USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1919 > Part 22
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Window cords
Repairing and tightening furniture
Fitting up one room in Bell, Edgerly, and Glines Schools with larger size furniture.
Ward room of Bell School fitted up for 2 class rooms.
308
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Painting :
Glines School has been thoroughly renovated.
At High School several rooms and office walls and ceilings tinted and woodwork varnished.
At Morse School the walls and ceilings of entire building tinted. At Southern Junior High School walls and ceilings of two rooms painted.
2500 desk tops in various schools refinished and varnished.
All toilet seats finished in white enamel and several school toilets painted out.
Students' chairs in several buildings refinished and varnished.
At the Boys' Trade School a new addition to the heating plant has been installed, thereby doing away with three furnaces and equipping the entire plant with a modern heating apparatus.
The closing of the Girls' Trade School and the removal of that school to the High School necessitated considerable changes in the latter building, together with the fitting of the Matron's room. Also the change of Room 204, a former class room, to a book supply room and the fitting up of the same with shelves.
The most pressing needs this year will be the following :-
That the policy of yard resurfacing be continued so that the school yards may be kept sanitary and free from dust.
That the policy of painting as many school buildings as possible during the year be continued.
Additional windows in the Edgerly School.
Electric Lighting: There has been in the past year many re- quests for additional lighting in the school rooms. This matter met the serious consideration of the Commissioner and he is making every effort to secure available funds to complete at least a portion of the older buildings this year and to continue same until every school is satisfactorly equipped.
Outside enclosed fire escapes on the Edgerly, Morse and Highland School Buildings. These buildings are three stories high and the old style type of construction with very little distance between stairways.
New heating and ventilating plant in the Morse School, doing away with the present seven furnaces which are in bad condition.
New floors should be installed in both the Edgerly and Highland school buildings.
Installing direct steam coils thermostatically controlled in the new wing of the Brown School, also the Glines and Pope schools and the High School Annex. This would mean a great saving of coal and would eventually pay for itself. A start must be made this year on at least one of the buildings.
Extending the heat control system in the High School to the remainder of the building.
The third story of the Pope School to be fitted up for a hall. Also same to be done at Knapp School with movable partitions.
Installing motor and doing away with the present engine used to run the ventilating fan at the Ball School as this engine is in bad shape and would cost as much to be repaired as a new motor.
Removing the partitions between the fire rooms and coal bins in the Bingham, Durell, Morse and Highland Schools and replacing same with eight-inch brick walls.
Continuation of the policy of installing sprinkler systems, doing as many buildings as possible during the coming year.
309
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Fire Department Buildings.
There has been considerable work done and many im- provements made in the several fire department buildings.
The Central Fire Station has been further renovated on the first floor by painting the apparatus rooms.
At the Union Square Fire Station extensive repairs have been made on the tower and roof and the exterior of the build- ing was painted.
A new toilet having modern sanitary accommodations was completed at Engine 2 house, and other general repairs were made.
The increased cost of fuel, light and labor curtailed a great number of the needed repairs during the past year but much necessary work was accomplished.
The most pressing needs for this year will be the follow- ing :
New heating plants in Engine 6 and Hose S, thus doing away with old and wholly inadequate furnaces.
Repairs to Engine 6 house.
New floor in shop at Central Fire Station.
Interior and exterior painting and new concrete floor in front portion of Ladder 2 house.
Several other minor repairs are being considered and will be carried out as far as necessary.
I urgently recommend something being done to Engine 4 house. This building is in such bad shape that it does not seem wise to spend any money on repairs and as it is a well located building on a good lot of land, I heartily recommend it being torn down and a modern building erected on this site. There is much material in the present building which could be used in the new.
Municipal Buildings.
The municipal buildings consisting of City Hall and City Hall Annex, are in fair condition generally.
Considerable new fittings and furniture have been re quested by the various departments.
During the past year new sanitary accommodations have been installed in City Hall Annex. The exterior of City Hall has been repainted.
Libraries.
Very few repairs were necessary at any of the Libraries the past year as the buildings are in very fair condition.
At the Central Library the office and librarian's room were repainted and much of the furniture refinished.
310
ANNUAL REPORTS.
