USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1914 > Part 38
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Wisconsin avenue, 210 feet south from Pennsylvania avenue. Woodbine street, 222 feet west from Centre street.
Woodstock street, 67 feet west from Victoria street.
Wyatt street, 8 feet south from Taunton street.
List of Private Hydrants Supplied from the City of Somerville Mains.
: 12
John P. Squire & Co.
North Packing and Provision Co. .
. 10
New England Dressed Meat and Wool Co. 5 .
481
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Boston & Maine Railroad
·
14
Union Glass Works
1
Fresh Pond Ice Co.
1
American Tube Works
2
Middlesex Bleachery
3
Edison Electric Light Co.
1
Locations of Waterposts.
1-Albion street, 83 feet west from Centre street.
2-Appleton street, 49 feet west from Willow avenue.
3-Bartlett street, 26 feet south from Broadway.
4-Beacon street, 33 feet north from Concord avenue.
5-Beacon street, 135 feet east from Washington street.
6-Beacon street, 33 feet west from Vine street.
7-Beacon street, 94 feet east from Sacramento street.
8-Bolton street, opposite Baxter school.
9-Bonair street, 19 feet west from Wigglesworth street.
10-Bond street, 14 feet north from Broadway.
11-Boston avenue, opposite Prichard avenue.
12-Boston street, 107 feet west from Greenville street.
13-Broadway, 75 feet west from Fellsway East.
14-Broadway, 6 feet west from City road.
15-Broadway, 6 feet west from Irving street. 16-Broadway, 120 feet west from Clarendon avenue. 17-Cameron avenue, 6 feet north from Glendale avenue. 18-Cedar street, 96 feet south from Morrison avenue. 19-Central street. 89 feet north from Highland avenue. 20-Cherry street, 161 feet south from Fairlee street. 21-Cleveland street. 169 feet east from Harvard street. 22-Columbus avenue, 54 feet east from Walnut street. 23-Concord avenue, opposite Knapp school. 24-Cross street east, 64 feet north from Broadway. 25-Curtis street, 50 feet east from Professors row.
26-Dana street, 30 feet east from Pearl street. 27-Francesca avenue, 50 feet east from College avenue. 28-Franklin street, 127 feet south from Broadway. 29-Frederick avenue, 66 feet east from Willow avenue. 30-Gilman street, 63 feet east from Walnut street. 31 -- Grove street, 19 feet south from Highland avenue. 32-Jaques street, 159 feet west from Grant street. 33-Laurel street, 20 feet south from Summer street. 34-Liberty avenue, 46 feet south from Broadway. 35-Linwood street, 70 feet west from Poplar street. 36-Lowell street, opposite Crown street. 37-Lowell street, 34 feet north from Highland avenue. 38-Lowell street, 102 feet north from Wilton street. 39-Meacham road, 39 feet west from Dover street. 40-Medford street, 20 feet north from South street.
41-Medford street, 24 feet north from Highland avenue.
42-Medford street, at Gilman square. In combination with drink- ing.
43-Medford street, 19 feet east from Glenwood road.
44-Montrose street, 204 feet west from School street. 45-Moreland street, 28 feet north from. Meacham street. 46-Mt. Vernon street, 71 feet south from Broadway. 47-Mystic avenue, 33 feet west from Union street.
48-Orchard street, 107 feet west from Dover street.
49-Otis street, 127 feet west from Cross street.
482
ANNUAL REPORTS.
50-Packard avenue, 55 feet southwest from Powder House boule- vard.
51-Paulina street, 26 feet east from Holland street.
52-Pearl street, 28 feet east from Myrtle street.
53-Pleasant avenue, 104 feet west from Walnut street.
54-Prospect street, 30 feet north from Somerville avenue.
55-Putnam street, 96 feet north from Summer street.
56-School street, 116 feet south from Broadway. 57-School street, 50 feet north from Berkeley street.
58-Shawmut street, 74 feet north from Shawmut place.
59-Somerville avenue, 871 feet west from East Cambridge line.
60-Somerville avenue, 150 feet west from Congress place.
61-Somerville avenue, 89 feet east from Mystic street. 62-Somerville avenue, 119 feet west from School street.
63-Somerville avenue, 35 feet east from Central street.
