Report of the city of Somerville 1906, Part 32

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 32


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The gravity system is economical to install and run, and with a successfully working automatic control system will be the best system to install in the smaller and more compact school buildings.


The school buildings heated by furnaces should be re-fitted with steam heating, either of the gravity or fan systems. There are five of these furnace systems in the city, and I would recom- mend that they be remodeled as to the heating and ventilating systems, as above noted.


In general, the question of the heating and ventilating of the school buildings is an important one, and no plan for new work or the changing of old should be adopted without careful thought and study.


Expenditure of Public Buildings Department, 1906.


Care and repair of school buildings


.


$56,119 92


Care and repair of fire buildings


4,426 00


Care and repair of city buildings


18,363 45


Election expenses 883 95


Inspection of buildings


4,135 47


Total


$83,928 79


An itemized list of expenditures may be found in the appen- dix to the treasurer and collector's report.


Morse


12 furnace-hand control


383


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


Sanitation.


This department has continued during the year just passed the work of replacing the old systems of sanitation by new plumbing, and the following table will show the systems in use and the condition :-


School.


System.


Ventilation. Gen'l Working Condition good. local vented


Bell


66


Bennett


66


66


66


66


Bingham


Brown


66


66


66


Burns


66


66


66


Carr


66


66


66


fair


Davis


66


hydraulic Latrine hydraulic closet system


66


66


66


Forster


66


66


66


66


66


66


66


66


Latin High


English High


66


66


66


66


66


Highland


66


66


Hodgkins


60


66


66


Knapp


Lincoln


66


66


66


66


Morse


Perry


Pope


66


66


66


66


66


fair


Proctor


66


66


good


Lowe


66


66


66


66


66


66


66


fair


Durell


fair


Edgerly


66


good


Forster Annex


Glines


Hanscom


66


66


66


66


66


66


Prescott


66


66


66


The word good does not necessarily mean perfect, but is intended to convey a description of the general working condi- tion. Except as to minor repairs and improvements, I have nothing to recommend in respect to the sanitary systems, with the exception of the Cummings and the Davis schools. The sanitary rooms in these schools are equipped with individual closets, which are difficult to keep in as clean a condition as the commissioner desires. I therefore recommend that these two systems be equipped with modern closets during the summer of 1907, in the vacation months. The care of the numerous sani- tary rooms has been very satisfactory during the past year, and the janitors have, under the direction of Duncan C. Greene, the inspector of plumbing, who has made weekly inspections, been painstaking, and have taken special pride in this particular work. In general, the subject of sanitation of school buildings is of the utmost importance and requires careful attention at all times. In September of the year just passed a careful inspection was made of all the sanitary systems in the school buildings by Mr. Burfitt, state inspector of buildings, and the following is a copy of the report submitted to the state inspection department by him after completing his work :-


Baxter


hydraulic closet system


66


Cummings


384


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Office of the Inspection Department of the District Police, State House. Boston, Mass., October 5, 1906.º


Joseph A. Moore, Deputy Chief,


Inspection Dept., Mass. District Police.


"Dear Sir,-By your request, I have inspected all of the school build- ings in the city of Somerville, and beg leave to report as follows: I find most of these buildings in excellent condition as to their sanitaries. The Lincoln and Davis school buildings can be improved as to the sanitaries by placing heat in their ventilating flues. The Pope school, Highland and Cummings schools should be improved in their system of ventilation. The Proctor school has one room on the second floor intended when built to be used for a recitation room, but now used for a classroom, which should be ventilated. The Burns school building should have improved egress from the second floor. In all school


buildings where stairs are not railed on each side, should be railed. All schools not supplied with chemical fire extinguishers should be supplied. The Glines school building, that is equipped with a fan to supply air to rooms, should be run at a lower rate of speed, and be provided withi some means to change speed from high to low rate. The city inspector was with me during my inspection, and the desired changes have been explained to him in detail.


Respectfully yours, Charles E. Burfitt, Inspector.


Fire Protection.


