USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1910 > Part 24
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All plans of estates in Somerville recorded at the Registry of Deeds, East Cambridge, including land court plans, have been copied, also titles examined, 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. 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 Regis- try, East Cambridge, as required by law.
Plans have been made by the various companies and cor- porations, and filed in the city engineer's office, showing the locations of gas mains, poles, tracks, and conduits in this city, which have been granted by the board of aldermen during the year ; and the work of placing overhead wires in conduits un- derground and removing all poles from streets should be ex- tended as rapidly as possible.
At the present time there are in the city's streets 13.4 miles of telephone conduits, 5.2 miles of electric light conduits, 0.8 mile electric railway conduits, and about four miles of under- ground conduits used for the city mains.
The Cambridge and Charlestown gas companies have ex- tended their mains in the city's streets 2.4 miles the past year.
Two heavy explosions have occurred in the city's streets from underground conduits, owned by private corporations, during the past year. Luckily no great damage was caused. The city ordinances should be so changed that in the future all underground work constructed by these companies should be rigidly inspected by a competent man employed by the city, so as to eliminate as far as possible faulty construction.
315
CITY ENGINEER.
The Boston Elevated Railway Company have made exten- sive repairs in their roadbed in this city during the past year, replacing the old tracks with new and heavier rails, filling the space between the ties with Portland cement concrete, and grouting the granite block pavement with cement in Somer- ville avenue between the East Cambridge line and Medford street ; Broadway between Broadway parkway and Main street, and in Main street to Medford city line. In Mystic avenue, be- tween Union street and the Charlestown line, the track laying has been completed connecting across the new bridge over the Boston & Maine railroad, to the Sullivan square terminal ; also new curves and special work have been laid at the junction of Broadway and Cross street.
Where double car tracks have been laid in streets, leaving narrow roadways on either side, it is impossible to maintain a macadam surface, even at a heavy expense yearly, and these streets should be permanently paved with a suitable pavement, adapted to the character of the surroundings and amount of traffic and conditions encountered.
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 operated in a number of cities throughout the state.
Bridges and Grade Crossings. During the past year the two dead ends of Lowell street have been connected and the work completed, under an act of the legislature of 1909, whereby the city was authorized to construct bridges and ap- proaches over the tracks of the Boston & Maine railroad (Southern division) at Lowell street, North Somerville.
The work of constructing the concrete abutments and re- taining walls, bridge work, etc., within the railroad location was done by the railroad company, and the approaches, raising of buildings, grading, street construction, and all other work out- side the railroad location was done by the city ; this work, com- pleted, cost as follows :-
Filling and grading Lowell street, slopes, cellars, and yards, re-setting edgestones, etc.,-labor, $4,637.25; teaming, $919.78; materials, $877.20 Raising eight buildings to new grades,-labor, $190; masonry work, $3,131.12; carpenter and painting work, $842.62; plumbing and heating work, $864.24; lumber, $819.03 6,153 01
$6,434 23
Sewer changes, $436.58; water pipe changes, $699.99 1,136 57
Advertising, $13; photographs, $16.50; inspection and en- gineering, $125 154 50
Amount expended by city (1909-1910) $13,878 31
Amount expended by railroad company for construct- ing concrete abutments, retaining walls, bridge work, etc.
18,664 51
Total cost of completed work .
$32,542 82
316
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The Boston & Maine Railroad Company paid $15,000 of the total cost and the city the remainder, $17,542.82.
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.
Grade Crossings Account. STATEMENT OF EXPENSES, 1910.
Account overdrawn, 1909
$9,376 54
Extra legal services (City Solicitor)
1,633 53
Paid various parties for appraisal of prop- erty and damages .
998 00
Paid Boston & Maine Railroad Company by decree of court 8,615 84.
59,460 30
Paid for damages, land and buildings taken, Photographs
16 50
$80,100 71
CREDIT.
Received from City Solicitor, part counsel fees
$30 00
Received from Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, apportionment of damages, decree of court
25,762 69
Received from Boston Elevated Railway, decree of court 2,692 31
Received from Boston & Maine Railroad Company, decree of auditor
17,855 55
$46,340 55
Overdrawn, 1910
$33,760 16
The work of abolishing grade crossings on the Fitchburg division of the Boston & Maine railroad in Somerville is pro- gressing ; the Somerville avenue crossing having been com- pleted the past year and considerable construction work has been done at the Webster avenue crossing, and the coming year will probably see its completion. A new station for Union square is included in the plan of alteration, and a separate bridge is to be constructed over the Fitchburg railroad tracks, east of the street, for carrying the state and city water mains.
