Report of the city of Somerville 1913, Part 35

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 540


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1913 > Part 35


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Complete efficiency is the goal for which all fire depart- ments are striving, and to that end, besides having up-to-date machinery, it is necessary to have Johnny-on-the-spot men. It is therefore necessary that the force consist of all' permanent men to respond with the rapid moving apparatus, which cannot stop to pick up men while en route to a fire, as has been the custom with horse-drawn apparatus. This can be done by dis- continuing the call force, consisting of thirty (30) men, whose salaries total $6,000 and adding eighteen (18) men to our per- manent force, whose salaries the first year will be $16,200 or an added increase of $10,200 to the maintenance the first year.


With the advent of motor driven apparatus, a quicker strik- ing fire alarm service is imperative if we intend to get the best, in fact only results, of this improved style of apparatus. The foundation upon which the fire department rests is its fire alarm service. Our present system is very far behind the times and our efficiency depends upon a new and complete equipment.


Somerville's fire hazard is very high owing to lack of de- fined fire limits and districts, building laws that do not provide adequately against fire, the chief concern seemingly being se- curity against collapse, the large percentage of frame dwellings with shingled roofs, and the small distance between buildings.


I recommend the re-enactment of that part of Chapter 20, Section 60 of the revised ordinances relative to repairing roofs, the shingling ordinance. so-called. also that all side walls of all wooden buildings shall be placed not less than five feet from the line, and where a wooden building is already erected upon


448


ANNUAL REPORTS.


an adjoining lot, there shall be left between the walls of the building erected and the one to be erected if of wood, a clear, open space of ten feet ; if a brick wall is substituted for a wooden wall, there shall be no opening in brick wall if less than ten feet from adjoining building.


Again I urge the enactment of an ordinance requiring the inspection of buildings by the fire department. On May 1, I submitted a draft of an inspection ordinance to the board of aldermen. I urge this, or one of similar import be given early attention. Inspection of buildings by the officers and members of the fire department is of the utmost importance, in that they may inform themselves relative to entrances, stair- ways, trapdoors, elevators, and passageways, the location of cut-offs to gas, water and electricity, and furthermore, ascer- tain and cause to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire or any violations of any ordinance of the city affecting the fire hazard.


In Conclusion.


The personnel of the department and the character and ap- pearance of the men together with the fire fighting equipment is of a very high standard ; it is very gratifying to be able to state that the efficiency and discipline of the department are un- usually good. Too much praise cannot be accorded the officers and members of the department for their readiness and prompt- ness in the performance of the department work.


To His Honor, the Mayor, the Public Safety Committee and the Board of Aldermen unusual credit is due for the gener- ous response to the recommendations in the report of the pre- vious year, all of which has tended to the advancement and greater efficiency of the department.


Respectfully submitted, SEWALL M. RICH, Chief Engineer.


REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.


OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE,


CITY OF SOMERVILLE, January 20, 1914. 5


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


Gentlemen,-I herewith respectfully submit for your con- sideration my fifth annual report as chief of police, giving in detail the amount of work performed by the police department for the year ending December 31, 1913 :---


Arrests.


Whole number of arrests made .


1,480


With and without warrants .


1,081


On summons and notification


399


1,480


Males


1,400


Females


80


1,480


Americans


985


Foreign born .


495


1,480


Residents


920


Non-residents .


560


1,480


1 .- Crimes and Offenses Against the Person.


Assault


1


Assault on officer .


1


Assault with dangerous weapon .


4


Assault with intent to murder


2


Assault with intent to rape .


2


Assault with intent to rob .


1


Assault and battery


106


Assault and battery on officer


1


Manslaughter


2


Rape


2


2 .- Crimes and Offenses Against Property.


Arson, attempt


2


Breaking and entering


64


Breaking and entering railroad car


3


Breaking glass, wantonly


8


Burning building


2


Defacing voting list


1


Fraud


1


Larceny


92


Larceny from person


3


Larceny in building


3


Malicious mischief .


3


Mortgaged property, concealment of .


1


Carried forward .


183


.


·


.


122


.


.


450


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Brought forward


183


Receiving stolen property .


7


Trespass


17


Unclean milk bottles, in possession of


1


Unlawful appropriation of horse .


4


Unlawful taking of team


2


Unlawful use of registered milk cans


5


Wilful injury to real estate .


2


221


3 .- Crimes and Offenses Against Public Order, etc.


Bail surrender


5


Bastardy


.


·


.


