Report of the city of Somerville 1909, Part 28

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 510


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1909 > Part 28


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..


70


Court


20 Dimick st.


Southwesterly


Private.


39.25


....


136


Court


66 Lowell st.


Westerly


Private.


25


....


101


Court


78 Lowell st.


Westerly


Private.


25


....


101


Court


Olive ave.


Porter st.


Private.


7.5


..


156


Court


10 Stone ave.


North westerly


Private.


20


....


113


Total


394,609


111,882


. .


150


Willow pl.


Cambridge line


South st. .


Private.


25


..


Wilson ave.


Broadway .


B. & L. R. R.


Private.


20


310


Winchester


Broadway .


Medford line


Private.


40


200


Whitfield road.


Packard ave.


Curtis st.


Private.


40


William .


Broadway .


Medford line


Private.


50


Williams ct.


Porter st. .


North westerly


Private.


30


307


+ White


Elm st.


Cambridge line


Public.


30


..


..


..


150


Court


227 Columbia st.


Northwesterly .


Private.


10


. .


Public, 74.737 miles ( includes 2.843 miles boulevards ); private, 21.190 miles. Total length of streets in the city, 95.927 miles.


West .


Broadway .


Heath st.


Private.


LENGTH.


. .


Winthrop ave.


*Woodstock


N. E. line


.


REPORT OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER.


OFFICE OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER,


CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, January 1, 1910. To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-I most respectfully submit the thirty-fourth annual report, containing a brief summary of the principal work performed by the highway department during the year 1909.


This department has charge of the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, and management of ways, streets, side- walks and bridges ; also the setting out and care of shade trees, the suppression of brown-tail and gypsy moths, elm-leaf beetles, and the supervision of street watering and oiling.


The department having a liberal appropriation in the High- ways Construction Account and not many streets to construct under the Betterment Act, his honor, the mayor, and the board of aldermen were in favor of constructing the main thorough- fares.


On Highland avenue the Boston Elevated Railway Com- pany laid new rails, paving the tracks with the old paving blocks, the whole being laid on a concrete base, and grouted with Portland cement. Simpson Brothers Corporation laid the concrete base and did the excavating for ninety-five cents per square yard, and laid paving blocks for brow-stone in grout next to the rails for thirty-two and one-half cents per linear foot. The department constructed a three-inch Tarvia macadam top, or wearing surface, on top of this concrete base. This kind of construction is something new in modern road building, and will be watched with much interest. The total cost was $55,768.77. Credits by paving stock, $5,937.22, leav- ing a net cost of $49,831.55. This street should be coated over in the spring with "Tarvia B."


Medford street, from Washington street to Somerville avenue, both sides, and the space between the tracks was paved by the department with granite paving blocks grouted with pebbles and "Tarvia X" at a cost of $2.19 per square yard. Total cost, $5,570.45. Credits by paving stock, $170.877. . Net cost, $5,399.58.


The contract for the paving of Washington street, easterly side, from the Charlestown line to opposite Tufts street, was let to Fred S. and A. D. Gore Corporation at $2.91 per square yard. A four-inch granite paving block was laid on a concrete base with a concrete grout. Total cost, $10,883.63. Credits by paving stock, $881.00. Net cost, $10,002.63. This will give


357


STREET COMMISSIONER.


a good entrance to our city from Boston, something which has been badly needed.


Broadway, northerly side from New Cross street to Fells- way East, was constructed with Tarvia macadam, the top being sealed with "Tarvia B," at ninety-eight cents per square yard, the total cost being $2,886.37.


Beacon street, both sides, from the Cambridge line to Buckingham street, was constructed with Tarvia macadam. "Tarvia X" was spread on each layer of stone. The cost of this paving was ninety-two cents per square yard, the total cost being $2,398.72.


The cost of all the streets constructed includes the re-set- ting of edgestones and crossings and re-paving of sidewalks.


Holland Street Ledge.


Quarrying has been carried on at this ledge, and a large amount of good stone still remains.


Stone Crusher.


