Report of the city of Somerville 1914, Part 32

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 596


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1914 > Part 32


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 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44


....


Madison st. s'ly146


Highland ave.


Private.


10


....


140


..


1,262


Pennsylvania ave.


Wisconsin ave.


Cross st. .


Perkins pl.


Perkins st.


Northeasterly


Private.


20


155


Pinckney pl.


Pinckney st.


Southeasterly


Private.


24


Piper ave.


Cedar st.


Westerly.


Private.


20


. .


380


Pit man


Spring st. .


Belmont st.


Private.


26


Poplar ct.


Poplar st.


Southeasterly


Private.


10


Porter ave.


Porter st.


Northwesterly .


Private.


20


. . .


Powder house boulevard


square


Mystic river and


Medford line


Public.


80


7,200


. .


. .


Princeton


Lowell st.


Centre st.


Private.


40


Prospect


Powder house


Northwesterly,


Private.


25


Pembroke ct.


Pembroke st.


Southwesterly


Public.


35


203


Partridge ave.


Vernou st.


Southeasterly


Private.


8


100


Paulina .


Packard ave.


Professors row


Private.


60


....


240


120


500


Private.


50


..


200


65


150


. .


244


110


450


LENGTH.


408


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table Showing the Location, Length and Width of Public and Private Streets .- Continued.


STREET.


FROM


To


Public or Private.


Width in Feet.


Public.


Private.


Roberts .


Hinckley st. .


Northwesterly .


Private.


20


. ...


Robinson


Central st.


Bartlett st.


Public.


40


582


....


Rogers ave.


Morrison ave.


Boston ave.


Public.


45


1,682


....


Roland st. .


Waverly st.


Boston line


Private.


40


Roseland


Beacon st.


Cambridge line


Public.


40


121


. .


Rossmore


Somerville ave.


Washington st.


Public.


40


534


Royce pl.


Bonair st.


Northeasterly


Private.


15+


175


Rush .


Broadway .


Flint st.


Public.


40


1,400


Russell road


Broadway .


near P. H. boulevard


Public.


40


559


Russell .


Elm st.


Cambridge line


Public.


40


700


Sacramento


Somerville ave.


Fitchburg R. R.


Public.


40


80


Sacramento


Fitchburg R. R.


Beacon st.


Public.


40


290


. .


..


Sacramento


Beacon st.


Cambridge line


Publ c.


40


154


. .


..


Sanborn ave.


Warren ave. .


Walnut st.


Public.


40


280


178


Sargent ave.


Broadway .


Walnut st.


Public.


40


1,075


..


Sartwell ave.


Cedar st.


Cherry st.


Public.


35


427


690


Sawyer ave.


Somerville ave.


Highland ave.


Public.


40


1,901


School


Highland ave.


Broadway


Public.


50


2,500


120


Seven Pines ave.


Cameron ave.


Cambridge line


Public.


40


92


190


Sewall


Grant st.


Temple st.


Public.


40


615


....


Shawmut


Somerville ave.


Merriam ave.


Private.


40


310


Sherman ct.


Sargent ave. .


Marshall st.


Private.


10


250


Sibley ct.


Cutter st.


Northwesterly .


Private.


10


Sibley pl.


Cutter st.


Northwesterly .


Private.


10


. .


835


Skehan


Dane st.


Hanson st.


Public.


30


306


414


Skehan


Pearl st. around to


Pearl st.


Private.


40


....


200


Smith ave.


Beacon st.


Line st.


Private.


25+


.. .


120


Snow ter.


Jaques st.


Southwesterly


Private.


16


4,325


. .


. .


N. Camb. line


Public.


70


6,793


....


South


Medford st.


Water st.


Public.


30


989


....


Spencer ave.


Cedar st.


Hancock st.


Public.


40


727


..


Spring ct.


Somerville ave.


Summer st.


Public.


40


1,220


Cambridge line


Public.


40


788


Spring Hill ter.


Highland ave.


Belmont st.


Private.


20


....


670


Stanford ter.


Beacon st.


Northeasterly


Private.


'20


....


120


Steeves circle .


Cherry st.


Easterly .


Private.


.15


...


800


Stickney ave.


Elm st.


Summer st.


Public.


30


125


....


Union sq.


Columbus ave.


Public.


40


676


....


Stone ave.


Stone ave.


Southeasterly


Public.


