Report of the city of Somerville 1906, Part 29

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 552


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1906 > Part 29


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The street railway company raised and repaired its tracks, and all mains and connections of the telephone, electric light, water, gas, and sewer pipes were repaired before the paving was laid.


Elm Street.


The department, with its own labor, paved the portion of Elm street extending from Davis square to the easterly line of Chester street with brick pavement, the joints being grouted with Portland cement on a concrete base, at a cost of $1,965.38. The brick pavement in Davis square should be extended on Holland street, from the railroad crossing to Winter street.


Linwood and Hudson Streets.


Linwood street, the entire length, was re-macadamized, at a cost of $3,711.15, trap-rock being used for the two top layers.


346


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Hudson street, from Central street to Lowell street, was re- macadamized, and from Lowell street to Cedar street re-surfaced, at a cost of $3,152.45. Specifications were sent out and bids called for, and the contract was awarded to the lowest bidder. This work was let out to contract more as an experiment to de- termine, if possible, the difference in cost of contract work and work done by day labor performed by the city's own citizens under the eight-hour law at twenty-five cents per hour. The difference in cost was a minimum.


Much good work has been accomplished during the past year toward improving the looks and general condition of the ap- proaches to our city.


Broadway, from the Boston line to Cutter street, which is one of the main approaches, was paved with permanent pave- ment, the edgestones re-set where needed, a four-foot grass plot laid on the sidewalk from the curb to the brick, and the brick sidewalks re-laid where necessary.


The Boston Elevated Railway Company widened the space between their tracks to a width of nine feet, eight inches, and placed their poles therein. In the spring, after all the wires are connected with the underground and trolley system, the large, unsightly poles will be removed, trees will be planted to take the places of the dead ones, and the grass plots on both sides and in the space between the tracks will add greatly to the appearance of our principal thoroughfare.


I recommend that this improvement be extended the com- ing year to Cross street. The city should continue to pave some portions of the main streets with some kind of permanent pave- ment each year. By so doing not only will the main streets he in first-class condition, but also the side streets, which will be re- paired with the old material from the excavating for the new paving.


City Ledge.


Quarrying has ceased temporarily at the city ledge on ac- count of the land being to grade.


The city government passed an order to purchase the Collins and Ham ledge on Clarendon liill, which was referred to the in- coming city government for their consideration. The purchase of this ledge would supply the department with stone for a num- ber of years.


Stone Crusher.


The crushing plant has worked 290 days during the past year, but was unable to supply the demand for stone; 8,952 tons were crushed and 2,563 tons purchased during the year.


If the Collins and Ham ledge is purchased, it is the intention to move the crushing plant from Holland-street ledge to that site.


347


STREET COMMISSIONER.


With the removal of the crushing plant from the Holland- street ledge, it will in all probability expedite the sale of this land, which is now on the market.


Street Cleaning.


All the streets, both public and private, were cleaned during the year, and all the paved streets swept as often as the highway appropriation would allow, $13,797.17 being spent in this branch of the work.


The placing of one or more waste barrels at all the school- houses for the use of the pupils and on the main streets for the use of the public has not only saved the city expense, but has made such a marked improvement in the general appearance of the streets that it is my intention during the coming year to in- crease the number of barrels. The teaming in this branch of the work for the coming year will be increased, as the dumping places are few and far between.


Bridges.


The bridges are in good condition. The railroad commis- sioners have accepted the city's plans for the abolition of grade crossings on the Fitchburg divisions of the Boston & Maine railroad.


The construction of the bridges at Lowell street on the Bos- ton & Maine railroad will develop the unimproved land in the vicinity of Albion and adjacent streets, and will be a great benefit to the general public.


Shade Trees.


Shade trees are a great improvement to the general appear- ance of a street. Many trees have been injured by electric wires, but as time advances and the wires are being buried, this diffi- culty will be removed. Many trees are injured and killed by gas leaks. In every case where trees have been set out the past year, a pole and a wire guard have been placed on them for protection. I recommend that the city purchase and set out shade trees on Summer street. The department has set out 150 trees, while thirty-one dead and dangerous trees were removed during the year.


Subways.


The subways at Kent. Sacramento, and Thorndike streets are in good condition. Men are assigned to care for the same, and extra help is provided in case of a storm.


348


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Street Watering.