64-Somerville avenue, 92 feet west from Kent street. 65-Somerville avenue, 120 feet west from Oak square. 66-Somerville avenue, 42 feet east from Mossland street. 67-Summer street, 14 feet east from Belmont street. 68-Summer street, 32 feet east from Cedar street. 69-Summer street, 35 feet east from Cutter avenue. 70-Sycamore street. 28 feet west from Medford street.
71-Temple street, 31 feet north from Broadway.
72-Tremont street, 120 feet south from Webster avenue. 73-Vernon street, 45 feet west from Central street.
74-Washington street, 96 feet west from Myrtle street.
75-Washington street, 7 feet west from Boston street.
76-Washington street, 34 feet west from Union square.
77-Washington street, opposite Leland street.
78-Wheatland street, 30 feet south from Mystic avenue.
.. .
Locations of Drinking Fountains.
Broadway, opposite park, near Fellsway East H & D Somerville avenue, near Prospect street, H & D Union square, in front of Hill building DI Gilman square DI
Gilman square Combination W P & H ·
Cutter square C
Davis square, in front of Medina building DI Teele square . Combination H & D Broadway, opposite City Field . H & D H, horse trough ; D, drinking fountain ; I, ice water ; C, combination trough and drink- ing fountain ; W P., waterposts.
Summary of Statistics.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1914. In form recommended by the New England Water Works Association.
SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS.
SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASS.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Population, census 1910, 77,236; present, estimated 85,000.
Date of construction: commenced in 1868.
By whom owned: City of Somerville.
Source of supply: Metropolitan water system.
Mode of supply: Water is delivered into the city's mains, under both high and low pressures, by the Metropolitan Water Works.
483
WATER DEPARTMENT.
STATISTICS OF CONSUMPTION OF WATER.
Estimated total population at date, 85,000.
Estimated population on lines of pipe, 85,000.
Estimated population supplied, 85.000. Total consumption for the year, 2,262,946,000 gallons. Average daily consumption, 6,199,800 gallons. Gallons per day to each inhabitant, 73. .
STATISTICS RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, 1914. MAINS.
Kind of pipe, cast-iron.
Sizes, from 4-inch to 20-inch.
Laid 5,708 feet; discontinued 150 feet; net extension, 5,558 feet.
Total now in use, 99.7 miles.
Number of leaks per mile, .8.
Number of hydrants added during year (public, 15; private,1), 16.
Number of hydrants (public and private) now in use, 1,190.
Number of stop gates added during year. 29.
Number of stop gates now in use, 1,628.
Number of blow-offs, 166.
Range of pressure on mains, 35 pounds to 100 pounds.
SERVICES.
Kind of pipe: Lead: wrought iron-lead-lined; wrought iron- cement-lined; cast iron.
Sizes, one-half to eight inches.
Extended less discontinued, 7,668 feet.
Total now in use, 85.12 miles.
Number of service taps added, 232; discontinued, 25; net in- crease, 207. Number now in use, 13,034.
Number of meters added, 721; discontinued, 76; net increase, 645. Number now in use, 8.499.
Percentage of services metered. 65.
Percentage of receipts from metered water, 70.
Numbers of motors and elevator registers added, 0; removed, 2. Number now in use, 5 (included in number of meters).
-
FINANCIAL STATISTICS.
REVENUE.
EXPENDITURES.
From Water Rates :-
Fixture rates ·
·
·
·
$68,665.44
Meter rates
165,282.07
.
·
Water Works Maintenance :- Operation (management, repairs and renewals) . $40,457.11
Special :-
Miscellaneous accounts ·
4,403.13
Total maintenance .
Interest on bonds .
.
$44,860.24 1,260.00
Payment of bonds
6,000.00
Water Works Construction : -
Mains
$7,748.31
Services
5,283.18
Meters
4,258.22
Total construction
$17,289.71
Unclassified expenses : -
657.58
Metropolitan water assessment
109,999.13
Balance : ---
Ordinary
.
·
·
62,507.52
Total balance .
·
.
62,507.52
Total
.
.
$242,574.18 .
€
$233,947.51
From other sources :-
Water service assessments
4,223.54
Labor and materials
4,403.13
Total
$242,574.18
Disposition of balance: applied to municipal purposes. " Cost of works to date ·
$991,346.10
Bonded debt at date 26,000.00
Average rate of interest, 4 per cent.
484
ANNUAL REPORTS.
-
.
Pensions
.
.
Total from consumers
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1914. OFFICE OF FIRE DEPARTMENT, To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen,-I have the honor of presenting to you for your consideration the annual report of the fire department for the year ending December 31, 1914 :-
Alarms of Fire.