At the West Somerville Branch Library the roof has been repaired and some of the interior finish needs attention.
There is also quite a little new furniture required this year which must be furnished.
Water, Highway, and Sanitary Buildings.
Water Department buildings are in need of a new heating plant, as the old plant which was installed as a power plant for the high pressure pumps is not economical and wholly in- adequate as a low pressure heating plant.
The highway and sanitary buildings call for considerable repairs. Stall bottoms must be replaced and other repairs made. One thing which calls for serious consideration is the replacement of glass of which there have been more than 110 lights replaced this year.
The recent fire in the incinerator plant has shown us that if this plant is to remain it will be necessary to fireproof this building in a proper manner; also to equip same with a dry sprinkler outfit. This will mean quite an added expense but the experience of the past year has shown the necessity of it.
Hospital Buildings.
Extensive painting and other general repairs were made this last year in these buildings, as follows :
A new discharging room has been built and equipped this year, thus completing a long needed addition.
Ceilings of kitchen and help's dining room have been whitened.
A new gas range has been installed in the kitchen.
The entire furnishings of the T. B. Camp which are of white enameled Iron, have been refinished.
New Rocking chairs supplied for T. B. Piazza.
A new cement concrete driveway put in at the hospital that per- mits coal to be put directly into the building, doing away with carrying same, which means a considerable saving.
There is still much to be done, however, in order to keep these buildings in proper sanitary condition.
City Home Buildings.
In addition to the general repairs to the buildings exten- sive repairs and painting have been made during the past year, some of which are the following :
Five rooms in the dwelling of the superintendent have been painted and papered.
Hospital interior painted and outside stucco work repaired.
New gas ranges installed.
New furnishings for nurses' and maids' room.
311
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Instantaneous hot water heater connected up with sinks in the kitchen.
A new piazza 79ft. long and 10 ft. wide, has been constructed the entire length of the hospital to enable invalids to get the benefit of fresh air in their wheel chairs. This has proved to be a much need- ed improvement.
Request has been made by the Overseers of the Poor for considerable work to be done this coming year.
Police Buildings.
During the past year a large portion of the interior of the Station House was repaired and painted. The entire cell room was thoroughly renovated, i.e., cells, walls, and ceilings painted, and the entrance to cell room and matron's quarters thoroughly painted and whitened.
I urgently recommend a new heating plant be installed in the stable and garage in the rear. This is needed to properly heat these buildings as the heater in the stable is beyond re- pair and there is no heat in the garage.
Bathhouse.
The public bathhouse on the Mystic River at Wellington Bridge was opened and maintained as usual last year with a very much increased attendance, especially of women and children. This materially increased the labors of the life- guards who, we are pleased to say, met the conditions and no serious accidents were reported for the year.
We were able to secure 400 tons of sand for the resanding of the beach which was greatly appreciated by the patrons.
We hope this year, with the increased outfit, to give bet- ter service and expect that the bathing beach will another year be taxed to its utmost.
Park Buildings.
This coming year the building located in Broadway Park will need considerable attention in the way of repairs as the building leaks badly and new sills must be installed.
I heartily recommend the erection of a permanent band- stand in Broadway Park as it is fair to assume that we will continue to have more band concerts here in the future than in the past, and there is no permanent place to have such af- fairs in the city.
There is considerable agitation being made for a new recreation building to be located in Recreation Field, West Somerville ; this building to have toilet facilities for the pub- lic and locker and shower-bath rooms for the various athletic teams.
312
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Drawings have been made by the Building Commissioner for such a building and an appropriation of about $3500 stands available to be used, but this amount is entirely in- adequate and should be greatly increased.
In General.
The Commissioner of Public Buildings has had the co- operation of all branches of the City Government, including His Honor, the Mayor, the honorable members of the Board of Aldermen and all the city officials, and desires to thank them for their kindly consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE L. DUDLEY, Commissioner of Public Buildings.
313
COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.
Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1920.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :-
I most respectfully submit my eleventh annual report as Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights for the year ending December 31, 1919.
Inspection of Wiring in Buildings.
