USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1909 > Part 25
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There are 31.9 miles of electric railroad (single track loca- tion) laid at the present time in the city's streets ; and in water- ing the main thoroughfares, time and expense could be saved by utilizing this trackage for running street-sprinkler cars, the same as in a number of cities throughout the state.
Bridges and Grade Crossing Work. After many years of litigation, the matter of constructing bridges over the main line and branch locations of the Boston & Maine Railroad, on the line of Lowell street, North Somerville, has been satisfactorily settled.
Early in the year the mayor, in a friendly interview with the president of the railroad company, came to an understand- ing whereby the street should be raised and bridges constructed over the tracks, the railroad company contributing $15,000 toward the total expense of the contemplated work,
330
ANNUAL REPORTS.
An act was passed by the Legislature April 16, 1909, authorizing the city of Somerville to construct bridges over the railroad tracks at Lowell street.
A plan was made for the laying out of this street between Albion and Vernon streets, including the bridges and ap- proaches over the railroad tracks and land takings for slopes, etc., which was adopted by the board of aldermen August 25, 1909, and approved by the board of railroad commissioners.
The concrete abutments and retaining walls, bridge work, etc., within the railroad location are being constructed by the railroad company, and the approaches, raising of buildings, grading, street construction, and all other work outside the railroad location is being done by the city; this work, com- menced late in the fall, has progressed rapidly, and will be com- pleted in a short time, and the street opened for travel early in 1910.
The obtaining of this much-desired improvement and im- portant crossing over the railroad at this location will be of great benefit to the city in many ways.
Following is the amount expended by the city in 1909 on this work :-
Filling and grading Lowell street, slopes, cellars, and yards, re-setting edgestones, etc.,-labor, $2,792; teaming, $133.70; materials, $751.39 3 Raising eight buildings to new grades,-labor, $460; masonry work, $2,223; carpenter work, $445.97; plumbing and heating work, $506.36; lumber, $529.37, 4,164 70 Sewer changes,-manholes, drains, catch basins, etc. 436 58
$3,677 09
Advertising, $13; photographs, $16.50; inspection and en- gineering, $125 154 50
Total
$8,432 87
The contract work has been continued during the past year on the abolition of the Somerville-avenue grade crossing (described in last year's report), and the large amount of work required for this alteration will be entirely completed within a few months.
The total cost of the work required to be done at this crossing will be apportioned as determined by the court, namely: The steam railroad companies, sixty-five per cent .; the street railway company, thirteen per cent .; the state, twelve per cent .; and the city, ten per cent.
The same special commission appointed by the court that determined what alterations should be made at the Somerville-
331
CITY ENGINEER.
avenue crossing have reported their findings on other grade crossings of the Fitchburg railroad at Medford street, Webster avenue, Dane street, and Park street, and a decree will be is- sued by the court in accordance therewith.
The plans for abolishment of these crossings were de- scribed in the two previous annual reports; and at two streets the plan adopted is the same as proposed by the city's scheme presented to the commission, at the other three streets the plan adopted is just the reverse of the city's scheme.
The total cost of the work, when completed, will be appor- tioned as follows: The steam railroad company, sixty-five per cent .; the state, twenty-five per cent .; and the city, ten per cent., except at the Webster-avenue crossing, where the steam railroad and city pay the same percentage of cost as at other crossings, the state twelve and one-half per cent., and the street railway company twelve and one-half per cent.
SEWER DEPARTMENT. Sewers Construction Account. STATEMENT OF EXPENSES, 1909.
Constructing "separate system" sewers (as-
sessments levied) petitioned for ·
$6,504 34
Constructing "separate system" sewers (no assessments) ·
4,539 76
Constructing "combined system” sewers
(assessments levied) petitioned for
1,818 58
Constructing "combined system" sewer (no assessment) .
228 74
Constructing storm drains
868 91
Constructing fifty catch
. drainage basins, street
2,650 02
Materials furnished sundry parties
237 15
Sewer assessment of 1908 abated . 28 80
Sundry expenses, books and printing . 31 50
Materials on hand December 31, 1909 .
