Report of the city of Somerville 1920, Part 24

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 24


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).


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345


WATER DEPARTMENT.


one removed and has been installed in the sidewalk westerly from Stone avenue.


Several fire hydrants have been broken by motor cars and trucks and bills for replacement have been rendered and col- lected.


Service installation has reached a very low point, only twenty-eight having been laid during the year; ten old ones were discontinued leaving a net increase of but ten services. Installation was in the following class of premises :


Church


1 Office building 1


Factories


2 Residences


5


Factory fire pipes


2 Stores


4


Garages


5 Warehouse; service and fire


Gasoline filling station ·


1 pipes combined 2


Laundry


1


Yards and shops . 4


The service maintenance account is yearly growing as the older pipes become filled up with sediment and rust and during the summer season it requires two gangs to keep up with the demands for attention.


During the year we attended to and improved 1,185 cases of deficient service.


On account of inability to obtain the proper quality of labor we were obliged to slow down on water meter installa- tion and at the end of the year we faced a deficiency of 246 in the number required for the city's installation under the State Meterage Act. Steps have been taken, however, to remedy this situation and before the end of another year we shall have caught up with our quota.


Water income for the year has shown a substantial in- crease, amounting to $262,666.34 as compared with $248,544.27 the previous year.


Department accounts show all bills contracted for payment during the year as settled and substantial unexpended balances at the closing of the books.


Labor


The only change in the wage rate was that of May 2 when wages were advanced by the mayor 25 cents a day, making the rate for common labor $4.00 a day and for skilled labor $4.10 a day ; the same advance was granted to the foremen and meter readers.


Pensions


Two names have been added to the pension list during the year, viz: Patrick J. Bergin to date from May 20th at rate of $12.30 a week and John Brady to date from November 17 at


346


ANNUAL REPORTS.


rate of $12.00 a week. There are now six pensioners on the water department list.


Water Debt


A noteworthy event of the year was the extinguishment of the water debt, the last of the water loan bonds having been paid in October.


Bonds were issued at intervals from 1869 to 1896, the total amounting to $1,017,000 ; since the latter date the entire cost of maintenance and extension of the water-works system has been paid from the water income, together with the maturing bonds, interest charges, Metropolitan water assessments and other accounts.


Shop Improvements


I sincerely hope that some action may be taken during the coming year toward improving the working conditions at our shop. None of the changes that I recommended last year have been carried out and we are still handicapped by lack of proper facilities to carry on our necessary and ever-increasing repair work ; this can and should be remedied at an early date.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK E. MERRILL,


Water Commissioner.


Street Mains, Gates, Hydrants, Etc., Laid, Set, and Removed in 1920.


PIPE.


GATES.


HYDRANTS.


BLOW-OFFS.


WATER POSTS


LAID.


REMOVED.


SET.


RE- MOV'D


SET.


REMOVED


SET.


RE- MOV'D


SET.


STREET.


DESCRIPTION.


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Kind


Size.


Kind


Size.


No.


Size


No.


No.


Allen Street


Hydrant replacement: 9 ft north from Charlestown


Street


6"


4


6"


6


6"


Co.


6"


Ch.


Cameron Ave.


Gate on hydrant branch: Opposite Mead St., 4 ft out from hydrant


6" Smith


Cedar Street


Hydrant replacement: 50 ft north from Clyde Street Gate on hydrant branch: 50 ft north from Clyde St., 3 ft out from hydrant


6" Ren.


Central Street


Hydrant removal: 127 ft north from Vernon St. Hydrant: 132 ft north from Vernon Street


6"


4


Ch.


6"


¡Ren.


Congress Place


Replaced street main: From connection with 12" gate on west line of Linwood St. to connection with new 12" main in Linwood St.


12" 6"


9


9


Cooney Street


Hydrant replacement: 97 ft east from Line St.


3


3


6"


Co.


B.M.


Dane Street


Gate on hydrant branch: 9 ft south from Tyler St., 4 ft out from hydrant


6"


!Ren.


Day Street


Hydrant replacement: 4 ft from Orchard Street Gate on hydrant branch: 4 ft north from north line of Orchard St., 4 ft out from hydrant


6"


3


4"


3


6"


Mat.


