Report of the city of Somerville 1912, Part 23

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 528


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1912 > Part 23


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14.1


Shamrock


.09


19.3


14.9


Smith's Elk


.11


21.3


16.5


Hires


.11


22.6


15.5


Eclipse


.12


22.9


16.8


Vermont


.10


22.9


14.0


Standard


11


22.6


15.5


Defiance


10


19.6


16.3


Gold


10


29.4


10.9


Pet


.10


21.6


14.8


Peerless


.05


11.1


14.3


Peerless


.10


29.1


11.0


Van Camps


.09


29.1


10.0


St. Charles


.07


28.7


7.8


Globe


.07


29.6


7.6


Flies.


Probably the most common method of transmission of typhoid bacilli to milk is through the handling of milk with fingers soiled with typhoid excreta, yet there is no doubt that the typhoid fly (common house fly) is capable of transmitting the germs by traveling over the excreta, then alighting on the edge of some milk utensil or bathing in the milk.


Allow such milk to stand a few hours, especially in a warm room, and the possibility of feeding typhoid bacilli to a number of people at the same time is good. It is good policy to screen all openings in the stable, especially in the milk room.


It is estimated that over one million dollars is expended annually for screens in the United States because someone leaves filth and dirt scattered promiscuously about in which flies may breed.


"Flies in the dining room usually precede a nurse in the


contents


NAME.


PRICE.


of product in ounces


309


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


sick room, and screens on the windows may prevent crepe on the door."-Healthologist.


Despite out-door precautions flies will multiply.


Despite screens flies will enter human habitations.


By taking advantage of the following suggestions the number of flies may be materially lessened: Flies dislike mignonette blossoms (they avoid rooms containing them), common white clover (the blossoms in vases set about the room seem to irritate the fly and cause it to seek other surroundings).


Carbolic acid, twenty drops on a hot stove lid or shovel, causes them extreme discomfort, and will help drive them from the room. When carbolic acid is used all but one shade should be drawn, and the room is thus rendered semi-dark. A single window or door should be wide open to permit egress.


Bichromate of potash, one dram in two ounces of sweet- ened water, kills them. Numerous so-called poisonous fly- papers are equally effective.


Poisons cannot be universally recommended.


Formaldehyde in water, one tablespoonful to a pint, left in a room will drive them away.


The fumes from formaldehyde candles, for sale by many druggists, will drive them out of the house. These candles also fumigate the home. However, they cannot be used while the rooms are occupied, and will readily kill any animal life they may reach.


Common commercial disinfectants and deodorizers will help exterminate the fly. Discrimination, however, is needed in purchasing these preparations. Some are wholly worthless. The advice of a competent person should be sought before they are purchased.


The above are not exterminants, but are recommended by the United States Bureau of Entomology. Some of the remedies outlined may kill the fly, others will drive them from the premises. All of them are good materials to use in the combat against this insect.


Legislation.


There can be no doubt that the great number of measures introduced annually to the legislature endeavoring to regulate the production, distribution, and sale of milk in this common- wealth are causing such a controversy as to injure dealers and consumers alike.


While some of the people who instigate such measures are honest and sincere in their purpose the consuming public are reaping a reward in many ways never contemplated.


The publicity given to milk legislation in the past three years has had a tendency to irritate and antagonize the pro- ducer and distributor, make the consumer uncertain as to the


310


ANNUAL REPORTS.


quality of the milk he is receiving, and is in my opinion uncalled for.


It seems to me that as Greater Boston now has the finest milk supply of any large city in the world, and this condition has been brought about by LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH, it is only reasonable to expect them to be able to show in the next few years a reasonable improvement.


Such important changes cannot be brought about in a moment, and much time is being wasted in misdirected effort.


Oleomargarine.


There are seventeen dealers licensed to sell butterine until May 31, 1913.


One dealer was prosecuted for selling without a license.


Vinegar.


Routine examinations were made of samples of vinegar during the year, and all, with two exceptions, were found to be of good standard quality.


Recommendations.


