USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1920 > 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
Lack of money is our chief hinderance, but the women have raised a considerable amount of money for the work dur- ing the past year. We are doing the best we can with what we have, and although figures cannot be used to show what is be- ing accomplished, the influence of the work is certainly being felt in the neighborhood.
S. C. BATEMAN, Chairman Ways and Means Committee.
PLAYGROUND AND RECREATION COMMISSION.
269
STATEMENT SHOWING THE AMOUNT EXPENDED FOR RECRE- ATION DURING 1920.
By City Government and Various Other Private Organizations.
Recreation and Playground Commission
$5,000 00
Engineering Dept., Maintenance of Parks 11,299 89
Engineering Dept., Maintenance of Play-
grounds
5,159 69
Public Bldgs. Dept., Maintenance Bldgs.,
of Park
1,490 24
Public Bldgs. Dept., Maintenance of Bath-
house
.
·
2,361 24
Public Bldgs. Dept., Maintenance of Band- stand
162 09
Public Bldgs. Dept., Bennett Social, Center .
1,749 60
Public Bldgs. Dept., Bingham Social Center .
1,634 98
Celebrations
803 52
Total expended by City Government
$29,661 25
Somerville Playgrounds Association
930 04
Ways and Means Committee
680 13
Total expended by outside organizations Total amount expended for recreation
$1,610 17 $31,271 42.
.
1
270
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD.
December 31, 1920.
To His Honor the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. Gentlemen :
In accordance with the provisions of the Acts of 1913, and as required by Section 2 of Chapter 494 of said Acts, the Plan- ning Board herewith respectfully submits its annual report, and recommendations for the year 1920.
The Board organized for the year by re-electing William F. Riley, Chairman, and David J. Kelley, Secretary, the other members of the board being George J. Rauh and Paul R. Valen- tine At the time of meeting for organization there was a va- cancy existing, caused by the resignation of Harrison L. Evans.
During the year the Board held several meetings and dis- ·cussed various matters of interest to the citizens, and after con- sideration thereof it was voted to make the following recom- mendations ;
Housing Conditions.
During the past year the problem most in the minds of the majority of our citizens has been the serious shortage of houses. This situation has been state wide, and has received the atten- tion of the Legislature, resulting in the passage of laws tending to help relieve the existing conditions, but a serious shortage of houses still continues.
Although the Planning Board has no jurisdiction affecting this economic condition it respectfully calls attention to the authority given it by the Act of the Legislature creating it, which defines its duties to be chiefly "to make careful studies of the resources and needs of the city, particularly with respect to conditions injurious to public health - in and about rented dwellings."
The Planning Board is ready at any time to investigate any complaints made to it tending to prove that conditions exist which may be detrimental to the public health due to the present housing shortage, and recommends that all complaints from citizens alleging that such conditions exist, be referred to it for investigation and report.
Bridge Street Widening
The urgent and increasing necessity of some action with reference to the widening of Bridge Street becomes more ap-
271
PLANNING BOARD.
parent each succeeding year. The Planning Board believes that some solution for the dangerous condition due to the nar- rowness of this public highway should be determined upon by a joint conference of a committee from the Board of Aldermen of our city and the City Council of our neighboring city of Cambridge.
The worst part of Bridge Street, that is, the part which needs widening, is practically all located within the boundaries of the City of Cambridge. At the last conference held by the Planning Board with the Cambridge Planning Board about two years ago, the opinion of the Cambridge City government was that it should not be called upon to spend money for an undertaking which would chiefly benefit Somerville.
As recommended in the reports of 1916, 1917, 1918 and 1919 the Planning Board again strongly urges that some definite: action be taken to remedy this condition before the property now abutting on that part of Bridge Street is increased in value. At present the old houses now standing are nearly all unoccupied, and if the widening could be undertaken during- the coming year it would result in a large saving for damages due to the taking based on the present assessed valuation of this property.
Street Car Service.
It seems that the street car service still needs a great deal of improvement. The so-called one man cars now in operation are unsuitable, and their operation during rush hours should be prohibited by the Public Service Commission. The Planning Board is mindful of the fact that the Mayor and Board of Al- dermen have continually and consistently tried to improve the- street car situation, and recommends that these efforts be con- tinued until better results are apparent. Somerville has no so- called jitneys and their exclusion entitles this city at least to additional accommodations, especially when our citizens are' being taxed to secure better street car service and more cars.
Public Parks and Buildings.