30


142


15


Strathmore road.


Broadway.


Medford line.


Private.


40


..


Elm st.


Public.


45


7,900


Summer


Walnut st.


Vinal ave.


Public.


45


532


..


Summit .


College ave.


Billingham st.


Public.


40


262


175


Sumner


Hinckley' st.


Northwesterly .


Private.


20


....


Sunnyside ave.


Walnut st.


Wigglesworth st.


Public.


25 to 35


306


658


Sunset rd.


Curtis st.


Hillsdale road .


Private.


40


1,275


...


Sycamore


Medford st.


B. & L. R. R. .


Public.


40


667


. . . .


Sycamore


B. & L. R. R.


Highland ave. .


Public.


35


722


. .


Sydney .


Grant st. .


Temple st.


Public.


40


679


....


Talbot ave.


Packard ave.


College ave. .


Private.


50


1,409


#Tannery (Ext'n)


Cambridge line.


Woodstock st (Ext'n)


Private.


40


..


1€0


Taunton.


Wyatt st.


Easterly to angle .


Private.


30


..


..


170


Taunton


Angle


Marioń st.


Private.


20


..


..


200


Taylor pl.


Somerville ave.


Southerly


Private.


15


....


. .


..


.


Summer st.


Northeasterly


Stone ave.


Columbus ave.


Prospect Hill p'k'y


Public.


38


107


....


Stone pl.


Somerville ave.


Westerly .


Private.


20


..


200


Spring


Concord ave.


Powder House Bd.


Private.


40


....


Public.


40


458


..


Public.


40


488


St. James ave. ext


Hanson


Durham


Private.


30


. .


540


Skilton ave.


Marshall st. .


Northwesterly


Private.


12


Southwesterly


Private.


25


Sewall ct.


Washington st. .


Cross st.


Public.


40


575


1( 0


Simpson ave


Broadway .


Holland st. .


Private.


40


Somerville ave.


E. Camb. line


Union so


Public.


75


Somerville ave.


Union sq.


Northwesterly .


Private.


30


Sanborn ct.


Washington st.


Packard ave.


Curtis st.


Private.


40


School


Sellon pl.


Sewall st. .


Shedd


100


200


*Sterling st.


North st.


Marshall st. .


School st.


St. James ave.


Summit ave.


Broadway


Medford st.


Public.


45


Sycamore


*Proposed.


LENGTH.


170


100


·


95


Springfield


Bow st.


409


CITY ENGINEER.


Table Showing the Location, Length and Width of Public and Private Streets .- Continued.


STREET.


FROM


To


Public or Private.


Width in Feet.


Public.


Private.


Taylor


Mystic ave.


Sydney st.


Public.


40


309


Teele ave.


Packard ave.


Curtis st.


Public.


40


685


Temple .


Broadway


Mystic ave.


Public.


66


1,637


Tenney ct.


Mystic ave.


Northeasterly


Private.


30


400


Tennyson


Forsier st.


Pembroke st.


Public.


40


922


Thorndike


Holland st.


Arl'ngt'n Br. R. R.


Public.


40


465


....


Thorndike


Arl'gt'n Br. R.R.


Kingston st.


Public.


40


115


. .


Thorpe


Highland ave.


Southwesterly


Public.


30


468


....


Thurston


Broadway


Richdale ave.


Public.


40


1,660


97


Tower ct.


Tyler st.


Northeasterly


Private.


25


150


Tower


Crown st.


Highland ave.


Public.


40


559


75


Tremont


Webster ave.


Cambridge line


Public.


40


5×9


Trull


Version st.


Medford st.


Public


40


1,050


Trull lane


Highland ave.


Oxford st.


Private.


15


. .


200


Tufts parkway


College ave. .


College ave.


Public.


22


900


. .


Tufts


Washington st.


Cross st.


Public.


40


982


....


Tyler


Vine st.


Dane st.


Public.


40


404


....


Union


Broadway


Mystic ave.


Public.


40


345


Union pl.


Linwood st.


Southwesterly


Private.


10


100


Upland Park


Main st.


Southwesterly


Private.


20


. .


175


Vermont ave.


Mystic ave.


Pennsylvania ave.


Private.


40


433


Vernon


Central st.


Glenwood road


Public.


49)


764


. .


..


Vernon


Glenwood road .


Partridge ave. .


Public.


