USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1908 > Part 25
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Subways.
The subways at Kent, Sacramento, and Thorndike streets are in good condition. Men are assigned to care for them, and extra help is provided in case of a storm.
As the granite steps leading to these subways have a ten- dency to become slippery and dangerous in the winter time, boards of the same width as the steps have been placed thereon, securely fastened to protect pedestrians from injury as far as possible.
Street Watering.
Under the law providing for the assessment of taxes for street watering upon abutting estates, only accepted streets can be watered. When abutters on private streets desire these streets watered, they must pay the cost of such watering in ad- vance. The street watering was let out by contract during the past year at $90 per month per cart, the contractor being re- quired to furnish a competent driver, with a pair of good horses
320
ANNUAL REPORTS.
and harnesses. He is required to see that his route, which com- prises about two miles, is properly watered at all times, including Sundays and holidays.
There are forty double and three single watering carts, which are painted and kept in repair by this department. So many new streets were added to the street watering list during the past year that it was necessary to purchase three new carts.
Many complaints were received in former years from ten- ants in the squares which were being watered by contractors. During the past year the department placed single watering carts, operated by its own employees, in all these places, and no complaints were received.
Abutters on streets watered were assessed five cents per linear foot, which made this branch of the work self-supporting.
Steam Rollers.
The city owns three Buffalo Pitts steam rollers ; one fifteen- ton roller, which has worked 190 days; one twelve-ton roller, which has worked 183 days; and one five-ton asphalt roller, which has worked ninety-nine days. These rollers have been in service a number of years, particularly the twelve-ton roller, and are in use a large portion of the time, as shown by the above figures. The demand for re-surfacing old streets and construct- ing new streets increases each year, and there is a great liability of an accident to either or both of these large rollers, which would not only stop the work on these streets, but would greatly inconvenience the entire department. If the city govern- ment of 1909 intends to order the laying of permanent paving on some of the main thoroughfares, I would most respectfully rec- ommend the purchase of a fifteen-ton steam roller. As the de- mand for this class of work is increasing every year, a new roller could be used to great advantage, and would add to the equip- ment of the department, which is at present very limited. With a new steam roller and the use of Tarvia, this work can be done so cheaply that it will be a great benefit to the city.
Granolithic Sidewalks.
In former years specifications were sent out, bids called for, and contracts made for the construction of granolithic sidewalks. No bids were called for for this class of work during the past year, but instead, all the granolithic sidewalks were laid by the employees of this department in a much more satisfactory man- ner than ever before, at an average cost of $1.57 per square yard.
As the abutters seem to desire this kind of sidewalk, and are perfectly satisfied with the work performed this past year, I would recommend that the city continue to construct this kind of sidewalk with its own labor.
If a concrete mixing machine were purchased, it would re-
321
STREET COMMISSIONER.
duce the cost of granolithic sidewalks, and would also be a valu- able addition to the department for the construction of any kind of concrete work. A few granolithic crossings have been laid during the past year, as an experiment. They are pleasant to ride and walk over and easy to keep clean, and, if successful, more will be constructed during the coming year.
Snow and Ice.
During the winter of 1908 there were 570 loads of snow removed, and a large sum of money expended sanding sidewalks and slippery streets on the side hills. The sum of $3,286.96 was spent in this branch of the work, and as there is no separate ap- propriation for the care of ice and snow, the amount available for street repairs, from which this expenditure must be paid, is thereby greatly lessened. The teaming is increasing each year on account of the scarcity of dumping places, but in some por- tions of the city this difficulty has been overcome by dumping the snow into the sewers through manholes, which has proved a success. This not only removes the snow quickly, thereby opening the main streets and squares to travel, but also flushes and purifies the sewers.
It is the duty of this department to remove the snow from all sidewalks in front of public buildings and public grounds, and to prevent them from becoming slippery.
Sections 1 and 2 of Ordinance No. 46, approved February 12, 1904, as quoted below, clearly regulate the removal of snow and ice from 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 nor 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 Sec- tion 1 of this ordinance shall forfeit to the city the sum of $25 for each offence.
Boxes filled with fine sand have been placed within easy access of the push cart men who care for the smoothly-paved streets, squares, and subways.
Underground Wires.