Under the law providing for the assessment for street water- ing, only accepted streets can be watered. When residents wish private streets watered. they must pay the cost of such watering in advance. The street watering is let out by contract at $85 per month per cart, the contractor to furnish a competent driver, with a good pair of horses, and to see that his route, which com- prises about two miles, is properly watered at all times, including Sundays and holidays.


There are thirty-four watering carts all painted and repaired by the department. So many new streets have been added to the street watering list that two carts were purchased during the year to care for the same.


The expenditures in this branch of the highway department were $22,427.97.


Granolithic Sidewalks.


More granolithic sidewalks were laid during the year than ever before. Specifications were sent out and bids called for to lay the same. The contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, whose price was $1.49 per yard, with a five-year guarantee. I recommend that the city do this kind of work with their own labor in the future.


Steam Rollers.


The city has three Buffalo Pitts steam rollers, one fifteen-ton roller, which has worked during the year 200 days, one twelve- ton roller, to which a new set of wheels has been applied, and which has worked 192 days, and one five-ton asphalt roller, that is always ready in case of emergency.


The department has received a large revenue by the letting of these rollers to contractors doing work in and for the city and to the various departments.


The department, free of cost, including the teaming, received so much good material for the bottom of streets to be re- macadamized and re-surfaced, and as it was found necessary to carry over so many streets to the next year's work without being covered with crushed stone on account of not being rolled, that I recommend the purchase of another fifteen-ton roller.


Snow and Ice.


During the winter of 1906 there were 2,168 loads of snow removed and a large sum of money spent sanding sidewalks and slippery streets on side hills. This renders the expenditures for street repairs correspondingly less, as no appropriation is made for the care of ice and snow; $5,801.37 was spent in this branch of the work. It is the duty of this department to care for the re-


1


ELECTRIC AVENUE, BEFORE CONSTRUCTION.


ELECTRIC AVENUE, AFTER CONSTRUCTION.


349


STREET COMMISSIONER.


moval of snow from all sidewalks in front of public buildings and public grounds, and to prevent them from becoming slippery. Ordinance No. 46, approved February 12, 1904, Sections 1 and 2 of which are quoted below, clearly regulates the removal of snow and ice on sidewalks.


Section 1. No owner or tenant of land abutting upon a, sidewalk within the limits of any highway or townway in this city shall suffer to remain on such sidewalk for more than six hours between sunrise and sunset, on any day, any snow or any ice, unless such ice is made even and covered with sand or other suitable material to prevent slipping. Such owner and tenant shall remove all snow and ice from such sidewalk within the time and in the manner herein specified.


Section 2. Whoever violates any of the provisions of section one of this ordinance shall forfeit to the city the sum of twenty-five dollars for each offence.


Boxes filled with fine sand for slippery going on the smooth- paved streets, squares, and at subways have been placed within easy access for the push cart men who care for the same.


Wires Underground.


Permits for opening the streets for burying wires were issued to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company for the north side of Broadway, from Fellsway east to a point near Fenwick street, and to the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company for the south side of Broadway, from opposite Winchester street to Boston avenue. Permits were also issued to these two compa- nies for opening streets to extend their underground system on main streets so as to connect with their overhead systemis.


The total number of miles of conduits in this city is 13.17.


Accepted Streets.


Eleven streets have been accepted during the year, a total length of 5,393 feet, or 1.021 miles. Twelve streets were con- structed at a cost of $9,713.54, a total length of 5,385 feet, or 1.02 iniles. In all streets that were constructed during the past three years, edgestones were set and twelve gutters paved with granite blocks before the construction work was begun. This will be a good custom to follow in the future. Twenty-seven streets were macadamized and re-surfaced at a cost of $17,952.97.


Eleven thousand seven hundred and one dollars and thirty- three cents were spent for general repairs.


There are 71.229 miles of public streets and 23.033 miles of private streets, making a total length of 94.262 miles in the city.


Perambulation of Boundary Lines.


A committee was appointed to represent Somerville, con- sisting of the chairman of the highway committee, the city engi-


350


ANNUAL REPORTS.


neer, and the street commissioner, to meet a committee from Boston June 26, 1906, for the purpose of perambulating the boun- dary line between Somerville and Boston. This committee has attended to its duty and made its report.


Sidewalks Maintenance.


I hope that the appropriation for sidewalks maintenance will be increased so that the department can make needed repairs on some of the old sidewalks which were laid years ago. Some sidewalks, where storm drains were constructed, have been re- laid, this department being reimbursed for the same.


Street Openings.