The development of social centers in the various school- house districts should be encouraged, and our citizens urged to make use of the school buildings for social entertainments, thereby fostering an interest in civic affairs and helping to make better citizens.
The school buildings are public buildings, an'l as such the Planning Board recommends that they be freely used by all our citizens for neighborhood gatherings and public meetings or entertainments.
272
ANNUAL REPORT'S
The Planning Board again suggests that the land owned by the city known as the City Ledge be graded and laid out as a playground for the benefit of the Clarendon Hill section of our city.
Fire Protection.
As recommended in our report for 1919 the Planning Board again respectfully calls your attention to the necessity of establishing Fire Districts in our city. The conditions exist- ing last year still continue and the Planning Board is of the opinion that something should be done while new building is at a standstill to establish fire districts. Somerville is prac- tically the only city in the Metropolitan District without an ordinance establishing fire districts. Somerville should not de- lay longer in passing an ordinance of some kind to establish fire districts. Therefore the Planning Board recommends that a committee be appointed to draw up a plan, dividing the city into fire districts, and that an ordinance be drafted by the City Solicitor for the purpose of establishing the fire districts so decided upon.
Appropriation.
The Planning Board did not use the whole of the appropri- ation allotted to it because it did not wish to attempt to carry out plans which it would be unable to pay for out of the limited sum given. It hopes to add to its equipment from time to time, so that eventually it will be able to render valuable service to the citizens of the city and the city government.
During the past year it has corresponded with many cities in several states, and has information in its files with reference to industrial facts which may be of value to our citizens. It has also furnished information concerning Somerville to other cities of the country and recommends that inquiries concerning Somerville industrial sites be referred to it for attention.
The Planning Board respectfully requests that it be given an appropriation of at least $200 this year, so that it may be able to make further progress in its effort to be of service to the citizens of Somerville.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM F. RILEY, Chairman GEORGE J. RAUH PAUL R. VALENTINE DAVID J. KELLEY, Secretary
273
CITY ENGINEER.
REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER, City Hall, Somerville, January 17, 1921.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen : -
Gentlemen, - In accordance with the city ordinances, the following report of the work done and expense incurred for the year ending December 31, 1920, by the Engineering Depart- ment and appropriations under my charge and supervision, in- cluding the accounts of city engineer, sewers construction, sew- ers maintenance, parks maintenance, playgrounds maintenance, and other public works, is herewith presented : - my twenty- fifth annual report as city engineer.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
In previous reports the general work, charter requirements and city ordinances relating to the duties of the city engineer have been fully described.
On account of the excessive cost very little new construc- tion work has been attempted, the greater part of the work done, being for repairs and maintenance in the various divi- sions.
Divisions Appropriations and Credits Expenditures Balances
City Engineer
$15,835 00
904 00
$16,785 36
$3 14
Parks Maintenance
10,500 00
800 00
11,299 89
11
Playgrounds Maint.
5,160 00
150 13 5,309 82
31
Sewers Maintenance .
23,435 00
79 79
23,514 26 53
Sewers Construction
4,784 75
50 47
4,834 60 62
(Expenditures are shown in detail in the City Auditor's annual report).
CITY ENGINEER DIVISION, CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENSES, 1920.
Sewers, - comprising surveys, estimates, profiles, lines,
grades, titles, plans, assessments and all engineering work relating to sewers and supervision . Highways, - comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving and all other en- gineering work relating to the department . . Sidewalks, - comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, inspection, titles, costs and assessments . ·
$1,789 80
2,947 78
963 78
Water Works, - comprising lines, grades, locations of mains, gates, hydrants and services and other matters relating to the department . 876 00
1
274
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Parks and Public Grounds, - comprising surveys, plans, estimates, profiles and grades, including laying out of parks, playgrounds, boulevard and supervision . . Public Buildings, - comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to construction and laying out of grounds .
1,060 49;
241 68:
Street Numbering, - comprising locations of buildings, plans, assigning street numbers · Street Lines and Grades, - comprising establishing of lines, grades, and miscellaneous data given parties for building and grading . Bridges and Grade Crossings, - comprising surveys, plans, profiles, estimates, lines and grades, etc. . 256 34
662 78.
255 74
City Survey, - comprising establishing of street lines, ac- ceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city map, etc. ·
1,387 80.
Middlesex Registry, - comprising copying of plans, and ab- stracts from deeds and examination of titles filed at East Cambridge, also tracing of street acceptance and sewer taking plans filed for record ·
230 20.
