USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1914 > Part 40
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As trees help to beautify our city we recommend that the planting of trees along our highways be encouraged, and we feel certain that there are public-spirited citizens in Somerville who would gladly donate trees, or subscribe to a fund with which to purchase them, which could be set out by our high- way department at but slight cost.
In all large cities the problem of taking care of children during their play time is one of ever increasing interest and concern, and while we have spaces in our city still unoccupied
509
PLANNING BOARD.
by buildings, and available for playground purposes, we recom- mend that playgrounds of sufficient area to make them worth while be purchased and equipped, at least one in each ward of our city. We are fortunate in already having several such playgrounds, but fortunately some of these are so situated that they are of benefit as much to the children of our neigh- boring cities as to those of our own. Central Hill Park has always been, up to within a year or two, the show park of our city. During the past few years, however, Central Hill Park has been used as a playground, and the result has been that instead of being an adornment to our city it has been quite the reverse at certain times of the year. We. therefore, recommend that the further use of Central Hill Park as a play- ground be forbidden. Sections of the city which are prac- tically unprovided with playgrounds are: Ward 3, the Winter Hill District, the so-called Patch District and Ward 6, and we strongly recommend that immediate steps be taken to provide playgrounds in each of these sections.
Metropolitan Boston has the finest park system in America and possibly in the world, but it is unfortunate that there is no direct connecting link between the Fells section of this park system and the Fens section. We believe, from our investi- gations, that a boulevard could and should be constructed through Somerville and Cambridge connecting these two sec- tions, and we suggest that either one be built through Cross street, or Walnut street, or through College avenue across to Cambridge. Almost any street that might be taken for this purpose could now be widened at much less expense than would be possible a few years hence. We recommend that the utmost diligence be used in bringing about this much desired result.
As the worth of a city to its citizens is dependent some- what upon its means of communication, one part with the other, we recommend and urge that due steps be taken for the estab- lishment of a cross town line. One that could be established without any expense for trackage might start from Clarendon Hill, through Holland street to Davis square, thence via Elm street' and Somerville avenue to Union square, through Wash- ington_street to Medford street, thence to Cross street, to Broadway and thence, via Broadway, to Clarendon Hill. This by the use of transfer privileges, would give very effective accommodations to all our people in getting from one part of the city to another. Another line that has been suggested which would give, by the use of transfer privileges, not only accommodations to our own people in getting to different parts of our city. but also to all people coming through our city from the outlying towns and cities, is by a line starting at the top of Winter Hill, through Central street to Summer
510
ANNUAL REPORTS.
street, and thence across as the cars now run to Cambridge.
We all had an opportunity this last Spring to see the bene- fits derived by the so-called "Clean Up Week," and as our public health is affected by the conditions of our houses, yards, alleys and streets, which if left to become cluttered with filth and rubbish are the breeding places of mosquitoes, flies and other pests and disease germs, we recommend that a week be set apart in the Spring and another in the Fall for a "Clean Up Week," and we feel certain that the Street Commissioner, as he did this last Spring, will take care of all the rubbish and filth that is cleaned up and left to him for disposal. In this way, at very slight cost, we feel certain that the public health would be much improved.
From our investigations and studies we are convinced that the best results, both from an educational and economic stand- point, can be obtained by the use of large, commodious school buildings, say of twenty rooms or more. By the use of these large buildings the scholars can be more effectively cared for at much less expense than is now possible. We find that some of our teachers now are teaching practically three classes, and we do not believe that the best results possible are being ob- tained for our children under this system. In the large school, such as we suggest and recommend, children of a greater area are brought together, and instead of a teacher being obliged to teach three classes of perhaps twelve or fifteen in a class, she would have one or possibly two classes of chil- dren of like intellectual calibre, and this would result not only for the educational good of the children but also put less work and burden on our teachers. This large school would be under the principalship of one man, where under our pres- ent system, in most cases, two principals must now be em- ployed and paid, and we recommend that no more small build- ings be erected, and that as fast as new buildings are needed the present large buildings be reconstructed to supply the wants of the school so discarded.
Many of our boys and girls can never hope to receive a college education, yet we believe that they should be as well fitted for the business of life as are the children who expect to go to college, and we therefore recommend that a large vocational school for boys and girls be erected commensu- rate in size and equipment with our present High School for the education of those children who desire that special fit- ting for after life. The work now being done in the voca- tional schools in our city, meagre as it is, shows the need of a large, completely equipped vocational school. We rec- ommend that such a school be established.