4"


B.M.


Kilby Street


Hydrant removal: 172 ft south from Somerville Ave. Hydrant: 176 ft south from Somerville Ave.


6"1


Cof.


Gate on hydrant branch: 173 ft south from south line of Somerville Ave,, 3 ft out from hydrant


| 6" |Ren.


1


-


Gate on hydrant branch: 9 ft north from north line of Charlestown St., 2 ft 6 in. out from hydrant Hydrant replacement: opposite Mead Street


6"


Ren.


Co.


6"


Hol.


6"


Co.


6"


Hol G


.9


Mat.


Gate on hydrant branch: 132 ft north from north line of Vernon St., 2 ft 6 in. out from hydrant


Gate on hydrant branch: 97 ft east from east line of Cooney St., 3 ft out from hydrant


6"


Ren.


Jaques Street


Hydrant replacement: 9 ft west from Fellsway West Gate on hydrant branch: 9 ft /west from Fellsway West, 4 ft out from hydrant


6"


Ren.


6" Ren.


6"


Cof.


Z


1


6" 4"


4"


6"


Co.


Ch


RE- MOV'D


Size.


PIPE.


GATES.


HYDRANTS.


BLOW-OFFS.


WATER POSTS


LAID.


REMOVED.


SET.


REMOVED


SET.


REMOVED


SET.


RE- MOV'D


SET


RE- MOV'D


STREET.


DESCRIPTION.


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Size.


Kind


Kind


Size.


No.


Size.


No.


NO,


Z


Laurel Street


Hydrant replacement: 49 ft north from Greene Street Gate on hydrant branch: 49 ft north from north line of Greene St., 4 ft out from hydrant


6"


6


6"


6


6"


C'o.


4"


Big.


6" Ren.


Linden Place


Replaced street main: From connection with main in Linden Ave. to point 126 ft west from west line of Linden Ave.


2"


139


1"


139


2" Ch.


1"


Linehan Court


Replaced street main: From connection at point 6 ft east from east line of Linwood St. to connection with 12" main in Linwood St.


6"


32


1"


32


6" Smith


1"


Linwood Place


Replaced street main: From connection with 4" gate 3 ft east from west line of Linwood St. to connec- tion with 12" main in Linwood St.


4"


8


=


8


Gate: 56 ft north from north line of Congress Place and 7 ft east from west line of Linwood St.


4" Smith


1"


Linwood Street


Replaced street main: From connection with 6" main at point 7 ft 6 in south from south line of Congress Place to connection with 6" main at point 36 ft north from north line of Dix Place


12"


600


6"


4


604


Blow-Off: 6 ft 6 in. south from north line of Poplar St. West and 28 ft east from west line of Lin- wood St.


9


4" Ren.


'2"


Ch.


4"


Hol G.


6"


9


6"


Co.


Gate on hydrant branch: 48 ft north from Congress


6" Smith


4"


Hol G.


Hydrant removal: 48 ft south from Lamson Court Hydrant: 23 ft north from Dix Place


Gate on hydrant branch: 23 ft north from Dix Place and 2 ft 6 in. out from hydrant


6" Ren


.


1


Waterpost: 770 ft west from Poplar Street, (WP No. 36) Hydrant removal: 2 ft south from Linwood Place Hydrant: 48 ft north from Congress Place


Place and 3 ft 6 in. out from hydrant


9


9


Co.


·


1


10


9


Gate: On east line of Linwood St. 4 ft north from south line of Linehan Court


Size.


Linwood Street


Hydrant: 14 ft south from Poplar Street Gate on hydrant branch: 14 ft south from Poplar St. and 3 ft out from hydrant


6"


9


Co.


6" Smith


6"


2


6"


2


6"


Co.


6" Hol.G.


Hydrant replacement: 463 ft north from Washington St.


6"


3


6"


3


6"


Co.


4" Hol.G.


6"


Ren.


Mystic Ave.


Street main: From connection with 6 in main in Mystic Ave. at point 136 ft south from south line of Tenney Court to point 153 ft south from south line of Tenney Court


6"


17


6"


Co.