274 16
Total expenditure
$17,181 96
Transferred to Electrical department (underground construction)
1,500 00
Transferred to Fire department (additional apparatus)
5,000 00
Transferred to Highway department (paved gutters, etc.)
7,670 95
school land
5,000 00
Total debit
Transferred for purchasing additional
0.
$36,352 91
332
ANNUAL REPORTS.
CREDIT.
Balance unexpended December 31, 1908
$10,832 03
Appropriation, 1909
30,000 00
Assessments levied, sewers constructed,
1909
7,903 94
Reserves on contracts, due 1910
622 80
Amounts received from other departments and companies
259 77
Materials on hand December 31, 1908
500 38
Total credit
$50,118 92
Balance unexpended
$13,766 01
The greater part of the new construction work has been done by contract, and the remainder by the city employing day labor where old structures were to be remodeled or replaced by some difficult construction work.
All materials have been furnished by the city, and the prices paid for drain pipe, cement, supplies, etc., for the season have been by contract with the lowest bidder, and at an un- usually low rate.
A number of sewers have been constructed as petitioned for in different sections of the city, or as considered necessary for the drainage system, and portions of the cost of construc- tion assessed on the abutting estates under orders adopted by the board of aldermen.
Short lines of storm drains and overflows from congested sewers have been constructed during the year in the most- needed districts.
The "separate system" sewers (those built for house drainage only) have been extended in a number of streets, and this system should be extended yearly until all the flooded dis- tricts in the city have two complete systems of drainage, the old sewer to be used for storm and surface water. The city pays the entire cost of these new sewer extensions for house drainage.
Wherever these new sewers are constructed, the house plumbing should be changed where necessary, and the house drains and conductor, or surface water drains, re-connected with both systems as soon as possible.
New sewers and drains were constructed during the year varying in size from eight-inch pipe to twelve-inch pipe, in the following localities :---
333
CITY ENGINEER.
"Separate system" sewers in :-
Belknap street,-Broadway to Russell road.
Cedar street,-(east side) Elm street to Sartwell avenue.
Chetwynd road,-proposed street to near Curtis street.
Curtis avenue,-proposed street to near Curtis street. Elm street,-(north side) Linden avenue to Cherry street, and (south side) opposite Cherry street to Mossland street.
Florence street,-(west side) Washington street to angle in street.
Hill street,-Broadway to near Fairmount avenue.
Powder House boulevard,-(south side) Leonard street to near Packard avenue.
Proposed street,-(West Somerville) Conwell avenue to Chetwynd road.
Walker street,-Leonard street to near Broadway.
"Combined system" sewers in :-
Acadia park,-Somerville avenue, easterly.
Ossipee road,-Packard avenue, easterly to proposed street.
Powder House boulevard,-(north side) Curtis street, southeasterly.
South street,-east of Emery street to east of Horace street.
Whitfield road,-Curtis street, southeasterly.
Storm drain in :-
Middlesex avenue,-(west side) Winthrop-avenue ex- tension to Garfield avenue.
Summary of Work. Sixteen new sewers and drains have been constructed during the year, a total length of 8,965.6 linear feet (1.698 miles), at a cost of $13,960.33 ; plans have been made showing these sewers in detail, and assessments levied on a portion of them, amounting to $7,903.94. (See tabular state- ment of sewers and drains for 1909, showing itemized statement of work and cost.)
The total length of the city's drainage system is 100.266 miles, 25.79 miles being on the "separate system" and 6.566 miles of storm drains, and the entire cost of construction has amounted to about $1,235,725, exclusive of the amount paid to the state for assessments for the construction of the North Metropolitan sewerage system.
Fifty new catch basins have been constructed in the high- ways during the year, at an average cost of $53 per basin, mak-
334
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ing a total of 1,565 basins in the city for street drainage pur- poses, constructed and maintained as follows :-
By the city (sewer department) :---
· Located in streets and subways Located in city boulevard Located in parks (12), other city lots (9)
1,515 basins 29
21
Total catch basins constructed and by city .
