USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1912 > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
Public.
40
548
....
Ward
Medford st.
Emery st.
Private.
30
....
450
Ware.
Curtis st.
Dow st.
Private.
40
....
680
Warner
Powder House sq.
Medford line
Public.
60
500
....
Warren ave.
Union sq.
Columbus ave.
Public.
40
663
....
Warren .
Medford st.
Cambridge line
Public.
30 to 40
109
150
Warwick
Warwick st. . Cedar st.
Warwick pl.
Public.
40
665
....
Washington ave.
Washington st.
Northerly
Private.
18
...
114
Washington
Charlest'n line
Franklin ave.
Public.
75
1,060
...
Washington
Franklin ave.
Fitchburg R. R.
Public.
60 to 100
3,977
....
Washington
Fitchburg R. R.
Cambridge line
Public.
60
2,344
....
Water
South st.
Northerly
Public.
25
366
....
Waterhouse
Broadway
Cambridge line
Public.
40
987
. .
Watson .
Broadway
Fairmount ave.
Private.
40
....
Waverly
Washington st.
Roland st.
Private.
35
..
200
Webster ave.
Union sq.
Cambridge line
Public.
49.5
1,955
....
Webster
Franklin st.
Cross st.
Public.
40
1,034
....
Wellington ave.
Walnut st.
Montgomery ave.
Public.
40
215
...
Wellington ave.
Montgomery ave.
Easterly
Private.
40
....
85
..
. .
370
Vinal
Richardson st.
Northeasterly
Private.
20
....
200
Village
Dane st.
Vinal ave.
Summer st.
Highland ave.
Public.
35
Private.
25
287
350
Washington pl.
Washington st. .
Southerly
Private.
about 7.5
Warwick place
Northeasterly
Private.
15
..
310
685
..
LENGTH.
236
356
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Table Showing the Location, Length and Width of Public and Private Streets. - Concluded.
STREET.
FROM.
To
Public or Private.
Width in Feet.
Public.
Private.
Wesley pk.
Wesley sq.
Northeasterly
Public.
40
405
...
Wesley
Pearl st.
Otis st.
Public.
40
515
...
West .
Hawthorne st.
Highland ave.
Public.
30
192
266
West Adams
Conwell ave.
Medford line
Private.
40
710
Westminster
Broadway
Electric ave.
Public.
40
376
..
..
Weston ave.
Clarendon ave.
Broadway
Private.
40
....
291
Westwood road
Central st.
Benton road
Public.
40
489
Wheatland
Broadway
Mystic ave. . Mt. Vernon st.
Public.
40
1,364
.. . .
Whipple
Highland ave.
Arlington Br. R. R.
Private.
30
318
White St. pl.
White st.
Southeasterly
Private.
20
....
200
Whitfield road.
Packard ave.
Curtis st.
Private.
40
. . ..
684
Whitman st.
Mason st. .
Packard ave.
Private.
40
...
632
Wigglesworth .
Bonair st.
Pearl st.
Public.
40
744
William .
Chandler st.
College ave.
Public.
40
381
45
Willoughby
Central st.
Sycamore st.
Public.
40
427
..
Willow ave.
Elm st.
Broadway
Public.
50
3,534
150
Wilson ave.
Broadway
B. & L. R. R.
Private.
20
....
310
Wilton
Lowell st.
Hinckley st.
Public.
35
470
65
Windom
Elm st.
Summer st.
Public.
40
300
..
..
Windsor road .
Willow ave.
Hancock st.
Public.
40
575
. .
Windsor st. (Extn.)
Windsor st., Camb.
Fitchburg R. R.
Private.
20
1,123
.. ..
Winter
College ave.
Holland st.
Public.
30
402
....
Winter Hill cir. Winthrop ave. (Extension.)
Mystic ave.
Middlesex ave.
Private.
40
...
583
Wisconsin ave.
Broadway
Pennsylvania ave.
Public.
50
499
...
Woodbine .
Centre st.
Lowell st.
Private.
30
600
*Woods ave.
North st.
Powder House Blvd.
Private.
40
....