Number of bell alarms
266
Number of still alarms
439
Total alarms
705
Number in excess of 1913 .
16
Value of buildings at risk
$767,768 00
Insurance on buildings
548,182 00
Damage to buildings
121,490 50
Value of contents .
460,069 40
Insurance on contents
250,297 40
Damage to contents
101,437 54
Total value at risk
1,227,837 40
Total insurance
798,479 40
Total damage .
222,928 04
List of Probable Causes.
Automobiles and garages
10
Burning rubbish
5
Bed clothing in contact with gaslight
3
Bed clothing in contact with stove
6
Burst water front in stove .
1
Bonfires
11
Clothing in contact with lamp
2
Children playing with matches
18
Charcoal furnace
2
Cigars and cigarettes
12
Candle left burning .
2
Combustion
3
Clothing in contact with stove
5
Dropping lighted match on floor
2
Defective gas fixture
2
Defective chimney
14
Drying plaster
3
Electric wires
8
Electric car
2
False alarm .
15
Fire in Charlestown
2
Fire in Cambridge
3
Fire in Medford .
3
Fire cracker on roof.
2
Gas explosion
2
Gas range
1
Grass and dump fire .
7
Heating japan
3
Hot flatiron in bed .
.
1
.- 1
486
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Heating tar on stove
I
Hot ashes in wooden barrel .
8
Incendiary
10
Jack-o'-lantern
1
Light mistaken for fire
5
Leaking gas
3
Overturned oil lamp
5
Overheated oil lamps and stoves
.
11
Overheated heaters
5
Plumber's furnace
3
Paint in stove oven .
1
Rats and matches
6
Smoke from stove
5
Snap match
3
Smoke and steam mistaken for fire
4
Spark from forge
1
Spark from roofer's furnace
1
Spark in sawdust
1
Spark from tobacco pipe
18
Thawing water pipe
5
Tar kettle .
3
Unknown
8
266
1
Power left on electric iron
Papers in stove oven .
1
Spark from locomotive
7
Service of Companies in Fire Department, Year 1914.
Engine 1.
Engine 2.
Engine 4.
Engine 6.
Hose 2.
Hose 3.
Hose 5.
Hose 7.
Ladder 1.
Ladder 2.
Ladder 3.
Totals.
Bell alarms responded to
191
113
94
53
86
139
137
104
131
96
55
266
Still alarms responded to
66
36
29
77
72
50
29
38
18
9
15
439
Miles traveled
51312
241
16334
162 14
514
190
454
251
153
271
66
2,979 14
Feet of 21/2 inch hose used
22,200
12,200
12,350
12,700
20,250
17,600
14,950
20,650
.
.
132,900
Feet of chemical hose used
12,950
.
.
.
4,100
4,350
16,500
17,250
14,750
3,600
73,500
Feet of ladders used
60
47
95
265
3,154
3,069
1,814
8,504
Chemical extinguishers used
20
9
33
.
·
.
18
1
6
87
Gallons of chemical used
1,800
.
.
.
.
1,438
21,50
3.205
2,880
3,840
928
16,241
Times on duty at other stations
B
3
4
1
1
.
.
Times responded out of town
14
12
35
19
16
7
4
.
107
.
.
.
·
.
.
.
12
.
.
.
48:
CHIEF ENGINEER, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In Memoriam
JAMES I. KING Hoseman Engine Co. No. 4 Appointed April 1, 1891 Died.July 28, 1914.
-
488
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Manual Force.
During the year two (?) men have resigned, and one (1) has died; one (1) permanent man has been appointed from the eligible list of the classified service, and two (2) callmen have been promoted to the permanent force under Chap. 487, Acts of 1913. The force of the department now consisting of seventy-two (72) permanent and twenty-six (26) callmen, as follows :-
1 Chief Engineer.
1 First assistant engineer.
1 Second assistant engineer.
7 Captains.
11 Lieutenants.
4 Enginemen.
4 Assistant enginemen.
43 Permanent men.
26 Callmen.
Apparatus.
