Report of the city of Somerville 1915, Part 18

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 478


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1915 > Part 18


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


24,169.59


City Home, 7,842.03


28,200.30


1912


81,000


Miscellaneous, $19,201.33 City Home, 8,998.97


Miscellaneous, $21,827.73


32,773.68


1913


82,000


2 City Home,


10,945.95


1914


85,000


Miscellaneous, $35,619.68


46,819.93


City Home, 11,200.25


1915


88,000


Miscellaneous, $45,490.98


56,709.63


1 City Home,


11,218.65


*Census.


69,500


1904


Miscellaneous, $20,476.54 City Home, 6,563.11


City Home, 7,474.36


City Home,


6,806.79


City Home, 7,562.83


Table No. 7. EXPENDITURES, IN DETAIL, FOR THE YEAR 1915.


1915.


Medicine.


Board.


Groceries.


Somerville Poor in Other Cities and Towns.


Boots and Shoes.


Dry Goods.


Burials.


Salaries.


Fuel.


Sundries.


Cash Paid Out.


Telephone.


Stationery and Printing.


Somerville Hospital.


State Infirmary.


Nursing.


Somerville Poor in other Cities and Towns 1913 Law.


Total.


January . .


$4.99


$226.98


$1,949.00


$727.18


$8.00


$25.00


$374.99


$330.17


$1.00


$1,688.26


$19.03


$8.33


$78.00


$72.75


$5,513.68


February .


28.18


77.00


1,520.03


615.23


$17.91


63.00


374.99


189.82


782.55


9.53


11.27


.


.


3,297.97


April . .


137.87


1,148.75


2.00


10.00


383.32


14.38


107.00


906.80


9.33


23.00


150.00


83.00


10.25


2,985.70


May .


15.87


171.72


1,336.90


647.85


4.00


25.00


383.32


15.03


888.81


9.50


4.41


150.00


4.25


$717.09


4,373.75


June .


9.22


303.04


1,400.25


133.43


383.32


5.00


944.80


8.83


7.59


150.00


6.75


621.12


3,973.35


July . .


3.50


155.36


1,181.90


2,162.13


6.50


80.00


383.32


12.15


1,025.70


9.07


22.90


150.00


105.50


5.75


5,303.78


August


16.83


117.92


1,114.50


35.10


58.00


443.32


4.05


1,164.50


8.83


11.51


18.75


3,371.36


October


5.98


172.71


1,258.50


2.00


10.00


383.32


11.20


1,085.35


9.10


11.50


. .


90.00


8.25


3,047.91


November .


107.85


996.50


71.21


383.32


6.00


1,157.00


9.36


1.04


3.00


924.66


3,867.09


December .


12.21


282.21


756.50


512.36


383.48


161.46


3.00


585.45


11.00


136.30


10.00


416.47


3,270.44


Totals . .


$225.87


$2,353.89


$15,465.03


$4,961.53


$24.50


$23.91


$286.00


$4,660.00


$1,101.83


$195.93


$11,546.47


$111.32


$112.55


$1,185.30


$356.50


$175.75


$2,679.34


$45,466.72


·


March .


74.52


277.20


1,553.50


55.04


10.00


10.00


399.98


198.85


22.50


237.55


8.83


$450.00


.


. .


. .


2,764.18


September


54 57


324.03


1.248.70


5.00


383.32


9.00


1,079.70


9.91


. .


. .


. . .


·


. . .


. .


.


. . .


· . ·


8.00


3,697.51


. .


.


. .


.


28.00


.


207.15


259


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Overseers of the Poor of Somerville SINCE THE REORGANIZATION IN 1885.


+ Hon. Mark F. Burns, chairman, ex-officio 1885


1888 inclusive


t Col. Herbert E. Hill


1885


1889


t Charles S. Lincoln, Esq., chairman Hon. Edward Glines


.


1885


1887


1885 .


1887


1885 Apr. 1893


66


1888


to


1912


{ Daniel C. Stillson


1888 Apr. 1892


1889


1891


t Hon. William H. Hodgkins, chairman ex- officio


1892


1895


66


+ James G. Hinckley


. May


1892


1894


+ Herbert E. Merrill


May .


1894


1909


t Ezra D. Souther


1895 Feb. 1898 (Died)


Hon. Albion A. Perry, chairman, ex-officio James H. Butler .


March


1898


1899


Hon. George O. Proctor, chairman, ex- officio Henry F. Curtis, M. D. · .


1899


1910


to date*inclusive


Philip Koen


1912


*inclusive


* Present member.


t Deceased.


Table No. 8. RECAPITULATION (MISCELLANEOUS).