The construction work for the elimination of these danger- ous grade crossings will be continued for a number of years as decreed by the court, and the total cost of the work, when ' completed, will be apportioned 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 cross- ing, 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.
TABULAR STATEMENT OF SEWERS BUILT IN 1910.
LOCATION.
ITEMS OF CONSTRUCTION AND COST.
SEWER.
SUB-DRAIN.
PIPE SEWER, COST PER LINEAL FOOT.
FROM
To
CONTRACTOR.
MATERIAL EXCAVATED.
Average Cut.
Size in inches.
Length in feet.
Size in inches.
Length in feet.
Cubic yards Rock
Price per cubic
yard, Rock.
Manholes.
Average cost Manholes.
Inlets.
Excavating, Re- , and Pipe Laying.
Price, including
where laid.
Inspection.
Miscellaneous.
Lumber.
Resurfacing
Sidewalks, etc.
Average cost per
Assessment.
Cost to City.
·Clarendon avenue .
Cambridge city line
Northeasterly
Day labor
Hardpan and rock
8.9
8
350.0
$915.86
uncompleted
$915.86
Columbia street
Angle in street
Near Webster avenue
Day labor
Filling and clay
30
158,0
6
150
1
231.5
$2.50
$37.21
47
$0.37
$0.26
$0.10
Electric avenue
Packard avenne
Mason street
T. F. Crimmings & Son
Hardpan and rock
6.8
Hardpan
6.5
166.5
3.2
3.50
36,69
6
0.36
0.20
0.0
$0.01
0,93
154.11
154.06
0.05
Mason street .
Broadway
Whitman street
Bartholomew Burke
Sand
7.3
10
192.5
1
37.57
11
0.46
0.25
0.00
0.01
1.10
527.81
527,81
Mason street
Whitman street
Near ()ssipee road
Bartholomew Burke
Sand, hardpan and rock
6.8
8
261.4
40.0
2.70
1
37 57
18
0.43)
Middlesex ave. (w'ly side) (st'm dr'n) Garfield avenue
Near Mystic avenue
Day labor
Filling and clay
4.2
10
493.0
2,397.38
2,397.38
*Somerville ave. (southwesterly side
Union square
Sewer 1900, op. Laurel st.
Charles A. Kelley
Sand and rock
12
2534.2
32.5
2.75
10
51.91
81
1.41
0.42
0.09
$1.08
$0.33
3.63
9,205.21
9,205,21
Whitman street
Mason street
Near Packard avenne
T. F. Crimmings & Son
Hardpan and rock
7.3
569.6
26.0
2,50
10
37.50
44
0.37
0.2
0.06
0.88
004.19
504 19
Total length and cost of new sewers and drams built in 1910,
5,357.1 ( 1.015 miles.)
$15,538.11
-
* Separate system sewers. t Damages paid.
Total length of public sewers in the city, January 1, 1911 Total length of private sewers in the city, January 1, 1911
464,848.2 feet. 34,748.0 feet.
Total length of sewers in the city, January 1, 1911
499,596.2 feet, = 94.620 miles. (26.368 miles separate system )
Total length of storm drains in the city, January 1, 1911
35,163,3 feet, = 6.660 miles.
Total length of the city drainage system, January 1, 1911
101.280 miles.
Total length of Met. sewerage system mains running through the city
3.368 miles.
688.18
uncompleted
$1,145.05
0.32
*Hardan road .
Powder Honse boulevard
Southwesterly
Bartholomew Burke
626.9
$1.83
1,145,87
Streets, Repaving
Total cost.
lineal foot.
Main
Sewer.
Sub-
drain.
Sub-drain
+2,000.00
12.8
8
$2,331 11
$13,207.00
2
8.5
688.18
1
Excavation.
NAME OF STREET.
316
ANNUAL REPORTS.
cent.
317
CITY ENGINEER.
The plans for abolishment of these crossings were described in previous annual reports ; and at two streets the plan adopted is the same as proposed by the city's scheme pre- sented to the commission; at the other three streets the plan adopted is just the reverse of the city's scheme.