Private Corporations, Railway, Telephone, Electric Light and Gas Light Companies, - comprising grades, plans, profiles and office · notes, locations of poles and con- duits .
365 92
Setting Stone Bounds and Brass Rods, - defining street lines
515 96.
Office work, - comprising record of all locations, index- . ing, typewriting, bookkeeping, calculations, reports, and general draughting
3,502 06
Miscellaneous Work, - comprising preliminary surveys, designs, sketches, etc., relating to various schemes for different committees 617 54-
Holidays, Vacations and Sickness
1,039 65
Guard duty
22 34
Total
$16,735 86.
Value of field instruments, tools and office instruments,. $2,000.00.
The total cost of maintaining the Engineer's Division since it was established, 1872 - 1920, both years inclusive, has amounted to $410,090.00.
Seven assistants have been employed during part of the · year and six assistants the entire year, on engineering work.
A number of plans were made during the year for street acceptance and four streets have been accepted as public high- ways, under the betterment act.
There are plans for acceptance of fourteen private streets on file in this office, that for various reasons have not been made public ways.
Many streets and avenues in the city are of the same, or- very similar, name and could be changed at the present time
275
CITY ENGINEER.
(renamed in memory of deceased veterans of World War) · eliminating the confusion now existing.
Some of the old main thoroughfares should be re-numbered their entire length, so as to eliminate half numbers and letters now being used; and certain streets where traffic is congested should be made "one way" streets.
276
STREETS ACCEPTED AS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS IN 1920, UNDER THE BETTERMENT ACT.
Name of Street
Ward
From
To
Width in ft. 22
Length in ft.
Date of Acceptance
Cedar Avenue ·
6
Linden Avenue
Cedar Street
293
May 28, 1920
Crescent Street
1
End of Accepted part
Boston Line
21-32
387
November17, 1920
Dickson Street
7
Broadway
Fairmount Avenue .
40
271
November 12, 1920
Spring Hill Terrace .
6 Highland Avenue .
·
Belmont Street
20
673
June 28, 1920
Total
(0.308 miles) .
1624
ANNUAL
REPORTS.
1
-
.
.
·
277
CITY ENGINEER.
Supplement to the Table of Streets in the 1919 report of City Engineer.
New streets or courts added during 1920.
Street From
To
Public or Private
Width in Feet Public Private-
Court
Washingtonave Franklin ave.
Private 6
... 95
Four private streets changed to public ways during 1920
(foregoing table) 1,624
(Summary)
Total 446,707 85,590
Public, 84.603 miles (includes 1.406 miles of City Boule- vard and Park Roadways, 2.331 miles of State Boulevard' (Metropolitan Park Commission), and 1.596 miles State High- way) ; private 16,210 miles.
Total length of streets in the city 100.813 miles.
In the 1910 report, tables were published showing old' names of certain streets as formerly known, and names of pub- lic squares in the city. (Name of Oak Square changed to Wil -- son Square).
Length of Public Streets In Each Ward.
Ward one
·
.
Ward two
.
.
.
.
9.572
Ward three
7.630
Ward four
9.965
Ward five
12:388
Ward six
13.689
Ward seven
20.627
Total length of public streets in the city .
84.603
·
.
Miles 10.732
Stone bounds have been reset in Portland cement concrete. at a number of street intersections and angles, to define 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.
In the 1907 report a table was compiled from old reports, maps, and office notes, showing the location of stone bounds ; the year when set, and whether existing or removed from 1860 to 1907 inclusive, and in the reports of 1908, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1919, and with the following table will show location of all: bounds set to 1921.
Length
276
STREETS ACCEPTED AS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS IN 1920, UNDER THE BETTERMENT ACT.
Name of Street
Ward
From
To
Width in ft.
Length in ft.
Date of Acceptance
Cedar Avenue .
6
Linden Avenue
Cedar Street
22
293
May 28, 1920
Crescent Street
1
End of Accepted part
.
Boston Line . Fairmount Avenue .
40
271
November 12, 1920
Dickson Street
7
Broadway
.
Belmont Street
20
673
June 28, 1920
Spring Hill Terrace .
6
Highland Avenue .
(0.308 miles)
1624
Total
ANNUAL
REPORTS.
-
.
21-32
387
November17, 1920
.
277
CITY ENGINEER.
Supplement to the Table of Streets in the 1919 report of City Engineer.
New streets or courts added during 1920.
Street From
To
Public or Private
Width in Feet Public Private-
Court
Washingtonave Franklin ave.
