Report of the city of Somerville 1908, Part 20

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 466


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1908 > Part 20


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34


HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 271


has been useful in detecting watered milk. Quite a number of samples have been examined, and one case was prosecuted and fined $25.


The standard of milk which is required was changed by the legislature in June, and the percentages now required are 3.35 per cent. butter fat and 12.15 per cent. solids; this standard is uniform for the entire year.


Statistics.


Stores on record December 31, 1908


540


Stores registered


136


Milkmen licensed


117


Grocery wagons licensed


36


Oleomargarine pedlers licensed


3


Store to sell oleomargarine


1


Milk samples analyzed


945


Milk sediments examined for bacteria


176


Oleomargarine samples .


2


Vinegar (all up to standard)


34


Cream


9


Court Cases.


Complaints


17


Convictions


17


Days in court


20


Nature of Complaints.


Milk below standard


15


Selling milk without registering


1


Selling milk to which water had been added


1


Fines imposed .


$335.00


Cash Paid City Treasurer.


For milk licenses and registrations


$146.50


Postage stamps


.68


Hand centrifuge machine


5.00


$152.18


Inspections.


Stores, coolers, ice chests, and cans inspected


500


Milk rooms and stables .


118


Stables where cows are kept .


15


Milk sheds and receiving tanks


7


Dairies and farms out of town


106


Cows examined


816


Eleven complaints from citizens have received attention. Many defects have been remedied, such as dirty floors, yards, walls, clothing, milk utensils, stagnant water, bad drains, etc.


Five dairies were condemned, and by vote of the board the milk was excluded from the city. These have been allowed to resume their supply to the city after having complied with the requirements of the inspector.


-


212


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The state board of health has greatly facilitated the work of the local board by its system of inspections and notifications. All cases reported have been. investigated.


To do away with the common method of tasting milk, the following vote was passed by the board May 12, 1908 :-


Whereas, milk may be, and frequently is, made the carrier of infec- tious and contagious diseases, and, whereas, the germs of said diseases : may be imparted to milk by persons in the act of testing, by tasting or otherwise handling milk before delivery to consumers;


It is therefore ordered: Whoever tests milk or cream which is to be offered for sale in any form by tasting shall do so by means of a clean spoon or piece of wood, paper, cardboard, or other article, and such spoon, piece of wood, paper, cardboard, or other article shall not again be brought in contact with milk intended for sale, or be used for testing milk until after being thoroughly washed and sterilized; no person shall permit any part of his person or clothing to come in con- tact with milk intended for sale in any form. All persons engaged in the tasting, mixing, or handling of milk for sale in any form shall before engaging in such tasting, mixing, or handling, thoroughly clean his hands and finger nails, and keep them as clean and dry as possible dur- ing such tasting, mixing, or handling. No person shall permit his hands while wet to remain or pass over any open vessel containing milk in- tended for sale in any form. No person shall fill a jar, can, or other receptacle with milk while the aforesaid jar, can, or other receptacle is held over an open vessel containing milk intended for sale in any form. No person who has sore throat, diarrhoea, or is suffering from any other disturbance of the bowels, or has symptoms of infectious or con- tagious disease, shall engage in the handling of milk which is to be offered for sale or which is for sale.


The food value of milk is not appreciated by the average person, nor does he understand the need of care in the handling and distribution of milk. Many times the milk is received at the consumer's residence in good condition, but the lack of care in using it leads to the production of conditions which are harm- ful to health.


Any citizen or physician who has any reason for complaint will receive prompt and courteous attention.


Respectfully submitted, JULIUS E. RICHARDSON, V. S., Inspector of Milk.


Phones 21137, 741-3.


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. C. CLARKE TOWLE, M. D.


Warden and Matron, City Home. Mr. and Mrs. J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN.


Office. City Hall Annex, Highland Avenue.


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1908.


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


Gentlemen,-In accordance with our usual custom and the requirements of the law, we submit our annual report for the year 1908. It has been a matter of some surprise to our board the past year, which has included a period of great financial de- pression, with many industries curtailed or suspended, that the call for the city's charity has been so little increased, and it speaks well for the general character of the people in a city of this size that such is the case, and that so large a proportion are making a manly effort for self-support.


Every year we are becoming more and more assured that the action of the city in the purchase of the present home was a most wise as well as charitable act.


For those whose misspent life has brought them at last to our door, we have reluctant sympathy ; but for the disabled, de- serted, deserving, the "over the hill to the home" has, we trust, lost much of its gloom.