40 to 30


190


....


Vernon


Partridge ave.


Lowell st.


Public.


30


434


..


..


..


Village


Dane st.


Vine st.


Private.


25


370


Vinal ave.


Summer st.


Highland ave.


Public.


45


1,425


200


Vine ct. .


Vine st.


Northwesterly .


Private.


25


....


110


Vine .


Somerville ave.


Fitchburg R. R.


Public.


40


540


Vine .


Fitchburg R. R.


Hanson st.


Private.


40


2.22


Vine .


Hanson st.


Beacon st.


Public.


30


662


Virginia .


Aldrich st.


Jasper st.


Public.


40


405


. . . .


Wade ct.


Cedar st.


Westerly .


Private.


20


180


Waldo ave.


Beacon st.


Dimick st.


Private.


40


277


Waldo


Highland ave.


Hudson st.


Public.


40


287


Walker st.


Broadway .


Leonard st.


Public.


40


718


. .


Wallace .


Holland st.


Broadway


Public.


40


1,342


. .


. .


Walnut


Bow st.


Broadway


Public.


40


3,948


..


Walnut road


Walnut st.


Kennesou road


Public.


40


270


Walter pl.


Walter st.


Southwesterly


Private.


40


....


222


Walter


Walnut st.


of Bradley st.


Ward


Medford st.


Harding st.


Public.


30


433


. .


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


....


Warwick place


Warwick st.


Northeasterly


Private.


15


. .


150


Warwick


Cedar st. .


Warwick pl.


Public.


40


665


..


Washington ave.


Washington st. .


Northerly


Private.


18


. .


..


114


Washington


Charlest'n line .


Fitchburg R. R.


Public.


60 to 100


3,977


..


Washington


Fitchburg R. R. South st.


Northerly


Public.


25


366


.. ..


Waterhouse


Broadway


Cambridge line


Public.


40


987


Watson .


Broadway


Fairmount ave.


Private.


40


....


236


Waverly


Washington st. .


Roland st.


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


..


. .


..


Timmins pl.


Dane st.


Westerly .


Private.


3.5


..


Tremont pl.


Tremont st.


Southeasterly


Private.


about 10


1,036


. .


Villa ave.


Winslow ave.


Arlington Br. R. R.


Private.


35


21:0


Vinal


Richardson st.


Northeasterly


Private.


20


..


650


Washington pl.


Washington st. .


Southerly


Private.


Public.


about 7.5 75


1,060


Washington


Franklin ave.


Cambridge line


Public.


60


2,344


..


Water


f about 100 ft. N


Public.


40


543


..


Webster ave.


Union sq.


Cambridge line


Private.


35


200


Victoria .


Broadway


Cambridge line


Public


40


. .


..


LENGTH.


. . ..


.


Franklin ave.


410


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Table Showing the Location, Length and Width of Public and Private Streets .- Continued.


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


....


West .


Highland ave.


Arlington Br.R.R.


Private.


30


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. .


Public.


40


1,364


. .


..


Wheeler


Pinckney st.


Mt. Vernon st.


Public.


40


269


...


Whipple


Highland ave.


Arlington Br. R. R.


Private.


30


318


White St. pl.


White st.


Southeasterly


Private.


40


..


..


..


632


Wigglesworth .


Bonair st. .


Pearl st. .


Public.


40


744


...


William .


Chandler st.


College ave.


Public.


40


381


William .


Broadway .


Medford line


Private.


50


50


Williams ct.


Porter st.


Northwesterly


Private.


30


154


Willoughby


Central st.


Sycamore st.


Public.


40


4:27


Willow ave.


Elm st.


Broadway


Public.


50


3,534


Willow pl. .


Cambridge line


South st. .


Private.


25


150


Wilson ave.


Broadway .


B. & L. R. R.


Public.


20


307


...


Wilton


Lowell st. .


Hinckley st.


Public.


35


470


...


Winchester


Broadway .


Medford line


Private.


40


65


Windom


Elm st.


Summer st.


Public.


40


300


Windsor road .


Willow ave.


Hancock st.


Public.


40


575


Windsor st. (Extn.)


Windsorst., Camb.


Fitchburg R. R.


Private.


20


530


Winslow ave. .


College ave.


Clifton st.


Public.


40


1,123


. .


Winter


College ave.


Holland st. Northeasterly


Private.


25


..