The department apparatus consists of the following :-
1 Second size, horse drawn steam fire engine.
2 Third size, horse drawn steam fire engines.
3 Horse drawn combination chemical engine and hose wagons.
2 Horse drawn hose wagons.
1 Horse drawn combination ladder truck and chemical en- gine.
1 Horse drawn ladder truck.
1 Motor driven ladder truck.
3 Motor driven combination chemical engine and hose wagons.
1 Tractor drawn steam fire engine.
1 Motor driven chemical engine.
1 Automobile Chief's car.
2 Four wheel buggies for assistant chiefs.
1 Horse drawn relief hose wagon.
7 Horse drawn exercising wagons.
1 Horse drawn supply wagon.
Horses.
There are thirty-one (31) horses in the department, seven having been disposed of during the year owing to the replace- ment of horse-drawn apparatus by motor driven apparatus. Two (?) horses were transferred to the Highway De- partment, one (1) to the Water Department, one (1) to the Health Department, and three (3) disposed of at private sale. Many of the department horses will have to be replaced in the near future as the greater part of them are getting along in years, there having been but five horses purchased in the past six years.
Hose.
The amount of serviceable hose in the department is 10,300 feet of two and one-half inch rubber lined cotton hose and 2,150 feet of three-quarter inch chemical hose.
1
489
CHIEF ENGINEER, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
There has been purchased 2,300 feet of new hose, and 1,500 feet condemned and junked.
There must be 2,000 feet purchased next year.
Briof Resume.
The fire loss has been increasing, the past two years, all too rapidly; there have been a number of fires causing a con- siderable financial loss, but in every instance the fire had gained extraordinary headway before the alarm was sounded ; there were six such fires with a loss in excess of $10,000 each.
The three months of January, February and April car- ried with them more than one-half of the total loss of the year as is shown by the following table giving the fire losses by months :-
January
$29,998 93
February
36,551 22
March
4,471 56
April
59,318 00
May
9,386 00
June
13,575 85
.
July
22,740 25
August
6,456 53
September
2.287 00
October
2,447 70
November
15,171 75
December
20,543 25
$222,928 04
There have been twenty-nine fires with an insurance loss exceeding $1,000, as follows :-
On the first day of the new year box 435 was sounded at 11.20 P. M., for which a second alarm was sounded at 11.30 P. M., for a difficult fire at 674-692 Broadway, a block of nine stores owned by Joseph Cohen. and George N. Blake Co., and occupied by Caragianos Bros., Mrs. J. M. Allen, Mrs. L. H. Gray, George E. Rogers, M. O'Keefe, Vincent DeFeo, S. Sanderman, S. D. Orne. Fred A. Connolly and the George N. Blake Co .; the damage to the building was $9,971, and to the contents $18,577.93. Cause, unknown.
February 8, 8.29 P. M. Box 225, 19 Warren avenue, building owned and occupied by John Pierce; damage to building, $1,129; to contents, $400. Cause, overheated fur- nace pipe.
February 10, 7.42 A. M., Box 421, 7 Albion street, build- ing owned by Mrs. Nellie Haggerty; occupied by Emma A. White, P. D. Hodgkins and F. J. Hanson, Jr .; damage to building, $1,750; to contents, $75. Cause, stove pipe too near woodwork in kitchen.
February 11, 11.25 A. M. Box 334, 400 Mystic avenue, owned and occupied by Walter Gordon; damage to buildings, $2,208.60 ; to contents, $932.72. Probable cause, incendiary.
490
ANNUAL REPORTS.
February 12, 2.35 P. M. Box 72, 157 to 163 North street, three houses owned by Frank C. Friend, one occupant, Ashdown; damage to buildings, $14,500; to contents, $1,000. Cause, overheated heater.
February 21, 11.15 P. M. Box 48, 1119-1133 Broadway, owned by Jacob S. Levin, occupants Samuel Polson, N. R. Sylvester, M. D., Henry L. D. Fiscus, H. Dixon, D. DeRoche, H. W. Ford, Teele Sq. Hardware Co., Caragianis Bros., J. M. Dwyer; damage to building, $5,100; to contents, $7,324.50 Cause, probably incendiary.
February 24, 10.31 A. M. Box 19, 142-144 Medford street, owned by J. B. Elkins, occupied by owner, J. F. Doherty and Sanford E. Clark; damage to building, $700; to contents, $500. Cause, spark from tobacco pipe.
March 15, 11.19 P. M. Box 229, 384 Washington street, dwelling owned by J. J. Dewire Estate, occupied by Michael C. Flynn; damage to building, $1,204; to contents, $766. Cause, kindling against furnace.