1,565
By state, located in boulevards 52
81
Total catch basins in city for storm drainage purposes . 1,646
Metropolitan Sewer Connections. All of the city's ten con- nections with the North Metropolitan sewerage system are in good condition. No new main connections have been required.
At the Somerville-avenue-Poplar-street connection with the Metropolitan sewer, records compiled from an automatic recording clock placed in the "regulator chamber" on the com- bined system show this outlet to have been cut off as follows :-
Year 1909, completely closed 459 hours, partly closed 683 hours.
In previous years the following :-
Year 1908, completely closed 469 hours, partly closed 605 hours.
206
66
6
534
66
66
1906, 1905,
66
289
66
66
66
331 66
66
1904,
66
66
279
66
66
66
922
66
1903,
66
66
180
66
66
66
1902,
66
66
376
66
66
66
377
66
66
1901,
66
66
386
66
66
225
66
1900,
66 353
66
114
297
66
66
548
167
The city's assessment for the Metropolitan sewer system for the past year was $34,969.15 on construction account and $21,215.16 for maintenance, and the total amount paid the com- monwealth of Massachusetts for this state sewer has been $696,389.63 (1892-1909, both years inclusive). The total length of the Metropolitan sewerage system mains running through the city amounts to 3.368 miles.
New Work. The separate system should be extended in the old sections of the city each year, as the appropriation will allow.
The construction of the storm drainage system, com- menced in the year 1905, should be continued in the vicinity of North Somerville, where buildings and new streets are being rapidly constructed, the outlet for this district being through the city of Medford into the Mystic river.
1907
maintained By Boston & Maine Railroad Company on railroad locations
29 basins
335
CITY ENGINEER.
A large storm overflow drain has been contemplated for some time at the East Cambridge line, across private lands from Somerville avenue, discharging into the head of Miller's river; and when the new dam is completed on the old site of Craigie bridge, this matter of improving the city's drainage system should be carried out.
The accompanying table shows an itemized cost of sewers constructed during 1909, and in the 1907 report tables are given showing sewers constructed on the "separate system"; storm drains constructed; size and materials of construction of the city's entire drainage system :-
Sewers Maintenance Account.
STATEMENT OF EXPENSES, 1909.
Maintenance of sewers, including cleaning
and flushing (100.3 miles)
$2,642 58
Maintenance of catch basins, cleaning and flushing (1,565)
7,559 23
Changing line and grade and repairing catch basins
471 33
Changing line and grade and repairing manholes
32 27
Repairing old sewers
179 05
Inspection and location of house drains
328 19
New tools and supplies .
198 57
Repairs of tools and property
79 29
Sundry expenses, car fares, telephone,
books, etc. .
106 22
Maintenance of sewer department yards and buildings
405 64
.Work and materials furnished other depart- ments and companies .
1,198 48
Total debit
$13,200 90
CREDIT.
Appropriation
$12,000 00
and companies,-labor, materials fur- nished .
1,184 66
Received for old hose
45 84
Total credit
$13,230 50
Balance unexpended
$29 60
Value of tools and property on hand used in maintenance of sewers
$927 20
Amounts received from other departments .
A permanent force of men and teams are kept continually at work flushing, cleaning, and repairing the city's drainage sys- tem, catch basins, etc., the expense necessarily increasing yearly as lengths of sewers, drains, and catch basins are added to the system.
336
ANNUAL REPORTS.
About 7,000 cubic yards of deposit have been removed from the catch basins and sewers during the year, and the aver- age cost per mile for this cleaning and maintaining has amounted to $103.50.
One hundred and fifteen catch basins and sixty-six man- holes have been repaired and grade or line changed.
A number of repairs have been made on some of the old sewers, alterations made in the outlets, and overflows and extra manholes built for the purpose of improving the system.