The question of protection against fire in the public build- ings of the city is a subject which cannot be considered too care- iully. The state inspector of public buildings, whose finding may be found elsewhere in this report, made his annual inspec- tion of all the school buildings in the city in September of the year 1906, and with the exception of one building, viz., the Burns school building, he pronounced the means of egress as meeting the requirements of the state department. Every school build- ing in the city is equipped with chemical extinguishers, which have been placed where it seemed most advisable. In a few in- stances I would advise that additional chemical extinguishers be provided to still further protect these school buildings in case of fire, and I shall recommend that in the annual financial budget a sufficient appropriation be provided for this purpose. It is im- portant in connection with this subject that particular attention be paid to the basements, that the space around the heating ap- paratus be protected, and that no waste matter be allowed to accumulate. The commissioner believes that, with the excellent fire drill in use in the Somerville schools, together with the pro- tection outlined above, the safety of the occupants of the school buildings in case of fire will be established.


School Furniture.


It is a duty of the commissioner of public buildings to pro- vide school furniture when necessary in the various school build- ings. During the last few years a large number of the old-


385


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


fashioned seats and desks have been taken out, and the modern adjustable seats and desks installed. Each year as much of this work has been done as the finances of the city have permitted. With the adjustable furniture, the height of the seats and desks may be so regulated that the pupils are made more comfortable. The total number of sets of school furniture in use at the present time in the schools is 12,644. Of this number, 9,204 sets are ad- justable and 3,440 are non-adjustable. The cost of equipping a classroom of forty-nine pupils is about $200. It will therefore be seen that, in order to substitute 3,440 sets of adjustable furni- ture for the fixed furniture, the cost would be about $14,040.08.


This expenditure in one year, in addition to the other re- quirements, is, of course, out of the question, but if a part is done each year, as has been the practice, the entire school system will. in a short time, be thoroughly equipped in this particular. The present commissioner has depended wholly on requests from the superintendent of schools in the matter of school furniture, believing that the superintendent's knowledge of the seating and arrangement of pupils is better, naturally, than the commis- sioner's.


The requests during 1906 from the superintendent of schools relating to school furniture have been complied with in every case, and I deem it advisable to continue during 1907 the same policy of doing what we can in changing the fixed furniture to the adjustable style.


Recommendations as to the Inspection Department.


The commissioner of public buildings is also the inspector of buildings for the city, and the duties of this latter position are not the least of the many demands upon him. Inasmuch as the city of Somerville is being rapidly covered over with frame- constructed buildings of the residence type, and consequently drawing to the city a large number of people who seek comfort- able homes, it seems to the commissioner that the city should do everything in its power to protect the interests of these people who are investing their savings and locating in these homes. I therefore respectfully recommend the following :---


(1) That as early as practicable in the year 1907 a commis- sion of three members be appointed by the mayor to draw up an entirely new code of building ordinances to meet the conditions under which the city is developing, and conform to modern views.


(2) That the addition of at least one competent inspector be made to the present working force of the inspection department to assist in bringing about a more stringent enforcement of the building ordinances.


There have been issued during the year 1906 318 permits for new buildings and alterations. This number is seven more than in 1905. The total estimated cost of new buildings and alterations


-


386


ANNUAL REPORTS.


in 1906 was $1,031,835, while the same in 1905 was $870,530, showing an increase of $161,305.


During the year 1906 there have been made 1,122 inspec- tions of private buildings in the course of construction.


.The following table will show the number of permits in each ward and the uses for which they were intended :-


WARDS.


Buildings.


Totals.


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


Dwellings


3


12


17


16


24


26


125


223


Dwellings and stores


2


1


1


2


4


6


5


21


Stables


4


2


0


0


2


2


0


10


Miscellaneous


13


4


3


13


4


10


12


59


Brick buildings


1


1


0


0


1


2


0


5


Total


23


20


21


31


35


46


142


318


The number ci plumbing permits issued during the year was .


477


Permits for plumbing in new buildings Permits for plumbing in old buildings Number of buildings in which soil pipes were tested


. 216


261


373


Number of master plumbers' licenses, 3 at $2 .


$6.00


Number of journeyman plumbers' licenses, 2 at $.50


1.00


Number of master plumbers' licenses renewed, 36 at $.50


. 18.00


Number of journeyman plumbers' licenses renewed, 25 at $.50 12.50 .


Amount received in fees


.


. 37.50


Respectfully submitted, WALTER T. LITTLEFIELD, Commissioner of Public Buildings.


REPORT OF THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS, CITY HALL, January 1, 1907.