Perambulation of City Boundary Lines. In December, 1910, representatives appointed from the city of Somerville and city of Cambridge examined the bounds defining the division line between these two cities ; and also met representatives from the town of Arlington and performed a like duty on the boundary line between Somerville and Arlington, and reported their findings in due form to the board of aldermen.
These boundary lines are perambulated every five years as prescribed by the statutes. On account of the state making improvements along Alewife brook and changing and straight- ening the channel, the old brook having been the division line between Somerville and Arlington, it required an act of the Legislature, passed March 16,1910, (Chapter 221), establishing a new boundary line between the city of Somerville and town of Arlington, described as follows : "Beginning at an unmarked point in the boundary line between the city of Somerville and the city of Cambridge, at the centre of Alewife brook, as re- cently located by the Metropolitan park commission, under the provisions of Chapter 529 of the acts of the year 1907, thence extending in a northerly direction following the centre line of said brook, as recently located as aforesaid, to an unmarked point at the junction of the centre line of said brook and the centre line of Mystic river, as recently located by said commis- sion."
This change of boundary line increases Somerville's area 3.5 acres, 0.7 of an acre being water.
A contemplated change in the boundary line between Som- erville and Medford is under consideration by committees rep- resenting both cities and probably an exchange of territory can be made that will be equally advantageous.
SEWERS. Construction Account. STATEMENT OF EXPENSES, 1910.
Constructing "separate system" sewers (as-
sessments levied) petitioned for . $1,069 97
Constructing "separate system" sewers (no assessments)
9,205 21
Contructing "combined system" sewers (as-
sessments levied) petitioned for . 2,177 37
Constructing "combined system" sewer (no assessment) 688 18
Constructing storm drains
2,397 38
Amount carried forward
$15,538 11
318
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward
$15,538 11)
Constructing forty catch basins, street drainage . 2,183 94
New drainage and alterations, Somerville avenue, Congress place, on account Grade Crossing work 395 18
Labor and materials furnished sundry
parties 283 22
Sewer assessment of 1909 abated .
53 42
Final payments on contracts, sewers con- structed in 1909 622 80
Sundry expenses, books and printing
21 50
Materials on hand December, 1910 679 53 .
Total expenditure
$19,777 70
Transferred to . Electrical department
(underground construction)
3,400 00
Transferred to Public Grounds construc- tion
1,200 00
Transferred to Highway department (side- walks construction)
2,000 00
Transferred to Highway department (paved gutters, etc.) .
1,726 12
Transferred for purchasing additional school land 8,992 00
Transferred to Public Buildings construc-
tion (park buildings) 4,500 00
Total debit
$41,605 82
CREDIT.
Balance unexpended December 31, 1909
$13,766 01
Appropriation, 1910
30,000 00
Transferred from Fire department (addi-
tional apparatus)
101 18
Assessments levied, sewers constructed,
1910 2,331 11
Amounts received from other departments and companies 419 30
Materials on hand December 31, 1909 . 274 16
Total credit
$46,887 76
Balance unexpended .
$5,281 94
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 supplies, for the season, have been by contract with the lowest bidder as follows :-
Akron sewer pipe (3 ft. lengths), 73% discount from list price, on cars Pipe fittings 75% discount from list price, on cars
Portland cement, per barrel . $1.22 on cars
Sand, per cubic yard 0.67 on cars
Sewer bricks, per M. 7.20 at yard
Iron manhole and catch basin castings, per hundred weight, 1.4) at foundry Catch basin traps, each 1.84 at foundry 1
.
319
CITY ENGINEER.
A number of sewers have been constructed as petitioned for in various 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 drain- age only) have been extended in a number of streets in the older districts, and this system should be extended yearly until all the flooded districts 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, and wherever 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, and thirty-inch brick in the following localities : -
"Separate system" sewers in :-
Clarendon avenue,-Cambridge city line, northeast- erly.
Hardan road,-Powder House boulevard, southwest- erly.
Somerville avenue,-(southwest side) Union square to opposite Laurel street.
"Combined system" sewers in :-
Columbia street,-angle in street to near Webster ave- nue.
Electric avenue,-Packard avenue to Mason street.
Mason street,-Broadway to near Ossipee road.
