Report of the city of Somerville 1920, Part 19

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 422


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1920 > Part 19


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A number of the locations of old hydrants, gates, etc., have- been found to be incorrect, a few having been removed entirely ; a new survey of the entire distribution system should be made and the maps and office records compiled. (Length of water mains, details, etc., in report of Water Commissioner).


Lines and grades have been given for the erection of city buildings and plans and sketches made for the laying out of surrounding grounds.


Plans have been made and photographs taken where acci- dents have occurred on the city work, or where boundaries were in dispute and special plans and data prepared for the city solicitor's use in court cases and Federal, State and Municipal hearings attended where information was required.


All plans of estates in Somerville recorded at the Registry of Deeds, East Cambridge, including land court plans, have been copied, also titles examined, abstracts from deeds made for the purpose of assessments, and the proportional part of the cost of new work computed, and schedules of assessments made out showing the property owners.


Total number of plans on file in the office approximately eight thousand two hundred.


A skeleton map of the city has been made for the Som- erville Board of Trade showing steam and electric car lines. principal streets, public buildings and locations of principal industries : - also a street map for the American Automobile Association showing the various routes for auto traffic through the city, details of pavement, land marks, etc.


A plan and data has been compiled showing a proposed widening of Bridge Street ( East Cambridge) being the exten-


282


ANNUAL REPORTS.


sion of Somerville Avenue : - a much needed public improve- ment for relieving the present congested traffic and business.


Lines and grades were given and a concrete foundation constructed for the monument erected in Union Square in memory of the (ward two) World War veterans.


Considerable information and data has been prepared for the Somerville Civic Survey report.


Perambulation of the Somerville-Cambridge city bound- ary line: - In December, a committee appointed from each city, city engineers and street commissioners) examined the monuments and reference points defining the division line be- tween these two cities and reported their findings in due form to the board of aldermen. The granite bound No. 10 is to be cut off to the Beacon Street sidewalk grade and bound No. 19 is to be raised to the surface of lawn at estate Russell Street.


These boundary lines are perambulated every five years as prescribed by the statutes.


Several conferences were held by representatives of the city governments (including city engineers) of Somerville and Medford relative to the changing of the boundary line between the two cities, but no definite action was taken by either muni- cipality. From the various studies presented, an exchange of territory can be made that would be equally advantageous.


For the immediate improvement of conditions in this city the highway bridges and approaches over the steam railroads should be re-built the full width of the street at Broadway, (North Somerville) Prospect Street and Washington Street, near Union Square; and the steam railroad bridge over Wash- ington Street (East Somerville) re-constructed with increased head-room for street traffic, - the dangerous grade crossing at Park Street should be abolished, as decreed by the courts a number of years ago, and a foot-bridge should be constructed over the railroad tracks making a connection between Wilson Square-Craigie Street and Stanford Terrace-Beacon Street.


I respectfully refer to some of the more important rec- ommendations and suggestions made in reports of the city engineer for a number of years past which are for the improve- ment of conditions in this city.


SEWER DIVISION.


The high cost of materials and labor has prevented the ex- tension of the "separate system" sewers and likewise storm drain construction work, except that absolutely necessary.


No sewers have been petitioned for during the year and only a small amount of new construction work has been done.


283


CITY ENGINEER.


Construction Account, Statement of Expenses, 1920.


Constructing sewers (combined system)


$757 60


Constructing storm drains!


2,429 46


Constructing catch basins


2,026 79


Constructing manholes on sewers . 165 00


Cost of new work


$5,378 85


Charged to other departments, material, etc. .


50 47


Materials on hand December 31


786 28


836 75


Total


$6,215 60


Appropriation


$4,100 00


Balance unexpended, 1919


684 75


4,784 75


Received for materials, etc.


50 47


Materials on hand January 1, 1920 .


1,381 00


Total


6,216 22


Balance unexpended (over to 1921) .


$ 62


The Elmwood Street and Conwell Avenue storm drains commenced in 1919 have been completed and future extensions will provide for the disposal of storm water from two large areas in the westerly part of the city.


This work has been done by the city employing day labor ; 520 feet of 12" pipe laid during the year.


One sewer was constructed during the year, a length of 206 feet of 10" and 8" pipe, being the extension of a private sewer in Windsor Street southerly to near the Cambridge line; this work was done by the contractor, who was paving the street.


The total length of the city's drainage system is 113.247 miles, and the entire cost of construction has amounted to about $1,356,538.00, exclusive of the amount paid to the state for as- sessments for the construction of the North Metropolitan sew- erage system.


