USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1914 > Part 39
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
494
ANNUAL REPORTS.
apparatus covers a considerable area, including some valuable properties, its present motive power is inadequate for needed efficiency, the same conditions obtain relative to answering Winter Hill and Medford line boxes as last year, futhermore, the department is in need of new horses and the motorizing of this machine will release two horses, thereby rendering the purchase of more horses unnecessary.
Something must be done immediately to provide proper engine equipment for Engine No. 2 Station. At the begin- ning of the year the Third size Silsby engine having had many break downs, was repaired, and set aside as a relief engine, to be used only in emergency or temporary service, and there was transferred to this station a Second size Silsby that had been in service twenty-four years; three times within a year this engine has given out at a critical time and at present is out of service, to repair it will be expensive, furthermore, the type of pump is obsolete, unreliable and inefficient.
I recommend the purchase of a new tractor-drawn en- gine and the old engine be sold for whatever can be secured in trade.
I deprecate the use of hydrants for anything except the purpose of extinguishing fires and recommend the passage of an ordinance forbidding the opening of hydrants except under the supervision of a member of the Water works department.
Again I recommend the re-enactment of that part of Chap. 20, sect. 60 of the Revised Ordinances relative to repairing roofs.
In accordance with Chap. 655 of the Acts of 1913, this or- dinance can be made effective. I also urge that an open space of not less than ten feet be required between all wooden buildings.
Two-thirds of the number of fires are responded to with- out sounding a bell alarm (still alarms so called) and this class of fires is handled exclusively by the permanent force, if the bells had been sounded for every alarm of fire for the past year the total would have been 705.
The still alarm for fire is rapidly increasing from year to year, and that this class of fires may be safely and effi- ciently handled, the manual force must of necessity be com- posed of permanent men.
Fourteen more permanent men will place this depart- ment upon a satisfactory basis, and I recommend its estab- lishment at the earliest possible moment.
In Conclusion.
In concluding my report I desire to state that it affords me great pleasure to testify to the loyal support rendered mẹ by His Honor, the Mayor, and Your Honorable Board,
1
CHIEF ENGINEER, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
495
I also take this opportunity to commend the officers and members of the department for their faithfulness and efficiency. The personnel of the department is of a very high order, the harmony amongst the men and their earnestness to main- tain the reputation of the department have contributed largely to the work done and good results accomplished.
Respectfully submitted, SEWALL M. RICH, Chief Engineer.
J
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE. 1
1
OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE, CITY OF SOMERVILLE, February 14, 1915.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :-
Gentlemen,-I herewith respectfully submit for your con- sideration my sixth annual report as chief of police, giving in detail the amount of work performed by the police department for the year ending December 31, 1914 :-
Arrests.
Whole number of arrests made
1,807
With and without warrants
1,527
On summons and notification
280
1,807
Males
1,697
Females
110
1,807
Americans
1,187
Foreign born
620
Residents
985
Non-residents
822
1,807
1-Crimes and Offenses Against the Person.
Assault on officers .
4
Assault with dangerous weapon
7
Assault with intent to abuse female child
1
Assault with intent to murder .
4
Assault and battery
1
Manslaughter
1
Rape
3
Robbery
1
Threats
143
2 .- Crimes and Offenses Against Property.
Breaking and entering, accessory to
1
Breaking and entering, attempt
9
Breaking and entering
7
Breaking glass, wantonly
1
Kidnap, attempt to
1
Larceny, attempt
135
Larceny
1
Larceny from person
10
Larceny in building
2
Malicious mischief
63
Breaking and entering railroad car
1
Burning building .
1
Carried forward
232
1,807
Carnal abuse of female child
117
4
497
CHIEF OF POLICE.
Brought forward
232
Personal property, concealment of
1
Receiving stolen goods
3
Trespass
238
Unlawful appropriation of horse
2
Unlawful appropriation of vehicle
2
Unlawful diversion of electricity
1
Wilful injury to real estate .
1
480
3 -Crimes and Offenses Against Public Order, etc.
Abortion .
1
Abortion, accessory to
1
Abortion, witness to
3
Bail surrender
6
Bastardy
1
Begetting woman with child
3
Carrying revolver without license
4
City ordinances, violation of
78
Cruelty to animals
7
Desertion of wife .