1,350
Woodstock .
Victoria st.
Alewife brook .
Private.
40
....
415
*Woodstock
(Extension.)
Victoria st.
Tannery st. (Ext'n.)
Private.
40
....
315
Wyatt
Concord ave.
Lincoln parkway .
Public.
40
496
....
Yorktown
Cambridge line .
( N. E. line Mal-}
Public.
40
294
....
Yorktown
Malvern ave.
Northerly
Private.
40
....
100
*Proposed.
+Sidewalk in Somerville.
Court
11 Albion st.
.
Northeasterly
Private.
9
....
170
Court
21 Albion st.
Northeasterly
Private.
10
....
100
Court
292 Broadway
Southwesterly
Private.
15
96
Court
612 Broadway
Southwesterly Southeasterly
Private.
20
. .
. .
188
Court
113 Central st.
Northwesterly
Private.
10
Court
Conlon ct.
Windsor st. (Extn.)
Private.
20
Court
36 Craigie st.
Westerly
Private.
25
126
Court
58 Dane st.
Easterly
Private.
10
70
Court
20 Dimick st.
South westerly
Private.
39.25
136
Court
Buena Vista rd.
Southeasterly
Private.
15
...
151
Court
66 Lowell st.
Westerly
Private.
25
..
. .
101
Court
78 Lowell st.
Westerly
Private.
25
....
101
Court
10 Stone ave.
Northwesterly
Private.
20
....
113
Court
Windsor st. (Extn.)
East'ly and West'ly
Private.
20
870
Total
411,771
105,889
..
525
West Quincy
Bailey st. .
Medford line
Private.
40
Wheeler
Pinckney st.
Public.
40
269
+ White
Elm st.
Cambridge line
Public.
307
William .
Broadway .
Medford line
Private.
50
....
150
Williams ct.
Porter st. .
Northwesterly
Private.
30
..
Willow pl.
Cambridge line
South st.
Private.
25
....
Winchester
Broadway
Medford line
Private.
40
...
530
Winslow ave. .
College ave. .
Clifton st.
Public.
40
Broadway
Northeasterly
Private.
25
....
..
920
Wyatt circle
Wyatt st.
Wyatt st.
Private.
20
....
.
Private.
20
150
Court
227 Columbia st.
.
Public, 77.987 miles (includes 3.294 miles boulevards and 1.16 miles State Highway) ; private, 20.055 miles.
Total length of streets in the city, 98.042 miles.
West .
Highland ave.
Arlington Br.R.R.
Private.
30
....
LENGTH.
N. E. line
vern ave.
117
240
177
REPORT OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER.
OFFICE OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, January 1, 1913. To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen,-I most respectfully submit the thirty-seventh annual report, containing a brief summary of the principal work performed by the highway department during the year 1912, with recommendations for necessary improvements and additions for the coming year.
This department has charge of the construction, altera- tion, repair, maintenance, and management of ways, streets, sidewalks, and bridges, also the setting out and care of shade trees, the suppression of gypsy and brown-tail moths, elm-leaf beetles, supervision of street watering and oiling, and the collection and disposal of ashes, garbage, and refuse.
Paving.
I think money borrowed for the construction of streets with permanent paving is a good investment for the city. Take Somerville avenue for example. The city government asked the legislature for a special loan for paving Somerville avenue in the year 1892, and since that time a very small amount of money has been expended for repairs.
As the automobile and especially the auto truck travel increases, Somerville has and will keep up to the times in the modern way of constructing streets. We have used 185,437 gallons of "Tarvia X" this year. Somerville was one of the first cities to use tarvia in the New England states.
At the American Road Builders' convention in Cincinnati which I attended as a delegate, appointed by his honor, Mayor Burns, most of the road builders discussed what was the best kind of construction to use, and I think, from what was said, that a majority of them were in favor of some kind of tar or bitumen products.
Portions of main thoroughfares, including Holland street, Broadway, Beacon and Pearl streets, were constructed with permanent paving. (See table in back of report for kind and cost of paving.)
The average cost of macadam and tarvia on side streets was $.90 per square yard, and on main streets $1.20 per square yard.