Two hundred and eighty-four permits have been issued to licensed drain layers for connecting buildings with the main sewers, thirty-eight being for repairs or alterations, all of the work being done under the supervision of the city's inspector.
There are to date about 14,114 private drain connections with the city's drainage system.
During the year the sewer department has done consider- able miscellaneous work for other city departments and outside companies where alterations and new construction work has been required, furnishing materials and labor, and being re- imbursed for the same to the amount of $1,184.66.
There are a number of old private sewers that should be released to the city, so that they can be thoroughly repaired or re-constructed and put in a good sanitary condition, and be maintained in the future by the city.
PUBLIC GROUNDS DEPARTMENT.
At the present time there are nineteen separate parcels of land located in all parts of Somerville, used for parks and play- grounds, amounting to 66.4 acres, and also a boulevard about one and one-third miles in length maintained by the city; in- cluded in this total area are playgrounds where the land is owned by private parties and leased to the city, for use, in the following localities : On Winthrop avenue (Fellsway east), two and one-half acres; Knowlton street, one and one-half acres; the Broadway athletic field in West Somerville, 4.4 acres; and the cemetery lot, .7 acre.
An additional area of land, about one-quarter of an acre, situated on the northerly side of Broadway, opposite Simpson avenue, formerly known as the Walnut Hill schoolhouse lot, has been placed under the care of this department, by an order passed in the board of aldermen April 23, 1909.
TABULAR STATEMENT OF SEWERS BUILT IN 1909.
LOCATION.
ITEMS OF CONSTRUCTION AND COST.
SEWER.
SUB-DRAIN.
PIPE SEWER, COST PER LINEAL FOOT,
Total cost.
Assessment.
Cost to City.
Acadia Park
Somerville avenue
Easterly
Bartholomew Burke
Hardpan
7.7
10
276.6
1 $38.10
11
$0.45
$0.23
$0.05
$0.02
$0.89
$246.70
$245.10
$1.60
*Belknap street
Broadway
Russell road
Wm. J. McCarthy Co. .
Hardpan and rock
7.2
8
501.4
29.5
$4.00
1
39.86
36
0.55
0.20
0.04
0.02
1.12
562.28
561.50
0.78
*Cedar street (easterly side)
Elm street
Sartwell avenue
James Fannon
Hardpan and clay .
11.3
10
336.0
1
47.10
13
1.05
*Elm street (northerly side)
Linden avenue
Cedar street .
James Fannon
Clay
14,2
12
409.4
8.0
4.00
58.17
13
1.30
Cedar street .
Cherry street
James Fannon
Clay
13.9
10
587.9
2
58.17
19
1.40
0,24
0.14
0.02
1.9
3,034.46
3,034.46
(Southerly side)
Opp. Cherry street
Mossland street
James Fannon
Clay
9.7
8
594.7
3
58.17
20
1.10
Washington st.
Near angle
Timothy F. Crimmings .
Clay
7.2
8
450.1
2.0
4.00
1
41.24
17
0,63
0.21
0.12
0.02
$0.33
1.42
640.92
640.92
·Hill street
Broadway
Near Fairmount avenue
Timothy F. Crimmings .
Hardpan and rock
6.1
8
212.2
46.0
2.45
1
39.60
14
0.40
0.17
0.06
0.0
1.39
294.82
293.55
1.27
1Middlesex ave. (westerly side)
Winthrop ave. extension
Garfield ave.
Day labor
Filling
5.7
12
535.0
10
380.1
26
0.40
Ossipee road, east .
Packard avenue
Proposed street
Timothy F. Crimmings .
Hardpan and rock
8.7
306.2
106.0
2.50
2
41.60
24
0,45
Powder House Blvd. (north'ly side).
End of sewer built 1902
Curtis street .
Day labor
Hardpan
6.2
9
207.0
1,099.5
5
299.1
2.40
40.01
42
0.38
0.20
0.18
0.07
1.63
1,794.54
1,592.95
201.59
*Proposed street
Conwell avenue
Chetwynd road
Bartholomew Burkle
Hardpan and rock
8.6
439.2
99.5
2.70
3
37.54
27
0.48
*Curtis avenue and .