The work of the year has been entirely satisfactory in the different departments, and we submit the details as follows.


Signed,


E. B. WEST, Overseers


A. W. EDMANDS, of the Poor.


H. E. MERRILL,


REPORT OF GENERAL AGENT.


December 31, 1908. To the Board of Overseers of the Poor, Somerville, Mass. :---


Gentlemen,-The following report, for the year 1908, is re- spectfully submitted.


The work of this department has been carried on much the same during 1908 as in former years. Our appropriation, $13,500, being $500 less than that of 1907, and the fact that the depression in business caused quite a number of men to be with- out steady employment, resulted in an overdraw on the mis- cellaneous account, which at the close of the year showed a defi- ciency of some $649.14. Fortunately there was a balance in the city home account which more than equaled this deficiency, so that the departments kept well within the appropriations.


Aid Rendered.


Food was supplied to poor families during the year amount- ing to $5,093, this being nearly $1,000 more than was given in . 1907. Fuel supplied to poor families, for which the city paid, amounted to $707.23, nearly $100 more than the year before. The net expenses for the miscellaneous account of the poor de- partment amounted to $14,149.14, or $923.43 more than in 1907.


Change of Law.


During the year 1907 the law was changed, to go into effect December 1, 1908, in reference to cities and towns paying for the support of the "feeble-minded" and the sane "epileptics." The amount paid in 1908 for the two above-named classes was $2,064.16. Hereafter this expense will be paid by the state.


State Refuses to Pay.


The state has refused to pay our bills during the last year for visits of the city physician to state paupers. The matter is now in the hands of the city solicitor, and I understand he has made arrangements with the state authorities to have the ques- tion decided by the court.


Law Suit.


The suit brought a year ago by the town of Braintree against this city, in the Pickering case, has not yet been settled.


If He Eats He Must Work.


It is still the rule to require the man in the family (if there is one) to do some work at the city farm in return for any aid rendered the family. If they really need the aid, they are very willing to work ; if not, we usually do not hear from them again.


276


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Work for the Board of Health and Hospital.


The number of cases sent us by the board of health, to look up settlements, has increased to such an extent that it looks now as though the services of an extra clerk would be re- quired the greater part of the time. These and the Somerville hospital cases, from neither of which this department receives any cash benefit whatever, occupvnearly half of our time, and the work is increasing.


Appreciation.


I wish to thank the board for their kindness and help; espe- cially I wish to thank them for their willingness to allow us extra help when it is really necessary. The usual tables, annexed, will give the work in detail.


Very respectfully,


C. C. FOLSOM, General Agent.


277


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Table No. 1. FULL SUPPORT (DURING THE YEAR).


In city home (men 31, women 21) . . 52


In city home December 31, 1908 (men 18, women 12) .


30


In private families .


2


In Somerville hospital


180


In hospitals for the sick in other towns, cities, and state .


59


In hospital for dipsomaniacs .


7


In hospital for epileptics


7


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


Families


221


Persons aided (not including hospital cases)


921


Burials


8


Permits to Tewksbury almshouse .


20


Average expense to the city for each (ambulance for sev-


$3.121/2


Table No. 3. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Commonwealth of Massachusetts .


$1,178 56


City of Boston .


542 29


Chelsea


59 55


Everett


98 52


66


Fall River


4 60.


66


" Malden


38 30


66


" Marlboro


13 75


66


" Medford


32 73


" New Bedford


11 63


6


Newton


192 73


66


" Northampton


50 00


" Salem


7 30


66


" Springfield


60 70


" Waltham


87 00


66


" Woburn


.


19 45


Worcester


105 40


Town of Arlington


21 43


" Ashburnham


21 43


" Belmont


28 00


" Boylston


8 57


Brookline


22 86


Clinton


21 43


Framingham


18 30


66


Leominster


52 31


66 Milton


1 50


66


Rockport


39 44


Southboro


16 00


Stoneham


50 21


Stow


22 60


Truro


1 00


66


Walpole


13 43


66


Weston


9 20


Weymouth


25 29


Relatives and individuals


467 45


.


Cambridge


432 51


Gloucester


30 73


eral)


.


$3,806 20


278


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) .


63 Total number of patients sent to hospital .


180


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 .


1,555 73


Total paid to the hospital


$6,555 73


Table No. 5. POPULATION AND GROSS EXPENDITURES, 1883 TO 1908, INCLUSIVE.