We have not been able to make the investigations, through lack of finances, of the housing problems which we
511
PLANNING BOARD.
1
expected and desired. From such investigation as we have been able to make, however, we are convinced that the Plan- ning Board next year should be given sufficient money with which. to make a thorough investigation of the housing con- ditions in our city. Such investigations as we have been able to make have disclosed the following :-
1. That many of our tenement houses, so-called, are provided with but one toilet, and in many cases no bathroom, for the use of three, four or six families. This condition we believe is absolutely against good health and good mor- als, and we recommend that the building ordinances be so amended that, in the construction of all future houses, at least one toilet room shall be provided for each family.
2. Very few of our tenement houses, so-called, are provided with piazzas and we believe that if builders in our city could be induced to provide piazzas for each tenement in a house, where the families could pass their leisure hours, many of the so-called "Corner Gangs" which are so mischievous and destructive of property would be eliminated. As at present constructed these families have almost no place in which to enjoy the open air and the result is the congregating of people, especially young men and children, in the streets and on the vacant lots, which is not for the best interest of our public health or morals.
3. We find, also, that in some sections of our city men, women and children are hived together sometimes as many as eight or ten in two or three rooms, and we recommend such changes as will make this hiving impossible.
4. As we all know, the construction of cheap tenement houses for more than two families is against the interests of our city. We strongly recommend that our build- ing ordinances be so amended that no building for more than two families shall be constructed in our city ex- cept it be constructed of fireproof materials, and equipped with such means of escape in case of fire as shall be satisfactory to the Building Commissioner.
Our investigations have disclosed the fact that our city is woefully lacking in taxable property, and from what we have been able to find out the most effective way of raising that valuation is by inducing business enterprises and manu- facturing plants to locate with us. While our land is now covered to a great extent, still we have many areas which could be used for manufacturing purposes, and we recom- mend that, through our city government, our Boards of
512
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Trade, and kindred organizations, business plants be induced and encouraged to locate in our city. There is an immense tract along the Mystic River at present undeveloped, which might well be covered with manufacturing industries to the mutual benefit of those industries and our city, and through- out the city there are many smaller areas that might well be utilized for such purposes.
The Board has made some study of Chapter 786 of the Acts of 1913, commonly called the "Tenement House Act for Cities," and from its study of this Act it does not believe that, as drawn, it is advisable for our city to adopt it.
We have also studied the "Regulations for the Erection of Buildings within the Burnt District of the City of Saleni, as adopted by the Salem Rebuilding Commission," and we believe that those regulations if adopted by our city would put the construction of buildings on a much higher plane, with a consequent advantage to our city. We recommend the careful consideration of these regulations to your Honorable Board, the Building Commissioner and the City Solicitor.
The Planning Board for this year has made a conscien- tious effort to make careful investigation of those subjects committed to its care, but the absolute lack of funds with which to make. the investigation called for by the Act, and suggested by the Homestead Commission and the Public Service Commission of the Commonwealth, has not permitted it to accomplish the results which it desired and expected at the beginning of the year.
We hope that next year your Honorable Board' will pro- vide the Planning Board with sufficient funds with which to do the tasks set for it, and permit it to show the real benefit and advantage which an energetic and conscientious Planning Board can be to Somerville. Planning Boards in other cities in this Commonwealth have already demonstrated their value to those cities which have provided money with which to carry on their work, and co-operated with them in seeing that the recommendations of those Boards were carried into effect.
Respectfully submitted, MALCOLM E. STURTEVANT CHARLES F. MAGUIRE WILLIAM H. SMITH BARBARA GALPIN CHARLES J. CORWIN WARREN C. BLAIR CHARLES E. GODFREY
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
OFFICE OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES City Hall Annex, Somerville, January 1, 1915. To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
The following report of the sealer of weights and measures for the year 1914 is respectfully submitted :-
Section 21, chapter 62, of the Revised Laws provides that sealers of weights and measures shall annually give public notice by advertisement, or by posting, in one or more public places in their respective cities and towns, notices to all in- habitants or persons having usual places of business therein who use weights, measures or balances for the purpose of selling goods, wares, merchandise, or other commodities or for public weighing to bring in their weights, measures and balances to be adjusted and sealed. Such sealers shall attend in one or more convenient places, and shall adjust, seal and record all weights, measures and balances so brought in.