Proposed street
Near Curtis street
Bartholomew Burk e
Hardpan and rock
7.9
8
622.0
234.0
2,70
37.54
45
0.42
0.05
0.01
2 05
3,367,53
3,241.74
125.79
"Chetwynd road
Proposed street
Near Curtis street
Bartholomew Burk e
7.3
618.5
364.5
2.70
3
37.54
50
0.45
South street
End of sewer built 1876
End of sewer built 1872
Day labor
Filling .
8.0
159.2
1
32.05
11
0.85
0.43
0.16
1.65
262 30
178.31
83.99
*Walker street
Leonard street
Near Broadway
Bartholomew Burk(:
Sand and filling .
5.7
8
648.0
3,5
4.00
4
32.10
51
0.30
).19
0.04
0.75
485.17
484.75
0.42
Whitfield road
Curtis street
S'e'ly to old sewer
Timothy F. Crimmings .
Hardpau and rock 7.3
8
357.6
65.6
2.50
1
45.62
20
0.43
0.19
0.09
1.30
465.73
464 86
0.8
Total lengthi and cost of new sewers and drains built in 1909,
8,965.6 ( 1,698 miles.)
* Separate system sewers. + Storm drain. Cost includes two catch basins.
Total length of public sewers in the city, January 1, 1910 Total length of private sewers in the city, January 1, 1910
459,989.1 feet. 34,748.0 feet.
Total length of sewers in the city, January 1, 1910 Total length of storm drains in the city, January 1, 1910
494,737.1 feet, or 93.700 miles. (25.790 miles separate system.) 6.566 miles.
Total length of the city drainage system, January 1, 1910
100.266 miles.
Total length of Met. sewerage system mains running through the city
3.368 miles.
Resurfacing
Sidewalks, etc.
lineal foot.
Main
Sewer.
Sub- drain.
Price, including
where laid.
Inspection.
Miscellaneous.
Lumber.
Streets, Repaving
Average cost per
NAME OF STREET.
FROM
To
CONTRACTOR.
MATERIAL EXCAVATED.
Average Cut.
Size in inches.
Length in feet.
Size in inches.
Length in feet.
Cubic yards Rock
Excavation.
Price per cubic
yard, Rock.
Manholes.
Average cost Manholes.
Inlets
Excavating, Re- filling, and Pipe Laying.
Sub-drain
0.23
0.14
0.10
$0.01
1.54
864.98
864,38
8.4
8
225.0
1
47.10
9
0.65
0.63
0,22
0.06
0 @2
1.23
843.85
841.18
2.67
*Powder House Blvd. (southi'ly side)
Leonard street
Near Packard avenue
Timothy F. Crimmings .
Hardpan and rock
6.8
8
919.0
$13,960.33
$7,903.94
$6,056.39
1.62
868.91
868.91
6.7
1.11
228.74
228.74
8
3
'0.18
Hardpan and rock
8
34,665.3 feet, or
1
·Florence street (westerly side)
337
CITY ENGINEER.
This area of parks and playgrounds, in comparison with other cities, is one of the best, Somerville being very small in area and the most densely-populated city in the state, averag- ing about 18,500 in population to a square mile.
Four of the larger pleasure parks, namely, Central Hill, Prospect Hill, Powder House park, and Broadway park, are beautifully-laid-out spots in a thickly-settled city, and famous for what they represent historically.
At the present time there are seven baseball fields and three football fields in use and under the city's supervision, as well as numerous smaller playgrounds, on which are located an outdoor gymnasium, running tracks, tennis courts, etc., for rec- reation and rest, where children can play and enjoy themselves, and are safe from the dangers of a thickly-settled city.
There are a number of vacant lots in the city, owned by private parties, large enough for the purpose of establishing recreation grounds and breathing spaces, which undoubtedly could be obtained for short term leases by payment of the taxes to the owner of the property, and be of great benefit to a large number in the congested parts of the city.