The city's assessment for the Metropolitan sewerage sys- tem for the past year was $53,381.08 on construction account and $36,558.18 for maintenance, and the total amount paid the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for this state sewer has been $1,501,206.05 (1892 - 1920, both years inclusive). The total length of the Metropolitan sewerage system mains running through the city amounts to 3.475 miles.


There are within the city's limits thirteen connections with the North Metropolitan state sewerage system, also four out- lets through the city of Cambridge and three outlets through the city of Medford. The locations of the connections of the city's mains with the state sewer are shown in the 1912 report, and details of construction in previous reports.


Credit


284


STATEMENT OF SEWERS AND STORM DRAINS CONSTRUCTED TO 1921.


Total length of public sewers in the city, January 1, 1921 Total length of private sewers in the city, January 1, 1921 . .


.


.


501,665.6 ft. 34,748.0


Total length of sewers in the city, January 1, 1921 .


Total length of storm drains in the city, January 1, 1921


536,413.6 = 101.593 miles* 61,532.3 == 11.654 miles


Total length of city drainage system, January 1, 1921 Total length of Metropolitan sewerage system mains running through the city . .


113.247 miles 3.475 miles


* (32.344 miles separate system sewers).


.


.


ANNUAL REPORTS.


285


CITY ENGINEER.


The 1918 report contains a compiled table of Storm Drains constructed to 1919 showing length, cost, date of construction, district benefited, etc.


Sixteen catch basins have been constructed in the high- ways during the year, making a total of 1,980 basins in the city for drainage purposes, constructed and maintained as fol- lows : -


By the city (sewers division) :-


Located in streets and subways


1,818 basins


Located in city boulevard


33


Located in parks (17) and other city lots (12) . 29


Total catch basins constructed and maintained by the city . · ·


1,880


By Boston & Maine Railroad Company on railroad lo- cations


36 basins


By State, located in boulevards, and highways . .


130


166


Total catch basins in the city for storm drainage purposes


2,046


The separate system sewers should be extended in the old sections of the city each year, as the appropriation will allow, and storm drains completed in certain localities as previously recommended : - especially in the North Somerville district, - and at the East Cambridge line extending from the Somer- ville Avenue sewer and discharging into Miller's River.


The city's drainage system will be greatly improved when all the foregoing changes are made and construction work com pleted.


MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT, STATEMENT OF EXPENSES, 1920.


Maintenance of sewers, including cleaning and flushing (113.25 miles) $4,633 40


Maintenance of catch basins, cleaning and flushing 1,880) . 14,756 56


Maintenance of storm water pump, Med- ford Street


96 77


'Changing line and grade and repairing catch basins


608 00


'Changing line and grade and repairing manholes


414 67


Repairing old sewers


638 83


Inspection and location of house drains


1,048 35


New tools and supplies .


308 14


Repairs of tools and property . 69 55


Maintenance of sewer division yards


838 75


"Telephone


53 05


.


$23,466 07


1


286


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Labor, teaming and materials for other departments .


48 19'


Total expenditures .


$23,514 26


Transferred to Parks division ($800) to


City Engineer Account ($590) .


1,390 00


Total .


$24,904 26


Credit.


Appropriation ($23325) ($1500)


$24,825 00


Received from other departments


79 79


Total credit


$24,904 79


Balance unexpended


$ 53


Value of tools and property on hand in maintenance of sewers, $2,500.00.


A permanent force of men, varying in number from twelve to seventeen, and teams are kept continually at work flushing, cleaning and repairing the city's drainage system, catch basins. etc., the expense necessarily increasing yearly as lengths of sewers, drains and catch basins are added to the system, and the distance increased to the dumps. These dumping places are. fast diminishing and in a very few years' time some other· means of disposal will have to be provided.


Approximately 5,600 cubic yards of material have been re- moved from the catch basins and sewers during the year, at an average cost of about $2.64 per cubic yard, and the average cost per mile for cleaning and flushing the drainage system, in- cluding catch basins, has amounted to about $171.21. There are about twenty catch basins (average) to a mile of roadway in this city and the approximate cost of cleaning per basin has been $7.85 the past year.


A number of repairs have been made and sections rebuilt on some of the old sewers, alterations made in the outlets and overflows, and extra manholes built for the purpose of improv- ing the system.


Many catch basins and manholes have been repaired and' grade or line changed.