Appropriation and transfers Reimbursements


$45,527 89 8,217 44


Total receipts


$53,745 33


Total expenditures


45,490 98


Net expenditures


37,273 54


·


+ Hon. Charles G. Pope, chairman ex-officio Nathan H. Reed (president 1893 to April, 1894)


1890 Apr. 1894


Albert W. Edmands


·


May


1893


to date*


1896


1898 inclusive


.


. .


t Charles G. Brett (president 1888-1892) Edward B. West (president May, 1894- February, 1912)


REPORT OF WARDEN OF CITY HOME.


City Home, January 1, 1916.


To the Overseers of the Poor, Somerville, Mass. :-


Gentlemen,-I submit the following as the report of the warden of the city home for the year ending December 31, 1915 :-


Table No. 1. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Farm produce sold


·


$3,883 61


Board of sundry persons


. 1,756 89


$5,640 50


Table No. 2. LIVING EXPENSES.


Salaries and wages :-


Warden and matron


$1,350 00


Domestic labor


1,613 96


Farm labor


1,388 25


Other expenses :-


Groceries and provisions


3,253 52


Dry goods, clothing and shoes


385 19


Drugs and medicine


161 16


Kitchen utensils and supplies .


171 29


Farm equipment


412 76


Live stock and feed


282 59


Garbage


317 75


Hay, grain and straw


832 29


Horse shoeing


81 10


Harness and horse clothing


52 85


Telephone


62 72


Seeds and garden expenses


474 86


All other expenses


378 36


Credits :-


Farm produce .


$3,883 61


Board of sundry persons


1,756 89


$11,218 65


$5,640 50


Net living expenses


$5,578 15


261


SUPPORT OF POOR DEPARTMENT.


Table No. 3.


Number of weeks' board of inmates


2,308-1


Number of males admitted during 1915


36


Number of females admitted during 1915 . 35


Number of males discharged during 1915 .


33


Number of females discharged during 1915


13


Number of males supported during 1915


59


Number of females supported during 1915


35


Number of males died during 1915


8


Number of females died during 1915


6


Number of inmates in home, December 31, 1915


40


City Home Hospital.


Number of weeks' board


425-3


Number of patients admitted


36


Number of patients in hospital,


Decem-


ber 31, 1915 .


8


Table No. 4. FARM ACCOUNT. REIMBURSEMENTS.


Farm produce sold


$3,883 61


Produce used at home


300 00


Milk


.


.


.


$4,506 17


EXPENSES.


Wages for help .


$1,388 26


Feed for one horse


172 63


Feed for three cows


327 51


Shoeing one horse


26 68


Repairs on wagons


32 15


Farm sundries


597 69


Garbage and bedding


318 45


Serum for hogs


149 00


Live stock


118 40


Seeds


122 51


$3,253 28


Balance


$1,252 89


Table No. 5.


Appropriation


$11,500 00


Reimbursements


$5,640 50 ·


Net expenditures


5,578 15


$11,218 65


Balance


$281 35


Respectfully submitted, J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN, Warden.


:


.


.


·


322 56


.


REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN.


OFFICE OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN, Somerville, January 1, 1916.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-The work of your City Physician during the year 1915 is presented in the following abstract :-


Office consultations and treatments


670


Total outside visits


1,486


Confinements


22


Vaccinations


121


Visits at City Home


138


Attended at police station


46


Examinations :-


For legal department


24


For highway department


57


For police department


48


For fire department .


23


For water department


10


For engineering department


3


.


Respectfully submitted, C. CLARKE TOWLE, City Physician.


L .:.


REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD.


Somerville, Mass., December, 1915.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-As required by Section 2 of Chapter 494 of the Acts of 1913, the Planning Board herewith submits its annual report for 1915.


At the end of 1914, by reason of the expiration of the term of office or the resignation of its members, the Planning Board was practically disorganized. Two members of the original board and five new members were appointed at the beginning of the present year. Immediately after their con- firmation by the Board of Aldermen, the Planning Board met and reorganized with William H. Smith as Chairman. The Secretary, Theda E. Fleming, appointed in 1914 under Civil Service rules, continued in office. The Board, however, con- sidered that until the duties of Secretary became greater, it would be more economical for one of the unpaid members of the Board to serve as Secretary without pay. We therefore recommended that the ordinance be changed so as to permit the Board to choose a Secretary from among their own num- ber; and, upon such a change being made, Miss Fleming ended her. satisfactory and efficient work as Secretary, and the Board elected as Secretary Waldo E. Dodge, one of its members.