5


Capias


10


Carrying revolver without license


1


City ordinances, violation of


102


Cruelty to animals .


2


Default


5


Delinquent children


1


Desertion of wife .


3


Disorderly conduct on public conveyance


2


Disturbing the peace


5


Disturbing public school


1


Dog keeping, vicious .


1 510 12 1


Escaped from hospital at Foxboro


1


Escaped from truant school , .


1


Furnishing liquor to prisoner


1


Giving false weight of ice .


5


Giving false weight of potatoes


1


Incest


1


Indecent exposure of person


6 32


Lewdness


2


Lewd and lascivious cohabitation


1


Liquor laws, violation of


13


Loitering on railroad grounds


3


Neglected children .


26


Neglect of family .


93


Neglect to support illegitimate children


2


Peddling without license


5


Polygamy


1


Rescue of prisoner


2


Rescue of prisoner, attempt .


Safe keeping, delirium tremens


4 1


Safe keeping, infirm


1


Safe keeping, insane


2


Safe keeping, lost boy


1 8


Selling horse unfit for labor .


1


Sodomy


I


Stubbornness


12


Carried forward


898


2


Deserter, United States Navy


Drunkenness


Drunkenness, common .


Explosives placed on railroad track Forgery


1


Labor laws, violation of


.


Safe keeping, demented


Safe keeping, runaways .


1,137


Recapitulation.


(1) Crimes and Offenses Against the Person . 122


(2) Crimes and Offenses Against Property 221


(3) Crimes and Offenses Against Public Order, Etc., 1,137


Whole number of arrests made .


1,480


Bailed to appear at other courts . 5


Cases dismissed in police court . 11


Cases in which nolle prosequi was entered 10


Delivered to jail at East Cambridge, bail surrender . 3


Delivered to jail at East Cambridge, capias . 1


1


Delivered to superior court, capias .


4


Delivered to police court Somerville, capias


1


Delivered to police court Somerville, default .


4


Delivered to United States navy yard, deserter .


1


Released from custody, violation of probation . 1


Released by probation officer, for drunkenness 27


Surrendered to other officers, institutions, etc.


66


Witness in manslaughter case, held under bonds . 1


Cases in which no prosecution was made in Som- erville


138


Number of cases held for trial . 1.342 Note .- Two hundred and seventeen of the above number of cases were juveniles and delinquents.


Miscellaneous Reports.


Abandoned automobiles found .


2


Accidents reported . 203


Amount of property reported stolen $15,504.37


Amount of stolen property recovered . 13,058.91


Amount of property reported lost


894.47


Amount of lost property recovered 91.49


Amount of property reported destroyed and damaged


111.50


4


Violation of Lord's Day


24


Violation of milk laws .


9


Violation of parole from industrial school


1


Violation of public park rules


2


Violation of school law .


1


Violation of terms of probation .


9


Wayward child


1


Walking on railroad track


16


Witness to manslaughter


I


451


CHIEF OF POLICE.


Brought forward


898


Throwing glass in public highway


1


Throwing missiles at railroad cars


3


Unlawfully attempting to ride on freight cars .


6


Unlawfully riding on freight cars


12


Unlawfully storing gasoline .


1


Uttering forged order


1


Vagrants


11


Violation of automobile laws


136


Violation of cigarette laws


Delivered to jail at East Cambridge, vio., probation, Delivered to superior court, bail surrender


2


452


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Angora cat found


1


Assault, attempt


1


Assaults


11


Assault and battery .


1


Assault with dangerous weapon .


2


Attempts to break and enter, false alarm of


3


Attempts to break and enter .


23


Attempt to break open gas meter


1


Attempts to commit arson


2


Attempts to commit larceny .


4


Attempts to commit suicide .


5


Attempt to rob


1


Automobile, reckless driving of


1


Bogus gas inspector


1


Bridge steps dangerous, from snow


1


Building broken and entered, false alarm of


1


Buildings broken and entered, nothing stolen Building damaged by wind


1


Buildings erected, repaired, etc.


5


Buildings found open


365 1


Burglary, false alarm of .


1


Coon cat missing


1


Dead animal found .


1


Dead horse reported


1


Dead body found .


1


Defective billboard .


1


Defective boundary stone


1


Defective bridges


7


Defective catch-basins


12


Defective fire alarm box .


1


Defective gas gate box


1


Defective hydrants .


3


Defective manhole covers


7


Defective park fence


1


Defective poles


7


Defective sidewalks .