One hundred and five permits have been issued to licensed drain layers for connecting buildings with main sewers and storm drains, seventy-two being for repairs or alterations: all of the work being done under the supervision of the city's inspector.


Certain persons are licensed as drain layers by the city and under bonds, for the purpose of laying these private drains.


There are to date about 16,556 private house drain connec- tions with the city's drainage system.


287


CITY ENGINEER.


During the year the sewer division has done considerable miscellaneous work for other city departments and outside companies furnishing materials and labor, and being partially reimbursed for the same.


Some of the old trunk sewers which were constructed many years ago are in a dangerous condition; sections, where the arch is badly cracked and liable to collapse any time, should be immediately rebuilt.


PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS DIVISION.


Under this division about seventy-five acres are maintained as parks and playgrounds, and approximately a mile of city boulevard; 65.5 acres are owned by the city and certain areas owned by private parties are turned over to the city for recrea- tion purposes, also satisfactory arrangements have been made for a number of years whereby the city has the use of Tufts College playfield during the summer vacation months, and skating areas in the winter. Over 2,000 trees of various vari- eties are located on these grounds. These areas when complete- ly developed will compare favorably with other cities in the vicinity.


Athletics in general have revived since the war and the baseball "diamonds," football fields, tennis courts and ath- letic apparatus located on the various playfields have been in constant use. The money generally spent for flower beds, shrubs, etc., for ornamentation of the various city grounds has been used in cultivating areas of park and playground land, and many school children have devoted their time and energies to the raising of vegetables.


The past year, this division of the engineering department has had the supervision and work of plowing and harrowing the various parcels of land used, an expenditure of approxi- mately $250.00.


288


ANNUAL REPORTS.


MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT, STATEMENT OF EXPENSES, 1920.


Playgrounds


Parks


$318 75 Broadway Park (15.9 acres) .


$1,837 89'


Broadway Parkway (2.0 acres)


223 00'


160 66 Central Hill Park (13.1 acres) .


1,843 01


1,060 07 Lincoln Park (8.3 acres)


1,146 81


30 00 Prospect Hill Park (2.6 acres)


1,743 89


8 00 Tufts Park (4.5 acres)


1,243 23


Paul Revere Park ( .02) acre)


21 00


Belmont Street Park (0.4 acre)


561 11


Powder House Boulevard (0.9 mile long)


1,254 42


Powder House Square Parkway (0.2 acre) .


121 75


Cemetery, Somerville Avenue (0.7 acre)


141 50


1,016 89


Somerville Field at Alewife Brook (11.5 acres)


469 47


1,195 50


Richard Trum Playground, Cedar street and Broadway .


385 84


261 90


268 03 Playground, Glen street and Oliver street (0.9 acre + 1.5 acres private land) . Playground, Kent street and Somerville av- enue (0.8 acre)


114 63


113 59


Playground, Poplar and Joy street (0.5 acre) Playground, Beacon street near Washington street (0.2 acre) ·


8 00


29 00


Playground, Webster avenue, near Cambridge line (0.2 acre) ·


12 00


151 99


Playground, Mason street and Broadway Ten- nis court (0.3 acre) 4 00.


59 50 Playground, Fellsway East (2.5 acres private land)


24 00


430 81


Tufts College Land (Summer and Winter Playground, 4.8 acres) .


8 00·


32 00


Plowing, harrowing and fertilizing Park and Playground areas for planting. · Plowing, harrowing, etc., for Recreation Com- mission, Private Land .


99 34


150 13


Total expenditure, maintenance (75 acres) 65.5 acres city property + 8.8 acres priv- ate land, .7 acre cemetery and 0.9 mile boulevard, and 0.54 mile parkway roads


$5,309 82


$11,299 89:


Playgrounds and Recreation


Credit. 1 Parks $10,500 00. 800 00


$5,160 00


150 13


Appropriation for Parks Transfer from Sewers Maintenance Account Appropriation for Playgrounds Received from Recreation and Playground Commission


$5,310 13


Total credit


$11,300 00


$0 31


Balance unexpended $0 11


23 00;


14 00


23 00


289


CITY ENGINEER.


The number of men employed has varied from seven to six- teen.


The city's assessment for Metropolitan parks and boule- vards for the year 1920 amounted to $18,601.69 on construction account, and $38, 907.90 being the proportional cost for main- taining the same; in addition to this the city's special assess- ment for the Charles River basin construction and maintenance amounted to $9,593.89; for the improvement of Alewife brook and maintenance of same $1,140.65 and for the maintenance of Wellington bridge across Mystic River, $3,520.70. The total of these assessments amounts to $71,764.83, being Somerville's proportional payment to the State on account of the Metropoli- tan park system for the year 1920.


