be- tween Newton and Boston. The town of Braintree contends that a family residing there, which has been aided to quite an extent, is settled in this city. We have denied it, however, and have informed that town that if they will furnish the proof, we will be as willing to pay the bill before a lawsuit as after. The above cases have been reported by me to the board, but I deemed it advisable to refer to them again in this report. The poor people of this city so far this fall and winter have been em- ployed to a greater extent than usual; this fact and the very favorable weather have kept many from being obliged to apply for aid.' The work of the office has been carried on in a quiet, dignified way. No outside influences have given us any trouble, and we flatter ourselves that the department stands well with the tax-payers as well as with the poor people. We are not satisfied when we have aided a poor family, or a poor person, but it is our aim to help in any way we can so that they may become self-respecting and self-supporting if possible. I wish in connection with this report to express my appreciation of the work of the secretary in her correct book-keeping and substantial aid in the office. Thanking the board for courtesies extended, and for their general sympathy and help, I will re- fer you to the following tables, which will give a detailed ac- count of the work.


·


283


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT. 1


Table No. 1.


FULL SUPPORT (DURING THE YEAR).


In our city home (men 20, women 9) . 29


In our city home (men 15, women 7), December 31, 1905 . 22


In private families


2


In Somerville hospital


187


In hospitals in other towns and cities for the sick


54


In Massachusetts school for feeble-minded


In hospital for dipsomaniacs


5


In hospital for epileptics


4


Table No. 2. PARTIAL SUPPORT ( OUTDOOR RELIEF).


Families


214


Persons aided


1,205


Burials .


15


Permits to Tewksbury almshouse


13


Table No. 3. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


$1,358 72


City of Boston .


1,244 13


Beverly


49 00


.6


Chelsea


44 64


66


66


Everett


49 45


60


66


Fitchburg


24 00


16


66


Gloucester


52 17


66


Haverhill


80 00


66


66


Lowell


9 00


66


New Bedford


25 00


46


Newton


181 10


66


Quincy


21 00


66


Salem


18 87


66


Springfield


38 00


66


66


Woburn


35 00


66


Worcester


35 50


Town of Acton .


11 75


66


66


Andover


44 56


66


66


Arlington


33 00


66


Belmont


48 25


66


Canton


7 75


66


66


Concord


45 50


66


66 Framingham


29 30


66


Gardner


2 00


66


66 Leominster


36 59


66


Wakefield


15 25


66 West Boylston


21 95


66


66 Winthop


4 00


Guardians and relatives


196 84


Cambridge


295 55


Fall River


200 05


Malden


47 75


Waltham


42 25


$4,347 92


284


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table No. 4. SOMERVILLE HOSPITAL (PATIENTS ON CITY BEDS).


Patients having settlement in Somerville


74


Patients having settlement in other cities or towns .


43.


Patients having no settlement (chargeable to state)


70


Total number of patients sent to hospital


187


Money paid hospital by the city for patients settled in Somerville


$5,000 00


Amount reimbursed to the city and paid to the hospital


for patients not settled in Somerville .


1,538 55


Total paid to the hospital .


$6,538 55.


Table No. 5. POPULATION AND GROSS EXPENDITURES, 1883 TO 1905, INCLUSIVE.


Year.


Population (Estimated).


Expenditures.


1883


27,000


$15,959 80.


1884


28,000


17,272 52


1885


*29,992


14,341 83


1886


32,000


1887


34,000


13,375 98


1889


39,000


1890


*40,117


15,980 49


1892


46,000


1893


48,000


17,799 58


1894


50,000


19,733 13


1895


*52,200


20,755 46


1896


54,000


21,999 79


1897


56,000


1898


57,500


28,522 21


1899


60,000


28,924 39


1900


.


City home,


5,528.83


1901


62,500


City home, 6,622.43


1902


63,500


City home,


7,396.64


1903


65,500


City home,


7,548.39


1904


. 69,500


City home, 6,563.11


Miscellaneous, $17,527.88


1905


.


.


*69,272


City home,


7,474.36


25,002.24


*Census.


Miscellaneous, $23,697.62


29,226 45


Miscellaneous, $29,171.15


35,793 58.