A great deal of complaint reaches the office of the street commissioner, for which he is blameless, as to the uneven condi- tion of some of the newly-constructed streets and depressions in the gravel and brick sidewalks in the older portions of the city, which are due to trenches made by the sewer, water, gas, and underground wire connections. In many cases in the first in- stance the depressions are caused by trenches made to new houses after the street has been constructed, and in the second work being done late in the season after the ground is frozen.


The inspection of these trenches will be made by this de- partment, and, if found unsatisfactory, will be repaired by skilled labor, the expense so incurred to be charged to the different de- partments and companies.


Tunneling under streets and sidewalks ought never to be allowed where the tunnel is more than six inches in diameter ; and when borings are made for pipes, the bore should be made only large enough to allow the pipe to be put in position. From my experience, it can safely be said that it is impossible to re-fill a horizontal tunnel so that the pavement over the trench will not settle and require repairs which make extra expense for the de- partment.


No department, company, or corporation should be allowed to open any street or sidewalk after the frost sets in unless in a case of emergency.


Dust Proof Streets.


Experiments with a dust layer called "Tarvia," a product from coal tar, was tried on some of our streets late in the fall, and their condition after passing through the winter will be watched with much interest as the spring approaches. If successful, this dust layer will be used to some extent, not only as a dust proof, but as a water proof and binder, as well.


ar fr


.....


APPLYING "TARVIA" ON A NEW MACADAM STREET.


FINISHING A NEW MACADAM STREET AFTER "TARVIA" HAS BEEN AP- PLIED.


351


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Miscellaneous.


Specifications were sent to all the local and wholesale con- cerns, and bids called for for furnishing tools and supplies of all kinds, including edgestones, brick, sand, gravel, cement, paving stock, etc.


The bids were opened publicly in the mayor's office, and the contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder, preference being given Somerville citizens.


The department maintains its own painter, carpenter, black- smith, horseshoer, and harness repairer, all employed at the city stable.


The electric calks sharpener has given good results; horses' shoes can be sharpened without taking them off in from five to fifteen minutes, thus saving time, expense, and the horses' hoofs. This machine is used in the summer time for sharpening axes, mattocks, grub hoes, and, in fact, all edge tools.


If the names of certain streets in different parts of the city which are known by the same name were changed, it would be a great convenience to the public.


The installing of a hot-water heating plant in the drying room for drying blankets and clothing has added an improvement long sought by this department.


This department has been called upon to furnish steam rollers, teams, crushed stone, sand, gravel, and ashes to the other departments, being reimbursed for the same.


There were 207 permits issued to the Cambridge Gas Light Company, and eighty-nine to the Charlestown Gas and Electric Company, for the.opening of streets for gas connections and re- pairs ; 204 permits were issued to occupy and eighty-four to open the streets, six to blast rock, and twenty-nine to cross the side- walks to contractors and corporations, six to erect canopies, thirty-eight to feed horses, and five to run steam rollers through the steets; 137 permits were given to licensed drain layers to open streets for sewer connections.


There were 725 defects in the streets and sidewalks reported by the chief of police, and were promptly repaired, thereby in all probability saving the city from law suits.


One hundred and nineteen signs and guide posts were painted and erected by the department during the year.


Four hundred and nineteen and five-tenths square yards of crossings were paved with granite blocks, flagging, and brick, and 4,278.5 square yards of block stone gutters were laid, at a cost of $8,434.30.


Two thousand three hundred and thirty-two yards of sand and gravel were used, 10,545 loads of dirt, and S,707 loads of scrapings were removed from the streets.


Six thousand nine hundred and eleven loads of old macadam and 2,576 loads of ballast were used in the repairs and construc- tion of streets. Four thousand two hundred and seventy-one


352


ANNUAL REPORTS.


loads of ashes were used in the repair and construction of side- walks and in setting and re-setting edgestones.


Four thousand six hundred and ninety-nine and five-tenths square yards of granolithic and 10,532 square yards of brick side- walks were laid, and 12,835.2 feet, or nearly 2.43 miles of edge- stones set, at a cost of $27,497.44; 11,804.5 feet of edgestones, or nearly 2.24 miles, were re-set, and 5,699.8 square yards of brick sidewalks re-laid, at a cost of $3,999.41. This amount in- cludes patching sidewalks and attending to police reports of de- fects.


Recommendations.