Street Cleaning.
The system of teams and men of the street division follow- ing the teams of the sanitary division, picking up all kinds of litter, has proven so successful this year that the number of teams will be increased the coming year. Good and clean streets are a benefit to the city, and I ask that all citizens help by not throwing or sweeping rubbish into the streets.
358
ANNUAL REPORTS.
All the streets, both public and private, were cleaned in the spring and fall, and paved streets were swept as often as considered necessary. Push cart men are kept in all the squares to care for same. A pick-up machine was tried late in the year but owing to weather conditions I could not judge its merits. If it does prove satisfactory I intend to use it nights in keeping the squares clean.
The cost of this branch of the work is increasing on account of the scarcity of dumps.
Sprinkling Streets.
Under the law the city can use water or a substitute and assess the abutters at the same rate as for street watering, which is $.05 per lineal foot for each abutter. This branch is self-supporting. The new horse-drawn automatic pressure oilers used this year have given good satisfaction. There is no doubt as to the efficiency of tar and oil on roads ; although disagreeable when first applied, the results are satisfactory.
I think if an auto truck oiler was purchased money would be saved and the work done more satisfactory. By the use of oil many thousand gallons of water are saved.
This year we used :-
19,227 gallons of Standard Emulsifying oil,
122,687 gallons of Standard No. 3,
54,720 gallons of Standard No. 4,
65,987 gallons of Speare's Tasscoil,
8,039 gallons of "Dustoline,"
7,150 gallons of Headley's No. 7,
7,703 gallons of Headley's No. 22,
7,736 gallons of Barrett's "Tarvia B."
Holland Street Ledge.
Stone from this ledge has been used for the construction of granolithic sidewalks, side streets, and the repairs of gravel sidewalks. A large amount of stone for this kind of work still remains. The steam drill has worked 268 days.
Stone Crusher.
The crushing plant has worked 248 days during the year. A contract was made with Coleman Brothers for hard stone delivered on the line of work for $1.50 per ton south of Highland avenue, and $1.40 per ton north of Highland avenue, and Essex Trap Rock Company $1.10 per ton f. o. b. Somerville or Cambridge stations. There were 8,343 tons of stone crushed and 5,589 tons purchased during the year.
Bridges.
The bridges in the city are in good condition. The bridge at North Somerville should be widened. The abolition of the grade crossing on Medford street and Dane street was started this year, and will be completed the coming year, and I believe
359
STREET COMMISSIONER.
it is the intention of the railroad company to start the Park street work. When this is completed all the grade crossings will have been abolished on the Fitchburg division.
Shade Trees.
The city has lost many trees on account of the various kinds of insects, wires, and gas leaks. I think many of the trees are dying because of the construction of the sidewalks and streets. Where the sidewalks are granolithic and the street is constructed with a concrete base, the roots of the trees do not get enough moisture and nourishment.
Trees should be purchased and set out to replace the dead and dangerous trees removed. Shade trees are an im- portant feature of the highways.
One hundred dead and dangerous trees were removed, 131 trees set out, and 214 trees trimmed by request during the year.
Elm-Leaf Beetles.
The gasoline spraying machine sprayed all the trees on the streets and parks, thus helping to destroy the beetles, tussock, gypsy and brown-tail moths. Eight thousand five hundred and nine trees were sprayed.
Leopard Moth or Borer.
As no appropriation was made to destroy this moth or borer, little work was done in this line, but wherever we have discovered the borer at work we have attended to the tree at once. There should be an appropriation made, as this pest is destroying many of our trees.
Gypsy and Brown=Tail Moths.
This year the men who cut off the brown-tail nests and painted the gypsy nests with creosote covered the city in about half the time it usually takes. This was on account of the good work the spraying machine did in destroying the moths in the summertime. The cutting and painting of nests is done during the winter, thus giving work to the employees of the department the year round. The work is inspected by an inspector sent by the state forester, Frank William Rane.