1. That milk be sold in bottles only and when dealers persist in selling tank or can milk that they be required to display a sign which states that "This milk is suitable for cooking purposes only" (required in New York at the present time).


2. That milk distributors be required by law to pay a nominal license fee for each team used (the same as stores are now required to do).


3. That it shall constitute a misdemeanor for milk dealers to use bottles redeemed from the ash heap. That junk dealers be prohibited having same in their possession.


4. That no dealer be allowed to bottle milk unless con- tainers have been sterilized with live steam.


5. That consumers purchase only bottled milk, refusing to patronize a dealer who handles milk in any other way.


6. That consumers report to this office any violation of the milk rules and regulations that may come to their attention.


7. That consumers consult this department in regard to the sanitary condition of dairies and bottling establishments through whom they obtain their milk supply.


8. That physicians report by telephone to this office cases of enteritis and tonsilitis, with the name of the dealer supplying the milk.


The health department in a community is able to control disease in proportion to the completeness and exactness of its knowledge of the occurrence of cases. With full information


311


HEALTH DEPARTMENT.


of existing cases it can work effectively ; it can direct its efforts at prophylaxis against the disease itself; it can work in the light of knowledge of the situation.


When there are a number of cases of any disease there is usually some one or more sources from which it is being spread, and it is only when cases are reported that the health department can ascertain their relationship to each other, or their common source of infection when such exists.


It is only through the notification of cases that outbreaks due to infected milk can be recognized and proper remedies applied.


9. That the public screen all doors, windows, and porches, and assist in every way to exterminate the fly.


Appreciation.


wish to express my appreciation to the members of I the board of health and others who have cheerfully assisted me in carrying on my work, and also to the Somerville press, who have kindly given me space to express my views on the milk question.


Respectfully submitted,


HERBERT E. BOWMAN, Inspector of Milk and Vinegar.


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Board of Overseers of the Poor. HENRY F. CURTIS, M. D., President, ALBERT W. EDMANDS, Vice-President. . PHILIP KOEN.


Committees. ON FINANCE, INVESTIGATION AND RELIEF, AND CITY HOME-Dr. Curtis, Mr. Edmands and Mr. Koen.


Secretary. CORA F. LEWIS.


General Agent. CHARLES C. FOLSOM.


City Physician. C. CLARKE TOWLE, M, D.


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


Office. . City Hall Annex, Highland Avenue.


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1912.


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


Gentlemen,-Herewith the Board of the Overseers of the Poor presents its report for the year 1912, which includes reports of the agent and the warden of the city home.


With extremely favorable weather conditions, and a good demand for labor, we have had this year little pressing and unusual call for aid.


In spite of this, the increased charges from outside cities and towns and a natural growth in the cost of supplies have brought the aggregate of expense very near the figures sub- mitted for the yearly outlay of this department, and we have felt it impossible, even with the greatest economy, to keep within our given appropriation.


It seems as if, this year more than usual, we have realized the effect of higher prices. The usual amounts have been given, but the reduced purchasing power has caused more frequent demands.


At the city home a favorable condition of the market has yielded better prices for our crops, enough to offset the increase in price for purchases, and the loss of income from sundry boarders.


Our hospital annex is, as we may say, complete, and is proving a very convenient and necessary addition, for which we are duly grateful.


An office for the warden and a waiting-room of some kind for those who come to visit inmates is here very much needed, as, outside of the rooms of the family, there is no place but the dining room where people can be received.


The work in the different departments through the year has been most satisfactory.


Very respectfully,


HENRY F. CURTIS, Overseers A. W. EDMANDS, of the


PHILIP KOEN, Poor


. REPORT OF THE GENERAL AGENT.


Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1912. To the Overseers of the Poor, Somerville, Mass .:-


Gentlemen,-There has been expended in the year just closed under the direction of your board the sum of $28,200.30, divided as follows : Miscellaneous Account, $19,201.33, and City Home Account, $8,998.97. The warden's report gives details of the latter expenditures. In reference to the Miscellaneous Account I will explain why we expended $2,873.77 more than we did the previous year.