352


Defective signs and sign posts


10


Defective streets


84


Defective subways


2


Defective telephone service in police signal system


1


Defective water gate boxes


14


Defective water pipe


1


Defective wires


29


Disturbances suppressed


8


Dogs killed


12


Dogs lost .


3


Fence dangerous


1


Fires, alarms given for .


17


Fire, false alarms of


15


Fires, needless alarms for


2


Fires, incendiary


7


Fires reported .


93


Fires, still alarm for


2


Fire alarm boxes, glass broken


10


Fraud


3


Gas leak


1


Goat killed


1


Heat prostration


.


1


30


Building dangerous .


1


Chimney blown down


453


CHIEF OF' POLICE.


Horses killed .


2


Larceny attempt


.


Larceny, false report of .


.


Larcenies, no value given


23


Larcenies reported .


384


Lost children


4


Lost children found


30


Malicious mischief


5


Missing persons


21


Missing persons found


12


Neglected children .


2


Obstructions in streets


22


Obstructions in streets, lighted


2


Obstructions in streets, removed


2


Obstructions on sidewalks


3


Offal uncollected


1


Panes of glass broken


55


Park walk dangerous


1


Permits granted to labor on Lord's Day


88


Persons bitten by dogs .


2


Persons helped home


2


Personal property, injury to .


1


Property damaged, no value given


5


Property lost, no value given


16 20 1


Rape


1


Robberies


2


Runaway boys


2


Runaway boys found


3


Runaway teams stopped .


5


Sick horse


1


Sidewalks dangerous from snow and ice


31


Slot machines broken


4


Still born infant found


1


Stray dogs


3


Stray dogs found


2


Stray horse


1 3


Stray teams


2


Stray teams found .


5


Street lights reported Strike


4,256 1


Sudden deaths .


3


Suicides


3


Suicide, threatened


1


Summonses served for witnesses and defendants to appear at court at other places


95


Suspicious persons


&


Team hired and not returned .


1


Trees blown down


2


Trees dangerous


36


Unlawful appropriation of automobile .


1


Unlawful appropriation of horses .


4


Vacant houses .


5 6


Water pipes leaking


85


Windows broken Window peeper .


15


.


1


Property found, no value given .


Prospect Hill tower, railing dangerous


1


1


Violation of city ordinances


Stray horses found .


454


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Police Signal Service and Horse Drawn Patrol Wagon and Horse Drawn Ambulance Reports.


Number of on duty reports made by the patrolmen . 274,658


Number of telephone calls


31,024


Number of runs made with the patrol wagon . 19


Number of prisoners conveyed to station in patrol wagon 28


Number of miles run with the patrol wagon 23


Number of sick and injured persons conveyed in ambulance, 330


Number of miles run in conveying prisoners to and from jail


688


Number of miscellaneous runs made with patrol wagon and ambulance


28


Automobile Patrol-Ambulance.


Number of runs, made in conveying prisoners to station .


631


Number of prisoners conveyed to station .


768


Number of sick and injured conveyed .


375


Number of miles run in conveying prisoners to station 1,485.0


Number of miles run in conveying sick and injured,


1,284.5


Number of miles run in conveying prisoners to and from jail


186.1


Number of miles run elsewhere .


1,370.0


Total number of miles run for all purposes . 4,325.6


CHIEF OF POLICE. 455


Official Roster of Department. CHIEF OF POLICE. Charles A. Kendall. CAPTAIN. Robert R. Perry.


Dennis Kelley. Eugene A. Carter.


Edward McGarr. George H. Carleton.


Thomas Damery.


Michael T. Kennedy.


PATROLMEN.


Edward M. Carter.


George L. Smith.


John J. Cummings.


Francis A. Perkins.


Lemuel J. Simons.


Jacob W. Skinner.


Edmund J. Keane.


Theodore E. Heron.


Denis Neylon.


Ezra A. Dodge.


Denis Downey


Charles W. Stevens.


Edward M. Davies.


Daniel G. Simons. Samuel Burns.


James E. Phillips.


Frederick H. Googins.


Louis J. Bolzarini.


Jotham Chisholm.


Walter Reed.


Dennis G. Mulqueency.


Patrick J. Doolin.


Edward J. Hopkins.


Eugene A. Woodsum.


William G. Kenney.


George L. Rice. Myron S. Gott.


Frederick G. Jones.


Charles W. Reick.


Joseph A. Dwyer.


Frank C. Hopkins.


Thomas P. Walsh.