Year.


Population ( Estimated).


Expenditures


1883


27,000


$15,959 80


1884


28,000


.


17,272 52


1885


*29,992


16,430 32


1886


32,000


14,341 83


1887


34,000


13,430 89


1888


36,000


13,375 98


ISS9


39,000


14,610 92


1890


*40,117


15,261 14


1891


43,000


15,980 49


1892


46,000


17,015 30


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


25,681 47


1898


57,500


28,522 21


1899


60,000


28,924 39


1900


*61,643


Miscellaneous, $23,697.62 City home,


5,528.83


29,226 45


1901


62,500


City home, 6,622.43


35,793 58


1902


63,500


Miscellaneous, $28,667.04 7,396.64 City home,


36,063 68


1903


65,500


City home,


7,548.39


38,018 59


1904


69,500


Miscellaneous, $20,476.54 City home, 6,563.11


27,039 65


1905


*69,272


City home, 7,474.36


25,002 24


1906


72,000


City home, 6,806.79


1907


.


74,000


City home, 7.001.23


24,853 43


1908


.


75,500


City home,


6,875.56


*Census.


.


Miscellaneous, $18,237.53


25,044 32


Miscellaneous, $17,852.20


Miscellaneous, $17,955.34


24,830 90


Miscellaneous, $29,171.15


Miscellaneous, $30,470.20


Miscellaneous, $17,527.88


Table No. 6. EXPENDITURES, IN DETAIL, FOR THE YEAR 1908.


1908.


Dry Goods.


Board.


Groceries.


Somerville in Poor Other . Cities and Towns.


Boots and Shoes.


Medicine and Nursing.


Burials.


Salaries.


Fuel.


Sundries.


Cash Paid Out.


Tele- phone.


Stationery and Printing.


Somerville Hospital.


State Hospital.


Foxboro State Hospital.


Feebie- minded School.


Epileptic Hospitaland Rutland Sanatorium.


Total.


January .


$2.00


$74 72


$852 50


$956 62


$6 50


$32 43


$15 00


$291 66


$27 00


$23 80


$24 33


$3 50


$126 29


$6 04


194 07


1,361 02


March


70 29


531 00


78 59


8 85


15 00


366 66


117 61


9 36


$399 99


37 14


· 253 50


1,898 49


April


42 87


405 50


6 65


29 92


15 00


316 66


10 25


21 60


21 34


133 33


150 00


May


44 29


429 50


8 86


1 20


39 15


316 66


4 40


6 00


18 19


5 91


1 25


133 33


133 33


68 43


256 26


1,386 81


July


65 86


320 00


619 45


1 50


27 40


316 66


1 10


10 90


7 00


3 03


133 33


145 88


129 07


256 26


1,276 31


October


29 86


386 50


552 86


14 75


24 78


334 66


1 70


8 85


7 00


9 00


133 33


November


30 01


398 50


16 50


16 39


15 00


316 66


154 79


6 80


22 57


133 33


70 46


211 25


1.392 26


December


31 01


162 00


132 75


10 02


316 74


78 75


8 40


. .


.


.


Totals .


$2 00


$554 07


$5,093 00


$2,611 61


$43 45


$289 44


$110 00


$3,844 67


$707 23


$57 75


$156 44


$111 70


$20 78


$1,555 73


$492 63


$240 68


$1,019 52


$1,044 64


$17,955 34


. .


170 86


1,179 60


June


42 87


375 00


154 29


9 00


7 25


316 66


1 10


22 62


.


August


48 72


438 00


85 04


28 02


316 66


4 80


7 27


23 55


133 33


257 21


1,488 48


September


32 15


317 00


43 12


5 00


343 33


2 00


11 05


4 00


133 33


$253 50


$211 25


$2,974 96


February .


41 42


477 50


22 11


45 00


291 66


149 33


7 60


6 00


.


.


.


89 10


828 77


.


·


.


$200 15


10 50


1,153 12


1,512 23


1,503 29


279


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


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


tHon. Mark F. Burns, chairman ex-officio .


1885


1888 inclusive


tColonel Herbert E. Hill . . .


1885


1889


66


tCharles S. Lincoln, Esq., chairman


1885


1887


Hon. Edward Glines .


1885


1887 66


Charles G. Brett (president 1888-1892)


1885 April 1893


66


Edward B. West (president May, 1894, to date)


1888


to date*


tDaniel C. Stillson


1888 April 1892


tHon. Charles G. Pope, chairman ex-officio .