Permits for opening the streets were issued to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company for burying wires in Broadway, from a point near Partridge avenue, where they ended last year, to a point east of Willow bridge; from the company's station on Willow avenue to Highland avenue, and in Highland avenue, from Willow avenue to and through Davis square, where the
322
ANNUAL REPORTS.
paving brick on a concrete base was removed and replaced by this department, the Edison Company paying the expense; in Holland street, from Davis square to Teele square, and in Broadway, from Teele square to the Arlington line.
Accepted Streets.
. There were ten streets accepted during the year, comprising a total length of 6,902 feet. There were twenty streets con- structed with macadam and Tarvia, comprising a total length of 11,707 feet, at a total cost of $22,412.24, or an average ap- proximate cost of eighty-one cents per square yard. In all streets which have been constructed during the past six years edgestones have been set and gutters paved with granite paving blocks before the construction work was begun. There were twelve streets macadamized and re-surfaced, at a cost of $6,350.16.
There are 74.095 miles of public streets and 20.613 miles of private streets, making a total length of 94.71 miles of streets in the city.
Mystic street and parts of Appleton street and Liberty ave- nue, which have been closed to travel for years, were opened and constructed during this year.
Sidewalks Maintenance.
Some of the sidewalks that were laid a number of years ago are in a very poor condition, and the abutters have petitioned year after year to have the same repaired. As the appropria- tions previously made for this kind of work have been insuffi- cient, I trust that the incoming city government will make an appropriation sufficiently large to care for this branch of the work.
Street Railways.
The Boston Elevated Railway Company is still working on its lines of tracks from the Sullivan-square terminal to Stone- ham, through Mystic avenue and the Fellsway. When com- pleted, this line will afford a means of transportation through Middlesex Fells for people of all classes who have heretofore been unable to reach this point except by carriages, automobiles, or other private conveyances.
The tracks laid on Mystic avenue will be a source of revenue to the city of Somerville.
Emergency Call.
Somerville is the originator of the "Emergency Call" for employees of the highway department in cases of accidents.
On December 7, 1908, an alarm was sounded from the new box, No. 88, which has been installed at the city stables, to test the efficiency of the department, and it proved a success.
323
STREET COMMISSIONER.
This will not only be a benefit in cases of accidents on the highways but as an assistant to the fire department in case of a serious conflagration in our city, such as Chelsea passed through last spring.
The emergency wagon, which was formerly kept in the cel- lar, has been transferred to the stable floor, and is equipped with ropes, lanterns, all kinds of tools, and a quick hitch harness, and is always ready in case of an accident.
Tarvia.
Tarvia is a product of coal tar. This product has been used on all the streets constructed and on nearly all the streets re-surfaced. Somerville being situated so near the still where Tarvia is produced, the work has been done at a very small cost ; about fifteen cents per square yard on re-surfacing, and about twenty cents per square yard on construction work, including Tarvia, labor, pea stone for covering, and rolling. The tank wagon which transports the hot Tarvia makes two trips per day from the still. The city is charged at the rate of $.065 per gal- lon, exclusive of the cost of teaming, and at the rate of $5 per day from double teams.
The department is building a tank wagon for its own use in repairing streets which have been Tarviated.
One side of Main street, which measures about 10.5 feet be- tween the edgestones and car tracks, and is used for heavy travel, was spiked up with the steam roller, shaped and re-rolled, egg-sized stone spread thereon and rolled, then the nut size stone spread and rolled. Tarvia was then spread hot from the tank wagons until all the voids were filled, then pea stone was spread on the Tarvia before it was cold, and rolled in until the macadam became a solid mass.
The work on this street was tried as an experiment, and as far as observation goes, has proved a success, and will be watched with much interest after having passed through a severe winter.
Tarviated streets have proved very satisfactory to the abut- ters, and many requests have been received for additional work along this line.
Tarvia "B" was tried on a section of Walnut street to keep down the dust, and proved successful. This street is very steep, and is used a great deal by automobilists in going from the Fens to the Fells, and the work was greatly appreciated by them and the residents.
A salt solution was prepared by the department to try its merits, and was sprinkled on a section of this same street by a watering cart, and the few applications made proved a success. The extremely low cost of this mixture will allow many streets to be treated, and it is my intention to use this preparation more extensively during the coming spring.