Whitman street,-Mason street to near Packard ave- nue. Storm drain in :-
Middlesex avenue,-(west side) Garfield avenue to near Mystic avenue.
Summary of Work. Eight new sewers and drains have been constructed during the year, a total length of 5,357.1 linear feet (1.014 miles) at a cost of $15,538.11 ; plans have been made showing these sewers in detail, and assessments levied on a portion of them, amounting to $2,331.11. (See tabular state- ment of sewers and drains for 1910, showing itemized statement of work and cost.)
320
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The total length of the city's drainage system is 101.28 miles, 26.368 miles being on the "separate system " and 6.66 miles of storm drains, and the entire cost of construction has amounted to about $12,512.63, exclusive of the amount paid to the state for assessments for the construction of the North Metropolitan sewerage system.
Forty new catch basins have been constructed in the high- ways during the year, at an average cost of $54.60 per basin, and eight removed, making a total of 1,597 basins in the city for street drainage purposes, constructed and maintained as fol- lows :-
By the city (sewer department) :-
Located in streets and subways
Located in city boulevard .
Located in parks (12), other city lots (12)
1,544 basins 29 66 24 66
Total catch basins constructed and by city .
maintained
By Boston & Maine Railroad Company on railroad locations
By state, located in boulevards
81
Total catch basins in city for storm drainage purposes 1,678
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 fol- lows :-
Year 1910, completely closed 382 hours, partly closed 190 hours. In previous years the following :-
Year 1909, completely closed 459 hours, partly closed 683 hours.
66
1908,
469
66
66
66 605 66
66
1907,
66
206
66
66
66
331
66
66
1905,
297
66
66
66
548 66
66
1904,
66
66
279
66
66
922 167
66
66
1903,
66
66
180
66
66
66
1902,
66
376
66
377
66
1
1901,
66
66
66
66
66
225
66
66
1900,
66
66
386 353
66
66
114
66
534
66
1906,
66
289
66
. 1,597
29 basins 52 66
The city's assessment for the Metropolitan sewer system for the past year was $40,462.20 on construction account and $20,689.01 for maintenance, and the total amount paid the com- monwealth of Massachusetts for this state sewer has been $757,540.84 (1892-1910, both years inclusive). The total length of the Metropolitan sewerage system mains running through the city amounts to 3.368 miles,
321
CITY ENGINEER.
New Work. The separate system sewers should be ex- tended in the old sections of the city each year, as the appropri- ation will allow. The construction of the storm drainage sys- tem, commenced 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 Mystic river ; and in connec- tion therewith, the boundary line between Somerville and Med- ford should be changed in the vicinity of Pearson road and Bos- ton avenue, so that this outlet, Two Penny brook, can be im- proved by Somerville and the covered channel extended to the Boston & Maine railroad, to conform with the work already done within the present city limits.
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 this matter of improving the city's drainage system should be carried out without further delay.
Some agreement should be made whereby a storm drain and sewer may be constructed in the railroad valley along the location of the Southern division of the Boston & Maine rail- road, between Gilman square and Cedar street, this being the natural outlet for a number of the city's streets and house lots which at the present time have either very poor or no drainage.
There are about six and one-half miles of old private sew- ers connected with the sewerage system that should be released to the city, so that they can be thoroughly repaired or re-con- structed and put in a good sanitary condition, and be main- tained in the future by the city.
Maintenance Account.
STATEMENT OF EXPENSES, 1910.
Maintenance of sewers, including cleaning
:
and flushing (101.3 miles)
$2,894 91
Maintenance of catch basins, cleaning and flushing (1,597)
7,043 39
Changing line and grade and repairing catch basins
403 46
Changing line and grade and repairing manholes .
266 82
Repairing old sewers
354 23
Inspection and location of house drains
295 13
New tools and supplies .
144 90
Repairs of tools and property
82 80
Sundry expenses, car
fares, telephone,
books, etc.
101 26
Maintenance of sewer department yards and buildings .
458 59
Work and materials furnished other depart- ments and companies
493 36
·
Total debit .
$12,538 65
1
322
ANNUAL REPORTS.
CREDIT.
+
Appropriation $12,000 00
Amounts received from other departments
and companies,-labor, materials fur- nished 493 36
Received from old hose, old iron, etc. 66 55
Total credit
$12,559 91
Balance unexpended .