Section 34 of the same chapter provides that each sealer of weights and measures, including the county treasurers, shall receive a fee of one dollar for sealing each platform balance if weighing five thousand pounds or more, and fifty cents if weighing less than that amount, and three cents each for sealing all other weights, measures, scales, beams or balances. He shall also have a reasonable compensation for all necessary repairs, alterations and adjustments made by him.
Where weights, measures and balances are sealed as provided in Section 21 (that is brought to the office), no fee is charged for sealing.
In compliance with the foregoing Section 21, the custom- ary notice was given by advertising in the Somerville Journal and the Somerville Reporter in March, 1914.
During the year the sealer visited all places in the city where goods were brought or sold, tested all scales, weights and measures, sealed those which were found correct, and condemned all found beyond repair and useless.
329 scales, weights and measures were adjusted before sealing, sixty-five scales were tagged for repairs, thirty-two of which were repaired as ordered, and the remaining thirty-three put out of use.
Work done in weights and measures during the year 1914 ;-
514
ANNUAL REPORTS. 4
No of
No of Tests Made Tests Made at
out of
Office
Office
Number of scales sealed
555
1,472
Number of weights sealed .
306
4,348
Number of dry measures sealed
76
77
Number of tin liquid measures sealed
7,939
838
Number of glass liquid measures sealed
900
0
Number of yard sticks sealed .
2
153
Number of coal and berry baskets sealed .
10
44
Number of miscellaneous sealed
31
90
Number of store weighings
0
4,395
Total number of all kinds sealed Number of scales adjusted and sealed
28
35
Number of weights adjusted and sealed .
67
199
Number of dry measures adjusted and sealed
0
0
Number of liquid measures adjusted and sealed
0
0
Total number adjusted and sealed Number of scales tagged for repairs .
30
35
Number of scales repaired as ordered
25
8
Total number tagged and repaired
35
43
98
Number of scales condemned
20
4
Number of weights condemned .
4
138
Number of dry measures condemned
6
0
Number of liquid measures condemned
59
3
Number of yard sticks condemned
0
0
Number of miscellaneous condemned
0
0
Total number condemned
89
1 145
234
Total number tested in and out of office
21,897
Receipts for the year 1914 :-
$2,550 00
Fees received for sealing and adjusting
511 50
$3,061 50
Expenditures for the year 1914 :-
Telephone service
$24 45
Printing books and supplies
99 13
Amount paid for team
381 44
Amount paid for helper
17 95
Salary of sealer
1,100 00
Salary of deputy sealer .
900 00
$2,522 97
Unexpended balance .
$538 53
1
JOHN H. DUSSEAULT, Sealer of Weights and Measures,
329
95
234
9,819
11,417
21,236
Appropriation
.
REPORT OF THE CITY SOLICITOR
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and Aldermen of the City of Somerville :-
The following is my report as city solicitor for the year 1914 :-
Actions in court and claims for injuries received by reason of defects in public ways were settled for $75, $100, $125, $150, $175, $200, $240, $300, $375, $400, $450, and $850. The settlement for $850, was of a long standing suit brought against the city, payment being made by a surety company on the bond of a contractor without expense to the city. A claim for falling into a trench opened by the water depart- ment was settled for $300. Claims arising out of the death at the city stable of an employee in the street department were settled for $2,150.
The captain in the police department. who was retired on a pension by the city government. applied to the Somer- ville Police Court, under the provisions of chapter 624 of the Acts of 1911, for re-instatement. In order to have the ques- tion determined whether the statute applies to retirement on a pension proceedings were brought in the name of the mayor and are now pending before the full bench of the Supreme Court.
As in several previous years a bill presented to the legis- lature by the City of Cambridge, requiring other cities and towns to pay a part of the expenses of constructing and main- taining bridges over the Charles River between Cambridge and Boston, and a bill presented by the City of Boston, pro- viding for a change in the basis of apportioning expenses of the metropolitan water district, whereby a larger share would be placed upon this city, were successfully opposed. On a petition of the mayor an act was passed by the legislature to facilitate the improvement of public ways at railroad bridges and approaches to such bridges.