To the Honorable, the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-I herewith submit my first annual report of the electrical department for the year ending December 31, 1906, also some suggestions and recommendations which I hope will receive due consideration.


Electrical Department.


This department has supervision of the fire and police signal systems and the inspection of all buildings equipped with electric lights and power service, also of all poles and wires in the city's streets.


The electric lights, private telephone bells, etc., in the pub- lic buildings have been kept in order by this department.


During the year 120 dangerous square poles have been re- placed by the different companies by round chestnut poles, which are considered more durable and possess more strength for the support of wires and fixtures.


To the Edison Electric Illuminating Company 314 permits were issued for the attachment of wires, etc., in buildings for light and power, after inspection of the same by this department.


To the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company 5-16 permits were approved for the attachment of wires, etc., to various poles for the purpose of establishing telephone service.


One hundred and eighteen permits were issued for the re- placing, locating, and repairing of various poles throughout the city.


On August 1 a set of rules and regulations governing the installation of overhead, underground, and interior wires and ap- paratus, based, so far as practicable, on the "National Electrical Code," were issued and put into effect by this department.


During the year a portable search light was purchased, which adds greatly in the finding and repairing of broken wires.


Fire Alarm.


One new box was added during the year, box 44, located on Broadway, corner of Wallace street, making a total of 109 boxes.


Two hundred and four alarms of fire were transmitted dur- ing the year.


388


ANNUAL REPORTS.


All of the boxes have been newly painted and varnished. The equipment of the fire alarm consists of the following :-


One hundred and nine signal boxes, one eight-circuit re- peater, eight tower strikers, thirty-three gongs, eight indicators, twelve private telephones, sixty tappers, one automatic steam whistle, 412 , cells storage batteries, and about 130 miles of wire and 9,686 feet of underground cable.


Police Signal.


The usual attention has been given to the police signal sys- tem. Two new boxes have been added, located as follows :-


Corner of Curtis street and Professors row; corner of Broadway and Rogers avenue ; making a total of fifty boxes.


Underground Wires.


To conform with an act passed by the legislature and ap- proved April 10, 1905, the city has expended $2,760.20 for under- ground cables and labor on Broadway, from the Charlestown line to the junction of Broadway and Main street, Broadway being the first street designated in the act. The fire and police signal boxes have been placed on iron posts and connected with the cables.


The Edison Electric Illuminating Company has installed underground cables to supply service for the city street lights and for private consumers of light and power.


The New England Telephone and Telegraph Company has put in underground cables to furnish its subscribers with service.


Street Lights.


During the year many new street lights were located in dif- ferent parts of the city. There are now 484 arc lights and 566 incandescent lights in service.


The hours of lighting and service will compare very favor- ably with those of surrounding municipalities.


Recommendations. FIRE ALARM.


That an operator be always on duty at the fire alarm head- quarters.


That all the fire department houses be connected with the public telephone exchange.


That most of the signal boxes be provided with keyless doors.


That additional boxes be installed to protect the new ter- ritory in the western part of the city.


That the three blows for curfew be reduced to one blow.


1


COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


389


POLICE SIGNAL.


That the signal system be changed to a modern system, as it has been in service eighteen years. The increased number of electric light wires and additional boxes being installed makes it impossible at times, on account of induction, to use the telephone satisfactorily. The cost of such a new system would be saved in a few years' time, as the present system, if retained, will require the installation of new wire and instruments.


ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS.


That the rules and requirements issued by the department be adopted by ordinance, and that a penalty be provided for all violations.


That electrical contractors and employers doing business in the city be required to be registered, and a certificate of same issued by the department.


In concluding this report, permit me to return my thanks to your honorable board for the kindly help given me in the per- formance of my duties. My thanks are also due to my assistants for the able manner in which they have performed their duties, and to the chief engineer of the fire department and the chief of police and the members of their departments for the many cour- tesies shown.


Financial Statement. ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$8,500 00


Edison Electric Illuminating Co., grounding


wires


250 00


Lewis Sborosky, replacing wires .


7 50


J. A. Kiley, old buggy


30 00


Old junk


61 82


North Packing & Provision Co., re-wiring fire alarm


47 18


Labor and materials, underground


con-


struction


689 79


Total credit


$9,586 20


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Salaries


$5,271 85


Wires, insulators, etc.