While electrical installations have somewhat increased over last year they do not approach the normal of former years. This can be accounted for by increased cost of labor and ma- terials and inability to secure much of the material used in house wiring. However, this condition does not lessen the work of the inspection department as the connecting of unapproved wiring to existing installations by inexperienced persons still continues and defects are found in almost all such cases when trouble occurs bringing such unauthorized attachments to the notice of the Inspector. Carelessness and ignorance on the part of those charged with the responsibility of installing, operating and maintaining electrical wiring and apparatus must be held accountable for much of the danger to persons and property caused by electricity.
The practice of attaching flat-irons, cooking utensils and other such appliances to lamp sockets and the careless use of the same are the cause of many fires. Electrical appliances in the United States at present produce an average of 100 fires a day. Separate circuits should be run to supply any of the above named appliances and should be properly fused.
No person or persons can engage in the business of install- ing electrical wires or appliances except those having a State License and when such licensed persons do work which does not conform to standard requirements complaint is made to the Licensing Board and offender's license is suspended or revoked.
314
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The ordinance passed July 1, 1918, requiring permits to be obtained to do work in the City has been a great help in keep- ing the inspections down to a minimum.
Number of notification of new work 1109
Number of inspections of new work . 1109
Number of re-inspections of new work 459
Number of inspections of old work . 250
Number of defective installations of old work 6
Number of defective installations remedied
6
Number of re-inspections of old work
6
Total number of inspections . 1836
Number of permits issued to the Edison Electric Il- luminating Company for installing meters, lamps, etc. 1640
Number of permits issued to the Malden Electric Com- pany 1
Fire Alarm System.
The Fire Alarm System is in first class condition and is giving excellent service, being rated as one of the best systems in the State.
252 bell alarms have been received and transmitted during the year.
Over the central telephone desk with connections to each: Fire Station 407 calls for fire have been received and telephone alarms sent to the different stations.
3 A. D. T. alarms have been received at headquarters and transmitted over our own system to the fire stations.
Some changes in the method of sending out alarms will necessarily be made on account of the adoption of the two pla- toon system in the fire department. The preliminary blow now sounded before alarm will be discontinued.
One blow will be struck on inside bells in all fire stations at 8 A. M. and 6 P. M. to announce the change of day and night forces.
The central office equipment consists of the following :
2- 6 circuit operating boards. 1 - 5 circuit tapper board.
1- 5 circuit gong board.
2-16 circuit storage battery charging boards.
1-32 circuit protector board.
1-12 circuit automatic repeater.
1. 1 dial, 4 number manual transmitter.
2 - - 5 circuit punching registers.
13 punching registers and take up reels.
2 automatic time and date stamps.
1 master clock.
940 cells storage battery.
5-10 foot, 4 shelf battery racks.
4 metropolitan tappers and 2 gongs.
315
COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.
The apparatus outside of the central office consists of the following :
131 signal boxes.
8 tower strikers.
45 gongs.
10 punching registers.
20 tappers.
1 automatic steam whistle.
9 private telephones. About 60 miles of overhead wires.
About 78 miles of underground wires.
There have been run 8600 feet of new overhead wire.
No new underground wires were installed last year but provisions are made to continue the work during the present year.
Police Signal System.
The police signal system is giving the same service as in the past.
Boxes have been thoroughly tested and found to be in good working order. Some replacements may have to be made this year on account of wear.
The system consists of the following :
1-4 circuit police desk.
59 street signal boxes. 4 special boxes. About 191/2 miles of overhead wire.
About 13 miles of underground wire.
Supervision of Poles and Wires on the Streets.
The same attention has been given to the condition of poles and wires on the streets as in previous years. A number of de- fective poles have been replaced by companies owning the same. New poles have been placed in locations granted for the purpose of supplying lighting and telephone service and abandoned poles have been removed.
New
Re-
Re-
Re- set.
poles. placed. moved.
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. Edison Electric Illuminating Co. .
4
23
5
11
26
220
2
4
Boston Elevated
1
....
1
....
Permits given to the New England Tel. & Tel. Co. for attachments to the Edison Company's poles
294
Permits given to the Edison Electric Ill. Co. for attachments to the New England Tel. & Tel. Company's poles .
93
316
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Street Lighting.
The matter of street lighting has had the same attention as in previous years, and additional lights have been placed in various parts of the city.