Miscellaneous, $28,667.04


36,063 68


Miscellaneous, $30,470.20


38,018.59


Miscellaneous, $20,476.54


27,039.65


1888


36,000


15,261 14


189 1


43,000


17,015 30


25,681 47


*61,643


16,430 32


13,430 89


14,610 92


Table No. 6. EXPENDITURES, IN DETAIL, FOR THE YEAR 1905.


1905.


Dry Goods.


Board.


Groceries.


Somerville Poor in Other . Cities and Towns


Boots and Shoes.


Medicine.


Burials.


Salaries.


Fuel.


Sundries.


Cash Paid Out.


Tele- phone.


Stationery and Printing.


Somerville Hospital.


State Hospital.


Foxboxo Hospital.


Feebie- minded School.


Epileptic Hospital.


Total.


january


$6 50


$29 15


$883 40


$718 81


$10 00


$3 00


$15 00


$341 66


$301 38


$1 50


$19 80


$29 75


$133 33


$166 67


$170 84


$152 75


$2,983 54


February .


67 14


308 43


105 75


14 20


30 00


341 66


178 43


2 CO


19 50


$26 02


11 00


133 33


March


32 15


613 40


8 00


2 00


10 00)


341 66


117 85


3 50


18 68


1 60


133 33


167 12


125 36


1,655 60


April


SO 44


549 44


10 00


13 35


34 00


341 66


10 48


11 39


5 75


133 33


150 58


1,340 42


May


33 58


298 84


66 00


341 66


5 10


10 63


16 64


133 33


166 29


June


27 87


394 62


33 30


133 33


51 08


298 07


1,311 45


July


59 86


471 00


. 8 50


35 CO


341 66


2 85


13 78


14 65


133 33


126 75


1,597 32


August


3 00


23 86


386 29


86 27


13 25


40 00


341 66


1 00


12 73


16 22


133 33


209 20


·


128 14


1,524 43


October


54 29


425 01


156 29


15 00


8 01


341 66


1 90


12 28


5 00


133 33


November


32 16


445 25


89 57


341 66


118 13


9 00


24 20


140 57


1,200 54


December


32 72


355 09


12 43


341 74


75 30


6 00


8 35


Totals .


$9 50


$501 09


$5,639 50


$1,676 63


$65 80


$147 49 $194 00


$4,100 00


$816 27


$40 20


$181 19


$92 93


$101 05


$1,538 55


630 06


$368 33


$S92 29


$533 00


$17,527 88


.


.


·


September


27 87


508 73


46 00


29 85


15 00


341 66


2 85


3 20


14 33


17 21


133 33


256 26


1,184 61


·


.


205 25


1,036 88


341 66


1 00


15 00


15 52


389 94


. 2 75


80 95


$114 00


1,351 46


·


1,072 07


1,269 56


15 00


16 84


285


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Overseers of the Poor of Somerville. SINCE THE REORGANIZATION IN 1885.


Hon. Mark F. Burns, chairman ex-officio


1885


1888 inclusive


Colonel Herbert E. Hill


1885


1889


66


Charles S. Lincoln, Esq., chairman


1885


1887


66


Hon. Edward Glines


1885


1887


Charles G. Brett, president .


1885 April 1893


Edward B. West, president


1888


to date* 66


Daniel C. Stillson


1888 April 1892


66


Hon. Charles G. Pope, chairman ex-officio


1889


Nathan H. Reed, president


.


1892


1895


66


James G. Hinckley


. May 1892


Albert W. Edmands


May 1893 .


to


date*


Herbert E. Merrill


May 1894


to


date*


Ezra D. Souther


. 1895 Feb.


1898 (Died)


Hon. Albion A. Perry, chairman ex-officio . 1896


1898 inclusive


James H. Butler .


March 1898


1899


66


Hon. George O. Proctor, chairman ex-officio,


1899


*Present member.


Table No. 7. RECAPITULATION ( MISCELLANEOUS ).


Appropriation


Reimbursements


$14,000 00 4,347 92


Total receipts .


Total expenditures


$18,347 92 17,527 88


Balance


$820 04 13,179 96


Net expenditures


Very respectfully,


·


.