Private 6
... 95
Four private streets changed to public ways during 1920
(foregoing table) 1,624
(Summary)
Total 446,707 85,590.
Public, 84.603 miles (includes 1.406 miles of City Boule- vard and Park Roadways, 2.331 miles of State Boulevard' (Metropolitan Park Commission), and 1.596 miles State High- way) ; private 16,210 miles.
Total length of streets in the city 100.813 miles.
In the 1910 report, tables were published showing old names of certain streets as formerly known, and names of pub- lic squares in the city. (Name of Oak Square changed to Wil- son Square).
Length of Public Streets In Each Ward.
Miles
Ward one
·
·
·
10.732
Ward two
.
.
.
9.572
Ward three
.
.
7.630
Ward four
9.965
Ward five
12.388
Ward six
13.689
Ward seven
20.627
Total length of public streets in the city .
84.603
.
.
Stone bounds have been reset in Portland cement concrete at a number of street intersections and angles, to define 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.
In the 1907 report a table was compiled from old reports, maps, and office notes, showing the location of stone bounds ; the year when set, and whether existing or removed from 1860 to 1907 inclusive, and in the reports of 1908, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1919, and with the following table will show location of all bounds set to 1921.
Length
278
ANNUAL REPORTS.
STREET BOUNDS SET IN 1920. (Brass rods set in cement).
Belknap Street, - East side at Broadway X 2 foot offset lines.
Clarendon Avenue, - East side at Broadway X 2 foot offset lines.
Clarendon Avenue, - East side at Cambridge City line X 2 foot offset line of Clarendon Ave. and True City line.
Conwell Avenue, - South side at Curtis St. X 2 foot offset lines. Conwell Avenue, - South side at North St. X 2 foot offset lines. Cooney Street, - East side at Line St. X 2 foot offset lines.
Dane Avenue, - South side at Leland St. X 2 foot offset lines. Dane Avenue, - South side at Dane St. X 2 foot offset lines. Derby Street, - North side at Grant St. East side X 2 foot offset lines. Derby Street, - North side at Wheatland St. X 2 foot offset lines. Foskett Street, - North side at Liberty Ave. X 2 foot offset lines.
Glendale Avenue, - North side at Cameron Ave. X 2 foot offset lines. Josephine Avenue, - West side at Morrison Ave. X 2 foot offset lines. Josephine Avenue, - West side at North side of Kidder Ave. X 2 foot offset lines.
Josephine Avenue, - West side at Broadway X 2 foot offset lines. Linden Avenue, - East side at North side of Summer St. X 2 foot off- set lines.
Malvern Avenue, - North side at Cameron Ave. X 2 foot offset lines. Malvern Avenue, - North side at Yorktown St. X 2 foot offset lines. Meacham Street, - North side at West side Fremont St. X 2 foot off- set lines.
Ossipee Road, - North side at Curtis St. X 2 foot offset lines.
Ossipee Road, - North side at West side Packard Ave. X 2 foot offset lines.
Ossipee Road, - North side at East side Packard Ave. X 2 foot offset lines.
Raymond Avenue, - South side at Curtis St. X 2 foot offset lines.
Raymond Avenue, - South side at North St. X 2 foot offset lines.
Seven Pines Avenue, - North side at Cameron Ave. X 2 foot offset lines.
Taylor Street, - East side at Sydney St. X 2 foot offset lines.
Victoria Street, - West side at South side of Woodstock St. Stone Bound drilled.
Wigglesworth Street, - East side at South side of Otis St. Stone Bound set at X 2 foot offset lines.
There are at the present time a total of 657 bounds or brass rods set for defining street lines.
Three new streets have been constructed, under the better- ment act, with a bituminous macadam wearing surface, con- crete gutters and granite edgestones, a total of 1,521 feet (.29 mile) ; the work being done by contract.
The average cost of this type of construction complete, for a forty-foot width street, was $9.35 per linear foot, a high rate, on account of the unusual cost of materials and labor.
Assessments have been levied on abutting property owners for approximately one-half of the cost of constructing these streets.
New granite block pavement has been laid on a concrete base with a cement grout in sections of Linwood Street and Beacon Street - also Windsor Street and Hunting Street
279
CITY ENGINEER.
have been constructed with this type of pavement. 8,100 square yards (2,304 feet in length) were constructed by contract at $7.10 per yard complete ; including Fitchburg Street (a private way) where the property owners paid the entire expense of paving.
In constructing the granite pavement, new streets and side- walks 4,300 feet (0.81 mile) of new edgestone were set.