1889


1891


66


Nathan H. Reed (president 1893 to April, 1894)


1890 April 1894


tHon. William H. Hodgkins, chairman ex- officio


1892


1895


James G. Hinckley


May 1892 ·


1894


Albert W. Edmands


. May 1893


to date*


Herbert E. Merrill


May 1894


to date*


tEzra 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.


t Deceased.


Table No. 7. RECAPITULATION (MISCELLANEOUS).


Appropriation


$13,500 00 3,806 20


Reimbursements


Total receipts


$17,306 20


Total expenditures


17,955 34


Overdrawn


649 14


Net expenditures


$14,149 14


·


.


REPORT OF WARDEN OF CITY HOME.


City Home, January 1, 1909.


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


Gentlemen,-I submit the following as the report of the warden of the city home for the year ending December 31, 1908 :-


Table No. 1. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Produce and pork sold .


$3,890 37 781 42


$4,671 79


Table No. 2. LIVING EXPENSES.


Salaries and wages


$2,409 93


Groceries and provisions


1,974 11


Dry goods


329 63


Boots and shoes


80 73


Hay and grain


623 51


Seeds and fertilizer .


90 48


Kitchen furnishings .


56 34


Sundries


160 84


Farm sundries


270 05


Cash paid by warden, car fares for warden, inmates, and laborers


47 05


Medicines


80 63


Shoeing horses


39 30


Repairs on wagons and tools


77 95


Repairs on sash


58 55


General repairs


51 33


Swill and bedding


305 00


New tools .


7 00


Live stock


33 00


Telephone


48 18


Credits :-- .


Produce and pork sold


$3,890 37


Board of sundry persons


.


.


.


.


4,671 79


Net living expenses


$2,071 87


Table No. 3.


Number of weeks' board of inmates


1,488 5-7


Number of males admitted during 1908


12


Number of females admitted during 1908


15


Number of males discharged during 1908


10


Number of females discharged during 1908,


10


Number of males supported during 1908


31


Number of females supported during 1908 .


22


Number of males died during 1908


4


Number of females died during 1908


1


Number of inmates in home December 31, 1908


30


.


.


.


$6,743 66


781 42


Board of sundry persons


281


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Table No. 4. FARM ACCOUNT. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Produce and pork sold .


Produce used at city home


.


$3,890 37 315 00


$4,205 37


EXPENSES.


Wages for help


$951 26


Feed for one horse .


155 88


Shoeing one horse .


13 10


Repairs on wagon and tools .


77 95


Repairs on sash


58 55


Swill and bedding


305 00


Farm sundries .


270 05


Seed and fertilizers


90 48


Live stock


33 00


New tools


7 00


$1,962 27


Balance


$2,243 10


Table No. 5. PERMANENT REPAIRS AND FIXTURES.


Building clothes line fence


$109 36


Brick, lime, and cement (ash pit) .


14 06


Water piping (1907)


3 68


Door frame and hardware


4 80


Living expenses


Total expenditures


$6,875 56


Table No. 6.


Appropriation


$3,000 00


Reimbursements


4,671 79


Net expenditures


2,203 77


Total receipts .


$7,671 79


Total expenditures


6,875 56


Balance


$796 23


$131 90 6,743 66


Respectfully submitted, J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN, Warden.


REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.


OFFICE OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN, Somerville, January 1, 1909.


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


Gentlemen,-The following summary is submitted as rep- resenting the duties of the office for 1908 :-


House visits


1,403


Office consultations


763


Visits at city home .


30


Attended at police station


45


Vaccinations


174


Confinements


26


Examinations for legal department


12


Very respectfully, C. CLARKE TOWLE, City Physician.


REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.


OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, January 20, 1909.


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, 1908, 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, 1908.


Salary of City Engineer


$3,000 00


Salaries of assistants (see itemized state-


ment)


7,936 09


Stakes, tools, and general supplies (outside work) . . . Draughting materials and office supplies (inside work) . .


83 36


160 01


Setting stone bounds


100 00


244 55 Car fares .


Maintenance of team 247 25


Telephone, postage, and incidentals


169 62


Total debit


.


$11,940 88


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$11,500 00


Amount received for making acceptance


plans


46 00


Amount received surveys sundry sewers ·


395 00


Total credit


$11,941 00


Balance unexpended


$0 12


.


284


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Classification of Expenses, Assistants' Salaries.