I would most respectfully recommend that permanent pav- ing be laid on Highland avenue, from Medford street to School street, especially in front of the public buildings, and that per- manent paving be extended on Medford street, from Central square to Highland avenue, Medford street, from Washington street to Somerville avenue, be paved with the paving blocks that were removed from Union square, and Washington street, from opposite Tufts street to the Charlestown line, and Somer- ville avenue, from Kent street to Oak square, be paved with granite paving blocks.


Also that Marshall street, Summer street, from Belmont street to Cutter square, Central square, from Highland avenue to Summer street, School street, from Summer street to Highland avenue, be re-macadamized with trap-rock, and School street, from Medford street to Broadway, top-dressed with trap-rock, the base already being laid with the old material excavated from Medford street for the Hassam paving.


That edgestones be set and gutters paved with granite blocks on Willow avenue, south side, from Broadway to Morri- son avenue, College avenue, from Broadway to the Medford line, Medford street, from the Boston & Maine railroad bridge to Highland avenue, Beacon street, south side, from Washington street to Park street, and on Elm street, from White street to Cutter square, where not already set.


I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to his honor, the mayor, for the constant, active interest he has taken in this de- partment, and for his valuable advice and encouragement ; to the several members of the city government for their uniform cour- tesy and consideration, especially the highway committee, and to the heads of the different departments for their ready co- operation.


I desire, also, to acknowledge my appreciation of the faithful and conscientious assistance rendered me by the foremen, inspec- tor, and employees during the year.


353


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Highways Maintenance Account.


CREDIT.


Balance from 1905


Receipts and credits :-


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, street railway tax $48,329 06


Boston Elevated Railway tax 8,447 89


Bills receivable (Health Department)


48 00


Use of steam road rollers by sundry per- sons


213 96


Thomas Allen (bill paid twice) .


16 75


Value of materials on hand January 1, 1906 .


613 83


Value of tools and property on hand Janu- ary 1, 1906


24,380 46


82,049 95


$86,696 51


Less amount transferred to Sidewalks Maintenance ac- count


999 41


$85,697 10


Profit and loss on tools, property, and materials


3,797 97


Total credit


$89,495 07


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


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


$17,952 97


General repairs of streets


11,924 74


Repairs of stone paving


26 80


Repairs and maintenance of gravel sidewalks


2,664 18


Repairs of street crossings .


214 23


Cleaning streets


13,797 17


Removing snow and ice and care of slippery sidewalks,


5,924 87


Repairs of gutters


1,473 12


Care of subways


184 13


Removing trees


200 74


Trimming trees


197 65


Setting trees .


3 65


Care of trees .


174 50


Discontinuance of Sherman street


36 65


Grading Warner-street sidewalks


47 00


Grading Broadway sidewalk, between Bartlett street and Glenwood road


.


224 04


Setting edgestones, Willow avenue, at railroad location, Setting edgestone, College avenue, at Warner street ·


14 30


Sodding Broadway terrace


204 01


Street opening, Walnut road, off Walnut street


109 15


Advertising hearing (Lowell-street bridge)


12 75


Blacksmithing


173 50


Carpentering


155 38


Painting


86 69


Steam piping dry house at City stables


162 98


New sheds


61 27


Building road from Cedar street to City buildings


1,005 47


Amount carried forward


$57,118 14


.


$4,646 56


86 20


.


354


ANNUAL REPORTS.


$57,118 14


Street Commissioner's salary


24 50


Street Commissioner's team (board of horse) .


263 93


Street signs


Health Department (bills unpaid December 31, 1906) .


191 90


Sundry expenses


734 93


Books, printing, stationery, and postage


108 35


Private work, the bills for which remained unpaid De- cember 31 .


168 38


Abatement of accounts for collection


6 55


Value of materials on hand this day


896 43


Value of tools and personal property on hand this day :- Horses . $6,210 00


Carts and implements used with horses


6,173 87


Harnesses and horse clothing


1,015 08


Stable utensils and property


495 50


Tools


2,521 89


Steam road rollers


7,500 00


Stone crusher and fittings


1,771 00


Street signs .


96 25


$25,783 59


Total debit .


$87,568 47


Balance unexpended .


$1,926 60


Highways Construction Account.


CREDIT.


Balance from 1905


Appropriation


Transfer from Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings


$8,000 00


Transfer from Highways, Paving Broadway, Bow and Summer Streets .