6" |Hol.G.


6"


Smith


Pearl Street


Hydrant replacement: 16 ft east from Hillside Ave. Gate on hydrant branch: 16 ft east from west line of Hillside Ave., 2 ft out from hydrant


6"


5


6"


5


Ren.


Poplar Street East


Replaced street main: From connection with 6 in main in Poplar St. East at point 11 ft east from east line of Linwood St. to connection with 12 in. main in Linwood St.


10"


36


4"


30 6


10"


|Ren.


6" Ch.


10"


24


4" 6"


18 6


10"


Ren.


6"


Ch.


Putnam Street


Hydrant replacement: 608 ft north from north line of Summer St.


4


6"


Co.


j6" Hol.G.


6"


Smith


South Street


Hydrant removal: 80 ft west from Willow Place. Hydrant: 1 ft west from west line of Water Street Gate on hydrant branch: 3 ft north from south line of South St. and 1 ft east from west line of Water St., 2 ft out from hydrant


5


Ch


6"


Ren.


จิ้ง ริ้ว


8 50


2" 8"


Ch. Cof.


8" Hol.G.


10"į 6"]


2 7


Co.


Main Street


Hydrant replacement: 6 ft north from Moreland St. Gate on hydrant branch: 6 ft north from north line of Moreland St., 3 ft out from hydrant


6"


Smith


Myrtle Street


Gate on hydrant branch: 463 ft north from north line of Washington St. 4 ft out from hydrant


Orchard Street


Hydrant replacement: West corner of Milton St. Gate on hydrant branch: On west line of Milton St., 4 ft out from hydrant


Co.


6" Hol C.


Gate replacement: On east line of Linwood St. and 11 ft 8 in. north from south line of Poplar Street East Poplar Street West Replaced street main: From connection with 6 in. main in Poplar St. West at point 8 ft west from west line of Linwood St. to connection with 12 in. main in Linwood St.


Gate replacement: On west line of Linwood St., 10 ft north from south line of Poplar St. West.


Gate on hydrant branch: 608 ft north from north line of Summer St., 4 ft out from hydrant


6" Ch.


1


Summer Street Union Square


Waterpost: 32 ft east from Cedar Street (WP No. 69) Hydrant removal: Centre of Union Square


Hydrant: North side of Union Square 64 ft west from Stone Ave.


STREET


DESCRIPTION


PIPES


GATES.


HYDRANTS


BLOW-OFFS.


WATER POSTS


LAID.


REMOVED.


SET.


REMOVED


SET.


REMOVED


SET,


RE- MOV'D


SET.


RE- MOV'D


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Feet.


Size.


Kind.


Size.


Kind.


Size.


Kind.


Size.


Kind


Size.


No.


Size.


No.


No.


NO.


Union Square


Gate on hydrant branch: North side of Union Square, 64 ft from Stone Ave. 4 ft out from hydrant Blow-Off: 52 ft west from west line of Stone Ave. and 23 ft 6 in south from north line of Union Square. Hydrant replacement: 25 ft east from Cross Street Gate on hydrant branch: 25 ft east from east line of Cross St., 2 ft 6 in. out from hydrant


4''


4" Smith


6"


Ch:


6"


Ch.


6" Rell.


6"


Hol.G.


6"


Hol. C.


6"


25


6"


Co.


Gate on hydrant branch: 35 ft north from Cambridge city line, 4 ft out from hydrant


6" Smith


8


6"


Co.


Gate on hydrant branch: 214 ft south from south line of Glass House Court (Boynton Yard) 3 ft. out from hydrant


6" Ren.


6"


220


6"


6


6"


Smith


1222


974


32


8


23


21


2


2


Feet of pipe laid:


4" and under;


6":


8";


10": , 62


12" 609


Total 1222


160


391


....


269


655


50


974


4


26


....


....


....


5


2


1


....


....


...


...


23


....


....


....


6


14


1


....


....


Ren.


.


1


Washington Street


Hydrant replacement: 42 ft east from Durant Street Gate on hydrant branch: 42 ft east from east line of Durant St. in sidewalk 1 ft 6 in. back from hydrant Hydrant: 35 ft north from Cambridge city line at dead end of Windsor St. main


6" Ren.