Charles W. Allen


Clyde W. Steeves.


Augustine J. Fitzpatrick.


Patrick McGrath.


Bernard McCabe.


Frank H. Graves.


Harry C. Young.


Henry A. Sudbey. Thomas F. McNamara.


Peter Moore.


Albert C. Hawes.


Walter C. Oesting.


John L. Cameron.


Francis P. Higgins.


i Arthur S. Walsh.


RESERVE MEN.


Charles E. Wilson. William J. Warner. Timothy Buckley. John J. Killourhy. Charles J. Sharry.


John J. McCahey. Alexander Morrison. Daniel J. Powers. Jeremiah O'Connor. James P. Higgins.


LIEUTENANTS.


Charles E. Woodman.


SERGEANTS.


James M. Harmon. Jolın A. Ray.


INSPECTORS.


Claude L. Crossman.


George A. C. Peters.


William J. Davidson.


Elmer E. Drew.


John A. Dadmun.


Walter L. Groves.


Hudson M. Howe. Ernest S. Goff. Sanford S. Lewis.


Robert D. Dewar.


Louis F Arnold.


Charles S. Johnston.


James M. Lynch. Martin Sharry.


Robert T. Blair. Ernest Howard.


-


456


ANNUAL REPORTS.


CHAUFFEURS AND PATROL DRIVERS.


Charles J. Fulton.


James H. White.


Jaines W. Lundergan.


MATRON. Minnie F. Woodland.


PENSIONERS, RETIRED ON HALF-PAY .


George W. Bean, July 2, 1902. James J. Pollard, Feb 27, 1908.


Albion L. Staples, Mar. 24, 1905.


Melville C. Parkhurst, Oct. 31, 1908.


John E. Fuller, Mar. 23, 1906.


Herbert Hilton, Dec. 21, 1911.


Ira S. Carleton, May 9. 1907.


CHANGES IN THE PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT DURING THE YEAR.


February 14, 1913, Martin Sharry, patrolman, died.


October 17, 1913, Minnie F. Woodland, matron, discharged.


December 31, 1913, Dennis Kelley, lieutenant, retired and placed upon a pension.


Absence from Duty.


Officers have been absent from duty the following number of days for absence with leave, regular days off, sickness or dis- ability and annual vacations :-


Absent.


Days off.


Sick. Vacation. Total.


Kendall, Charles A.


0


61/2


17


8


31.1/2


Perry, Robert R


0


1/2


3


0


31/2


Kelley. Dennis.


0)


24


0


14


38


Carter, Eugene A.


0


24


0


14


38


Woodman, Charles E.


4


24


0


14


42


McGarr, Edward.


2


24


0


14


40


Carleton, George H.


0


21


0


14


35


Harmon, James M.


0


24


11


14


49


0


21


0


14


35


Damery, Thomas


3


24


0


14


41


Kennedy, Michael


T


0


13


0


14


27


Allen, Charles W


0


24


0


14


38


Arnold, Louis F.


12


24


7


14


57


Belzarini, Louis J


21/2


2.1


1


14


411/2


Blair, Robert T.


1


24


0


14


39


Burns, Samuel.


3


24


6


14


47


Carter, Edward M


0


24


0


14


38


Chisholm, Jotham.


0


24


3


14


41


Crossman, Claude L.


3


24


0


14


41


Cummings. John J


2


24


0


14


40


Dadmun, John A.


0


24


0


14


38


Davidson, William


0


24


8


14


46


Davies, Edward M.


0


24


0


14


38


Dewar, Robert D


0


21


241/2


14


621/2


Dodge, Ezra A.


0


24


40


14


78


Doolin, Patrick J


0


24


3


14


41


Downey, Denis


5


24


28


14


71


Drew, Elmer E.


4


21


56


14


98


Dwyer, Joseph A.


4


24


0


14


42


Fitzpatrick, Augustine J.


3


24


1


14


42


Goff, Ernest S.


2


24


0


14


40


Googins, Frederick H


1


24


0


14


39


. .


.


.


.


.


. .


. .


.


J


.


.


. .


Ray, John A.


457


CHIEF OF POLICE.


Absent. Days off. Sick. Vacation. Total.


Gott, Myron S ..


0


24


0


14


38


Graves, Frank H.


1


24


3


14


42


Groves, Walter L.


7


21


51


14


93


Hawes, Albert C.


1


24


0


14


39


Heron, Theodore E.


1


24


14


14


53


Higgins, Francis P.