The crushing plant has worked 254 days during the year, but was unable to supply the demand for stone. The Massa- chusetts Broken Stone Company had the contract to furnish stone to the city, but was unable to meet the demand, and trap rock was purchased from other concerns. There were 8,901 tons crushed, and 5,421 tons purchased during the year.


Street Cleaning.


All the streets, both public and private, were cleaned in the spring and fall, and the paved streets were swept as often as considered necessary. Push cart men are kept in the squares to care for same. The expense of teaming is increasing each year on account of the scarcity of dumping places, especially in the centre of the city. Eighteen thousand eight hundred and ten dollars and fifty-two cents was expended for street clean- ing.


If the residents and storekeepers, when having their ash barrels and rubbish put out, would use a little more care, and see that there is no loose material on top to blow in the streets, it would be a great help to the department in giving the city a cleaner appearance.


If every one would do his little part, we could have one of the cleanest cities in the Commonwealth.


Waste barrels have been placed at the schoolhouses, and the scholars instructed to use them, thereby giving a neat ap- pearance around city property.


I recommend that a sanitary flushing or pick-up machine


358


ANNUAL REPORTS.


be purchased. This would reduce the expense in this branch of the work.


A patrol system for keeping the streets clear of rubbish and waste paper will be established the coming year. A man supplied with a cart, broom, pick, and shovel will be assigned to each ward. He will be instructed to care for the same, and report any defect in the street or sidewalk in his district.


Bridges.


The bridges in this city are in good condition. The Lowell-street bridges have been started, and are in a fair way to be completed in the spring. Edgestones, sidewalks, and streets should be constructed to the same.


The bridge on Somerville avenue over the Fitchburg divi- sion of the Boston & Maine Railroad is nearly completed, and in all probability will be opened early the coming year.


The street on both sides of the approaches to this new bridge should be paved with granite paving blocks grouted.


This will give a good entrance to our city from Cambridge and Boston.


Shade Trees.


Trees purchased by the abutters are set out by the depart- ment free of cost. All the dead and dangerous trees should be removed and replaced by live ones. Seventy dead and danger- ous trees were removed during the year, and 181 trees set out, each supported by a pole, and protected by a wire guard.


Subways.


Some repairing will be needed on the subways this coming year. Men are assigned to care for them, and extra help is provided in case of a storm.


Sprinkling Streets.


No contract was made with contractors to furnish drivers and horses for the watering carts this year, because the depart- ment was using oils and tars in all parts of the city, on all kinds of streets, to keep down the dust. Good results were obtained. Under the new law the city can use water or a substitute, and assess the abutters at the same rate as for street watering.


Where "Tarvia B" was used as a dust-layer, one applica- tion was sufficient for the season. Although it was disagree- able while the applications were being made, this was soon over- come and passed off, leaving the street smooth and dustless. With some of the other kinds of solutions applications were necessary each week.


Many residents, after seeing the results, have petitioned to


359


STREET COMMISSIONER.


have their streets treated in the same manner, and I hope the coming year the department may cover nearly the entire city.


The department, with its own employees, operates the sprinklers in the squares, few complaints having been received from the tenants, whereas in former years, when the sprinkling was done by contractors, many complaints were received at my office.


There are forty double and three single water carts, all painted and kept in repair by the department.


This branch of the work is self-supporting, as the abutters pay five cents per linear foot for sprinkling.


Steam Rollers.


The fifteen-ton roller has worked 242 days, the twelve-ton 128 days, and the five-ton roller seventy-four days. These rollers were repaired in the spring, but as they have been in the service of the department a number of years, will have to be re- paired again the coming year, and have some new fittings.


This year the department hired a roller at the rate of ten dollars a day. I recommend the purchase of a new fifteen-ton roller, as the money which it is necessary for the city to pay to contractors for the use of their rollers could as well be used for the purchase of a new one for the city.


Granolithic Sidewalks.


The department has laid nearly all this kind of side- walks at an average cost of $1.60 per square yard, the abutters being assessed half the cost.