1,081 22


Wagon repairs


60 08


Harnesses and repairing same


70 25


Fire alarm and police signal boxes


781 71


Board of horses


343 52


Incidentals


736 03


Total debit


$8,344 66


Balance unexpended


$1,241 63


.


.


-


390


ANNUAL REPORTS.


ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT, UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION.


CREDIT.


Transferred from Sewers Construction account .


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Labor


$401 75


Materials


2,356 75


Incidentals


1 70


Total debit


$2,760 20


Balance unexpended


$239 80


STREET LIGHTS.


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$67,000 00


Received for lighting Westwood road in


1904


3 60


Total credit


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Electric lighting


$64,511 81


Changing location of lights


33 00


Incidentals


14 00


Total debit


$64,558 81


Balance unexpended


$2,444 79


.


.


.


.


$67,003 60


.


Respectfully submitted, CHARLES A. GRIMMONS, Acting Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights.


$3,000 00


-


METROPOLITAN WATER WORKS. Wachusett Dam, Showing Gate House and Railroad Bridge over Waste Channel.


SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS.


SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX CO., MASSACHUSETTS.


Area of city, including land and water, about 4.22 square miles. Population, estimated, 71,000. 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. CHARLES A. GRIMMONS.


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, 1907.


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


I present herewith my report for the year ending December 31, 1906, this being the thirty-third annual report made by the water department :-


Receipts and Expenditures. Water bills have been issued as follows :-


"Annual" water charges, amounting to


$136,438 50 4,178 08


"Metered" water charges, amounting to


92,570 79


$233,187 37


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, 1906, under sec- tion 3, chapter 488, Acts 1895


800 30


$233,987 67


Abatements made on the above charges


$6,324 03


Refunds made on the above charges . 443 00


6,767 03


Income from sale of water . assessments


$227,220 64


Amount received from water service ass


3,929 80


Amount received from costs .


45 00


Amount received from labor and materials sold


3,105 01


Total income from water works


$234,300 45


This amount was used as follows :-


For water works purposes :-


1


1


Water works extension .


19,195 86


Abatements on water charges of 1905 .


5 10


1


Miscellaneous accounts


4,155 48


Interest on water loan bonds


3,935 00


Maturing water loan bonds ·


6,000 00


Metropolitan water works assessment


97,160 08


$157,392 81


For other municipal purposes :-


$12,000 00


Sewers, maintenance


Interest on sewer loan bonds


8,827 50


Maturing sewer loan bonds


18,000 00


Fire department


24,500 00


Amount carried forward


$63,327 50


Water works maintenance


$26,941 29


"Additional" water charges, amounting to .


i


1


393


Amount brought forward $63,327 50


Suppression of gypsy and brown-tail moths, 1,000 00


Reduction of funded debt


10,792 96


Unexpended balance of water works appro- priations carried to credit of Excess and Deficiency account


1,787 18


· 76,907 64


$234,300 45


In addition to the appropriations from water income to other municipal purposes enumerated above, water has been furnished without charge to all the city departments that have required its use. The value of this water is estimated at $12,000.


Department Receipts and Disbursements. WATER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.


DR.


CR.


Amount appropriated by board of aldermen from water income


$25,000 00 3,105 01 45 00


Sundry receipts for labor and materials sold, Receipts from other sources . Balance of Water Works Extension ac- count transferred


4,733 94


Materials used in extension of the water works


14,104 84


Amount expended for labor and materials for operation and maintenance of the water works . Amount expended for materials used in ex- tension of the water works


14,104 84


Amount paid Highway Department towards road construction


1,005 47


Miscellaneous accounts .


3,150 01


Unexpended balance, transferred to Excess and Deficiency account


1,787 18


$46,988 79


$16,988 79


WATER WORKS EXTENSION ACCOUNT. .


Amount appropriated by board of aldermen from water income . Receipts from 210 water service assess- iments . · Labor and materials used in extension of the water works . · Unexpended balance, transferred to Water · Maintenance account


DR.


CR.


$20,000 00


3,929 80


$19,195 86


4,733 94


$23,929 80


$23,929 80


Cost of Water Works.