0


21


0


14


38


Hopkins, Edward J.


0


24


0


14


38


Howard, Ernest. .


5


24


0


14


43


Howe, Hudson M.


1


24


0


14


39


Johnston, Charles S.


1


24


201/2


14


591/2


Jones, Frederick G.


0


24


0


14


38


Keane, Edmund J.


0


24


1


14


39


Kenney, William G


0


24


0


14


38


Lewis, Sanford S.


7


24


0


14


45


Lynch, James M.


0


24


0


14


38


McCabe, Bernard.


2


24


0


14


40


McGrath, Patrick.


0


24


0


14


38


McNamara, Thomas F.


0


24


27


14


65


Moore, Peter.


0


24


3


14


41


Mulqueeney, Dennis G


4


24


6


14


48


Neylon, Denis.


0


24


10


14


48


Oesting, Walter C.


0


24


7


14


45


Perkins, Francis A.


0


24


1


14


39


Peters, George A. C.


2


24


0


14


40


Phillips, James E.


1


24


10


14


49


Reed, Walter


2


24


0


14


40


Reick, Charles W


0


24


0


14


38


Rice, George L ..


0


24


0


14


38


Simons, Daniel G.


3


21


0


14


41


Simons Lemuel J.


0


24


19


14


57


Skinner, Jacob W.


0


24


0


14


38


Smith, George L.


0


24


0


14


38


Steeves, Clyde W


1


24


0


14


39


Stevens, Charles W


0


24


5


14


43


Sudbey, Henry A.


5


24


5


14


48


Walsh, Arthur S.


22


24


0


14


60


Walsh, Thomas P.


0


24


5


14


43


Woodsum, Eugene A.


1


24


0


14


39


Young, Harry C ...


0


24


0


14


38


Fulton, Charles J. (Chauffeur)


0


24


2


14


40


Lundergan, James W. (Chauffeur) ..


0)


24


2


14


40


White, James H. (Chauffeur)


24


0


0


31


1281/2


1,739


400


1,016


3,2831/2


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


Performance of Duties.


The officers have all performed their trying duties in a creditable manner and the city has been very orderly and I believe there is no city of its size in the country that on the whole is better than this city in this respect.


The liquor laws have been well enforced and the city has been very free from illegal liquor traffic.


The juvenile offenders have been of much annoyance to citizens as usual, yet J think there has been a marked improve-


3


24


0


14


41


Hopkins, Frank C.


.


.


4


.


458


ANNUAL REPORTS.


ment the past year in dealing with this class of offenders after they have been before the court, due to the supervision exer- cised over them by the two probation officers.


Three officers were detailed for duty at Milford, Mass., for a period of three weeks, to assist the police there during a strike in that town.


A large number of incendiary fires were set during a period of the year. A man was arrested and held for the grand jury, being later indicted and tried in the superior court-the jury disagreed and he was released from custody and on the same day set another fire and was arrested again, bailed and finally sent to an insane hospital.


The large amount of travel through Somerville by automo- biles has necessitated the detailing of officers for traffic duty and this duty seems to be increasing.


The moving picture houses, dances, entertainments, etc., have called for a large number of extra details of police.


Recommendations.


I wish to renew my request for more motor vehicles and improvements to be made in the police building, such as laying new floors, painting and refinishing the interior of the building.


The appointment of additional sergeants and patrolmen.


Conclusion.


I wish to express my thanks to the Mayor, Honorable Charles A. Burns, for his hearty support of all good work per- formed by the members of this department ; to Judge L. Roger Wentworth; Clerk of Courts, Daniel H. Bradley ; Probation Officers William P. Jones and James T. Mulroy, and to my as- sociates in the police department who have assisted by their fidelity to duty.


Respectfully submitted, CHARLES A. KENDALL, Chief of Police.


REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.


OFFICE OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, -


City Hall Annex, Somerville, January 1, 1914.


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


The following report of the sealer of weights and measures for the year 1913 is respectfully submitted :-


Section 21, chapter 62, of the Revised Laws provides that sealers of weights and measures shall annually give public notice by advertisement, or by posting, in one or more public places in their respective cities and towns, notices to all in- habitants or persons having usual places of business therein who use weights, measures or balances for the purpose of selling goods, wares, merchandise, or other commodities or for public weighing to bring in their weights, measures and balances to be adjusted and sealed. Such sealers shall attend in one or more convenient places, and shall adjust, seal and record all weights, measures and balances so brought in.