The sum of one hundred dollars was appropriated for the use of the Planning Board, out of which was paid the salary of the Secretary for the first three months of the year, and necessary office expenses.


During the year the Board investigated and visited cer- tain of the vacant and undeveloped tracts of land in the City, with a view to suggesting plans for future development. The Board has visited and inspected certain old and dilapidated buildings in the City which are in themselves unsightly and also depreciate the value of and are a fire menace to the sur- rounding property, and we recommend the prompt demoli- tion of such buildings by the proper officials under existing statutes, and we believe that the expense of such work will be soon made up by the greater tax value of the better build- ings likely to be erected and by the improvements upon sur- rounding property, for the civic pride of a neighborhood will be increased by the City's efforts to remove unsightly land- marks.


Similar efforts to improve the appearance of the City should be made under the authority of the Board of Health, cleaning up numerous vacant lots and unsightly dumps, which


264


ANNUAL REPORTS.


not only diminish the attractiveness of the immediate neigh- borhood but are also a menace to public health.


The Board has also made a study of the Somerville Beach and Bath House. This public convenience is located on leased land, and the time is approaching when the land owners may endeavor to sell the land to the City or at least obtain a rental more advantageous to themselves. We recom- mend that the Beach and Bath House be permanently lo- cated near the Wellington Bridge on land to be owned by the City or leased from the Commonwealth or other adja- cent owners at a small or nominal rental. Such a location would be as convenient as the present location and more capable of attractive development.


The Board has also given some consideration to the numerous dead-end streets in the City, which have resulted from the policy of permitting land holders to subdivide and lay out streets upon their land and offer such streets for ac- ceptance only after the abutting lots were built upon. It seems possible and desirable that we should look to the fu- ture and have new streets laid out on a comprehensive plan. Land owners should be required to subdivide their land only in accordance with this plan, and the City should refuse to accept and lay out new streets which were not in conformity with the general plan. At the same time efforts should be made to remedy the present defects in arrangement of streets as rapidly as the finances of the City will permit.


The Board has also discussed at its meetings a number of other City problems. His Honor, Mayor Z. E. Cliff, at- tended one meeting of the Board and gave us the benefit of his ideas on city planning. At another meeting Henry Ster- ling, Secretary of the State Homestead Commission, delivered an address on city planning.


The Board has, however, been hampered in the perform- ance of its duties by apparent lack of interest on the part of some of its members, and the meetings at which a quorum has been present have been infrequent. It would, however, be unjust to attribute this entirely to lack of interest. The Planning Board may make recommendations but has no power to enforce the same. It may seem futile to spend much time in making plans unless at the same time way could be seen for carrying out the plans made.


The criticism has been made of planning boards in this state that some have hardly done enough to justify their existence. The reasons ascribed are the indefinite legislation under which such boards are appointed and the general lack of knowledge of the subject of city planning. In an effort to increase the interest of the public in city planning, and for the purpose of enabling members of planning boards to


265


PLANNING BOARD.


exchange views upon the subject, there was held under the auspices of the State Homestead Commission, a Metropolitan City Planning Exhibition in the new wing of the State House from November 12 to 20. This Board appointed one of its members, Austin M. Pinkham, a member of the Council of Fifty who had this exhibition in charge.


The educational effect of such exhibitions and meetings is great and is gradually bringing the public to appreciate the necessity of careful and consistent planning of its muni- cipalities, and the Somerville Planning Board, in common with other planning boards in the state, has begun to learn the principles of city planning and the methods by which its work may be efficiently performed. We are convinced


that the duties of the Planning Board should for the present have little to do with the immediate problems of city man- agement, which can be more properly and efficiently handled by the established executive and administrative branches of the City Government. It has been said that Somerville is a city already built and that for that reason the opportunity for further planning is small. We believe, however, that, while the problem is thus made harder, there is a wide field of opportunity to plan for the future growth and develop- ment of the City.


It is the aim of the Planning Board to exercise foresight for the orderly and sightly development of the City along rational lines, having regard for the health, comfort and con- venience of its citizens, and also for commercial and indus- trial advancement.


No consistent progress in this direction can be made un- til the Planning Board has made a complete city survey covering information as to the following classes of facts :-


1. The facts of the physical and topographical environment of the people.


2. Social facts concerning the people of the City.


3. The facts as to the economic and financial resources of the City, and means of bringing these to bear upon public improvements.


4. The facts as to the legal and administrative conditions which may act as limitations upon possible plans.


A complete map or set of maps ought to be prepared un- der the direction of the City Engineer for the use of the Planning Board, which should embrace as many of the physi- cal and topographical facts as possible. Data should be collected upon other classes of facts, so far as they may have a bearing upon the problems of planning.