177


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


....


1,135


Woodstock .


Victoria st.


Alewife brook :


Public.


40 to 32


403


*Woodstock


Victoria st.


Tannery st. (Ext'n.)


Private.


40


....


920


Wyatt circle


Wyatt st.around to


Wyatt st.


Private.


20


...


315


Wyatt


Concord ave.


Lincolu 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


Albion st.


Central st.


Private.


12


216


Court


11 Albion st.


Northeasterly


Private.


9


178


Court


21 Albion st.


.


Northeasterly


Private.


10


100


Court


292 Broadway


Southwesterly


Private.


15


90


Court


612 Broadway


Southwesterly .


Private.


20


188


Court


Buena Vista rd.


Easterly .


Private.


15


..


..


145


Court


113 Central st. .


Southeasterly


Private.


20


150


Court


Conlon ct.


Windsor st. (Etn.)


Private.


20


....


126


Court


58 Dane st. .


Easterly


Private.


10


70


Court


20 Dimick st.


South westerly


Private.


39 25


...


136


Court


66 Lowell st.


Westerly .


Private.


25


.. .


101


Court


78 Lowell st.


.


Westerly .


Private.


25


....


101


Court


101 Medford st.


Easterly


Private.


8


....


75


Court


Sacramento st. .


Southeasterly


Private.


25


....


318


Court


10 Stone ave.


Northwesterly


Private.


20


113


Court


Windsor st. (Extn.)


East'ly and West'ly


Private.


20


370


Total


423,642 101,057


..


..


..


525


West Quincy


Bailey st. .


Medford line


Private.


40


....


+ White


Elm st.


Cambridge line


Public.


Private.


$20


200


Whitfield road.


Packard ave.


Curtis st.


Packard ave.


Private.


40


....


684


Whitman st.


Mason st. .


..


..


Public, 80.235 miles (includes 3.294 miles boulevards and 1,596 miles State Highway) ; private, 19.139 miles.


Total length of streets in the city. 99,374 miles.


.


Private.


10


..


240


Court


36 Craigie st.


Westerlv .


Private.


25


. .


117


Court


227 Columbia st.


Northwesterly


Public.


30


402


Winter Hill cir.


Broadway .


N. E. line


vern ave.


..


..


..


(Extension.)


. .


...


307


LENGTH.


REPORT OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER.


OFFICE OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER, CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, January 1, 1915. To His Honor the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-I most respectfully submit the thirty-ninth annual report, containing a brief summary of the principal work performed by the highway department, by day labor and contract during the year 1914, 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; the setting out and care of shade trees; the suppression of gypsy and brown-tail moths, elm- leaf beetles ; the watering and oiling of streets; and the col- lection and disposal of ashes, garbage and refuse.


The question of how to make, and how to maintain good streets, is one that is steadily pressing to the front as one of the most important concerns of the highway department, and with the large increase in the number of automobiles and auto-trucks our streets need constant attention.


Highways Maintenance.


All the good material from streets that were constructed with some kind of permanent paving, was teamed to side streets, spread, and rolled with the steam roller. On top of this material a light layer of nut stone was spread, and a coat of "Tarvia" used hot for a sealing coat. Pea stone was then spread and rolled before the tarvia became cold. Many streets were thus improved at a very small expense.


The two weeks' vacation given to laborers by the voters will increase the running expenses of the department.


The average cost of macadam and tarvia construction on side streets was :-


By the department 0.98 per square yard. By contract 0.81 per square yard.


Concrete gutters :-


By the department $2.50 per square yard.


By contract $1.68 per square yard.


Highways Construction.


The city has made more progress the past year than in any previous year, in the construction of streets and side- walks.


Upon the introduction of the automobile, the department used advanced methods in repairing and constructing of streets, being one of the first cities in New England to use "Tarvia."


The average cost of Tarvia macadam on a concrete base, for the past year was :-


By the department $1.81 per square yard.


By contract $1.36 per square yard.


412


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Street Cleaning.


A special effort has been made by the department to keep the streets clean; and by not throwing rubbish in the streets, the people could be of great assistance in making a marked improvement in the appearance of the city.