Section 34 of the same chapter provides that each sealer of weights and measures, including the county treasurers, shall receive a fee of one dollar for sealing each platform balance if weighing five thousand pounds or more, and fifty cents if weighing less than that amount, and three cents each for sealing all other weights, measures, scales, beams or balances. He shall also have a reasonable compensation for all necessary repairs, alterations and adjustments made by him.


Where weights, measures and balances are sealed as provided in Section 21 (that is, brought to the office), no fee is charged for sealing.


In compliance with the foregoing Section 21, the customary notice was given by advertising in the Somerville Journal and the Somerville Reporter in March, 1913.


During the year the sealer visited all places in the city where goods were brought or sold, tested all scales, weights and measures, sealed those which were found correct, and condemned all found beyond repair and useless.


214 scales, weights and measures were adjusted before sealing, thirty-nine scales were tagged for repairs, sixteen of which were repaired as ordered, and the remaining fifteen put out of use.


Work done in weights and measures during the year 1913 :---


460


ANNUAL REPORTS.


No. of Tests Made at Office.


No. of Tests Made out of Office.


Number of scales sealed


523


1,829


Number of weights sealed


290


4,374


Number of dry measures sealed


140


116


Number of tin liquid measures sealed


8,056


1,415


Number of glass liquid measures sealed .


1,728


0


Number of yard sticks sealed


0


171


Number of coal and berry baskets sealed


5


0


Number of miscellaneous sealed


9


9


Number of store weighings


.


4,150


Total number of all kinds sealed


10,751


12,064


22,815


Number of scales adjusted and sealed


43


34


Number of weights adjusted and sealed


38


73


Number of dry measures adjusted and sealed


0


0


Number of liquid measures adjusted and sealed


26


0


Total number adjusted and sealed


107


· 107


214


Number of scales tagged for repairs .


17


22


Number of scales repaired as ordered


13


3


Total number tagged and repaired


30


25


55


Number of scales condemned


17


4


Number of weights condemned .


0


0


Number of dry measures condemned


6


0)


Number of liquid measures condemned


15


1


Number of yard sticks condemned .


0


1


Number of miscellaneous condemned


0


0


Total number condemned


176


6


182


Total number tested in and out of office


23,266


Receipts for the year 1913 :-


Appropriation


$2,500 00


Fees received for sealing and adjusting


475 90


Expenditures for the year 1913 :-


Telephone service


25 81


Printing books and sunnlies .


120 85


Amount raid for team .


353 50


Amount paid for helper .


33 50


Salary of sealer


1,100 00


Salary of deputy sealer .


900 00


2,533 66


Unexpended balance


$442 24


.


$2,975 90


.


JOHN H. DUSSEAULT, Sealer of Weights and Measures.


REPORT OF THE CITY SOLICITOR.


Somerville, January 15, 1914.


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


The following is my report as city solicitor for the year 1913 :-


Actions in court and claims for injuries received by reason of defects in public ways were settled for $30, $50, $56, $60, $87.50, $100, $125, $225, $500, $600, $600 and $800. Three of these settlements were made without expense to the city, an abutting owner making the payment of $50 and the Boston Elevated Railway Co. making the payments of $225 and $800. An action brought because of a defect in a public way at an approach to a railroad bridge was discontinued without expense to the city.


An action brought by the town of Norwood to recover ex- penditures made for the support of a poor person was discon- tinned without expense to the city.


A petition for a writ of mandamus brought against the mayor to compel the re-instatement of a patrol driver in the police department was dismissed by a justice of the supreme court principally for the reason that the petitioner had not been lawfully employed.


The work of construction in the abolition of grade cross- ings at Medford street and at Dane street is practically com- pleted. Work has not yet begun at Park street. An action brought by J. Walter Sanborn for damages to land and build- ings on Prospect street, in which a verdict for $3,011.25 was given by the jury, has been settled by the payment of $2,900, without costs or interest. Many claims for land damages at various crossings have been settled during the year by agree- ment with the owners.


Two bills before the legislature were successfully opposed, one providing for a change in the basis of apportioning the expenses of the Metropolitan Water District, whereby a larger share would have been placed upon this city, the other requir- ing various cities and towns to pay a part of the expenses of constructing and maintaining bridges over the Charles River between Cambridge and Boston. A special act was secured to provide for the care of surface water at the new grade of Medford street. An amendment to the building laws of the state was secured, whereby the reasons have been taken away for which the court held to be invalid an ordinance of this city in regard to non-combustible roof coverings.




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