Space should be provided in the City Hall where the Planning Board may keep its maps, documents and the data


266


ANNUAL REPORTS.


collected by it, so that the same may be accessible to mem- bers of the Board at all reasonable times.


The City of Somerville is essentially a suburban resi- dential city. Its 4.2 square miles of territory are peopled by 87,000 individuals, that is, more than 20,000 people per square mile. Boston is less densely populated over its whole area. In fact scarcely a city in the country has as large a population per square mile. A large proportion of its busi- ness men and wage earners find their employment outside of the limits of the City. Consequently the means of transpor- tation is an important matter. Several lines of railroad pass through the City from east to west, and several avenues or highways with street car tracks run in the same general way. A large portion of the land at the eastern end of the City is occupied by freight vards of the Boston & Maine Railroad. The greater part of the manufacturing establishments of the City are located near this section or along the lines of the railroad. The industrial and commercial establishments in the City are few in comparison with the population and consequently a heavy burden of taxation has to be borne by the householders. To the north of the City along the Mystic River is a considerable area of vacant and undeveloped land which might well be used for industrial and manufacturing purposes. The retail business of the City has its centres in several so-called squares, which have become also to some degree social centres. The rest of the City is occupied by the homes of its citizens, the greatest congestion being near the industrial establishments near the eastern end of the City and along the Cambridge line.


The following problems suggest themselves for the con- sideration of the Planning Board in order to evolve, a con- sistent city plan :-


1. Possibility of increasing industrial establishments in the City, land available for the same, and the advisability of attempting to confine the same in large part of the eastern end of the City or to the vacant land at the northeast.


2. Better development of congested portions of the City, and the proper housing of the people therein.


3. The means of further developing the retail centres or squares in the City, in order to prevent encroachment of retail stores in the districts strictly residential, and also in order to afford better shopping facilities so that a larger portion of the retail buying by the peo- ple may be done within the City. Also the means of further developing these centres for social and civic purposes.


4. A consideration of the transportation problems, not only to and from Boston but also between various sections


1


267


PLANNING BOARD.


of Somerville itself. We believe that the transporta- tion system needs certain connecting links in the way of cross town car lines, which would at the same time facilitate communication between various parts of the City, and also give Somerville additional use of recently built rapid transit lines to Boston.


5. A study of the recreation grounds, and the proper con- nections between them and the nearby portions of the Metropolitan Park System. In this connection plans should be made for the laying out and development of at least one cross town boulevard for automobile traffic from Boston to the north.


We believe that a Board of five members would be more convenient than a Board of seven members and we believe that the Board would be more efficient if the terms of office of its members were longer. We recommend that the ordinance establishing the Planning "Board be changed so that the Board shall consist of five members, the term of office of one member to expire each year, and that appointments to fill vacancies be made for the balance of any unexpired term. As at present constituted, a majority of the members of the Board is likely to change each year, and consequently the Board has not that permanent character which is neces- sary in order to give continued study to the problems before it and evolve comprehensive and permanent plans.


SOMERVILLE PLANNING BOARD, WILLIAM H. SMITH, Chairman.


WALDO E. DODGE, Secretary


.


-


REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.


OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, CITY HALL, Somerville, January 22, 1916.


To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-


Gentlemen,-In accordance with the provisions of the city charter, the following report of the work done and expense incurred for the year ending December 31, 1915, by the Engineering Department and appropriations under my charge and supervision, including the accounts of City En- gineer, grade crossings, sewers construction, sewers main- tenance, public grounds, parks and playgrounds, and other public works, is herewith presented.


ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.


City Engineer Account. Statement of Expenses, 1915.


Salary of City Engineer $3,000 00


Salaries of assistants (see itemized state-


7,267 60


ment following) . Stakes, tools and general supplies (out- side work) 55 05


Draughting materials and office supplies (inside work) 189 37


Car fares and miscellaneous expenses (assistants) 243 53


Maintenance of automobile for all divi- sions of engineering department 815 05


Telephone, postage and expressing . ·


107 70


Incidentals .


25 50


Total debit


$11,703 80


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$11,500 00


Amount received from other departments,


services rendered


89 25


Transfer from building department .


115 00


Total credit


.


$11,704 25


Balance unexpended .


$0 45


Classification of Expenses, Assistants' Salaries.


Sewers,-comprising surveys, estimates, profiles, lines, grades, titles, plans, assessments and all engineer- ing work relating to sewers $945 15


Highways,-comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving and all other engineering relating to the department . 1,265 10


269


CITY ENGINEER.