April 12, 11.08 A. M. Box 28, Middlesex Bleachery, owned and occupied by K. S. Gilmore Co .; damage to build- ing, $10,000; to contents $13,000. Cause, unknown.
April 14, 11.35 A. M. Box 445, 19-21 Kingston street, dwellings owned by F. S. Cummings and J. H. Haggerty ; occupied by C. F. Austin, Gustav M. Johnson, J. D. Gilcreast, George Crockett and John Phillips; damage to buildings, $2,204; to contents, $251. Cause, clothing in contact with gas range.
April 22, 5.30 P. M. Boxes 156 and 157, B. & M. R. R. coal pockets and Dixon & Eddy; damage to buildings, $20,532; to contents, $6,769.40. Cause, locomotive spark.
April 30, 6.17 A. M. Box 15, 54, Washington street, building owned by Catherine Fitzgerald; occupied Fitzgerald Bros., teamsters; damage to building, $2,967; to contents, $3,000. Cause, carelessness with matches.
May 15, 4.40 A. M. Box 442, 81 Holland street, store owned by Hilson Associates; occupied by Charles Stein- krauss; damage to building, $1,200; to contents, $1,315. Cause, rats and matches.
May 16, 7.40 A. M. Box 412, 7 Dante terrace, building owned by J. E. Locatelli; occupied by Somerville Wood Working Co .; damage to building, $1,200; to contents, $800. Cause, spark in sawdust bin.
May 17, 1.00 A. M. Box . 412, 7 Dante terrace, stable owned by J. E. Locatelli, occupied by Somerville Wood Working Co .; damage to building; $950; to contents, $800. Cause, defective wiring.
May 18, 3.15 P. M. Box 23, buildings owned by James J. Galvin, Mrs. Catherine Haverty, Puritan Desk Co., and
491
CHIEF ENGINEER, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Nathan Weiner; damage to buildings, $1,273; to contents, $50. Cause, incendiary.
June 2, 1.02 A. M. Box 42, 292-294 Beacon street, buildings owned by Charles M. Berry, occupied by Barney Levison et al. ; damage to buildings, $1,300; to contents, $550. Cause, spark from cigarette.
June 17, 12.55 A. M. Box 223, 24-26 Maple street, dwelling owned by John F. Elkins, occupants Thomas Daley and Thomas McCue; damage to building, $1.002; to con- tents, $50. Cause, defective chimney.
June 21, 12.21 A. M. Box 14, stable at 105 Cross street, owned by Mrs. Mary E. Thomas, occupant C. W. Thomas; damage to building, $1.020; to contents, $1,500. Cause hot ashes in wooden receptacle.
June 25, 12.29 P. M. Box 441. 95 College avenue, garage owned and occupied by Harvey D. McGray, dwelling of G. C. Mahoney. M. D., and club house of Fred F. Stockwell. Jr. : damage to buildings, $2,390; to contents. $4,665. Cause. gasoline explosion.
July 8, 10.19 P. M. Box 17, dwelling at 101 Perkins street. owned and occupied by Michael Reardon: damage to building, $1,150; to contents, $2.253.25. Cause, lamp ex- plosion.
July 21, 6.42 A. M. Box 223, garage at 41-43 Maple street, owned and occupied by Jackson & Newton Co .; dam- age to buildings, $5,150; to contents. $12.288. Cause, back- fire in auto.
August 11, 7.41 P. M. Boxes 28 and 42. unoccupied factory building at 267 Beacon street. owned by Joseph Klein ; damage to building. $2,000. Cause, incendiary.
August 25, 9.04 A. M. Box 119, dwelling at 90 Pearl street, owned and occupied by Adolph Weinberg : damage to building, $1,724; to contents. $1,299.82. Probable cause, in- cendiary.
September 5, 3.55 P. M. Box 73, dwelling at 106 Brom- field road, owned by William J. Johnston, occupants J. W. Sears and C. H. Hathaway: damage to building. $1.414; to contents, $117. Cause, unknown.
November 3, 4.07 A. M. Box 435, block of stores at 652-656 Broadway, owned by W. P. Rice Estate. occupants F. S. McDermott and Cicollo Bros. : damage to building. $750; to contents, $779.75. Cause, careless smoker.
November 18, 1.43 A. M. Box 116, storehouse on Gar- field avenue, owned by F. O. Reed Estate, occupant Ameri- can Hide and Leather Co .; damage to building, $465; to con- tents. $10,185. Cause, from dump fire.