We paid other cities and towns $1,547.85 more last year than the year before. We cannot control this item of expense. All we can do is to be sure that the persons so aided belong to us, and that the expenditure was necessary and reasonable.


We also paid out $817.75 more for food than in the previous year, also more for medicine, burials, fuel, and to the Somerville Hospital. The total amount does not always increase steadily year by year, but varies. Next year we may have to expend more than we ever have in a year before, or the expense may be less.


We investigate each case as it comes up both in the city and out, and do what seems to us best under the circumstances. In my judgment the law is correct in allowing the board to expend what seems to it necessary, and not be obliged to keep within the appropriation.


Many of our people believe we should spend more money for the poor than we have done in the past, and this may be true, but I think there is as little suffering in this city as in any of its size in the commonwealth. The work of the department is fully abreast that of other cities.


In this, my twenty-eighth year with the board, I wish to thank each member and all others connected with the depart- ment, including our able and conscientious city physician, Dr. Towle, for the very cordial relation that has and does exist in the work of the department.


Very respectfully,


C. C. FOLSOM,


General Agent.


316


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


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


In city home (men 37, women 22) 59


In city home December 31, 1912 (men 19, women 18) 37


In private families


4


In hospitals for the sick in other towns, cities, and state . 105


In care of state division minor wards .


4


Table No. 2.


PARTIAL SUPPORT (OUTDOOR RELIEF).


Families


297


Persons aided (including hospital cases)


1,220


Burial's


8


Permits to state infirmary . .


16


Average expense to the city for each (carriage for two)


$1 11


Table No. 3.


REIMBURSEMENTS.


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


$1,471 70


City of Boston .


782 04


66


66 Cambridge


658 79


66


Chicopee


24 29


Everett


156 00


66


Haverhill


31 43


66


Holyoke


15 71


66


Lowell .


4 29


66


Malden


29 30


66


Medford


147 78


New Bedford


2 05


Newton


147 68


66


66 Quincy


65 71


12 92


66


Woburn


19 70


66


Worcester


5 80


Town of Arlington


5 71


Burlington


78 41


66


Falmouth


19 29


66


Hanover


60 81


Hudson


12 86


Middleboro


27 14


66


Orange


51 43


66


Provincetown


15 73


Saugus


45 64


66


Sheffield


30 00


66


Walpole


21 43


66


Weston


4 28


66


Whitman


112 92


6 10


Board of Health (for cash paid in Board of Health case) .


$4,098 13


66 Chelsea


2 86


Gloucester


6 90


Lynn


21 43


Springfield


316


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table No. 4. SOMERVILLE HOSPITAL (PATIENTS ON CITY BEDS).


Patients having settlement in Somerville .


103


Patients having settlement in other cities or towns . 67


Patients having no settlement (chargeable to state) .


81


Total number of patients sent to hospital .


251


Money paid hospital by the city for patients settled in Somerville


$5,000 00


Amount reimbursed to the city and paid to the hospital for patients not settled in Somerville .


2,122 88


Total paid to the hospital


$7,122 88


Table No. 5.


POPULATION AND GROSS EXPENDITURES, 1883 TO 1912, INCLUSIVE.


Year.


Population (Estimated).


Expenditures.