As the abutters desire this kind of sidewalk, and are willing to pay half the cost, it is only fair for the city to grant their wishes. If a concrete mixing machine were purchased, it would reduce the cost of this kind of work, and could be used for concrete work of all kinds.


Snow and Ice.


During the winter of 1909 there were 3,161 loads of snow removed, and a large sum of money expended sanding sidewalks and slippery streets on the side hills. The sum of $4,474.72 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 availa- ble 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 portions of the city this difficulty has been overcome by dump- ing 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.


360


1


ANNUAL REPORTS.


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 side- walk within the time and in the manner herein specified.


Section 2. Whoever violates any of the provisions of Section 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.


Where there is an edgestone, if the residents, when clear- ing their sidewalks of snow, would clean the same to the outer edge of the edgestone, it would be a great help, and less expen- sive to the department to open the gutters, especially in a thaw after a snow storm.


Underground Wires.


Permits for opening the streets for the purpose of burying wires were issued to the Edison Electric Illuminating Com- pany in Broadway, northerly side from Winchester street to opposite Billingham street; and to The New England Tele- phone and Telegraph Company on Broadway, southerly side from opposite North street to Alewife brook; and to both com- panies on several main streets to connect the underground with the overhead wires on intersecting streets.


Accepted Streets.


There were seven streets accepted during the year, com- prising a total.length of 3,046 feet. There were three streets constructed with macadam and Tarvia, comprising a total length of 2,782 feet, at a total cost of $5,735.93, or an average approximate cost of seventy-eight cents per square yard. In all streets which have been constructed during the past seven years edgestones have been set and gutters paved with granite paving blocks before the construction work was begun. There were five streets macadamized and re-surfaced, at a cost of $3,871.44.


There are 74.737 miles of public streets and 21.190 miles of private streets, making a total length of 95.927 miles in the city,


361


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Sidewalks Maintenance.


As there was no appropriation for this kind of work, which comprises the re-setting of edgestones, re-laying brick sidewalks and attending to police reports, no extensive work was done ex- cept where it was charged to the cost of the new sidewalks and streets constructed. I hope and trust that the incoming city government will make an appropriation sufficiently large to care for the old sidewalks that were laid years ago. This would not only please the abutters, who have petitioned year after year to have them repaired, but would give a better appearance to the streets and save the city from accidents.


Street Railways.


The Boston Elevated Railway Company received permis- sion to connect the Stoneham line on Mystic avenue with the tracks on Broadway through Union street, thus opening up a line to the beautiful Fells, which has been well patronized by people who could not reach this spot except by carriages or au- tomobiles.


Emergency Call.


The highway department is the originator of the "Emer- gency Call" for employees of the department. The emergency call is 8-8 on the fire alarm system, and is used in case of an ac- cident on the railroad, a burst water-main, collapse of a bridge, big fire, or any other accident in the same line that would be likely to cause injury to life or limb, or be a menace to the safety of public travel, where teams and men could be used to good advantage. The emergency wagon is equipped with ropes, lanterns, and all kinds of tools, a quick hitch harness, and is always ready in case of an accident.


Tarvia.


On all the streets constructed and re-surfaced "Tarvia X" was used. Tarviated streets have proved very satisfactory to the abutters, and many requests have been received for addi- tional work along this line. Somerville is one of the first cities to use this material as a binder.


Suppression of the Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths.


The department cared for all the street trees and trees in yards where citizens had not cared for them. Although the work was started late the entire city was covered, and very few complaints were received at my office in the spring in regard to the men overlooking any nests. The moths are under control in our city, there being very few on the city trees, and after a


362


ANNUAL REPORTS.


careful inspection I find most of them confined to the yards in the western part. The law gives the city the right to go on any property to care for the moths and to make the assessment on the tax bill.


There were sixty-four bushels found in the yards, and twenty-one bushels on the street trees. All were taken to the city yard and burned in a furnace.


Elm-Leaf Beetle.