December 10, 8.19 A M. Box 72, 221-223 Powder House boulevard, dwelling owned by Otto Olson; occupied by August Johnson, H. M. Emery and C. W. Farnum; damage
492
ANNUAL REPORTS.
to building, $924; to contents, $167.50. Cause, hot ashes in barrel.
December 21, 7.08 A. M. Box 15, 78-80-82-84 Washing- ton street, cooperage of M. F. Durant, and iron foundry of N. H. Reed and Son; damage to buildings, $10,200; to con- tents, $7,338.50. Cause, unknown.
On the first day of the year three new pieces of motor- driven apparatus were put into service replacing horse-drawn machines that had become old and worn out.
The efficiency of this class of equipment is unquestioned and the past year has given opportunity of making a com- parison of operating expenses; the reports show that the horse-drawn apparatus of 1913 cost approximately three times that of the motor apparatus of 1914.
horse-drawn 1913
Engine No. 1 and tender
$1,108 48
motor-driven 1914 $438 80
Ladder No. 2
526 85 108 08
The almost universal use of gasoline has led to unwar- ranted carelessness in its handling, the general public are familiar with its advantages, but, if known, are unmindful of its great dangers to life and property.
The city is dotted with garages, totaling 589 buildings, housing no less than 1,474 automobiles, Fires in this class of property has caused a loss of more than $40,000 the past year. Extreme care should be exercised in and about gar- ages, a fire started in buildings in which gasoline is stored, and used, means a complete annihilation of that building and possibly those adjoining.
Children playing with matches, and careless pipe smokers divide the honors of being responsible for more fires than from any other causes, parents that leave matches around loose, where there are children, are criminally negligent, for not infrequently the child is burned to death, or maimed for life; keep your matches in metal receptacles and above the reach of the child, this is the kindergarten class in fire pre- vention, there is no rule that can be laid down for careless pipe smokers, only that they are old enough to know better.
Defective chimneys have again contributed largely towards making the fire loss excessive, this negligence will probably be taken care of shortly by a passage of an act by the legis- lature making persons pay the damage occasioned to others by their negligent act, a fire caused by a dirty or defective chimney would certainly be classified under this act.
Hot ashes in wooden receptacles are a source of grave danger as fires from this cause generally develop after re- tiring time at night, and when discovered the halls and stair- ways are filled with blinding and suffocating smoke thereby
493
CHIEF ENGINEER, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
making escape perilous and doubtful; I strongly urge the com- pulsory use of metal barrels for ashes.
During the year building inspection by the fire depart- ment was systematized by dividing the city into eight- sections or divisions under the supervision of the eight captains; in accordance with this plan there were 1,389 inspections and reports filed, in every instance the inspecting . officer was courteously received by owner or occupant, and every as- sistance rendered, with but two exceptions suggestions of correction were readily agreed to, and promptly complied with.
One of the greatest problems confronting the people of this country today, and one that is giving the greatest con- cern, is the tremendous annual fire waste, which, in 1914, amounted to more than 235 millions of dollars, the people are waking up to this unnecessary property loss, and in ad- dition to equipping its communities with the most up-to-date fire-fighting machines, they are seeking ways and means of prevention.
On the first day of August, Somerville was included in what is known as the Metropolitan District to provide for the better prevention of fires and the fire department has had put upon it, if properly carried out, an immense amount of inspec- tion, instruction and detail work.
It is apparent that the time has arrived when greater ef- fort must be put forth to prevent fires than to extinguish them when they are with us, and this can only be accomplished by the people themselves co-operating with the fire depart- ment.
The fact that one's property is fully insured should not relieve him of watchfulness or permit carelessness, fire loss is absolutely irretrivable, labor and material are utterly lost ; the insurance upon a building does not bring back the property destroyed, it simply equalizes the loss between all others whose property is insured.
Recommendations.
It is a recognized fact that a fire department, however well equipped, well-trained or how willing and zealous are its members in the performance of their duties, can never attain the highest degree of efficiency without the aid of an ade- quate and reliable fire alarm system, nothing can tend more to the protection of life and property than a system for transmitting a rapid alarm of fire, therefore I urge an im- mediate installation of a new and up-to-date fire alarm.
Again I reiterate the immediate necessity of motorizing the horse-drawn combination chemical engine and hose wagon located on Marshall street, Winter Hill. This piece of
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