1883


27,000


$15,959.80


1884


28,000


17,272.52


1885


*29,992


16,430.32


1886


32,000


14,341.83


1887


34,000


13,430.89


1888


36,000


13,375.98


1889


39,000


14,610.92


1890


*40,117


15,261.14


1891


43,000


15,980.49


1892


46,000


17,015.30


1893


48,000


17,799.58


1894


50,000


19,733.13


1895


*52,200


20,755.46


1896


54,000


21,999.79


1897


56,000


25,681.47


1898


57,500


28,522.21


1899


60,000


28,924.39


1900


*61,643


Miscellaneous, $23,697.62


29,226.45


1901


62,500


City Home, 6,622.43


Miscellaneous, $28,667.04


36,063.68


City Home, 7,396.64


Miscellaneous, $30,470.20


38,018.59


1904


69,500


City Home, 6,563.11


1905


*69,272


City Home, 7,474.36


1906


72,000


City Home,


6,806.79


1907


74,000


City Home, 7,001.23


1908


75,500


City Home, 6,875.56


24,830.90


1909


75,500


Miscellaneous, $16,843.17 7,562.83


24,406.00


1910


*77,236


Miscellaneous, $16,110.42 7,695.89 City Home,


23,806.31


1911


78,000


City Home,


7,842.03


Miscellaneous, $19,201.33


1912


81,000


City Home,


8,998.97


28,200.30


*Census.


City Home, 5,528.83


Miscellaneous, $29,171.15


35,793.58


1902


63,500


1903


65,500


City Home, 7,548.39


Miscellaneous, $20,476.54


27,039.65


Miscellaneous, $17,527.88


25,002.24


Miscellaneous, $18,237.53


25,044.32


Miscellaneous, $17,852.20


24,853.43


Miscellaneous, $17,955.34


City Home,


Miscellaneous, $16,327.56


24,169.59


:


Table No. 6. EXPENDITURES, IN DETAIL, FOR THE YEAR 1912.


1912.


Medicine.


Board.


Groceries.


Somerville Poor in Other Cities and Towns.


Boots and Shoes.


Dry Goods.


Burials.


Salaries.


Fuel.


Sundries.


Cash Paid Out.


Telephone.


Stationery and Printing.


Somerville Hospital.


State Infirmary.


Nursing.


Mass. Hospital School.


Total.


January . .


$52.98


$165.98


$814.00


$858.78


$13.25


$10.00


$334.66


$169.52


$6.00


$26.00


$17.91


$3.25


$12.86


$37.75


$2,522.94


February


54.77


97.44


470.50


719.99


25.00


316.66


113.31


12.00


3.45


8.22


7.97


57.15


6.75


1,893.21


March .


6.80


137.16


514.25


117.28


10.00


341.67


107.72


1.50


13.35


8.34


29.00


.


8.75


$45.14


1,740.96


April .


3.30


124.66


467.50


544.76


363.99


4.51


6.30


11.05


6.94


133.33


24.54


1,690.88


May


47.46


106.86


484.50


95.58


9.50


5.00


333.99


35.06


4.00


6.75


133.33


49.14


21.25


44.57


1,376.99


June


9.92


128.16


466.50


20.00


73.00


324.99


13.85


6.85


1.88


133.33


15.25


.


·


.


.


.. .


14.71


1,552.44


September


40.83


135.52


535.50


164.33


342.32


3.80


8.61


133.33


1.50


52.57


1,418.31


October . .


10.60


127.86


480.50


190.00


4.25


26.00


356.99


4.10


4.75


8.30


133.33


24.00


1,372.68


November .


9.35


127.09


382.00


517.30


356.99


162.75


6.17


8.40


9.50


133.33


26.50


.


.


.


. .


.


.


·


.


.


.. .


. .


Totals .


$255.82


$1,420.97


$5,523.00


$4,237.30


$27.00


$2.00


$164.00


$4,082.00


$557.81


$37.15


$136.73


$102.46


$58.35


$2,122.88


$145.65


$158.50


$169.71


$19,201.33


.


·


.


.


.


5.65


10.34


133.33


4.00


1,566.10


July


10.71


90.72


396.50


574.86


15.00


324.99


August


9.10


101.44


511.25


434.42


324.99


8.65


14.55


133.33


. . .


.


. . .


·


.


·


27.43


1,133.71


December .


.


78.08


359.76


7.25


4.95


.


.


.


.


656.24


.


$2.00


1,739.38


$400.00


.


1,193.73


٤


ʼ


4


4


1


A


F


1


1


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


317


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


+Hon. Mark F. Burns, chairman ex-officio . 1885


1888 inclusive


៛Colonel Herbert E. Hill


· 1885


1889


Charles S. Lincoln, Esq., chairman


. 1885


1887


Hon. Edward Glines


1885


1887


#Charles G. Brett (president 1888-1892.