This pest gave the department considerable work, and as the equipment was small it was impossible to meet the demands. I recommend that a power spraying machine be purchased the coming year, which will enable the department to cover the en- tire city before the beetle destroys all our beautiful elm trees. This machine, if purchased, could be used against the ravages of the other moths.


The Leopard Moth.


This moth is destroying many of the trees, and, unlike the other moths, which feed on the foliage, bores into the branches and feeds upon the living wood, thus making it hard to find them. The larvae usually begin operations in twigs and small branches, and with their larger growth bore and tunnel into the larger branches and trunks. This work has the effect of gird- ling, the injured portion being blown down by heavy wind and snow storms, while in the case of severe attack the growth of the tree is checked, frequently causing its death. The fallen branches and twigs are gathered and taken to the dumps and burned.


There should be an appropriation for the extermination of this pest. The trees could then be examined and the larvae de- stroyed before it is too late.


Miscellaneous.


Specifications were sent out to all the local and wholesale concerns and bids asked for the furnishing of edgestones, brick, sand, gravel, cement, paving stock, etc. The bids were opened publicly in the office of the mayor, and the contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder, preference being given to Somer- ville citizens or taxpayers.


The department maintains its own painter, carpenter, blacksmith, 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. A' committee was appointed from the board of aldermen to inter- view the property owners on private streets bearing the same


363


STREET COMMISSIONER.


name as public streets, and to request them to change the names of such streets, as the city has no jurisdiction over the naming of private ways.


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 219 permits issued to the Cambridge Gas Light Company and 117 issued to the Charlestown Gas and Electric Company for opening of streets for gas connections and re- pairs. There were issued to contractors and corporations, for building purposes, 213 permits to occupy and 154 permits to open streets, and fifty-eight to cross the sidewalks. There were six permits issued to erect canopies, eight to feed horses, and two to run steam rollers through the streets; 185 permits were given to licensed drain layers to open streets for sewer connec- tions.


There were 318 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 thirty-seven signs and guide posts painted and sixteen re-painted and erected by the department during the year.


There were 4,731.4 square yards of block stone gutters laid, at a cost of $10,174.25, an average cost of $2.15 per square yard, 2,370 square yards of sand and gravel used, 12,305 loads of dirt removed or handled, 10,832 loads of scrapings removed from the streets, 934 loads of old macadam used in the repair and construction of streets, 5,707 loads of ashes used in the repair and construction work of sidewalks and streets, 6,980.6 square yards of granolithic and brick sidewalks laid at an average cost of $1.60 per square yard for granolithic and $1.14 per square yard for brick, 14,194.2 feet, or nearly 2.69 miles, of edgestones set, at a cost of $13,994.88, or an average cost of $1.01 per linear foot, 5,015.5 feet of edgestones, or nearly .95 miles, reset, and 1,436.3 square yards of brick sidewalks relaid at a cost of $3,81.44. This amount includes patching sidewalks and attend- ing to police reports of defects.


I have attended nineteen meetings of the committee on highways for consultation regarding work and petitions.


Recommendations.


As we now have a good thoroughfare through the centre of our city it would be a good idea for the city to construct Broadway and Beacon street, which have already been started. This would give a through thoroughfare on the north and one on the south.


· As recommended in my last year's report, a drain and catch


-


364


ANNUAL REPORTS.


basins have been laid and constructed on Middlesex avenue. As it is the intention of the Boston & Maine Railroad to erect large repair shops on land adjoining this street, the city gov- ernment should construct this thoroughfare and also the part of Mystic avenue not taken by the Massachusetts Highway Commission. These two thoroughfares are used by the cities and towns lying north of our city and are at the present time in an unsatisfactory condition.


Edgestones should be set and gutters paved on both sides of College avenue from Powder-house square to the Medford line, and the street macadamized and Tarviated from the Med- ford line to Davis square. This would give the city a good street from Medford and a better appearance to the approaches to Tufts College.


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 the spaces are a source of great inconvenience to pedestrians, es- pecially in the spring and fall.


The granite paving on Somerville avenue should be ex- tended to Oak square.