Sidewalks,-comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, titles, costs and assessments 985 20


Bridges and Grade Crossings,-comprising surveys, plans, profiles, estimates, lines and grades, etc. 28 55


Water Works,-comprising lines, grades, locations of mains, gates, hydrants and services and other


matters relating to the department . 484 50


Public Grounds and Parks, -- comprising surveys, plans, estimates, profiles and grades, including laying out of parks and playgrounds and boulevard . 355 65


Public Buildings,-comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to construction and laying out of grounds . 33 80


Street Numbering,-comprising locations of buildings, plans, and assigning street numbers 225 60


Street Lines and Grades,-comprising establishing of lines, grades, and miscellaneous data given parties for building and grading 238 80


City Survey,-comprising establishing of street lines, acceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city map, etc. 582 30


Middlesex Registry,-comprising copying of plans, and abstracts from deeds and examination of titles filed at East Cambridge, also tracings of street acceptance and sewer taking plans filed for record 285 70 Private Corporations, Railway, Telephone, Electric Light and Gas Light Companies,-comprising grades, plans, profiles and office notes, locations of poles and conduits 116 25


Office Work,-comprising records of all locations, in- .


dexing, typewriting, bookkeeping, calculations, reports, and general draughting 1,052 45


Miscellaneous Work,-comprising preliminary surveys, designs, sketches, etc., relating to various schemes for different committees 103 05


Vacations, Holidays, and Sickness


565 50


Total


$7,267 60


Office Records and Value of Instruments.


Number of survey note-books, sewer permit books, deed books, calculation books and record books- three hundred and sixty.


Number of plans, including sewers, highways, parks, house lots, etc .- seven thousand five hundred.


Value of field instruments, tools, and office in- struments $2,000 00


The number of assistants employed during the year on engineering work varied from seven to twelve.


The total cost of maintaining the Engineering depart- ment (City Engineer Account) since it was established, 1872- 1915, both years inclusive, has amounted to $343,440.00.


General Work. Under the title of Engineering Depart- ment a varied line of city work is carried on each year, in- cluding the designing and superintending of the construction and maintenance of sewers, parks, playgrounds, boulevards,


270


ANNUAL REPORTS.


bridges, and other public works as may be authorized; the making of such surveys, plans, profiles, estimates, descrip- tions of property, specifications and contracts for work as the mayor, board of aldermen, or any committee or depart- ment may require; the custody of all plans and data relating to the laying out, widening or discontinuing of streets, the computing of all sewer, sidewalk, and street betterment as- sessments, and the recording and indexing of all work under the control of the city engineer.


The city ordinances require that the city engineer must be consulted on all work where the advice of a civil engineer would be of service; and no structure of any kind can be placed upon, beneath, or above any street, by any department of the city, corporation, or individual, until a plan is furnished showing the location and approved by him.


During the year the department made plans and estab- lished lines and grades for the acceptance, under the better- ment act, of twelve new public streets, a total length of 7,129 feet (1.35 miles) ; and plans were made of two private streets for acceptance as public ways, as ordered, but not as yet made public. There are plans for acceptance of twelve other private streets, previously made, on file in the office that for various reasons are still unaccepted as public streets.


Stone bounds have been reset in Portland cement con- crete at a number of street intersections and angles, to de- fine and preserve the true lines of public streets, and this work should be continued as much as possible each year. These bounds are also of great convenience in establishing permanent "Bench Marks" throughout the city for giving grades.


No new street bounds were set during the year 1915. There are at the present time 576 stone bounds set in the city for defining street lines. (Table showing location in 1907 report.)


The total length of public streets in the city is 81.595 miles, and private streets 18.411 miles. (See table in this report for location, width, length, etc.)


271


CITY ENGINEER.


Streets Accepted as Public Highways in 1915, Under the Betterment Act.


NAME OF STREET.


WARD.


FROM


To


Width in Feet.


Length in Fect.


Date of Acceptance


Albion terrace .


5


Albion street .


Southwesterly


25


100


March 26


Auburn .avenue


4


Cross street


Northwesterly


30


606


March 26


Barton street .


7


Broadway .


Hamilton road


.


40 .


382


December 31


Curtis avenue .


7


Curtis street


Hillsdale road


40


654


December 31


Indiana avenue


1


Broadway .


Pennsylvania ave.


40


384


December 31


Leonard street


7


Broadway .


Pow. House Blvd.


40


450


December 31


Pennsylvania ave.


1


Broadway .


Wisconsin avenue


50


1,112


February 26


Simpson avenue .


7


Holland street




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