Windsor Street


Hydrant removal: 150 ft south from Glass House Court (Boynton Yard) Hydrant: 214 ft south from Glass House Court (Boyn- ton Yard)


18


Co.


Street main: From connection with 6 in. main at point 250 ft south from south line of Glass House Court (Boynton Yard) to dead end, at point 35 ft north from Cambridge city line


Street main: Connecting with old Middlesex Paper Co.'s pipe running through private land to Conlon Court


Feet of pipe discontinued Gates set Gates discontinued Hydrants set Hydrants discontinued


Key: Ren. - Rensselaer Valve Co. Smith - A. P. Smith Mfg. Co. Ch. - Chapman Valve Mfg. Co. Cof. - Coffin Valve Co. Hol. - Holyoke (Norwood Eng. Co.) Co. - Corey (Rensselaer Valve Co.)


Mat. - Mathews (R. D. Wood & Co.) B. M. - Boston Machine (Discontinued type) Big - Bigelow G - Gate type. C - Compression type,


Webster Street


/


...


2


351


WATER DEPARTMENT.


SUMMARY OF STATISTICS. FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1920.


In form recommended by the New England Water Works Association. SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASS.


General Statistics.


Population, census 1920; 93,033; present, estimated 94,000.


Date of construction: Commenced in 1868.


By whom owned: City of Somerville.


Source of supply: Metropolitan water system.


Mode of supply: Water is delivered into the city's mains, under


both high and low pressure, by the Metropolitan Water Works. .


Statistics of Consumption of Water.


Census population, 1920, 93,033.


Population on lines of pipe, Dec. 31, 1920, 94,000.


Population supplied, Dec. 31, 1920, 94,000.


Total consumption for the year, 2,626,906,000 gallons.


Average daily consumption, 7,177,300 gallons.


Gallons per day to each inhabitant, 77.


Statistics Relating to Distribution System, 1920. MAINS.


Kind of pipe, cast iron.


Sizes, from 4-inch and under to 20-inch.


Laid 1,222 feet; discontinued 974 feet; net extension, 248 feet. Total now in use, 102.63 miles.


Number of hydrants added during year (public, 2; private, 0), 2. Number of hydrants (public and private) now in use, 1,243. Number of stop gates added during year, 24.


Number of stop gates now in use, 1,880.


Number of blow-offs, 185.


Range of pressure on mains, 35 pounds to 100 pounds.


SERVICES.


Kind of pipe: Lead; wrought iron - lead-lined; wrought iron - cement-lined; cast iron.


Sizes, one-half to eight inches.


Extended 1,214 feet; discontinued 845 feet.


Total now in use, 88.55 miles.


Number of service taps added, 28; discontinued, 18; net increase,


10.


Number now in use, 13,554.


Number of meters added, 283; meters and motor registers discon- tinued, 133; net increase, 150. Number now in use, 10.472.


Percentage of services metered, 76.26.


Percentage of water receipts from metered services, 84.


Number of motors and elevator registers added, 0; removed, 0. Number now in use, 3 (included in number of meters).


FINANCIAL STATISTICS


EXPENDITURES.


From Water Rates :-


Fixture rates .


.


$40,416 38


Meter rates .


.


215,906 50


Water Works Maintenance :- Operation (management, repairs and renew- als) . .


$61,306 77


Total from consumers · From other sources :-


$256,322 88


Special: - Miscellaneous accounts 4,438 36


$65,745 13


Interest on bonds


80 00


Payment on bonds


2,000 00


Water Works Buildings


986 64


Water Works Construction :-


Mains


$2,423 72


Services .


1,881 78


Meters


1,745 90


Total construction


$6,051 40


Unclassified expenses : - Metropolitan water assessment . .


127,505 74


Balance: -


Ordinary .


·


$60,297 43


Total balance .


60,297 43


Total


$262,666 34


Total


$262,666 34


Disposition of balance: applied to municipal purposes. Cost of works to date . ·


$1,079,248 19


Bonded debt at date None


352


ANNUAL REPORTS.


.


.


Labor and materials


.