Where nests are found on private property the owner is charged at the rate of $2.15 a day per man, and the amount of the assessment is collected with the taxes on the estate. The law gives the city the right to enter private property to care for the moths, and provides for an assessment to cover the cost of the work. Six thousand five hundred and forty-four street trees were inspected and cared for.
360
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Steam Rollers.
The fifteen-ton roller has worked 187 days, and the twelve- ton roller 166 days. I do not know of any city the size of Somerville that does the work with two rollers, and I most respectfully recommend the purchase of a new fifteen-ton roller.
Sidewalks.
In 1911 $22,195.08, and in 1912 $20,927.94 was appropriated for sidewalks, which includes edgestones, brick, and granolithic. If a similar sum could be appropriated for 1913 it would care for all the petitions in the hands of the public works com- mittee.
The city government should consider the uncompleted spaces now existing on many sidewalks, especially on the main streets. If these sidewalks could be made continuous it would be a great benefit to pedestrians, especially in the spring and fall.
All the sidewalk construction was done by employees of the highway department, thus giving work to citizens and tax- payers of Somerville.
The average cost of gravel sidewalks with edgestones was $1.07 per lineal foot; brick sidewalks, $1.37 per square yard, and granolithic, $1.67 per square yard. The abutters are assessed half of the cost. The cost of granolithic and brick sidewalks includes the resetting of edgestones. The cost of paving gutters was $2.07 per square yard. (See tables in back of this report.)
I recommend the purchase of a concrete mixing machine.
Snow and Ice.
Any money spent for snow and ice is just so much less to expend for repairing the streets. Snow and ice on the streets must be taken care of for public safety. It is the duty of this department to remove the snow and ice from all sidewalks in front of public buildings and public grounds, and sand the same when they become slippery, for which the department receives no compensation. On the gravel sidewalks of the city plows are used to clear the snow, but in case they become slippery the tenant must care for the same.
As soon as the bridges which are made necessary by the abolition of the grade crossings are completed the city must care for the snow and ice upon the same. Two of the bridges are completed, which adds extra expense to this branch of the work.
In a snow storm men are assigned to care for all crossings on the main streets, and to sand the same if they become
361
STREET COMMISSIONER.
slippery. Sand boxes are within easy access for the push cart men who care for the subways, bridges, and squares.
Underground Wires.
· 'Permits for opening the streets for the purpose of con- structing conduits and burying wires were issued to the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company on Bow street from Washington street to Bow-street place, and Summer street from Bow street to Cedar street, and to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company on Pearl street from Mt. Vernon street to Gilman square.
Permits were issued to both companies to connect their underground system on the main streets with their overhead wires on intersecting streets.
Accepted Streets.
There were fourteen streets accepted under the Betterment Act during the year, comprising a total length of 6,917 lineal feet. There were six streets constructed with macadam and tarvia under the Betterment Act, comprising a total length of 3,623 lineal feet, at an average approximate cost of $.90 per square yard. In all the streets constructed during the past eleven years edgestones were set and gutters paved with granite paving blocks before the construction work was begun.
There were twenty-two streets or portions of streets macadamized or resurfaced at a cost of $8,312.03.
There are 77.987 miles of public streets and 19.992 miles of private streets in the city, making a total length of 97.979 miles. (See table in back of report.)
Sidewalks Maintenance.
Money spent for this kind of work is greatly appreciated by everyone, especially in the older parts of the city, where the sidewalks have been laid many years. The department this year has repaired some of the worst ones, and intends to continue the good work.
Seven thousand two hundred and seventy-four feet of edgestones were reset, and 2,118 square yards of brick side- walks relaid. The expense of repairing granolithic sidewalks and attending to police reports is charged to this appropriation.
Sanitary Division.
The collection and disposal of ashes and garbage was transferred from the control of the board of health to the highway department at the beginning of the year. Although the collections have increased, the expense remains about the- same as in 1911.
I think money has been saved by the use of double teams
362
ANNUAL REPORTS.
instead of single teams formerly used in this work. An auto truck was purchased for the collection of refuse, and if it proves a success I shall recommend the purchase of more motor-driven vehicles. It is the long hauls to the dumps that adds to the expense of this division.