1,444 93


Transfer from Sewers Construction


2,000 00


Transfer from Shade Trees


83 40


Transfer from Thorndike-street Subway


34 47


Transfer from Public Buildings Construc- tion, Hospital for Contagious Dis- eases


6.24


Transfer from Public Buildings Construc- tion, High School Buildings


5 24


$11,574 28


Less transfer to Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings


397 53


Less transfer to Sidewalks Construction


1,065 91


Less transfer to Public Buildings Construc- tion, Sanitary System


975 93


$2,439 37


Profit and loss on materials


.


9,134 91 26 16


Total credit


$34,181 74 .


Amount brought forward ·


1,800 00


Street Commissioner's telephone


471 77


·


$20 67 25,000 00


355


STREET COMMISSIONER.


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Construction or partial construction of


streets, as appears by table A, at end of this report $8,074 76 3,231 00


$4,843 76


Paving Medford street, from School street to Broadway, with Hassam pavement . $14,512 43


Paving Medford street, from Washington street to Cen- tral square, and Prospect Hill avenue, with Hassam pavement ·


2,127 84


Paving Union square, from Bow street to easterly cor- ner of Stone avenue, and Somerville avenue, from Union square westerly (south side), 25 feet beyond St. Thomas' church, with Hassam pavement


4,243 02


· Paving Elm street, from Davis square to southeasterly line of Chester street, with vitrified bricks 1,965 38


Paving Pearl and Medford streets (in 1905), from Cross street to School street, with Hassam pavement (final payment)


855 43


Discontinuing Frost avenue and Edmands street (re- cording releases) · Albion A. Perry, settlement of suit pending in superior court, in laying out Edmands street in 1904 100 00 · Abatement of Highway Betterment Assessment, laid in 1905, for construction of Clarendon avenue 1,719 59


15 30


Advertising, Mossland street widening, at Elm street and Somerville avenue . .


5 50


Advertising and recording releases for streets not con- structed


111 95


Bills receivable December 31, 1906


801 60


Total debit .


$31,301 85


Balance unexpended


$2,879 89


Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings.


CREDIT.


Balance from 1905


$304 86 17,500 00


Appropriation


Transfer from Highways Construction ac- count


397 53


$18,202 39


Less amount transferred to Highways Con-


struction account .


8,000 00


$10,202 39 339 38


Value of materials on hand January 1, 1906 . Net gain on materials


·


24 53


$10,566 30


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


For paving twenty gutters as per table . $7,507 34


Amount carried forward $7,507 34


.


Less assessments .


. .


356


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amount brought forward


$7,507 34


Street crossings as per table 926 96


Value of materials on hand this day


2,132 00


$10,566 30


Highways, Paving Broadway, Bow and Summer Streets. PAVING BROADWAY WITH HASSAM PAVEMENT.


CREDIT.


Balance of appropriation of 1905 ·


$15,544 17


Less amount transferred to Highways,


Paved Gutters and Crossings 1,444 93 .


$14,099 24


Receipts :-


From Highways, Paved Gutters and


Crossings (paving blocks)


631 46


Total credit


$14,730 70


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Simpson Brothers Corporation, payment


on account of contract .


$12,672 81


Bricks


25 75


Circles


115 44


Loam


20 00


Lamp black


22 92


Oil


7 50


Water


10 00


Gravel


29 90


Advertising


5 00


Labor


957 02


City teams


119 70


Changing line and grade of manholes and catch basins


56 62


Total debit


$14,042 66


Balance unexpended


·


$688 04


Highways, Watering Streets.


CREDIT.


Receipts :-


Assessments and contributions from abut- ters


$22,347 64


Insurance on water carts (collected from contractors)


66 00


Sale of old brass


.


9 00


Total credit


·


$22,422 64


.


·


357


STREET COMMISSIONER.


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Inspector of street watering


$737 60


Teaming (street watering)


17,821 68


New water carts (2)


700 00


Repairing carts


1,433 74


Painting carts


1,150 93


New horse


100 00


Use of horse


5 60


Board of horse


76 50


Horseshoeing


18 50


Insurance on carts


63 00


Stationery Books


14 00


Printing


9 50


Clerical work (making up assessment list),


102 66


Repairing water posts .


178 06


Incidentals


70


Total debit .


$22,427 97


Amount overdrawn


$5 33


Highways, Shade Trees and Guards.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$500 00


Less amount transferred to Highways Con- .


struction account


83 40


Total credit


$416 60


DERIT.


Expenditures :-


For labor, setting trees furnished by citizens


$198 75


Use of city teams




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