Additional apparatus should be erected on some of the principal parks and playgrounds, for the smaller children's pleasure, where a regular park employee can have the care of the same, and supervisors employed when necessary.
Permanent shelters, constructed of reinforced concrete, should be erected on several of the play fields, in place of some of the old wooden structures now existing.
At the westerly end of Lincoln park a swimming pool hav- ing an area of not over 3,000 square feet could be constructed, with a concrete bottom and side walls, at a small cost, and would be a source of much enjoyment to a very large number of children in the immediate vicinity.
Considering the popularity and general feeling of the pub- lic in regard to athletics and outdoor exercise in general, as shown in our own city in the last ten years' time, the question arises of the city's having at least one large permanently- located field for such a purpose, inasmuch as the best and only enclosed field at present in the city is maintained on leased land, belonging to the trustees of Tufts College, which in a short time will not be available for the city's use; the lease ex- pires July 1, 1911, or sooner, if the college authorities so desire. Notice of such termination has been received, accompanied by
338
ANNUAL REPORTS.
a plan showing the field laid out into streets and building lots, but no definite action has been taken as yet.
A plan has been made recently showing the lay-out of a new proposed field where all kinds of athletic contests could be held, and could be constructed in a term of years, a portion at a time, without handicapping the finances of the city in the least. The location of this proposed field is in the north- westerly section of the city bordering Alewife brook and the Powder House boulevard, including an area of about ten acres, and negotiations are pending with the Metropolitan park com- mission whereby this area may be transferred to the city, per- manently, for recreation purposes.
About three and one-half acres have already been graded, and the state has continued the straightening and widening of the brook the past year, the part bordering this city being nearly completed, and with the extension of the boulevard along the banks, the improvement of a large area of low land in this section of the city will enhance the value of surrounding prop- erty.
An area owned by the city, and known as the Collins and Ham ledge property, located on Clarendon hill, near the Cam- bridge boundary line, might be developed in the future into a pretty pleasure park, similar in nature to the Powder House park; also, the Holland-street property, owned by the city, and situated in West Somerville, could be developed in the future by laying out a portion of the area for streets and house lots, and the remainder used for recreation purposes.
With all of these various parcels of land referred to prop- erly developed in the future as parks, playgrounds, and resting places, the city will be amply provided in this line, and second to none in the state.
Early in the year a Playgrounds Association was formed in the city, and funds contributed by citizens and a sum of $1,000 set aside by the city from the public grounds appropriation for the special equipment of grounds and supervision of play fields.
Certain areas were used on the city's parks, playgrounds, and schoolyards, which were equipped with swings, sand boxes, and various kinds of gymnastic apparatus, and supervisors em- ployed during the summer months.
Many children enjoyed themselves at these outdoor kinder- garten schools, while the larger boys were instructed in base- ball, basket ball, and other games, and in the use of gymnastic
339
CITY ENGINEER.
apparatus, teams being formed and athletic competitions held between the various teams.
"Tarvia" has been applied on the macadam surface of a portion of Powder House boulevard, where the roadway has been badly worn, caused by the large amount of automobile travel, and this work should be continued until the entire length and width of this driveway has been put in a satisfactory con- dition; the roadway on Prospect Hill park has received similar treatment, and is in excellent condition.
At Lincoln park a new fence has been built on the Wash- ington-street approach to the Fitchburg railroad, by the rail- road company, and the city has constructed a brick sidewalk along this side of the park.
On Central Hill park the soldiers' memorial has been com- pleted and an old walk widened, re-constructed, and extended, making a passageway through the centre of the park its entire length, having several connections with Highland avenue.
The larger areas have been policed by regular officers from the police department, when required, the expense being paid from the police appropriation, trees and shrubs added to the various grounds, and bulbs, plants, and flowers furnished in their seasons, and during the winter time ponds flooded for skating when the weather was favorable.
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