4,438 36


Total


.


·


.


1


·


·


·


·


.


REVENUE.


Water service assessments .


1,905 10


353


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.


.


REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.


OFFICE OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, City Hall Annex, Somerville, January 1, 1920.


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


The following report of the sealer of weights and measures for the year 1920 is respectfully submitted :-


During the past year, a great many inquiries have been re- ceived from the citizens of our city, indicating their interest relative to matters of weights and measures, and numerous complaints have been investigated and adjusted satisfactorily between the parties concerned. Two cases have been prosecut- ed and convictions obtained.


The total tests as shown in the following table are less numerous than last year owing in a great extent to the fact that many of the old measures and even balances and weights are being discarded for the modern computing scale.


Particular attention has been paid to gasoline and oil pumps as these need more attention than any other measuring device.


ANNUAL REPORT.


Work of Weights and Measures Department for 1919.


Number of scales sealed


1,665


Number of weights sealed


3,781


Number of dry measures sealed


64


Number of liquid measures sealed


4,948


Number of oil and gas pumps sealed


176


Number of yard sticks sealed


141


Number of miscellaneous sealed wood baskets


34


Total


10,809


Number of scales adjusted


·


37


Number of weights adjusted .


. .


55


Total


92


354


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Number of scales condemned ·


5


Number of weights condemned


23


Number of dry measures condemned .


3


Number of liquid measures condemned .


45


Number of yard sticks condemned


0


Number of Gas pumps condemned


0


Total


76


Number of scales and weights out of use non- sealed


14


Number of inspections in stores and street .


343


357


11,334


BENJAMIN S. ABBOTT, Sealer of Weights and Measures.


355


CITY SOLICITOR.


REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT.


To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :


The annual report of the law department for the year end- ing December 31, 1920, is as follows :


A petition and bill were presented to the legislature for changing the boundary line between Somerville and Med- ford. The city governments of the two cities were unable to agree upon the changes to be made and no act was passed by the legislature.


Hearings were held before a committee of the legislature and before the Middlesex county commissioners in regard to the proposd widening of Bridge street in Cambridge. The cost was estimated at several hundred thousand dollars and no decision could be reached as to where the cost should fall and no definite action was taken. It seems to me unfair that any spe- cial burden should be placed on the city of Somerville for this improvement.


An act was secured making more clear the law relative to the protection of persons furnishing materials or labor for public works. Chapter 210 of the Acts of 1920.


I acted for the prosecution in a number of cases in behalf of the board of health and the inspector of milk.


A claim before the industrial accident board was tried and a decision was given in favor of the city, but the contrac- tor who employed the claimant paid him a substantial sum of money at my suggestion. A hearing which lasted five days was held in the Somerville police court on an appeal by a fireman who had been discharged by the city government. His discharge was sustained by the court. Claims for injuries re- ceived by reason of defects in public ways were settled for an amount considerably less than the average in former years ..


Very respectfully,


FRANK W. KAAN,


City Solicitor.


356


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Somerville, Mass., January 31, 1921.


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


Gentlemen, - Herewith I have the honor of submitting, for your information, the annual report of the fire department for the year ending December 31, 1920 :-


Alarms of Fire.


Number of bell alarms


240


Number of still alarms


.


448


Total alarms


688


Number in excess of 1919


26


Value of buildings at risk


$653,945 00


Insurance on buildings .


411,650 00


Damage to buildings


74,396 00


Value of contents .


303,825 00


Insurance on contents


229,975 00


Damage to contents


61,832 95


Total value at risk


957,770 00


Total insurance


641,625 00


Total damage


136,228 95


List of Probable Causes.


Accidental


5


Automobiles


13


Bonfires


15


Candle dropped in bale of oakum .


1


Carelessness with matches .


5


Careless meter man


3


Children playing with matches


18


Cigar or cigarette thrown on awning


4


Cigars, cigarettes and pipes .


15


Closet fires


5


Clothing hanging too near stove


3


Decorations on Christmas tree


2


Defective chimneys


9


Defective stovepipe


5


Dump fires


4


Electric car


.


3


Electric wires


.


3


False alarms


46


Filling gas tanks on automobiles


.