The total assessment paid to the State for parks and boulevards amounts to $837,735.62, January 1, 1921, and the length of State boulevard at present constructed in this city consists of seven-tenths of a mile of double roadway, located in the easterly part of the city and extending between Broad- way and Mystic River, and one and two-tenths miles bordering Mystic River and Alewife brook located in the westerly part of the city.


Extensive repairs have been made on the Park roads and boulevard.


Back-stops on the ball fields have been re-constructed and fences repaired.


New shower baths were installed in the highway stable building at the Trum Playground, and the baths located at Lin- coln Park have been kept open certain evenings during each week.


A hockey rink was constructed on Tufts College land and maintained during the winter.


All flag poles on the parks were repaired and painted ; - flags are displayed on all parks every day throughout the year.


An unusual vegetable growth covering the entire water surface of the pond at Broadway Park with a thick green scum was removed at an expense of over Five Hundred Dollars.


A number of large Poplar trees on the Powder House Boulevard was uprooted and blown down during terrific wind and rain storms causing considerable damage to abutting prop- erty, houses, etc., and costing over $400.00 for removal - new hardy growth trees should replace these trees the entire length of the boulevard.


Tennis courts have been in use at Mason Street play- ground, Somerville Field, Broadway, Central Hill and Lin- coln parks.


1


-


290


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The Metropolitan District Commission have furnished band concerts, certain evenings during summer months, at Broadway park.


At the 4th of July fireworks display on Lincoln park a number of serious accidents to the spectators occurred.


All tar walks on Central Hill Park should be reconstructed and the wooden seats in the grand-stand at Somerville Field rebuilt immediately.


A permanent concrete field house should be constructed at the Somerville athletic field with all modern equipment and the rmaining area graded as soon as possible ; when completed as originally designed the city will own one of the best recreation fields in the vicinity. (In the 1910 report, plan shows pro- posed complete laying out) .


The city has become so densely populated that some of the larger park areas should be more extensively utilized for pub- lic recreation and physical training purposes ; on several of the playfields concrete buildings should be constructed in place of some of the old wooden structures, additional apparatus pro- vided on some of the principal parks and playgrounds for the smaller children's pleasure, where a regular park employee can have the care of the same, and some of the smaller playground areas should be enclosed by wire fencing for the protection of children.


In certain localities of the city well-lighted playgrounds, during the summer evenings, should be maintained, for the young men and women working in the factories daily.


Paul Revere Park area should be enlarged by acquiring additional land, constructing a street across from Main street to Broadway separating the city's park from the adjoining land, and thereby preserving an historical spot on the top of Winter Hill for the future, also making a convenient connection for travel.


In connection with the departmental work the Recreation and Playgrounds Commission, the Playgrounds Association and Women's Clubs have been of great assistance in advising, directing and promoting the city's welfare. (Details, etc., in Commission and Association reports ).


The total yearly expenditure by the city departments and other Associations for recreation and play is over $15,000.00.


Respectfully submitted,


ERNEST W. BAILEY,


City Engineer.


291


STREET COMMISSIONER.


REPORT OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER.


OFFICE OF THE STREET COMMISSIONER, CITY HALL, Somerville, January 1, 1921.


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


Gentlemen :- I most respectfully submit the forty-fifth annual report, containing a brief summary of the principal work performed by the Highway Department, by day labor and contract, during the year 1920, with recommendations for necessary additions the coming year.


This department has charge of the construction, altera- tion, repair, maintenance and management of ways, streets, sidewalks and bridges ; the setting out and care of shade trees ; the suppression of gypsy and brown tail moths and elm leaf beetles ; the oiling and watering of streets.


Highway Department Appropriations.


Appropria- tions


1 Expenditures


Highway Maintenance


Departmental transfers


$66,053 00 28,659 29


"Total credit


94,712 29


94,691 05


Sidewalks Maintenance


8,484 96


8,484 91


Street Sprinkling


43,330 00


43,328 52


Street Cleaning


26,600 00


28,597 14


Suppression of Moths


4,902 48


4,902 48


Care of Trees


3,372 58


3,372 34


New Streets


29,650 00


29,609 00


Permanent Pavement


69,646 00


36,109 64


Sidewalks Construction .


13,350 21


9,962 20


Reconstruction and Resurfacing


39,900 00


39,899 74


$333,948 52


$298,957 02


This city is fortunate in being located so that most of the supplies for this department are shipped to us by auto trucks.