Several claims for land damages in connection with the abolition of railroad grade crossings were disposed of and only a few claims now remain unsettled. An action brought by the Union Glass Company for damages to its property at the Webster Avenue crossing was tried before a jury in the Su- perior Court and a verdict was given for $18.090. A motion made by the plaintiff to set aside the verdict was denied by the court. Exceptions filed by the plaintiff are now pending. Before the trial $60,000 was the lowest sum mentioned by the plaintiff for a settlement.
Very Respectfully, FRANĘ W, KAAN, City Solicitor,
January 11, 1915,
REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK.
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, January 1, 1915.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :- Gentlemen :- The following is respectfully submitted as the forty-third annual report of the City Clerk of the City of Somerville, and is for the year ending December 31, 1914. The receipts and payments were as follows :-
Receipts.
Balance from year 1913, being for dog li- censes issued in December, 1913 :-
53 males at $2.00 $106 00 13 males at $5 00 65 00 1 spayed at $2.00 2 00
-
$173 00
Less city clerk's fees paid to the city treasurer in. December, 1913, 67 at $.20
13 40
For dog licenses issued in 1914:
1,139 males at $2.00
$2,278 00
257 females at $5.00
1,285 00
90 spayed at $2.00 .
180 00
Recording mortgages, assignments, etc.,
1,024 papers
$656 85
Certificates of marriage intentions, 956 at $1.00
956 00
Furnishing copies of records . . Licenses :-
181 10
Amusements :-
68 monthly licenses at $4.00 $272 00
480 licenses for 549 entertain- ments at $1.00 549 00
821 00
Auctioneers, 23 licenses at $2.00
46 00
Billiard and pool tables and bowling
alleys, 43 licenses for 117 tables
and 87 alleys at $2.00 .
$408 00
1 license not acted on for 2
tables at $2.00
4 00
412 00
Cry goods and calling, 89 licenses at $1.00 . .
.$89 00
9 applied for and peti-
tions not returned 9 00
98 00
Drain layers, 9 licenses at $1.00 9 00
Drivers, 3 licenses at $1.00
3 00
Engines and motors, 23 licenses, for 40 motors, and 1 boiler, including 2 paid in 1918, making 21 at $1.00
21 00
Amounts carried forward , P $3,203 95
$3,902 60
$159 60
$3,743 00
ʻ
517
CITY CLERK.
Amounts brought forward
Gasoline tanks, 33 licenses, including 1 paid in 1913, making 32 $1.00
at
$32 00 2 refused and money not
called for 2 00
34 00
Garages, 109 licenses, including 4 paid in 1913 , making 105 at
$2.00
$210 00
1 refused and money not
called for
2 00
$212 00
Money refunded on 1 re-
fused in 1913 2 00 ·
210 00
Hackney carriages, 5 licenses for 6
carriages at $1.00 .
6 00
Innholders and common victuallers, 41 licenses for 1 innholder and 40 vic-
tuallers, at $2.00
$82 00
money refunded on 1 re-
fused in' 1913
2 00
80 00
Intelligence offices, 11 licenses at $2.00 Junk and second-hand licenses,
22 00
29 licenses at $10 00 $290 00
13 licenses at $25.00 325 00
615 00
Lord's Day, sale of ice cream, confec- tionery, soda water and fruit on 66 licenses, including 1 paid in 1913, making 65 at $5.00 .
Private detectives, 4 licenses at $10.00
40 00
Ring bells in streets, 15 licenses at $1.00 Slaughtering, 6 licenses at $1.00 Street musicians, 14 licenses for 24 per- sons at $.50 . ·
12 00
Wagons, 56 licenses
98 00
Wagon stands, 3 licenses at $1.00 .
3 00
Permits for projections over sidewalks, 59 permits, for 45 signs and 14 awnings, at $1.00 $59 00
1 refused and money not called for
1 00
Permits to transport liquors, 22 per- mits at $1.00 $22 00
2 refused and money not called for
2 00
1
24 00
Money refunded on 1 re-
fused in 1913 · . 1 00
23 00
,not acted on . · 1 00
24 00
$4,753 95
$3,902 60
Amounts carried forward .