2
Disturbing the peace
14
Disturbing public assembly
1
Disturbing religious assembly
6
Dog keeping, unlicensed
3
Doing business without filing city clerk
certificate with
542
Drunkenness
542
Drunkenness, common
14
Fireworks, unlawful sale of
1
Forgery
2
Fornication
1
Fugitives from justice .
2
Gasoline keeping without permit
1
Giving false weight of ice .
1
Idle and disorderly
6
Impersonating police officer
1
Indecent exposure of person
3
Indecent pictures, in possession of
1
Interrupting funeral procession
2
Lewd cohabitation
2
Lewdness
1
Neglected children
85
Neglect to support illegitimate children
4
Parole, revoke of
5
Perjury
1
Safe keeping, delivered to police court
17
Safe keeping, demented
Safe keeping, feeble minded
2
Safe keeping, infirm
850
Carried forward
14
Neglect of family .
2
Peddling without license
1
Safe keeping, delirium tremens
1
Burglar tools, in possession of .
1
Default
8
498
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Brought forward
850
Safe keeping, insane
7
Safe keeping, runaway boys
17
Safe keeping, runaway girls
2
Safe keeping, runaway from Home for Feeble Minded
1
Securing signature by false pretences
2
Selling horse unfit for labor
1
Stragglers from United States Navy.
3
Stubbornness
21
Suspicious persons
2
Throwing missiles at railroad car .
1
Unlawfully attempting to ride on freight cars 20
13
Unlawfully using registered bottles
3
Uttering forged instrument
2
Vagrants
13
Violation of automobile laws
43
Violation of drug laws
1
Violation of food laws
3
Violation of labor laws .
1
Violation of Lord's Day .
72
Violation of milk laws
11
Violation of oleomargerine laws
4
Violation of parole .
2
Violation of parole from Massachusetts Re- formatory 1
Violation of parole from
Middlesex County
1
Violation of terms of probation .
24
Walking on railroad track
53
1,184
Recapitulation.
(1) Crimes and Offenses Against the Person 143
(2) Crimes and Offenses Against Property 480
(3) Crimes and Offenses Against Public Order,. . etc. 1,184
Whole number of arrests made
1,807
Bailed to appear at other courts . 7
Cases in which nolle prosequi was entered . 16
Delivered to jail at East Cambridge, bail sur- render, etc.
11
Delivered to police court, Somerville vio., prob. etc.
27
Delivered to superior court, bail surrender, etc.
4
Delivered to United States Naval Training Sta- tion, Newport, stragglers 2
Delivered to United States navy yard, straggler .
1
Released by probation officer, drunkenness .
36
Released from custody, suspicious. persons . 2
106
Surrendered to other officers, institutions, etc. Witness to abortion .
1
Witness recognized to appear at Police court
1
Witness recognized to annear at superior court
1
Cases in which no prosecution was made in Som- erville .,
215
Number of cases held for trial
1,592
Note :- Two hundred and sixty of the above number of cases were juveniles and delinquents,
Training School
Unlawfully riding on freight cars
CHIEF OF POLICE.
499
Miscellaneous Reports.
Abandoned automobiles found
7
Abandoned motor-cycle found .
1
Abandoned sleigh found .
1
Accidental poisoning .
1
Accidental shooting by air rifle
1 278
Amount of property reported stolen
$10,924.39
Amount of property recovered
3,825.18
Amount of stray teams found .
550.00
Amount of property reported lost
1,637.54
Amount of lost property recovered .
108.50
Amount of property damaged .
416.00
Amount of fowl killed by dogs
18.25
Arson, attempt
1
Assaults
20
Assaults with dangerous weapon
2
Attempt to break and enter, false alarm of .
1
Attempts to break and enter .
42
Attempts to commit larceny
6
Attempts to commit suicide
11
Attempts to rob
2
Bon-fire extinguished
1
Breaking and entering, false alarm of .
13
Broken rail on Boston Elevated Railway
1
Buildings broken and entered, nothing stolen Building dangerous .
2
Buildings found open
457 2
Child kidnapped .
1
Child kidnapped, found
1
Chimney, dangerous .
1
Cruelty to animals
1
Dead body found
1
Dead infants found
2
Death by gas poisoning
1
Defective bridges
6
Defective catch basins
17 4
Defective fence .
1
Defective fence gate .
1
Defective fire alarm box .
1
Defective gas gate boxes .
6
Defective hydrants .
6
Defective poles
7
Defective railroad fence
1 414
Defective streets .