The total cost of the water works on December 31, 1905, as represented by the expenditures from appropria- tions for water works extension was


$855,503 13


Expended during the year 1906, on extension account 19,195 86


Total expenditures, December 31, 1906 . $874,698 99


-


1


1


$26,941 29


WATER DEPARTMENT.


394


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Water Debt.


Water loan bonds have been issued on funded debt account to the amount of $1,017,000 ; this has been reduced by $931,000, leaving the water debt on December 31. 1906, $86,000.


The outstanding bonds mature as follows :-


YEAR.


AMOUNT.


YEAR.


AMOUNT.


1907


$17,000


1914


$6,000


1908


7,000


1915


5,000


1909


6,000


1916


5,000


1910


6,000


1917


5,000


1911


6,000


1918


5,000


1912


6,000


1919


4,000


1913


6,000


1920


2,000


On January 1, 1898, the city of Somerville first took over the collection of its own water rates, which had always previously been made by the city of Charlestown or the city of Boston. The water income and its disposition from 1898 to 1906, inclu- sive, is shown in the following table :-


Total water income, years 1898 to 1906, inclusive Payments :-


.


$1,945,341 95


Water Works Account.


Water Works Construction, Renewal,


Maintenance and Operation


$495,320 86


Water Bonds


198,000 00


Interest .


66,215 00


Metropolitan Water Assessments


534,875 83


$1,294,411 69


Other Municipal Accounts.


Sewers Construction


$117,035 65


Sewers Maintenance


86,450 00


Sewer Bonds


72,000 00


Interest


49,654 50


Assessments


31,000 00


$356,140 15


Fire Department, Maintenance


173,026 33


Health Department, Maintenance


7,500 00


Suppression of Moths .


1,000 00


Reduction of Funded Debt


111,476 60


Credit of Excess and Deficiency account, 1906


1,787 18


$1,945,341 95


Extension of Water Distribution System.


Reference may be had to the accompanying table for the lo- cation and size of new water mains laid during the year, number and size of gates set, and number and kind of fire hydrants in- stalled.


Six hundred and sixteen feet of eight-inch pipe were laid in Medford street, from Adams street to Bartlett street, and from


.


395


WATER DEPARTMENT.


Partridge avenue to Glenwood road, to connect dead ends of the high-service system for the purpose of better circulation, in an- ticipation of the permanent paving in that street; all other street-main construction, amounting to 4,763 feet, was for new residential and commercial purposes.


Trench work, excavating, and re-filling for water pipes was done by contract labor in the following streets and at prices named :-


Street.


Feet of Trench.


Contractor.


Price per foot of Trench Work.


Total Cost of Trench Work.


Average Cost per foot of Trench Work.


Bay State ave.


6561/2 494 6421/2 300


H. G. Lamburn . . Bartholomew Burke Richard Falvey .


.20


* 273.40


.553


.39


** 275.58


.429


H. G. Lamburn .


.211/2


64.50


.215


.22


*$366.43


$ .558


Lowden ave. . Medford st. . Sydney st. } Grant st. .


* $3.00 per cubic yard allowed for rock excavation.


** $25.00 allowed for extra excavation required.


The pipes and all materials required were furnished, and the pipe-laying done in each street by the water department. I am of the opinion that in work of considerable magnitude the city might profit somewhat financially by having the trenches dug by contract labor, but on small jobs, where the maintenance force of the department can be advantageously employed, I believe it is economy for the city to do both the trench excavating and the pipe-laying with its own men.


The total number of feet of new mains laid, including hydrant branches, was 5,369, making the water pipe mileage of the city approximately ninety-one miles, 1,663 feet. Seventeen fire hydrants and eighteen water gates have been set during the year.


Two hundred and ten new service connections have been inade, requiring the laying of 8,520 feet of pipe. A four-inch fire pipe has been laid to the building of the International Har- vester Company on Somerville avenue, and one of the same size to the new library building at Tufts college ; a six-inch fire pipe has been installed for the Floyd-Horsman Company's factory in Newberne street, and one for the Hinckley Rendering Company on Melrose street, in place of the four-inch supply previously in use; and a twelve-inch connection has been made for the Bos- ton & Maine Railroad Company, on Somerville avenue, near the Fitchburg division crossing, for the purpose of assuring an abundant supply of water to their freight yards for fire uses. These connections have been made at the expense of the prop- erty owners.




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