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