324
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Most of those who have charge of streets or street water- ing in other cities and towns are in favor of a bill being passed by the Legislature giving cities and towns the right to use some kind of dust suppressor, and charge the abutters the cost of the same. By this system, I believe that the cost of street watering would be reduced and better satisfaction given to the abutters and the city. This right has already been given to the city of New Bedford.
Suppression of the Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths.
After Charles I. Bucknam, who had charge of this work, resigned to assume a similar position in the city of Newton, where the services of an experienced man were required, this department was consolidated with the highway department. Owing to the year drawing to a close, nothing has been done since this consolidation.
The coming year work will be started, and every citizen and tax-payer should co-operate with the department to carry on this work with the same vigilance in the future as in the past, and help Somerville to hold the reputation she has already at- tained for the extermination of these pests. If these pests get beyond the control of the department, they will not only be a nuisance to the public, but will be detrimental to the trees.
Miscellaneous.
Specifications were sent out to all the local and wholesale concerns and bids asked for, for the furnishing of edgestones, bricks, sand, gravel, cement, paving stock, etc. These bids were opened publicly in the office of the mayor, and the con- tracts were awarded to the lowest bidder, preference being given to Somerville citizens. The tools and supplies for this depart- ment have been purchased from local concerns.
The department maintains its own painter, carpenter, black- smith, horseshoer, and harness repairer, all employed at the city stables.
If the names of certain streets in different parts of the city were changed, it would be a great convenience to the public.
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 251 permits issued to the Cambridge Gas Light Company and 101 issued to the Charlestown Gas and Electric Company for the opening of streets for gas connections and re- pairs. There were issued to contractors and. corporations, for building purposes, 149 permits to occupy and 103 permits to open streets, seven to blast rock, and forty-three to cross the sidewalks. There were eleven permits issued to erect canopies, fifteen to feed horses, and four to run steam rollers through the streets ; 159 permits were given to licensed drain layers to open streets for sewer connections.
325
STREET COMMISSIONER.
There were 496 defects in the streets and sidewalks re- ported by the chief of police, which were promptly repaired, thereby saving the city the possibility of law suits.
There were 100 signs and guide posts erected by the de- partment during the year.
There were 7,653.2 square yards of block stone gutters laid, at a cost of $16,700.32, an average cost of $2.18 per square yard.
There were 2,244 square yards of sand and gravel used. There were 12,749 loads of dirt and 12,375 loads of scrapings removed from the streets ; there were 798 loads of old macadam and 746 loads of ballast used in the repair and construction of streets. There were 6,524 loads of ashes used in the repair and construction of sidewalks and in setting and re-setting edge- stones.
There were 8,987.8 square yards of granolithic and brick sidewalks laid, at an average cost of $1.57 per square yard for granolithic and $1.07 per square yard for brick. There were 22,887.2 feet, or nearly 4.34 miles, of edgestones set, at a cost of $35,145.97, or an average cost of ninety-nine cents per linear foot. There were 4,759.3 feet of edgestones, or nearly .9 miles, re-set, and 2,214.6 square yards of brick sidewalks re-laid, at a· cost of $2,992.32. This amount includes patching sidewalks and attending to police reports of defects.
I have attended twenty-five meetings of the committee on highways for consultation regarding work and petitions.
Recommendations.
I would most respectfully recommend that permanent pav- ing be laid on Broadway, on the northerly side, as far as the paving already laid last year, near Arthur street, thus complet- ing this main thoroughfare on both sides to this point, and giv- ing the street a much better appearance.
Highland avenue, Medford street, from Washington street to Somerville avenue, Newton street, and Springfield street are all main streets, and are very narrow between the car tracks and the edgestones, thus making it almost impossible to keep them in good repair with macadam. Some kind of permanent paving should be laid on these streets, and the brick paving already laid in Davis square should be extended on Holland street as far as Winter street. The granite paving on the easterly side of Washington street should be extended to the Boston line, and on Somerville avenue, from Lowell street to and including Oak square. If edgestones were set and the gutters paved on the few remaining streets not already completed, it would give a better appearance to the street, and would care for the surface water, which is a great item in the construction and maintenance of roads. College avenue, one of the main thoroughfares to Tufts College, and Medford street, from Gilman square to High- land avenue, come under this class.