1885


April


1893


Edward B. West (president May, 1894-1912) . +Daniel C. Stillson


1888


to


1911


+Hon. Charles G. Pope, chairman ex-officio .


1889


1891


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


1890


April 1894


66


+Hon. William H. Hodgkins, chairman ex- officio .


1892


1895


James G. Hinckley


May 1892


Albert W. Edmands .


May 1893


to date*


Herbert E. Merrill .


May 1894


1909


+Ezra D. Souther


1895.


Feb. 1898 (Died)


Hon. Albion A. Perry, chairman ex-officio .


1896


1898 inclusive


James H. Butler


March 1898


1899


Hon. George O. Proctor, chairman, ex- officio


1899


Henry F. Curtis, M.D.


1910 to


date*


Philip Koen ·


.


*Present member.


¡Deceased.


Table No. 7. RECAPITULATION (MISCELLANEOUS).


Appropriation .


.


$16,500 00 4,098 13


Reimbursements


Total receipts


$20,598 13


Total expenditures


19,201 33


Balance


$1,396 80


Net expenditures


$15,103 20


.


.


1912 to date*


1


1894


66


1888


April


1892


REPORT OF WARDEN OF CITY HOME.


City Home, January 1, 1913.


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


Gentlemen,-I submit the following as the report of the warden of the city home for the year ending December 31, 1912 :-


Table No. 1. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Farm produce sold .


$4,283 16


Board of sundry persons .


. 817 52 .


$5,100 68


Table No. 2. LIVING EXPENSES.


Salaries and wages


$3,180 97


Groceries and provisions


2,384 16


Dry goods .


406 04


Boots and shoes


75 13


Hay and grain .


977 70


Seed


92 25


House furnishings


79 50


Kitchen furnishings


37 06


Sundries


243 13


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


86 10


Medicine


82 82


Horse shoeing


40 00


Live stock .


278 95


Repairs on sash


19 06


Repairs on wagons


77 90


Telephone .


40 22


Farm sundries


322 24


Pig account


407 30


Ice


50 05


Credits :-


Farm produce .


$4,283 16


Board of sundry persons


817 52


$5,100 68


Net living expenses .


$3,779 90


Table No 3.


Number of weeks' board of inmates . 1,845


Number of males admitted during 1912


21


Number of females admitted during 1912


10


Number of males discharged during 1912


10


Number of females discharged during 1912 .


7


Number of males supported during 1912


37


Number of females supported during 1912 .


22


Number of males died during 1912


7


Number of females died during 1912 .


1.


Number of inmates in home December 31, 1912 .


37


$8,880 58


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


319


Table No. 4. FARM ACCOUNT. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Farm produce sold .


$4,283 16


Produce used at city home


300 00


Milk used at city home .


438 00


$5,021 16


EXPENSES.


Wages for help


$1,143 15


Feed for one horse .


162 81


Feed for three cows


488 43


Shoeing one horse .


13 33


Repairs on wagons and sash .


102 90


Farm sundries .


279 24


Garbage and bedding


407 30


Live stock


278 95


Seed


92 25


$2,968 36


Balance


$2,052 80


Table No. 5. REPAIRS.


Repairs on pig yard


Painting wall and general repairs .


$118 39


Living expenses


8,880 58


$8,998 97


Table No. 6.


Reimbursements


$5,100 68


Net expenditures


3,898 29


Total expenditures


$8,998 97


Appropriation


8,500 00


Overdrawn


$498 97


Respectfully submitted,


J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN,


Warden.


REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.


OFFICE OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN, Somerville, January 1, 1913.


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


Gentlemen,-The work of your city physician during the year 1912 is presented in the following abstract :- Office consultations and treatments 748


Total outside visits .


1,263


Confinements


.


15


Vaccinations


170


Visits at city home .


53


Attended at police station


45


Examinations :--


For legal department


20


For highway department .


16


For police department


1


For fire department .


1


Respectfully submitted,


C. CLARKE TOWLE, City Physician.


!


REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.


OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, January 28, 1913. 5 To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-In accordance with the provisions of the city charter, the following report of the work done and expense incurred for the year ending December 31, 1912, by the En- gineering department and appropriations under my charge and supervision, including the accounts of City Engineer, Grade Crossings, Sewers Construction, Sewers Maintenance, Public Grounds, Parks and Playgrounds and other public works, is herewith presented.


ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.


City Engineer Account. Statement of Expenses, 1912.


Salary of City Engineer


$3,000 00


Salaries of assistants (see itemized state-


ment following)


7,634 10


Stakes, tools, and general supplies (outside work)


159 26


Draughting materials and office supplies (inside work)


211 99


Car fares . .


200 45


Maintenance of automobile .


500 66


Setting stone bounds


50 15


Telephone, postage, expressing, and in- cidentals


141 39


Total debit


CREDIT. $11,898 00


Appropriation


$11,500 00


Amount received for making acceptance


plans


68 00


Amount received from other accounts, ser- vices rendered


330 00


Total credit


$11,898 00


Classification of Expenses, Assistants' Salaries.


Sewers,-comprising surveys, estimates, profiles, lines, grades, titles, plans, assessments, and all engineer- ing work relating to sewers


Highways,-comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving, and all other engineering relating to the department . .


$1,363 80


982 70


.


322


ANNUAL REPORTS.


:


Sidewalks,-comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, titles, costs, and assessments . · Bridges and Grade Crossings,-comprising surveys, plans,


697 40


profiles, estimates, lines and grades, etc. . 132 90


Water Works,-comprising lines, grades, locations of mains, gates, hydrants and services, and other matters relating to the department . Public Grounds and Parks,-comprising surveys, plans, estimates, profiles and grades, including laying out of parks and playgrounds and boulevards . 777 30


443 40


Public Buildings,-comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to construction and laying out of grounds . .


103 80


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


236 50


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


181 80


City Survey,-comprising establishing of street lines, acceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city map, etc. . ·


756 20


Middlesex Registry,-comprising copying of plans, and abstracts from deeds and examination of titles filed at East Cambridge, also tracings of street acceptance and sewer taking plans filed for record, Private Corporations, Railway, Telephone, Electric Light, and Gas Light Companies,-comprising grades, plans, profiles, and office notes, locations of poles and conduits .


175 10


Stone Bounds,-locating and setting


147 50


Miscellaneous Work,-comprising preliminary surveys, designs, sketches, etc., relating to various schemes for different committees 141 20


Vacations, Holidays, and Sickness 536 60


Total


$7,634 10


Office Records and Value of Instruments.


Number of survey note-books, sewer permit books, dced books, calculation books and record books,-three hundred and thirty-five.


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


Value of field instruments, tools, and office instruments . $2,500 00


The number of assistants employed during the year on engineering work varied from eight to eleven.


The total cost of maintaining the Engineering department (City Engineer account) since it was established (1872-1912, both years inclusive) has amounted to $308,223.61.


General Work. Under the title of Engineering Depart- ment a varied line of city work is carried on each year,


143 40


Office Work,-comprising records of all locations, index- ing, typewriting, bookkeeping, calculations, reports, and general draughting 814 50


323


CITY ENGINEER.


including the designing and superintending of the construction and maintenance of sewers, parks, playgrounds, boulevards, bridges, and other public works as may be authorized; the making of such surveys, plans, profiles, estimates, descriptions of property, specifications and contracts for work as the mayor, board of aldermen, or any committee or department may require; the custody of all plans and data relating to the laying out, widening, or discontinuing of streets, and the recording and indexing of all work under the control of the city engineer.


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


During the year the department made plans and estab- lished grades for the acceptance, under the betterment act, of fifteen new public streets, a total length of 6,917 feet.


Ten plans have been made of private streets for accept- ance as public streets during the year, as ordered, but not as yet made public, and there are plans for acceptance of nine other private streets, previously made, on file in the office that for various reasons are still unaccepted as public ways.




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