85
Defective subway
1
Defective swing in playground
1
Defective telephone in police signal service .
1
Defective tree guards
4
Defective water gate boxes
233
Defective wires .
41
Defective manholes and covers
9
Defective police signal boxes .
Defective sidewalks
Defective signs and sign posts .
20
Defective drinking fountains
53
Burglar calls, false alarm of
Accidents reported
500
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Destitute children
4
Destitute family .
1
Disturbances
16
Disturbances suppressed
23
Dogs killed .
20
Dogs strayed
45
Dogs strayed, found .
35
Dogs unlicensed .
1
Dogs vicious
12
Electric light globes broken
5
Fire alarm box broken
1
Fire alarm box found open
1
Fire, alarms given for
3
Fire alarm boxes, glass broken
4
Fires extinguished without alarms
2
Fire, needless alarms for
253 11 1
Gas leaks
3
Heat prostrations
2
Horses killed
4
Houses unoccupied
67
Indecent assault
1
Infirm persons cared for
4
Insane cases
4
Larcenies, no value given
78 501
Lodgers put up
6
Lost children
Lost children found
108
Malicious mischief
39 1 48
Missing persons
18
Neglected children
2
Obstructions in streets
24 7
Obstructions in streets, lighted
2
Obstructions on sidewalks
11 1
Offal uncollected
Panes of glass broken
65
Persons bitten by dogs .
2 1
Property destroyed
1
Property
recovered, no value given
30
Property lost, no value given
7
Pulmoter "called
Rabbits killed
Runaway children
Runaway children found
10
Runaway horse stopped
1
Fire, false alarms of
11 8
Fires reported
Fowl killed
False pretence
Gas meter box broken
1
Indecent exposure of person
8
Larcenies reported
108
Missing persons found
5
Nuisances
Permits granted to labor on Lord's Day
10
Persons helped home
Persons struck by stray bullet
7
Property damaged, no value given
1
Property damaged, no value given
1
Obstructions in streets, removed
93
Militia call, Salem fire
501
CHIEF OF POLICE.
Runaway teams
4
·
Store unoccupied
Stray cows found
2
Stray deer captured
1
Stray horses reported
2
Stray horses found
17
Stray opossum found
Stray pheasant found
2
Stray teams found
2
Streets dangerous
2
Street flooded
1
Street lights reported
6,993 1
Sudden deaths
4
Suicides
8
Summonses served for witnesses and defendants to ap- pear at court at other places
160
Suspicious persons Threats
1
Trees, dangerous
22
Tree infested with
1 22 1
Violation of automobile laws
4
Violation of board of health rules
1
Violation of city ordinances .
46
Water pipes leaking
132
Windows broken
24
Police Signal Service.
Number of on duty reports made by the patrolmen . 277,134
Telephone calls made by the officers and patrolmen 31,153
Combination Automobile Service.
Number of runs made in conveying prisoners to the station
658
Number of prisoners conveyed .
870
Number of sick and injured conveyed
494
Number of miles run in conveying prison- ers to station 1,420.5
Number of miles run in conveying sick
and injured 1,704.7
Number of miles run in conveying prison- ers to and from jail . 335.8
Number of miles run elsewhere . ·
1,452.4
Total number of miles run during the year 4,913.4
Horse Drawn Patrol Wagon and Horse Drawn Ambulance Reports.
Number of runs made in conveying prisoners to station 128
Number of prisoners conveyed 152
Number of miles run in conveying prisoners to station 254
Number of sick and injured conveyed 304
Number of miles run in conveying prisoners to and from jail Number of miscellaneous runs .
909 1
35
Sidewalks dangerous from snow and ice
41
1
Stray teams reported
Streets dangerous from snow and ice
3
Strike reported
82
Trespass gypsy moths
Unconscious person found
502
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF POLICE MATRON.
January 1, 1915.
To Charles A. Kendall, Chief of Police.
Dear Sir :-
I herewith submit my report as matron for the year end- ing December 31, 1914. The following females and minor children have been committed to my care during the year who were arrested or brought to police station.
Abortion
1
Adulterated milk
1
Assaults
10
Cohabitation
1
Demented
7
Disturbing the peace Drunkenness
43
False signature
1
Forgery
1
Larceny
11
Lewdness
1
Lost children
22
Neglected children
8
Revoke of parole
1
Runaways
2
Safe keeping
2
Stubbornness
9
Trespass
1
Violation of
parole
1
Violation of probation
1
Witness
1
Total
130
I have attended to the making of beds and other duties each day at the station and have been in the court Saturday mornings looking after the juveniles, etc. Respectfully submitted, MRS. MINA T. WEEKS,
Matron.