A committee of citizens was formed, with Mrs. Frank E. Bateman as chairman, for the purpose of having a clean-up week to begin May 4. The Mayor and heads of departments co-operated with the committee, and good results were ob- tained. Back yards, alley-ways, vacant lots, attics and cellars were cleaned up; and the department teamed away everything on the days for the regular collection of ashes. The streets were also cleared of rubbish. A small balance in the treasury of the committee, was used for the purchase of refuse cans which were placed in the vicinity of school buildings.


I recommend clean-up weeks in the spring and fall.


The scarcity of dumps increases the cost of this branch of the work, 10,963 loads of scrapings being removed in 1914.


Street Sprinkling


All macadam streets were oiled, and with our new auto- oiler the work has been done more satisfactorily. Tascoil was used on paved car tracks with good results. After several applications of oil or tar, I find a fairly good surface on our streets, one that keeps down the dust and saves the road from wear and disintegration. The assessment to each abutter was five cents per linear foot.


Stone Crusher.


Most of the stone used the past year was purchased by contract. The William J. McCarthy Co. furnished 6,630.65 tons at $1.25 per ton delivered. Coleman Bros. 3,824.47 tons (trap-rock) at $1.45 per ton delivered, and 227.25 tons at $1.25 per ton delivered.


The crushing plant has been in operation fifty-nine days. Stone crushed, 1,482.50 tons. The steam-drill has worked fifty days.


Bridges.


The bridges are in good condition. Several of them have been strengthened by new girders and planks. A spec- ial effort was made, by the Mayor, to induce the railroad officials to have the approaches to their bridges constructed with the same kind of material that the city has used in their construction to the approaches. But because of the lateness of the season, this work was not started. I hope the coming year this work will be accomplished.


413


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Shade Trees.


Shade trees have much to contend with because of elec- tric wires, insects, gas leaks, and the new methods of con- structing streets and sidewalks.


One hundred and thirty-two trees (thirty-two furnished by the Woman's Club) were set out. One hundred trees were cut down. One hundred and ninety-three trees were trimmed. A total of 6,254 were sprayed by the gasoline spraying machine.


The leopard moth or borer is killing many of our shade trees, and an appropriation should be made to enable the department to make a fight against this pest.


Steam Road-rollers.


The department has one five-ton roller, one twelve-ton and two fifteen-ton rollers.


No. 1 worked 15912 days.


No. 2 worked 163 days.


No. 3 worked 39 days.


No. 4 worked 159 days.


The department has received a revenue by letting these rollers to contractors.


Gypsy and Brown-Tail Moths.


I find after careful inspection that the colonies of gypsy moths, that we must destroy the coming year, are very large.


7,469 street trees were inspected and cared for.


8,359 private trees were inspected and cared for.


66,096 brown-tail nests were gathered and destroyed. 4,504 Gypsy nests were painted with creosote.


Sidewalks.


Nearly all the sidewalks constructed the past year were of granolithic. Many sidewalks were completed by filling in the gaps, thus making continuous walks on many streets.


The average cost of :-


Edgestone delivered was 58c per lin. ft.


Gravel sidewalks with edgestone 0.99 per lin. ft.


Brick sidewalks $1.29 per square yard.


Granolithic sidewalks $1.51 per square yard.


This includes the resetting of edgestone.


The contract price was :- for gravel sidewalk (edge- stone furnished by the city) 25 and 29 cents per lin. ft .; for granolithic $1.33 per square yard, this price does not in- clude extras.


I recommend the purchase of a concrete mixing ma- chine as I am positive it would reduce the expense in this branch of the work,


414


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Snow and Ice.


If the department is called upon to care for as large an amount of snow and ice as it was during the past year, with- out a separate appropriation for that work, the amount available for the running expenses of the department will be greatly lessened.


It is the duty of the department to remove the snow and ice from all sidewalks, in front of public grounds and public buildings and sand the same when they become slip- pery, receiving no compensation for work performed, also to care for the bridges made necessary by the abolition of the grade crossings.


1,706 loads of snow and ice were removed this year. $6,435.07 was expended for the care of snow and ice.


Underground Wires.


The Edison Electric Illuminating Co., laid conduits on the north side of Medford street from Gilman square to Magoun square and on Curtis street between Raymond ave- nue and Conwell avenue.


The New England Telephone and Telegraph Co., laid conduits on Summer street between Cedar street and Wil- low avenue, and on Willow avenue between Highland ave- nue and Fosket street and additions to conduits on Medford street, South side, from Sycamore street to Magoun square.