The question of how to make, and how to maintain good streets, is one that is steadily pressing to the front as one of the most important concerns of this department.


In my opinon, granite paving blocks grouted on a con- crete base, is the only kind of paving for any street where


292


ANNUAL REPORTS.


there is to be heavy travel, and especially on a narrow street where there are double car tracks.


The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company erected a fine fireproof store house on Fitchburg street and Linwood street. In order to have a good entrance to this store house they paved Fitchburg street, which is a private way, with granite paving blocks grouted on a concrete base, at their ex- pense. This end of Linwood street should be paved by the city the coming year. Permission was given this company to lay a spur track under the Somerville avenue bridge connecting their store house with the Boston and Maine Railroad, Fitch- burg Division. They, the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Com- pany to repave the street on a concerete base and to assume all liabilities.


Highway Maintenance.


The maintenance of all the equipment is charged to this appropriation. Such work as repairs of all streets, care of snow and ice, subways, street and traffic signs, bridges and ap- proaches where grade crossings have been eliminated, is charged to this account. If any equipment is used for other accounts in this department or for other city departments, Highway Maintenance receives credit for same. Any work done for corporations, the revenue received is cre lited to gen- eral city revenue account.


Highway Maintenance.'


$66,053 00


Street Commissioner


$3,100 00


Bookkeeper and clerk


2,711 47


Telephones, 240.81 - Office expense, 112.87


353 68


Equipment and repairs


5,229 70


Harnesses


1,458 49


Horses


1,300 00


Tools and machinery


1,383 48


Repairs - Rollers and mixers .


444 04


Stable expense


6,413 14


Hay, straw and feed


11,499 62


Shoeing


1,568 43


Veterinary


231 71


Repairs to streets, gutters, crossings


2,583 66


Repairs special streets


979 58


Repairs permanent pavement .


4,601 94


Repairs macadam pavement


1,951 18


Repairs bridges - approaches and subways


743 55


Care of lanterns and traffic signs


720 81


Snow and ice . .


.


13,196 60


Total Appropriations


L


293


STREET COMMISSIONER.


Signs


.


1,891 42


Care Highway property


.


576 17


Emergency calls


165 62


Auto maintenance


2,853 48


Chevrolet Roadster .


847 00


Sawing wood .


195 00


Allowance vacations and holidays


6,797 95


Crushed stone .


1,495 63


Sand and gravel


4,612 24


Ashes 211.03 - lampblk 30.86 - Lumber 157.13


399 02


Bricks


999 61


Cement


2,323 29


Gasoline - kerosene


1,559 30


Edgestone - paving blocks


62 50


Fuel


926 92


Tarvia (patching)


336 96


Insurance on boilers


139 48


City of Waltham. (taxes)


281 20


Miscellaneous


16 1


Public service corporations


846 05


Departmental charges


4,598 93


Driveways, etc.,


2,312 09


94,691 05


Credits


28,659 29


66,031 76


Unexpended balance


·


$21 24


Underground Wires.


No underground conduits were constructed this year.


Snow and Ice.


As no special appropriation is made for the care of ice and snow, what money is expended is taken from Highway Maintenance, thus cutting the appropriation where it is needed for work of a more permanent nature.


As many automobilists and truck owners desire to, and some must, use their machines the year round, they are demand. ing that the roads be cleared of snow, it means a large expendi- ture of money if any amount of snow should fall. The winter of 1920 will long be remembered by road men. The employees and horses of this department worked day and night trying to keep the streets and sidewalks opened for travel. All requests such as teaming away snow for funerals, weddings and emer-


294


ANNUAL REPORTS.


gency calls were attended to. The coming year this depart- ment will have ploughs equipped on auto trucks and new horse drawn ploughs to keep the streets opened for travel.


569 requests and reports were attended to.


$13,196.60 was expended for the care of snow and ice. 5358 cubic yards of snow and ice were removed. 4 cubic yards of sand and 327 cubic yards of ashes were used in caring for icy sidewalks, streets and crossings.


Bridges.


Most of the bridges are in good condition, except the Lowell street bridges where extensive repairs must be made the coming year at the expense of the city.


Crushed Stone.


The William J. McCarthy Co. furnished 15 tons of local crushed rock at $2.00 per ton at their crusher and 5,031 tons at $2.40 per ton on the line of work. Coleman Brothers 2,341 tons of trap rock at $2.70 per ton on line of work.




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