___ :
503
CHIEF OF POLICE. -
Official Roster of the Department. - CHIEF OF POLICE Charles A. Kendall LIEUTENANTS
Eugene A. Carter Charles E. Woodman
James M. Harmon
John A. Ray Thomas Damery Michael T. Kennedy
PATROLMEN
Edward M. Carter George L. Smith Francis A. Perkins Jacob W. Skinner Theodore E. Heron Charles W. Stevens Daniel G. Simons Samuel Burns Frederick H. Googins
Jotham Chisholm
William J. Davidson
Elmer E. Drew John A. Dadmun George L. Rice Myron S. Gott Charles W. Reick
Frank C. Hopkins
Charles W. Allen
Hudson M. Howe
Ernest S. Goff Sanford S. Lewis
Frank H. Graves
Henry A. Sudbey
Thomas F. McNamara
Louis F. Arnold Charles S. Johnston
James M. Lynch
Robert T. Blair
Ernest Howard
Claude L. Crossman
John J. Cummings
Edmund J. Keane
Denis Neylon
Denis Downey
Edward M. Davies
George A. C. Peters
James E. Phillips
Lewis J. Belzarini
Walter Reed
Dennis G. Mulqueeney
Patrick J. Doolin
Edward J. Hopkins
William G. Kenney
Walter L. Groves
Frederick G. Jones
Joseph A. Dwyer
Thomas P. Walsh
Clyde W. Steeves
Augustine J. Fitzpatric.
Patrick McGrath
Bernard McCabe
Harry C. Young
Robert D. Dewar
Peter Moore
Albert Walter C. Oesting
John L. Cameron
Francis P. Higgins
Arthur S. Walsh
John J. McCahey
Alexander Morrison
RESERVEMEN
Daniel J. Powers
Jeremiah O'Connor.
James P. Higgins
Charles E. Wilson
William J. Warner
Timothy Buckley John J. Killourhy Charles J. Sharry
Thomas M. Sharry
Michael J. O'Loughlin
CHAUFFEURS AND PATROL DRIVERS
Charles J. Fulton James W. Lundergan
James H. White
504
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MATRON
Mrs. Minna T. Weeks
PENSIONERS, RETIRED ON HALF PAY
George W. Bean, July 2, 1902.
Herbert Hilton, December 21, 1911.
Albion L. Staples, March 24, 1905
Dennis Kelley, December 31, 1913.
John E. Fuller, March 23, 1906.
Ezra A. Dodge, March 14, 1914.
Ira S. Carleton, May 9, 1907. George H. Carleton, March 27, 1914
James J. Pollard, February 27, 1908. Edward McGarr, April 10, 1914.
Melville C. Parkhurst, October 31, 1908 Robert R. Perry, June 26, 1914.
Changes in the Force. DEATHS
Patrolman Eugene A. Woodsum, died April 26, 1914. Patrolman Lemuel J. Simons, died August 31, 1914.
APPOINTMENTS
Mrs. Mina T. Weeks, appointed as matron, January 7, 1914. Thomas M. Sharry, appointed reserveman, May 28, 1914.
Michael J. O'Loughlin, appointed reserveman, May 28, 1914.
PROMOTIONS
Reserveman John J. McCahey, promoted to patrolman, April 9, 1914.
Reserveman Alexander Morrison, promoted to patrolman, April 9, 1914.
Sergeant James M. Harmon, promoted to lieutenant, May 14, 1914.
Sergeant John A. Ray, promoted to lieutenant September 10, 1914. Inspector Thomas Damery, promoted to lieutenant, September 10, 1914.
Inspector Michael T. Kennedy, promoted to lieutenant, September 10, 1914.
RETIREMENTS
Patrolman Ezra A. Dodge, placed on pension roll, March 14, 1914. Sergeant George H. Carleton, placed on pension roll, March 27, 1914.
Sergeant Edward McGarr, placed on pension roll, April 10, 1914. Captain Robert R. Perry, placed on pension roll, June 26, 1914.
Absence from Duty.
Officers have been absent from duty the following num- ber of days for absence with leave, regular days off sick- ness or disability and annual vacations :-
Absent.