More lights are required in the western part of the city as some new streets are inadequately lighted.
Our contract with the Edison Company for street lighting having expired, the cost of street lighting will be materially in- creased, necessitating economy in the placing of new lights.
Spot lights have been installed at several places where traffic officers are posted and are of great assistance to the officers.
Recommendation.
I respectfully recommend that an assistant inspector be employed to enable the department to more thoroughly cover all old installations of electrical wiring in the City.
Conclusion.
I wish to thank His Honor, the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen and the several departments for the many courtesies received.
Respectfully yours. WALTER I. FULLER. Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights.
SANITARY DEPARTMENT.
REPORT OF SANITARY DEPARTMENT.
CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE,
January 31, 1920.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit to you the report of the Sani- tary Department for the year 1919.
Collection of Ashes and Paper.
Ashes (Cubic Yards)
Paper (Cubic Yards)
January
10,970
2,860
February
11,900
2,760
March
14,280
2,980
April
12,900
2,980
May
11,487
3,120
June
9,010
2,980
July
7,860
3,100
August
7,140
2,760
September
6,200
2,900
October
6,340
2,540
November
7,560
2,500
December
10,220
2,840
Totals
115,867
34.320
During the year the Sanitary Department paid to the Highway Department $4,202.02 for the use of teams. Col- lections of garbage amounted to 2,247 cords, all of which was disposed of at the department yard. During the year the in- cinerator was destroyed by fire and the paper and other com- bustible material is now being carried to the dump.
Departmental Revenue.
Sale of garbage Use of incinerator
$15,884 40
1,380 00
Total
$17,264 40
317
318
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The equipment and its valuation follows :
Horses
$10,400 00
Vehicles
13,675 00
Harnesses, blankets, etc.
2,665 00
Stable equipment, etc. .
300 00
Fittings in blacksmith shop
75 00
$27,115 00
Again I wish to call your attention to the condition of the dumping privileges in the city. There is no public dump within the city limits and the only dump now in use by this department is located on Mystic avenue at the foot of Temple street. This dump is on private land and the city is paying six hundred dollars a year for the privilege of dumping there and it is fast filling up. All of the collections of rubbish are dumped on private land. Some provision should be made in the near future to care for the disposal of refuse.
In conclusion I wish to thank the members of the City Government for their co-operation the past year and the em- ployees of the department for the faithful performance of their duties.
Respectfully submitted, EDGAR T. MAYHEW,
Supt. of Sanitary Department.
319
WATER DEPARTMENT.
SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS.
SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX CO., MASSACHUSETTS.
Settled, when part of Charlestown, 1630. (Home of Colonial Governor John Winthrop). Incorporated a town, 1842. Established a city, 1872.
Location: Somerville City Hall (near centre of the city) is 234 miles northerly from State House in Boston.
Greatest extent of the City north and south about 4.2 miles. Greatest extent of the City east and west about 2.1 miles. Elevation Highland avenue at City Hall 105 feet above mean low water. Lowest building elevation in the city 13 feet. Highest building elevation in the city 145 feet. Area of city, including land and water, about 4.22 square miles. Land, 2,461.50 acres; water and marsh, 238.50 acres. Population 1915, census, 86,854. Present population, estimated, 95,000. Entire population on line of pipe and supplied with water.
Water works owned by City of. Somerville. Construction commenced in 1868. Source of supply : Metropolitan system, taking water of the Nashua river at Clinton, Mass. Range of pressure on street mains: Low service 35 to 65 pounds. High service 45 to 100 pounds.
Mayor. HON. CHARLES W. ELDRIDGE. Water Commissioner. FRANK E. MERRILL.
Office of the Water Department. Room 10, City Hall.
Department Buildings and Yard. Cedar street, near Broadway.
320
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ADMINISTRATION OF WATER WORKS VESTED AS FOLLOWS:
1868-1871 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER COMMITTEE (5) Acts 1868; Chap. 202
1872-1890 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD (5) Acts 1871; Chap. 182
1891-1897 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD (3) Acts 1890; Chap. 218
1898-1899 BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS (3) Acts 1898; Chap. 33
1900 WATER COMMISSIONER (1) Acts 1899; Chap. 240
321
WATER DEPARTMENT.