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


grades, titles, plans, assessments, and all engineer- ing work relating to sewers $1,748 16 Highways,-comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving, and all other engineering relating to the department 508 48


Sidewalks,-comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, titles, costs, and assessments . 1,291 53


Water Works,-comprising lines, grades, locations of mains, gates, hydrants, and services, and other mat- ters relating to water department 468 00


Public Grounds,-comprising surveys, plans, estimates, .


profiles, and grades, including laying out of parks and grounds, and boulevards 321 81


· Public Buildings,-comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to con- struction .


65 18


Street Numbering,-comprising locations of buildings, plans, and affixing street numbers on houses 214 67


Street Lines and Grades,-comprising establishing of lines, grades, and miscellaneous data given parties for building and grading 220 41


City Survey,-comprising establishing of street lines, ac- ceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city map, bridges, etc. . 1,054 16


Middlesex Registry,-comprising copying of plans and ab- stracts from deeds and examination of titles filed at East Cambridge, also tracings of street acceptance and sewer taking plans filed for record 364 15


Railway, Telephone, Electric Light, and Gas Light Com- panies,-comprising grades, plans, profiles and office notes, locations of poles and conduits 28 01


Stone Bounds,-locating and setting.


318 09


Office Work,-comprising records of all locations,


indexing, typewriting, calculations, and general draughting 607 92


Miscellaneous Work,-comprising preliminary surveys,


designs, sketches, etc., relating to various schemes for different committees 55 52


Vacations, Holidays, and Sickness


670 00


Total


$7,936 09


Grade Crossings Account. STATEMENT OF EXPENSES, 1908.


Ext. a legal services (City Solicitor) $1,372 88


Expert testimony 75 00


Real estate appraisers' services 245 00


Damages paid for land and buildings taken 31,901 91


Photographs, typewriting 114 93


Transfer from Sewers Constructions Account


$33,709 72 1,000 00


Assets and liabilities (probably city will be re- imbursed ninety per cent. of amount)


$32,709 72


285


CITY ENGINEER.


Office Records and Value of Instruments.


Number of survey note-books, sewer permit books, deed books, calculation books, and record books,-three hundred and fifteen.


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


Value of field instruments, tools, and office instruments,- $2,500


General Work .- A varied line of city work is carried on each year under the Engineering department, including the de- signing and superintending of the construction and maintenance of sewers, parks, playgrounds, boulevards, bridges, and other public works as may be authorized ; the making of such surveys, plans, estimates, descriptions and specifications, and contracts for work as the mayor, board of aldermen, or any committee or department may require; the custody of all plans and pro- files ; and all data relating to the laying out, widening, or dis- continuing of streets, and the engineering work for all depart- ments of the city.


The city ordinances require that the city engineer must be consulted on all work where the advice of a civil engineer would be of service ; and no structure of any kind can be placed upon, beneath, or above any street by any department of the city, corporation, or individual, until a plan is furnished showing the location, and approved by him.


Considerable of the engineering work is so closely allied with work in the Highway department that it is carried on in conjunction with it, and the final cost of completed work made up and betterment assessments computed, showing the amount assessed on the various property owners.


The number of assistants employed during the year on en- gineering work varied from seven to ten.


All plans of estates in Somerville recorded at the Registry of Deeds, East Cambridge, including land court plans, 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 ; also copies have been made of all city plans where land has been taken for highways or sewers, and these have been filed and recorded at the Registry, East Cambridge, as required by law.


Plans have been made and photographs taken where acci- dents have occurred on the city work or where boundaries were in dispute, for the use of the city solicitor in court cases and hearings ; and special plans and data prepared for hearings re- lating to the proposed abolition of all grade crossings on the Fitchburg division of the Boston & Maine railroad.


286


ANNUAL REPORTS.


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 outgrown 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.


. A set of block plans should be made covering the entire city area from accurate surveys made during the past twenty-five years, and compared section by section with the deed dimensions and areas recorded in the Assessors' department, and in this manner the correct areas of land determined.


This set of plans would also be of value to the Water de- partment and various other departments, and would more than pay for the cost of making; three of these sectional plans have already been made.


Stone monuments have been set at a number of street in- tersections 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 monu- ments, in Portland cement concrete, at the level of the surface of the ground, or flush with the surface of the sidewalk, they can be used as permanent "Bench Marks" throughout the city by establishing their exact elevations, and thereby being a great convenience and saving of time in giving grades, not only for the City Engineering department, but also for all other sur- veyors.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.