·


.


1891


1890 April 1894


66


Hon. Wm. H. Hodgkins, chairman ex-officio,


1894


66


CHARLES C. FOLSOM, General Agent.


286


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF WARDEN OF CITY HOME.


Table No. 1. PERMANENT REPAIRS AND FIXTURES.


New curtains, dormitory


$26 86


New beds and bedding, dormitory .


245 75


New bed linen, dormitory


79 00


New furniture, dormitory


213 90


New rubber matting, dormitory


34 48


New, window screens, dormitory


72 40


New concrete walks .


91 65


Glass, putty, hardware, and labor, hothouse,


286 67


Pipe, valves, and piping, hothouse .


75 63


Pipe cement and labor (drain and stone wall)


83 24


Pipe fence on stone wall .


34 59


Storm porch


60 00


Lawn seed .


3 30


2,156 lights glass for new sash


21 56


Living expenses


Total expense


$7,474 36.


Table No. 2. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Board of sundry persons .


$100 50


Produce and pork sold


3,811 74


$3,912 24


Table No. 3. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Produce and pork sold


$3,811 74


Produce used at city home


313 00


$4,124 74


EXTRA EXPENSE ON FARM.


Wages for extra help


.


$1,096 70


Feed for one horse .


117 14


Shoeing for one horse


16 12


Repairs on wagons and harnesses .


86 10


Repairs on sash


9 15


Swill and bedding


308 67


Farm sundries


151 35


Seed and fertilizer


.


116 17


$1,901 40~


Balance


$2,223 34.


·


$1,329 03 6,145 33


287


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Table No. 4.


Number weeks' board


1,075 4-7


Average weekly cost of inmates


$2 08


Number of males admitted during 1905


13


Number of females admitted during: 1905


2


Number of males discharged during 1905


8


Number of females discharged during 1905 .


1


Number of males supported during 1905


24


Number of females supported during 1905


9


Number of males died during 1905


1


Number of females died during 1905


1


Number of inmates in home January 1, 1906,


22


Table No. 5. LIVING EXPENSES.


Groceries and provisions


$1,754 37


Salaries and wages .


2,442 18


Dry goods


179 00


Boots and shoes


42 55


Hay and grain .


535 59


Seeds and fertilizer


116 17


House furnishings


12 90


Kitchen furnishings


76 02


Sundries


147 96


Farm sundries


123 07


Cash paid by warden (car fares for warden, inmates, and laborers) .


37 75


Medicine


45 77


Horseshoeing


48 35


Repairs on wagons .


86 10


Repairs on sash


9 15


Telephone


47 92


Ice


20 85


General repairs


41 76


Swill and bedding


353 80


New tools .


22 07


Live stock .


2 00


$6,145 33


Credits :-


Produce and pork sold


$3,811 74


Board for sundry persons


100 50


3,912 24


Net living expenses ,


$2,233 09


Very respectfully, J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN,


Warden. -


REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.


OFFICE OF CITY PHYSICIAN, Somerville, February 1, 1906.


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


Gentlemen,-The following is a summary of the work done by me during the year ending December 31, 1905 :-


One thousand two hundred fifty-one house visits have been made. Eight hundred sixty-five persons were treated at my office. Twenty-six women were attended in child-birth. One hundred twenty persons were vaccinated. One hundred thirty- five persons have had teeth extracted. Thirty-five visits have been made at the police station.


Under the rules of the board of health, ninety-five cultures for release have been taken in cases of diphtheria.


Seventeen men were examined for the police force.


Respectfully submitted,


ALVAH B. DEARBORN, City Physician.


REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.


OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, January 15, 1906.


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


Gentlemen,-In accordance with the provisions of the city charter, the following report of the work done and expense in- curred for the year ending December 31, 1905, by the depart- ments and appropriations under my charge and supervision, in- cluding Engineering, Grade Crossings, Sewers Construction, Sewers Maintenance, Public Grounds, and other public works, is herewith presented.


ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.


Statement of Expenses, 1905.


Salary City Engineer (including maintenance of team)


$2,800 00


Salaries of assistants


7,885 39


Stakes, tools, and general supplies (outside work) 94 83


Draughting materials and office supplies (in- side work) · .