Days off. Sick. Vacation Total
Kendall, Charles A.
0
171/2
0
0
171/2
Carter, Eugene A ..
0
24
0
0
24
Woodman, Charles E
0
22
0
14
36
Harmon, James M.
0
24
1
14
39
Ray, John A.
0
231/2
0
14
371/2
Damery, Thomas
0
9
0
14 9
18
Allen, Charles W
5
22
51
14
92
Arnold, Louis F
4
24
2
14
44
0
21
0
35
Kennedy, Michael T
505
CHIEF OF POLICE.
Absent.
Days off.
Sick
Vacation
Total.
Belzarini, Louis J
0
24
0
14
38
Blair, Robert T.
0
24
0
14
38
Burns, Samuel
0
24
10
14
48
Cameron, John L.
3
2-1
0
14
41
Carter, Edward M.
0
23
17
14
54
Chisholm, Jotham
0
24
0
14
38
Crossman, Claude L
0
24
()
14
38
Cummings, John J.
0
24
0
14
38
Davidson, William J
2
24
0
14
40
Dewar, Robert D
0)
24
0
1-4
38
Doolin, Patrick J
1
24
4
14
43
Downey, Denis
0
24
0
14
38
Drew, Elmer E.
81/2
24
15
14
611/2
Dwyer, Joseph A
0
2-4
9
14
47
Fitzpatrick, Augustine J
6
24
0)
14
44
Goff, Ernest S.
0
21
0
14
38
Googins, Frederick H.
0
16
125
14
155
Gott, Myron S.
0
24
0
14
38
Graves, Frank H.
1
2.1
4
14
43
Hawes, Albert C.
24
0
14
40
Higgins, Francis P.
3
2-1
0)
14
41
Hopkins, Frank C.
0
24
41/2
14
421/2
Howard, Ernest
2
24
9
14
49
Howe, Hudson M.
1
24
8
14
47
Johnston, Charles S.
21
0
14
38
Jones, Frederick G.
0
2.1
0
14
38
Keane, Edmund J.
24
12
14
52
Kenney, William G
4
24
0
14
42
Lewis, Sanford S.
0
24
0
8
32
Lynch, James M
0
2-1
0
14
38
McCabe, Bernard
0
24
5
14
43
McCahey, John J
4
17
1
14
36
McGrath, Patrick
0
24
0
14
38
AcNamara, Thomas F.
0
24
0
14
38
Moore, Peter
1
24
6
14
45
Morrison, Alexander
0
17
0
14
31
Mulqueeney, Dennis G
11
24
1
11
50
Neylon, Denis
24
3
14
43
Oesting, Walter C.
0
24
0
14
38
Perkins, Francis A.
15
24
3
14
56
Peters, George A. C.
1
24
6
14
45
Phillips, James E
24
0
14
40
Reed, Walter
0
24
6
14
44
Reick, Charles W
0
24
1
14
39
Rice, George L.
4
24
0
14
42
Simons, Daniel G.
4
24
6
14
48
Skinner, Jacob W
1
24
1
14
40
Smith, George L.
0
24
0
14
38
Steeves, Clyde W.
4
21
0
14
42
Stevens, Charles W
2
24
12
14
52
Sudbey, Henry A.
24
4
14
44
Walsh, Arthur S.
2
24
5
14
45
Walsh, Thomas P.
1
24
7
14
46
.
·
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
24
0
14
38
Hopkins, Edward J
24
0
14
40
Groves, Walter L.
22
61
14
102
Heron, Theodore E.
.
...
. .
.
.
..
.
.
.
·
.
.
24
0
14
4112
Dadmun, John A.
Davies, Edward M.
24
0)
14
38
506
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Absent.
Days off.
Sick
Vacation
Total
Young, Harry C ..
0
24
0
14
38
Fulton, Charles J (Chauffeur)
0
24
0
14
38
Lundergan, James W (Chauffeur)
0
24
2
14
40
White, James H. (Chauffeur)
0
24
0
14
38
Weeks, Mina T. (Matron)
14
20
0
14
48
Perry, Robert R.
0
0
0
0
0
McGarr, Edward
0
6
0
0
6
Carleton, George H.
0
41/2
0
0
41/2
Dodge, Ezra A.
0
5
9
0
14
Woodsum, Eugene A
2
11
0
20
Simons, Lemuel J
2
8
118
0
128
129
1,7001/2
5391/2
969
3,338
Performance of Duties.