$3,203 95
$3,902 60
325 00
15
6 00
. 4 wagons at $1.00
60 00
518
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward
$4,753 95
$3,902 60
Recording and issuing sixth class
liquor licenses, 29 at $1 00
29 00
Filing certificate, under Acts Chapter 502
of 1908,
50
Repairing and sale of junk badges
3 00
Notices of hearings (public service cor- porations)
26 60
Revenue tax stamps
4 40
Interest on deposits
11 63
4,829 08
Total receipts
$8,731 68
Payments.
To Joseph O. Hayden, county treasurer, June 1 and December 1, receipts for dog licenses from December 1, 1913, to November 30, 1914, both inclusive :--
1,186 males at 2.00 $2,372 00
265 females at $5.00
1,325 00
91 spayed at $2.00 182 00
$3,879 00
Less city clerk's fees, 1,542 at $.20 . 308 40
$3,570 60
To the city treasurer, monthly :-
City clerk's fees for issuing and record- ing dog licenses, 1,486 at $.20 $297 20
A11 the receipts above specified, except for dog licenses
4,829 08
5,126 28
Total payments
$8,696 88
Balance, January 1, 1915, being for dog li- censes issued in December, 1914 :- 6 males at $2 00 ·
$12 00
5 females at $5 00
25 00
$37 00
Less city clerk's fees paid to the city
treasurer, 11 at $.20
2 20
$34 80
1
There have been issued during the year 316 resident hunters' certificates at one dollar each, the fees for which have been paid monthly to the commissioners on fisheries and game of the commonwealth; total, $316.00.
Licenses and Permits.
Besides the licenses mentioned in the foregoing list of receipts, licenses and permits have been granted by the board of aldermen, without charge, as follows :-
519
CITY CLERK.
Auctioneers (to veterans of the Civil war)
2
Children under fifteen to take part in entertainments Newsboys
To blast rock or stone .
4
To hold open-air meetings
3
To hold religious services in streets and squares
5
To parade in streets, with music, etc.
4
To give band concerts (one permit for eight concerts)
1
To move buildings through streets
3
To construct bulkhead in sidewalk
1
To construct fire escapes over sidewalk (one permit for two fire escapes)
1
"To set hitching post in sidewalk
1
To erect posts for church directional signs
3
To erect marquise over sidewalk
1
To use bowling green .
1
To manufacture sausages and chopped meat
6
To sing Christmas carols in streets
2
Gas and Pole Locations.
The Cambridge Gas Light Company and the Charles- town Gas and Electric Company have been granted permis- sion to lay gas mains in sundry streets.
Permission has also been granted The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston and The New England Tele- phone and Telegraph Company of Massachusetts for the erection of poles and for the attachment of wires and fixtures, to The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston for underground conduits and to the West End Street Railway Company for track locations and electric rights in various streets.
In every order of the board of aldermen granting such permission to use the streets provision is made for the pro- tection of the interests of the city and a suitable agreement, satisfactory in form to the city solicitor, must be filed with the city clerk before the order can become operative.
Births.
1914
Number of births reported by physicians and midwives for 1914 :-
Males Females
896
982
A canvas of the city is at present being made under the direction of the city clerk as required by section 5, chapter 29, of the Revised Laws, to ascertain the facts required for record relative to all children born therein during the year.
As the information derived from such canvas will not be available in time sufficient for its incorporation in this report, a statement in full of the births of 1914 will be given in the city clerk's report for the year 1915.
.
9
·
32
.
520
ANNUAL REPORTS.
1913
The following is a statement in full of the births for 1913 :-
Number of births (exclusive of still births) in Somerville
in 1913 registered
1,861
More than previous year
53
Males
964
Females
897
1,861
Born of American parents 681
Born of foreign parents
771
Born of American father and foreign mother 191
Born of foreign father and American mother 195
Born of American mother and father of unknown nationality 14
Born of foreign mother and father of unknown nationality
9
Number of still births in Somerville in 1913 as regis-
·
48
Number of births in other places in 1913 registered 334
2,243
Number of cases of twins
16
Number of cases of triplets
1
Marriages.
Number of intention certificates issued in 1914
956
More than previous year .
42
Marriages registered
1,003
More than previous year
32
Both parties American
541
Both parties foreign
231
American groom and foreign bride
102
Foreign groom and American bride
129
1,003 couples
First marriage of
1,821
Second marriage of
175
Third marriage of
10
1,003 couples
Deaths. (Exclusive of still-births.)
Number of deaths in Somerville in 1914
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