The total length of permanent paved streets in the city amounts to 17.64 miles.
Permanent street pavement should be extended as rapidly as possible, using old granite block, re-cut and laid on a con- crete base, the best and most economical pavement for this city.
Grades were given and measurements taken for the re-con- struction of twenty-four streets with a bituminous wearing surface, a length of 16,906 feet (3.2 miles).
TABLE OF STREET CONSTRUCTION.
Square Yards
Miles
*Streets paved with granite blocks
130,089
5.59
** Streets paved with concrete
23,990
1.42
¿Streets paved with asphaltic top
42,215
2.59
Streets paved with vitrified brick
20,958
1.29
Streets paved with "Bi-co-mac" .
10,100
0.77
Streets paved with bitulithic (patent)
3,059
0.06
Combination pavement (concrete base with
89,205
5.92
¿Streets macadamized (bituminous binder)
42.01
Streets madacamized (water bound) .
24.73
Streets graveled or unimproved
16.43
Total
100.81
* Also 31.9 miles (single track) electric railway paved with granite, asphalt, bitulithic, etc.
** Includes 0.42 mile state highway.
¿ Includes 1.16 miles of state highway.
# Includes 1.406 miles of city boulevard and park roadways and 2.331 miles of state boulevard (Metropolitan Park Commission).
There are a number of very dangerous crossings in this city at intersecting public thoroughfares, where the corners should be cut back and the roadway widened for the safety of traffic and improvement in appearance.
Lines and grades were given for constructing ten new granolithic and brick sidewalks, 3,737 square yards (0.8 mile),' and assessments computed, the abutting property owners pay- ing one-half the cost.
bituminous top)
.
.
280
ANNUAL REPORTS.
In laying out new work, under orders passed for construc- tion of sidewalks, etc., occasionally portions of buildings and fences are found to be encroaching on the sidewalk and on some of the old rangeways these encroachments have existed :or many years ; as improvements are made, the full width of side- walk should be maintained.
In sections of the city where brick sidewalks have been laid many years, and must necessarily be relaid on account of de- terioration and unevenness, granolithic should be substituted in place of brick.
Miles of Edgestone, Granolithic, Gravel and Brick Sidewalks In Each Ward.
Edgestone
Gravel Sidewalk
Brick Sidewalk
Granolithic Sidewalk
Ward one
19.827
3.756
12.093
4.617
Ward two
16.807
6.591
6.497
3.534
Ward three
14.325
0.840
11.572
1.911
Ward four
15.309
1.342
9.993
3.906
Ward five
22.679
4.540
12.194
5.875
Ward six
24.826
4.387
10.678
10.711
Ward seven
32.791
2.502
8.389
22.073
146.564
23.958
71.416
52.627
(Details, etc., streets and sidewalks in report of Street Commissioner).
The Boston Elevated Railway Company have petitioned for a relocation of tracks in certain streets and has made ex- tensive repairs in its roadbed in this city during the past year, replacing long sections of old tracks with new an l heavier rails. There are, however, a number of miles of trackage, orders hav- ing been granted for widening in the city's main thorough"ares. where the old granite block pavement, within the railroad Joca- tion, should be relaid and grouted with cement and additional catch basins constructed between the rails to relieve the flood- ing of sections of certain streets in times of heavy storms. There are 32 miles of electric railroad (single track length ) at the present time in the city's streets. A considerable length of high power cables have been placed in undergroun ! con- duits.
Plans have been made by the various companies and filed in the city engineer's office, showing the locations of gas mains, poles, tracks and conduits in this city, which have been granted by the board of aldermen during the year ; and the work of plac- ing overhead wires in conduits underground and removing all poles from the streets should be extended as rapidly as possible.
281.
CITY ENGINEER.
A special ordinance should be enacted concerning city in- spection on all underground work done by private companies or corporations and regulation as to method of street openings.
At the present time there are underground in the city's streets 17.64 miles of telephone conduits, 12.42 miles of electric- light conduits, 1.65 miles of electric railway conduits; and about 9.7 miles of underground conduits used for the city's. wires.
The Cambridge and Charlestown gas companies have re- spectively 63.42 and 28.1 miles of gas mains in the city's streets.
Lines and grades have been given for laying new city wa- ter mains. New house services, many gates, hydrants, water- posts and blow-offs have been located and recorded, sketches. and plans made showing the same, and the water works maps corrected to date; also a large number of old water services where new meters were installed, have been located and re- corded.
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.