The garbage is teamed to the city yard and sold to farmers at $.70 per cord foot, and the paper to the incinerator, where it is sorted by a contractor, who pays the city $85 a month. For these two items the city received $11,468.65.
The city is divided into six districts for the collection of refuse, once a week, and thirteen districts for garbage, collected twice a week. If the tenants would be more careful and keep the paper and ashes separate, and in separate receptacles, it would be a great saving to the department. All the good ashes collected were saved and used in the construction of sidewalks.
Summary of collections :-
71,755 cubic yards of refuse, 1,343 cubic yards of rubbish,
29,810 cubic yards of paper, 1,931 cord feet of garbage.
One hundred and thirty-three requests and complaints were received. Men and teams of the street division have been used to good advantage in this division.
Statement of Tools and Personal Property in the Hands of the Sani- tary Division this Day.
Horses
Carts and implements used with horses
10,001 50
Auto truck
3,675 00
Harnesses and horse clothing
2,006 96
Stable utensils and property .
154 90
Tools .
124 00
Incinerator stock
103 00
Paint stock
6 75
Stock in harness room .
65 55
Stock and tools for horse shoeing
100 93
$26,538 59
Highways, Refuse Disposal Account. SANITARY DIVISION.
CREDIT.
Appropriation · $73,000 00
Transferred from Highways, Street Sprink-
ling
3,000 00
Transferred from Highways Maintenance . 3,563 72
$79,563 72
DEBIT.
Collecting refuse
$42,592 13
Collecting garbage .
20,794 55
Stable expenses
3,081 94
Carts, wagons, sleds, and repairing same .
1,462 44
Harnesses, horse clothing, and repairing same
456 11
Amounts carried forward
$68,387 17
$79,563 72
$10,300 00
363
STREET COMMISSIONER.
Amounts brought forward .
$68,387 17
$79,563 72
Tools and repairing same
91 07
One new horse
275 00
Horse medicine and doctoring
238 29
Horse shoeing (including stock on hand)
963 82
Hay and straw
4,498 80
Grain and feed
3,685 71
Money paid men injured while at work
237 57
Books, stationery, etc. .
73 85
Care of highway property
105 59
Laborers paid for holidays
712 85
Rental of dump
600 00
Incidentals
.
$79,880 11
Amount overdrawn .
$316 39
Emergency Calls.
The emergency call for this department is 8-8 on the fire alarm system, and is used to call the employees to the stable in case of an emergency. The emergency wagon is always ready, day or night, to answer all calls.
Miscellaneous.
Specifications were sent out to all the local and wholesale concerns and bids asked for the furnishing of edgestone, brick, sand, gravel, cement, tools, and paving stock, etc. The bids were opened publicly in the office of the mayor, and the con- tracts were awarded to the lowest bidders, preference being given to Somerville citizens or taxpayers.
This department has been called upon to furnish steam rollers, teams, crushed stone, sand, gravel, cement, and ashes to the other departments, being reimbursed for the same. The department maintains its own painter, carpenter, blacksmith, horseshoer, and harness repairer, all employed at the city stables.
Three horses have been purchased, four killed, and two died in the street division; one was bought and one died in the sanitary division during the year.
I have attended twenty-nine meetings of the committee on public works for consultation regarding work and petitions.
An act relative to pensioning laborers was accepted by the voters at the last election, and this will increase the expense, but I am unable at present to state just how much.
The following permits were issued during the year :-
Permits for steam rollers, erecting canopy and blasting rock 17
Permits for Cambridge Gas Light Company .
285
Permits for Charlestown Gas Company . 102
Permits for occupying streets and sidewalks .
200
Permits for opening streets and sidewalks 123
54
Permits for feeding horses
5
Street watering complaints and requests
30
Notifications to other departments and corporations . 379
-
10 39
Permits for crossing sidewalks
364
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Requests for repairing gravel sidewalks
165
Accidents reported
16
Police reports
502
Streets oiled
359
Brick and granolithic sidewalks repaired
238
Miscellaneous reports and requests .