100 32


Setting stone bounds for defining street lines (materials)


23 50


Car fares


192 75


Telephone, postage, and incidentals


177 68


Total debit .


$11,274 47


CREDIT.


$11,250 00


Appropriation


Amount received for making acceptance plans, 36 00


Amount received from School Contingent fund for maps .


2 00


Total


$11,288 00


Balance unexpended


$13 53


290


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Classification of Expenses, Assistants' Salaries.


Sewers,-comprising surveys, estimates, profiles, lines,


grades, titles, plans, assessments, and all engineering work relating to sewers


$2,695 00


Highways,-comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, and all other engineering relating to the department . · Sidewalks,-comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, titles, costs, and assessments


570 85.


Water Works,-comprising lines, grades, locations of mains, gates, hydrants and services, and other mat- ter relating to water department . 255 32 .


Public Grounds,-comprising surveys, plans, estimates, profiles and grades, including laying out of parks and grounds and boulevards . 249 30.


Public Buildings,-comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to construction, Street Numbering,-comprising locations of buildings, plans, and affixing street numbers on houses .


256 00


Street Lines and Grades,-comprising establishing of lines, grades, and miscellaneous data given parties for building and grading 283 38


City Survey,-comprising establishing of street lines, ac- ceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for bridges, etc.


463 10


Middlesex Registry,-comprising copying of plans and .


abstracts from deeds and examination of titles filed at East Cambridge, also tracings of street accept- ance and sewer taking plans filed for record 185 92


Railway, Telephone, Electric Light, and Gas Light Com- panies,-comprising grades, plans, profiles and office notes, locations of poles and conduits .


47 54


Stone Bounds,-locating and setting .


108 29


Office Work,-comprising records of all locations, index- ing, typewriting, calculations, and general draught- ing .


1,100 97


Miscellaneous Work,-comprising preliminary surveys, designs, sketches, etc., relating to various schemes for different committees


186 04


Vacations and Sickness .


350 00


Total .


$7,885 39.


Special work on grade crossings .


(charged to Grade


Crossings account) · ·


. .


$266 22


Office Records and Value of Instruments.


Number of survey note-books, sewer permit books, and deed books, two hundred and fifty.


Number of plans, including sewers, highways, parks, house lots, etc., six thousand.


Value of field instruments, tools, and office instruments, $1,600.


The total cost of maintaining the city engineer's department since it was established (1872-1905, both years inclusive) has amounted to $225,696.15.


1,064 20


69 48


291


CITY ENGINEER.


General Work. The number of assistants employed during the year on engineering work varied from eight to fourteen.


The department has made designs, plans, estimates of cost of contemplated and completed public works, etc., as required by various orders of the board of aldermen and committees. All survey notes, records, and plans made of sewers, drains, highway work, water works, etc., have been filed for future reference.


All plans of estates in Somerville recorded at the Registry of Deeds, East Cambridge, have been copied, titles examined, and abstracts from deeds made for the purpose of assessments,- and the proportional part of the cost of new work computed, and. schedules of assessments made out showing the property owners ..


Plans have been made and photographs taken where acci- dents have occurred on the city's work or where boundaries were. in dispute, for the use of the city solicitor in court cases and. hearings.


A number of street names have been changed and plans made showing a re-numbering of the buildings, and all old num- bering plans revised, new houses plotted, and numbers assigned ; some of the old main thoroughfares should be re-numbered throughout their entire length, so as to eliminate half numbers and letters now being used, as many of these old streets have out- grown their original numbering.


There are many streets, avenues, courts, and places in the city of the same or very similar name, which should be changed: to prevent the confusion and inconvenience now existing.


Stone monuments have been set at a number of street inter- sections and angles to define and preserve the true lines of public streets, and this work should be continued as much as possible each year. By setting these stone bounds, or monuments, in Portland cement concrete at the level of the surface of the ground, or flush with the surface of the sidewalk, they can also be used as permanent "Bench Marks" throughout the city by establishing their exact elevations, and thereby being a great con- venience and saving of time in giving grades, not only for the city engineering department, but also for all other surveyors.




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