326
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Most of our squares are in good condition. Some kind of permanent paving should be laid in Teele square. Here many people residing on streets in the vicinity take the cars, and there are also many stores at this location.
College avenue, from Powder-house square to Davis square, and Summer street, from Central street to Cutter square, should be macadamized and Tarviated, as there are no car tracks on these streets, which are used largely for pleasure driving.
There are several brick and granolithic sidewalks that should be extended or the intervening spaces completed so as to make one continuous walk between intersecting streets, as these spaces are a source of great inconvenience to pedestrians, especially in the spring and fall.
Middlesex avenue, one of the main thoroughfares through Somerville to Boston for the towns and cities lying north of us, is in a very bad condition, and something should be done dur- ing the coming year. If a drain were laid and catch basins con- structed at intervals, this would take care of the surface water, and would be the first step toward the improvement of the thoroughfare. No street can be constructed or repaired in a proper manner until it is properly drained. As it is now, the surface water has no outlet, and after a heavy storm the water lies across the entire width of the street.
The Tarviated macadam on Broadway at Willow bridge should be extended easterly to Magoun square and westerly to and including Powder-house square.
I wish to extend my sincere thanks to his honor, the mayor, the board of aldermen, heads of departments, and all city officials with whom I have been associated, and the general public for their able support and hearty co-operation. I desire, also, to express my appreciation of the conscientious work and efficient service of the foremen, inspectors, teamsters, laborers, and all others employed in the department.
327
STREET COMMISSIONER.
Highways Maintenance Account.
CREDIT.
Receipts and credits :----
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, street railway tax $40,400 47
Boston Elevated Railway tax 9,010 15
Bills receivable (Health Department) 279 75
Bills receivable (Boston Elevated Rail- way Company) 48 40
Bills receivable (Public Grounds) . .
438 29
Private work, the bills for which re-
mained unpaid December 31, 1908 352 90
Value of materials on hand January 1, 1908,
1,460 64
Value of tools and property on hand Janu- ary 1, 1908
26,570 70
$78,561 30
Less amount transferred to Sidewalks, Maintenance ac- count
2,000 00
$76,561 30
Profit and loss on tools, property, and materials
4,095 14
$80,656 44
DEBIT.
Expenditures :-
For repairs of sundry streets as per table B, at end of this report
$6,350 16
General repairs of streets .
8,879 14
Repairs and maintenance of gravel sidewalks
2,293 38
Repairs of street crossings
143 98
Repairs of stone paving
243 60
Repairs of gutters
308 29
Removing snow and ice and care of slippery sidewalks,
3,286 96
Cleaning streets .
16,161 73
Care of subways
218 95
Removing trees
628 36
Trimming trees
210 75
Setting trees
30 60
Blacksmithing
341 50
Carpentering
329 87
Painting
69 00
Street signs
443 05
Street Commissioner's salary
2,000 00
Street Commissioner's team
293 86
Street Commissioner's telephone
18 68
Repairs of tools
473 98
Setting steps, Mystic street
7 00
Setting stone bounds at intersecting streets
57 50
Moving fence, Cleveland street, in front of estate of Abbie E. Taylor
43 46
Sundry expenses
2,461 32
Health Department (bill unpaid December 31, 1908)
95 95
Books, printing, stationery, and postage
81 20
Private work, the bills for which remained unpaid De- cember 31, 1908
8 00
Abatement of accounts for collection
2 02
Value of materials on hand this day
1,111 00
Amount carried forward
$46,593 29
328
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward .
Value of tools and personal property on hand this day :- Horses
$7,640 00
Carts and implements used with horses . 7,862 70
Harnesses and horse clothing .
1,307 15
Stable utensils and property
549 38
Tools .
2,444 64
Steam road rollers
.
6,700 00
Stone crusher and fittings
1,864 30
Street signs
81 00
28,449 17
Total debit
.
$75,042 46
Balance unexpended
$5,613 98.
Highways Construction Account.
CREDIT.
Appropriation
$28,000 00
Less amount overdrawn in 1907
$1,922 51
Less transfer to Sidewalks Construction
6,500 00
Less transfer to Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings
2,101 89
$10,524 40
$17,475 60
Advertising and recording deeds in 1907, charged in construction of streets in 1908
$63 95
From Highways, Paved Gutters and Cross- ings account (for paving blocks) . 717 44
786 39
Total credit . DEBIT.