Elm, Newton, and Springfield streets are all very narrow between the car tracks and the edgestones, thus making it al- most impossible to keep them in good repair with macadam. They should be paved with some kind of permanent paving.


The brick paving already laid in Davis square should be extended on Holland street. Medford street from Highland avenue to Gilman square, and Summer street from Central street to Cutter square should be re-surfaced and Tarviated.


I also wish to recommend that a fence be built around the yard at the stable and that a combination shop for repairing and painting be established.


365


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Highways Maintenance Account.


CREDIT.


Balance from 1908


Receipts and credits :-


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, street railway tax


$45,778 32


Boston Elevated Railway tax .


9,236 99


Health Department, collection of ashes, 1908


191 90


F. R. Mathison, loam


142 50


Private work, the bills for which re- mained unpaid December 31, 1907, and 1908 61 45


Value of materials on hand January 1, 1909, Value of tools and property on hand Janu- ary 1, 1909


1,111 00


28,449 17


$84,971 33


$90,585 31


Less amount transferred to Sidewalks Maintenance ac- count


1,082 19


$89,503 12


Profit and loss on tools, property, and materials


3,157 98


Total credit


$92,661 10


DEBIT.


Expenditures :--


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


$4,456 79


General repairs of streets


9,206 57


Repairs and maintenance of gravel sidewalks


2,792 80


Repairs of street crossings


154 32


Repairs of gutters


181 77


Repairs of driveways


97 27


Repairs of stone paving


220 05


Removing snow and ice and care of slippery sidewalks,


4,474 72


Cleaning streets .


18,810 52


Care of subways


156 27


Removing trees .


646 15


Setting trees


380 90


Trimming trees


316 11


Street opening at Acadia park, off Somerville avenue . Street opening at Walker street, northeasterly side of Broadway


125 75


Street opening, Broadway, at Corinthian road


66 04


Street opening, Buena Vista road, off Holland street,


32 81


Street opening at court, off Moreland street, westerly side


9 65


Placing circles at intersection of Fenwick street and Broadway


·


Building fence between Holland-street ledge and Simp- son estate


162 94


Waltham gravel land, taxes of 1009


106.80


Blacksmithing


264 75


Amount carried forward


$42,842 22


$5,613 98


168 03


11 21


366


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Amount brought forward


$42,842 22


Carpentering


300 78


Painting


320 69


Street signs .


315 65


Albert M. Burbank, timekeeper


129 50


Street Commissioner's salary .


2,000 00


Street Commissioner's team .


288 33


Street Commissioner's telephone


14 61


Repairs of tools .


120 37


Health Department (bill unpaid December 31, 1909)


335 55


Lowell-street Bridges (bill unpaid December 31, 1909),


124 90


Books, printing, stationery, and postage


115 47


Sundry expenses


1,279 70


Private work, the bills for which remained unpaid De- cember 31, 1909 142 85


Value of materials on hand this day


3,429 99


Value of tools and personal property on hand this day :- Horses $7,730 00


Carts and implements used with horses .


8,071 50


Harnesses and horse clothing .


1,426 37


Harness supplies


74 91


Horse medicine


15 04


Horseshoes


69 25


Stable utensils and property


630 03


Tools


2,582 30


Steam road rollers


6,000 00


Stone fittings and crusher


1,847 50


Street signs


112 00


$28,558 90


Total debit


$80,319 51


Balance unexpended


$12,341 59


Highways Construction Account.


CREDIT.


Balance from 1908


$2,099 80


Appropriation


80,000 00


Transfer from Shade Trees account of 1908, 33 38


$82,133 18


Advertising and recording deeds in 1907 and 1908, charged in construction of streets in 1909 . ·


$43 65


Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings account (paving blocks)


6,955 09


6,998 74


Total credit


$89,131 92


DEBIT.


Expenditures :-


Construction of streets, as appears by table A, at end of this report . .


$85,602 93


Less assessments


3,363 01


.


$82,239 92


Amount carried forward


$82,239 92


367


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Amount brought forward




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