$21 26
Value of tools and property on hand used in maintenance of sewers
$733 00
A permanent force of men and teams are kept continually at work flushing, cleaning, and repairing the city's drainage system, catch basins, etc., the expense necessarily increasing yearly as lengths of sewers, drains, and catch basins are added to the system.
About 6,150 cubic yards of deposit have been removed from the catch basins and sewers during the year, at an average cost of $1.14 per cubic yard, and the average cost per mile for cleaning and flushing the drainage system, including catch basins, has amounted to $98.13.
Sixty catch basins and fifty-three manholes have been re- paired 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-five permits have been issued to licensed drain layers for connecting buildings with the main sewers, forty-seven being for repairs or alterations ; all of the work being done under the supervision of the city's inspector.
At the present time there are ten persons licensed as drain layers by the city and under bonds, for the purpose of laying these private drains.
There are to date about 14,352 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 have been required, furnishing materials and labor, and being re- imbursed for the same to the amount of $493.36.
PUBLIC GROUNDS AND PARKS.
At the present time there are twenty separate parcels of land located in all parts of Somerville, used for parks and play- grounds, amounting to 67.9 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 Fellsway east, 2.5 acres ; Knowlton
Following Is a Compiled Table of the City's Parks and Playgrounds, Etc., Used in 1910, for the Apportionment of Expenses of the Metropolitan Park District.
NAME AND LOCATION OF PROPERTY.
AREA IN ACRES.
YEAR ACQUIRED.
ORIGINAL COST OF LAND.
FIRST COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
ADDITIONAL COST OF CON- STRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS (various years ).
PRESENT VALU- ATION, 1910. (Assessors' Rec- ords.)
Broadway Park-Ward 4
15.85
1874-1875
$126,854.63
$86,138.57
$5,928.98
$350,000.00
Central Hill Park-Ward 4
13.10
L 1893 (0.5 acre) remainder 1851-1869
111,109.00
31,624.70
37,190.09
350,000.00
Prospect Hill Park-Ward 3
2.62
1898-1902
48,964.91
244.03
76,600.00
Lincoln Park-Ward 2
8.26
1895-1897
37,592.92
(tower) 8,103.03 21,794.74 16,467.18
2,151.09
64,300.00
Tufts Park-Ward 7
4.54
1892
(1.54 acres do- nated.) 19.424.55
33,478.51
70,000.00
Paul Revere Park-Ward 5
0.04
1901
1,259.70
63.94
900.00
Belmont Street Park-Ward 6
0.39
1889
4,015.40
Originally high services water tower lot
260.61
5,100.00
Broadway Athletic Field-Ward 7 .
(Leased)
1901
Leased to City for 10 years
5,779.95
9,500.00
New Recreation Field, Boulevard-Ward 7 .
4.65
1891
4,000.00
Originally City's gravel pit
1,895.86
4,100.00
Playground, Broadway, corner Cedar Street-Ward 5
4.25
Previous to 1872
Originally City Farm lot
3.331.58
25,500.00
Playground, Somerville Ave., cor. Kent St .- Ward 6
0.75
Originally schoolhouse lot 1850
437.61
12,000.00
Playground, Poplar Street, corner Joy Street-Ward 1
0.47
Originally schoolhouse lot 1869
Originally schoolhouse lot 1843
100.00
2,700.00
Playground, Beacon St., near Washingt'n St .- Ward 2
0.22
Originally schoolhouse lot 1848
750.00
159.64
2,900.00
Playground, Webster Ave., near Camb. line -- Ward 2
0.25
Originally schoolhouse lot 1868
1,878.50
100.00
3,000.00
Playground, Glen St., corner Oliver Street-Ward 1
1.5 (Leased) ( 0.92 (own)
1877
11,252.00
3
Originally Highway Dept. lot
471.21
15,000.00
Playground, Fellsway East-Ward 4
1 (Leased)
100.25
Broadway Parkway-Ward 1-4
2.00
Part of high- way made parkway ₹ 1892-1908
6,735.00
Powder House Parkway-Ward 7 .
0.24
Part of high- way made parkway 1908
....
..
95.00
Somerville Avenue Cemetery-Ward 2 .
0.71
Act of Legis- lature 1893 Maintained by City
1,444.08
Powder House Boulevard-Ward 7 (length 1 1/3 miles
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