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER.
-
OFFICE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER, January, 1920.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
I present herewith my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1919, -this being the forty-sixth annual report of the water department and my twentieth as water commissioner :---
Revenue and Expenditures.
Water bills have been issued as follows :-
"Annual" water charges, amounting to .
$42,322 00
"Additional" water charges, amounting to 2,183 50
"Metered" water charges, amounting to
199,655 57
$244,161 07
Annual and . Additional
Metered
Abatements and refunds on
above charges ยท
$1,034 96
$254 82
1,289 78
Income from sale of water .
$242,871 29
Receipts; water service assessments
$2,113 67
Receipts; labor and materials sold :- -
Miscellaneous accounts
3,559 31
5,672 98
$248,544 27
Total income of water works . This amount was used as follows :- For water works purposes :-
Under Control of the Water Commissioner.
Water works maintenance $49,933 61
Water works extension .
6,186 41
Miscellaneous accounts 3,559 31
$59,679 33
Not Under Control of the Water Commissioner.
Interest on water loan bonds .
$240 00
Maturing water loan bonds 4,000 00
Metropolitan water works assessment 128,082 90
Maintenance water works buildings
865 01
$192,867 24
322
ANNUAL REPORTS.
For other municipal purposes :-
Not Under Control of the Water Commissioner.
Surplus .
$55,677 03
$248,544 27
In addition to the appropriations from water income to other municipal purposes enumerated above, water has been furnished without charge to all the city departments that have required its use and it is paid for out of the income from sale of water.
Department Receipts and Disbursements. WATER MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT.
Dr.
Cr.
Amount appropriated by board of alder- men
$57,250 00
Department accounts; receipts
685 43
4,318 12
Water works extension account; receipts Amount expended for labor and materials for operation, maintenance, and re- newal of the water works .
$49,933 61
Amount expended for materials used in extension of the water works . . Miscellaneous accounts
4,318 12
3,559 31
Labor and materials furnished municipal departments
685 43
Balance :
Transferred to other municipal de- partments by board of aldermen . Unexpended
3,000 00
757 08
$62,253 55
$62,253 55
WATER WORKS EXTENSION ACCOUNT.
Amount appropriated by board of alder- men
Amount expended for labor and materials used in extension of the water works Balance: unexpended
Dr.
Cr.
$7.000 00
$6,186 41
813 59
$7,000 00
$7,000 00
323
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Cost of Water Works.
The total cost of water works on December 31, 1918 as represented by the expenditures from appropria- tions for water works extension was $1,067,010 38
Expended during the year 1919, on extension account .
6,186 41
Total expenditures, December 31, 1919 . $1,073,196 79
Water Debt.
Water loan bonds have been issued on funded debt ac- count to the amount of $1,017,000; this has been reduced by $1.115,000, leaving the water debt on December 31, 1919, $2,000. The outstanding bonds mature as follows :-
Year 1920
Amount $2,000
Water Works Income from 1898 and its Distribution.
The water income and its distribution from 1898 to 1919, inclusive, is shown in the following table :-
Total water income, years 1898 to 1919, inclusive . .
$5,137,532 84
Distribution :-
Water Works Account.
Water
Works
Construction, Renewal,
Maintenance and Operation $1,279,257 64
Water bonds .
272,000 00
Interest 86,495 00
Metropolitan Water Assessments 2,016,294 16
Maintenance Water Works buildings : 4,862 69
$3,658,909 49
Other Municipal Accounts.
Various municipal departments through specific appropriations and general revenue account $1,478,623 35
$5,137,532 84
Water Distribution System - Construction. STREET MAINS.
Approximate number of feet of street mains in the city, January 1, 1919, (including hydrant branches and blow-offs)
541.088
Feet of street mains laid in 1919
1,511
Feet of hydrant branches laid in 1919
55
Feet of blow-off branches laid in 1919
82
Total feet of pipe laid
1,648
324
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Feet of pipe removed or replaced
1,091
Net increase in feet of pipe
557
Total approximate feet of pipe in the city .
541.645
Total pipe mileage, approximately
102.58
The sizes and lengths of pipe laid and removed are as follows :-
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