During the past year an officer has been detailed for duty in Davis Square in the day time permanently, and a matron has been appointed, who is ready to be called at any time, day or night.
Sunday, June 14, was observed as flag day, His Ex- cellency, Governor Walsh, and other prominent persons were present, a large crowd of people were in the city, exercises being held on Central and Prospect Hills, preceded by a street parade, the crowd was handled in a creditable manner by the police.
No serious crimes have been committed during the year, and the city on the whole has been quiet and orderly, making it. one of the cleanest and best governed cities for its size in the country.
Recommendations.
The needs of the department are a stenographic clerk in the office at headquarters, an automobile seating frome five to seven men, more new cells in the lockup, and vault com- pleted in the basement for the storage of valuable papers.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES A. KENDALL, Chief of Police.
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD.
Somerville, Mass., Dec. 21, 1914. To The Honorable The Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen-We have the honor of presenting to you for your consideration the first Annual Report of the Planning Board.
The Planning Board, as you know, was created under the acts of the Legislature of 1913. This Act provides for a Plan- ning Board "whose duty it shall be to make careful studies of the resources, possibilities and needs of the city or town, par- ticularly with respect to conditions which may be injurious to the public health or otherwise injurious in and about rented dwellings, and to make plans for the development of the munici- pality with special reference to the proper housing of its peo- ple." In compliance with this Act a Planning Board consisting of seven members was created by an Ordinance duly passed by your Honorable Board and the present members were ap- pointed by His Honor, Charles A. Burns. who was then Mayor.
The Board organized with Malcolm E. Sturtevant, as Chairman and in compliance with the Ordinance elected Theda E. Fleming, who was not a member of the Board, as Secre- tary, and laid out the work which it proposed to do. A Com- mittee from the Planning Board waited upon Mayor Cliff and the Finance Committee of your Honorable Board and re- quested sufficient funds with which to properly carry on this work. The sum of $250 was appropriated for the use of the Planning Board, which, after the payment of the salary of a Secretary required by the Ordinance and the payment for the necessary office supplies, left less than $60 for the Board to expend in making such studies and investigations as are required under the Act. This small amount, of course, made it utterly impossible for the Board to make any investigations requiring the services of experts or the services of any hired person who was competent to investigate the conditions espe- cially suggested in the Act and in accordance with the plans of the Board.
We find from the history of Planning Boards in other countries, and in other cities of our country, that it is not the intent of the Legislature that the members of the Planning Boards should make these investigations personally, but rather that a Planning Board should direct and supervise such investigations, weigh and pass on the result of these investi- gations, and to make its recommendations after careful con- sideration, to the governing Board of the City or Town.
Our Board, because of the lack of a reasonable amount of money with which to work, has been necessarily confined
508
ANNUAL REPORTS.
to such superficial investigations as the different members of the Board have been able to make personally, aided by such gratuitous suggestions and advice as we have been able to obtain from some of our city officials and citizens who have the interests of our city at heart.
The Board has held bi-weekly meetings since its organ- ization, except for the summer vacation, and has studied and investigated many conditions in our city.
The Board, from its investigations, is convinced that a much better and more complete protection to the homes in our city can be obtained by the complete motorizing of our fire apparatus, because with a city situated as ours is, made up in large part of buildings constructed in the main of mate- rials not fireproof, it is of the utmost importance that our fire apparatus should be "on the job," so to speak, as speedily as possible. This result, we are convinced, can best be ob- tained by motorizing our entire department. We are also con- vinced that the expense of maintenance and up-keep of motor apparatus is much less than the up-keep of horses and horse- drawn apparatus, and we believe that a saving will result to the city by the motorizing of its fire apparatus.
For the reason that a department made up of permanent men who are always on duty is much more effective and de- sirous than one made up partly of call men, so-called, we rec- ommend that, as soon as the finances of the city will permit, the fire department be made up only of permanent men.
We find, scattered throughout our city, many old dilapi- dated buildings, which are not only a fire menace to the lo- calities in which they are situated, but are also the abodes of tramps and like characters, and which furnish an undesirable meeting place for children and young men, besides being eye- sores to the communities where they are situated. These, under the existing statutes, can be removed with very little expense to the city, and we recommend that immediate steps be taken to cause the demolition of all such buildings. Those we have especially in mind are situated on Dane street, Washington street, Fitchburg street, Somerville avenue and just off Cedar street.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.