Requests to care for moths
528 4
Poles and guards for trees
200
Drain layers' permits
234
Water department openings
924
Ice and snow removed (loads)
1,396
New signs erected by department
45
Signs repainted by department
43
Sand and gravel used (cubic yards)
1,919
Dirt removed or handled (cubic yards)
14,649
Scrapings removed from streets (cubic yards)
10,350
Old macadam used (cubic yards)
4,450
Ashes used (cubic yards) .
5,402
Recommendations.
I most respectfully recommend that the remaining unpaved portions of Elm street, Beacon street, Broadway, Somerville avenue, College avenue, Summer street, Springfield, Newton, and Prospect streets be completed. There were several streets, Central, Temple, and Morrison avenue, that were not resurfaced on account of lack of funds, and I hope the appropriation will be large enough the coming year to do these streets and such streets as Willow avenue, School street, Cedar, Linwood, and Tufts streets, and as many others as the committee and mayor may recommend. I also recommend that a portion of Middlesex avenue be paved.
By the transfer of the sanitary division to the highway department, the repairing of apparatus has increased to such an extent that the blacksmith shop should be enlarged, and the carpenter shop transferred from the stable cellar to the exten- sion on the blacksmith shop.
I wish to extend my sincere thanks to his honor, the mayor, board of aldermen, heads of departments, and all city officials and the general public for their able support and hearty co- operation; and I would express my appreciation of the con- scientious work and efficient service of the foremen, inspectors, teamsters, laborers, mechanics, and all others employed in the department.
Highways Maintenance Account.
CREDIT.
Balance from 1911 .
$2,769 90
Appropriation
32,000 00
Transfer from Street Cleaning
2,062 21
Transfer from Care of Trees .
401 80
Transfer from Sidewalks Maintenance .
225 85
Receipts and credits :-
Use of city teams on sundry work
$4,272 86
Amount carried forward .
$4,272 86
$37,459 76
365
STREET COMMISSIONER.
Amount brought forward .
$4,272 86
Use of steam road rollers
2,107 60
Private work, the bills for which re-
mained unpaid December 31, 1911 ·
617 97
Sand and gravel ·
12 67
Edgestone and paving stock .
69 50
Loam
77 98
Value of material on hand January 1, 1912 .
2,450 42
$9,609 00
Less transfer to Refuse Disposal .
3,563 72
Total credit
$43,505 04
DEBIT.
Expenditures :-
For repairs of sundry streets, as per table B, at end of this report .
$8,312 03
General repairs of streets
10,207 53
Repairs of gutters
159 78
Repairs of sheet and block paving .
1,139 33
Repairs of street crossings
33 75
Repairs of gravel sidewalks
769.93
Repairs of iron fence, Broadway, at Alewife Brook .
20 60
Repairs of iron fence, Washington street, near bridge,
9 65
Repairs of city scales at crusher
180 04
Repairs of automobiles
61 20
Repairs of crusher
728 93
Repairs of steam road roller
738 79
Repairs of tools
96 05
Repairs of carts, plows, etc.
1,556 70
Removing snow and ice and care of slippery side- walks
6,341 35
Painting carts
369 01
Street opening, Pennsylvania avenue at Broadway .
134 05
Street opening, Wisconsin avenue at Broadway .
219 78
Street opening, Spring street at Moran estate
151 31
Locating track in Cedar street yard (one-half paid by Water Board), $232.62 .
116 31
street (city's portion)
64 70
Care of subways
545 84
Making road across marsh to bathhouse
5 15
Carpentering
280 15
Blacksmithing
422 13
Painting
20
Street signs
611 26
Money paid men injured while at work .
244 94
Money paid men for holidays .
687 93
Sawing wood
104 65
Waltham Gravel Land (taxes)
228 96
Books, printing, and stationery
100 30
Street Commissioner's salary .
2,400 00
Street Commissioner's team
178 00
Street Commissioner's telephone
34 51
Tools
881 88
Iron and hardware
12 81
Steam drill .
223 52
Ashes
225 85
Amount carried forward
. $39,973 16
-
·
.
.
.
Taking care of highway property .
1,355 26
·
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.