$18,261 99
Expenditures :-
Construction of streets, as appears by table A, at end of this report $22,412 24
Less assessments 14,126 67
$3,285 57
Partial abatement of assessment, constructing Giles park, assessed in 1907 41 00 . Partial abatement of assessment, constructing Wheatland street, assessed in 1906 53 00 · . · Partial abatement of assessment, constructing Appleton street, assessed in 1908 63 49 . . . Medford-street paving, from Central square to Highland avenue (final payment of bill of 1907) 339 66 Cross-street paving, from Medford street to Tufts street (final payment of bill of 1907) 65 94
Highland-avenue paving, northeasterly side, in front of city hall (final payment of bill of 1907) . Broadway paving, both sides, from permanent pavement, laid in 1906 to Cross street, and southwesterly side, from Fellsway East (final payment of bill of 1907) . Broadway, from Charlestown line to Arthur street (com- pletion)
11 35
725 68
854 83
Amount carried forward
$10,445 52
$46,593 29
.
329
Amount brought forward . . Somerville-avenue paving, from westerly line of Kent street to easterly line of Lowell street . Advertising and recording releases for streets not con- structed .
$10,445 52
5,536 27
Books, printing, and stationery
21 50
Total debit
$16,162 19
Balance unexpended
$2,099 80
Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings.
CREDIT.
Balance from 1907
$573 71 12,000 00
Appropriation
Transfer from Highways, Construction ac- count
2,101 89
$14,675 60
Value of material on hand January 1, 1908 . $1,379 50
Net gain on materials .
1,070 07
2,449 57
Total credit .
$17,125 17
DEBIT.
Expenditures :-
For paving twenty-three gutters as per table E
$16,700 32
Street crossings as per table
358 95
Account books
11 50
Value of materials on hand this day
54 40
Total debit
$17,125 17
Highways, Watering Streets.
CREDIT.
Receipts :-
Assessments and contributions from abutters .
$30,662 90
Insurance on water carts (collected from contractors)
72 00
Value of carts on hand January 1, 1908 .
10,610 00
Net gain on water carts .
1,140 00
Total credit
$42,484 90
DEBIT.
Expenditures :-
Inspector of street watering
$668 75
Teaming (street watering)
23,783 29
New water carts (3) .
1,140 00
Repairing water carts
1,210 11
Painting water carts
685 10
Building water shed (completed this year)
440 94
Amount carried forward .
$27,928 19
.
STREET COMMISSIONER.
108 90
330
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward ·
.
$27,928 19
Board of horse
31 00
Horseshoeing .
16 65
Insurance on water carts .
71 75
Books, printing, and postage
34 75
Clerical work (making up assessment
97 34
Water posts . .
324 60
Repairing water posts
234 44
Value of carts on hand this day
11,750 00
$40,488 72
Balance unexpended
$1,996 18
Highways, Shade Trees.
CREDIT.
Balance from 1907
·
.
·
$13 19
Appropriation
.
.
.
Sale of tree
1 00
Total credit .
$514 19
Expenditures :-
For labor, setting trees .
$170 13
Use of city teams
37 80
Trees (100)
100 00
Poles (300)
60 00
Netting (3,600 feet)
108 00
Staples (20 pounds)
2 00
Rubber hose
2 88
Total debit
$480 81
Balance unexpended
$33 38
Suppression of Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths.
CREDIT.
Appropriation
$4,000 00
Receipts :-
From sundry persons, removal of moths from trees ·
$788 74
New England Telephone & Telegraph
Co., inspecting and treatment of
26 65
moths
815 39
Total credit .
$4,815 39
DEBIT.
Expenditures :-
For labor .
$4,183 33
Tools .
58 30
Amount carried forward
.
$4,241 63
.
.
.
.
500 00
.
.
.
DEBIT.
$28,738 72
list) .
.
331
STREET COMMISSIONER.
Amount brought forward .
$4,241 63
Repairing tools
21 06
Supplies
269 09
Books, circulars, stationery, and
postage
156 15
Use of horse and wagon
227 50
Use of city teams and teaming
83 70
Clerical work
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