Both companies were issued permits for opening streets to connect their underground system on the main streets to the first or second pole on the intersecting streets.


On all streets constructed, these companies, as far as possible, laid their wires underground and made their con- nections.


Accepted Streets.


There were eight streets accepted, under the Better- ment Act, comprising a total length of 2,338 linear feet. There were eighteen streets constructed, under the Better- ment Act, with macadam and tarvia, comprising a total length of 12,384 linear feet at an average cost of 0.89 per square yard. Edgestones were set before the construction work was begun.


There were ten streets or portions of streets macadam- ized or resurfaced at a cost of $3,256.87.


Sidewalks Maintenance.


Many sidewalks in the city should have the edgestones reset and the bricks relaid. I recommend that granolithic be substituted for brick where the sidewalk is to be relaid.


660 feet of edgestones were reset.


414 square yards of brick sidewalk were relaid.


The department spends a large amount of money in the care of gravel or dirt sidewalks,


415


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Sanitary Division.


The expenditure for refuse disposal is increasing on ac- count of the scarcity of dumps and the rapid increase in population. I recommend that incinerators be established in different parts of the city, especially on the south side. This would save the long haul to the dumps in the eastern and western parts, and would decrease the cost of this branch of the work.


If the residents would be more careful in the separation of combustibles and non-combustibles, it would be a sav- ing to the department; and I am sure the dumps would be more sightly and give cause for fewer complaints from the residents in those districts.


The city government should look forward and make recommendations as to the disposal of ashes and rubbish.


The garbage is teamed to the city yard and sold to the farmers at $0.50 per cord foot, and the combustible material carried to the incinerator, where it is sorted by a contractor who paid the city $1,170 in 1914. For these two items the city received $10.035.50.


Summary of Collections :-


87,742 cubic yards of refuse. 1,530 cubic yards of rubbish.


30,894 cubic yards of paper.


2,147.14 cords of garbage.


Miscellaneous.


Specifications were sent out to all the local and whole- sale concerns, and bids asked for the furnishing of edgestone brick, sand, gravel, cement, tools, paving stock, hay, straw, grain, etc. The bids were opened publicly in the office of the mayor, and the contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder, preference being given to Somerville citizens and taxpayers.


The department does its own painting, carpentering, blacksmithing, horseshoeing, harness-making, and repairing. maintaining shops for these different lines of work at the city stable.


Horses have been purchased, killed or sold as follows :-


Purchased. Killed. Sold.


Street Division


4 6 0


Sanitary Division .


1


3 0


I have attended twenty meetings of the committee on public works, and twenty-six of the board of public works for consultation regarding work and petitions.


Under the pension act for laborers and veterans of the Civil war, four employees are on the pension list. In 1913 the voters accepted the Workmen's Compensation Act and


416


ANNUAL REPORTS.


in 1914 the voters accepted the two-weeks' vacation for laborers.


The following permits were issued during the year :-


15 Permits for steam rollers, erecting canopies, and blasting rock.


238 Permits to the Cambridge Gas Light Company.


131 Permits to Charlestown Gas Company.


233 Permits to occupy streets and sidewalks.


55 Permits to cross sidewalks.


17 Permits to feed horses.


103 street watering complaints and requests.


453 notifications to other departments and corporations.


244 requests to repair gravel sidewalks.


25 accidents reported.


665 police reports.


403 streets oiled.


379 brick and granolithic sidewalks repaired.


466 miscellaneous reports and requests.


62 requests to care for moths.


370 poles and guards for trees.


155 drain layers permits.


932 water department openings.


1,706 loads of ice and snow removed.


188 permits to open streets and sidewalks.


77 new signs erected by the department.


54 signs re-painted by the department.


1,575 cubic yards sand and gravel used.


13,492 cubic yards removed or handled.


10,963 cubic yards scraping removed from streets.


2,399 cubic yards old macadam used.


4,640 cubic yards ashes used.


14 loads ballast used.


Recommendations.


I most respectfully recommend that the unpaved por- tions of Broadway, Willow avenue, Somerville avenue, Washington street, Medford and Summer streets be com- pleted.


Magoun, Concord and Powder House squares should be paved with some kind of permanent paving, thus complet- ing all the squares in the city.


Middlesex avenue has been accepted by the Massachu- setts Highway Commission as a state highway, work was started late this fall and will be completed the coming year.




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