5


357


CHIEF ENGINEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Firecrackers


.


.


.


.


.


.


Fire in Boston


.


·


.


.


Fire in Cambridge


2


Fire in Medford


2


Grass fires'


Hot ashes in wooden receptacles .


6


Incendiary


6


Smoke from Chimney


4


Smoking in bed


4


Spark from forge


3


Spark from furnace


5


Spark from Locomotive


4


Spark on roof


5


Spontaneous Combustion


5


Thawing water pipes


3


Unknown


4


Wood near stove .


.


2


Wires on trees and poles


2


.


.


240


2


3


14


358


Engine 1.


Engine 2.


Engine 4.


Engine 6.


Hose 3.


Hose 5.


Hose 7.


Hose 8.


Ladder 1.


Ladder 2.


Ladder 3.


Totals


1


Bell alarms responded to


182


121


115


31


96


82


95


71


100


96


44


240


Still alarms responded to Miles traveled .


55


52


18


76


51


43


53


43


21


2


34


448


444


204


301


1021/2


196


239


197


2013/4


119


170


81 2,25514


Feet of 21/2 in. hose used


14,050


21,200


8,000


14,600


7,250


15,650


7,500


7,000


·


·


2,000


46,050


Feet of chemical hose used


11,750


. . .


. . .


1,750 24


6,750


12,550


6,250


5,000


2,169


1,077


945


4,481


Feet of ladders used


Chemical extinguish- ers used .


20


15


9


2


41


14


8


23


12


144


Gallons of chemical used .


2,450


. .


.. .


636


870


1,875


1,000


575


. . .


. . .


. . .


· · ·


.. .


. . .


. . .


. . .


. . .


. ..


...


5


Times responded out of town .


12


7


13


12


5


16


2


. .


. .


67


Rubber covers used


!


. . .


. . .


. . .


. ..


3


. . .


11


15


3


34


ANNUAL


REPORTS.


.


. . .


. . .


. . .


7,406


Times on duty at other stations .


1


3


1


. .


. . .


2


140


. ...


126


95,250


359


CHIEF ENGINEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.


On February 2nd. the two-platoon system was inaugurat- ed in compliance with the Act of the Legislature, Chapter 132 Acts of 1919, by the voters at the election November 2nd., this necessitated the addition of thirty men to the permanent force that the minimum efficiency may be maintained. During the year one (1) permanent man resigned, one was discharged, one (1) callman was advanced to the permanent force, one (1) re- signed and two (2) placed on the pension roll. The member- ship of the department now consists of one-hundred and ten permanent men and five (5) callmen classified as follows,-


Manual Force.


1 Chief Engineer,


1 Deputy Chief,


1 District Chief,


7 Captains,


1 Master Mechanic,


11 Lieutenants,


3 Enginemen,


85 Permanent men,


5 Callmen.


Apparatus.


1 Second size, horse drawn steam fire engine,


1 Third size, horse drawn steam fire engine,


2 Horse drawn combination chemicai and hose wagon,


1 Horse drawn hose wagon,


1 Horse drawn combination chemical and ladder truck,


1 Horse drawn ladder truck,


1 Motor driven ladder truck,


4 Motor driven combination chemical and hose wagons,


1 Second size tractor drawn steam fire engine,


1 Motor driven 900 gallon pumping engine and hose wagon,


1 Motor driven 750 gallon pumping engine and chemical,


1 Motor driven supply and wrecking wagon,


1 Automobile, chief's car,


1 Automobile, deputy chief's car,


1 Automobile, 'district chief's car,


1 Automobile, Master Mechanic's car,


1 Horse drawn chief's buggy,


1 Horse drawn relief ladder truck,


3 Horse drawn exercising wagons,


1 Supply wagon.


Horses.


There are nineteen (19) horses in the department, two (2) have died and two (2) have been purchased during the year. Six of the horses located at Engine No. 6 Station will be im-


360


ANNUAL REPORTS.


mediately disposed of inasmuch as this station has been fully motorized. No more horses will be purchased unless some un- foreseen accident arises.


Hose.


The amount of serviceable hose is 8,850 feet of two and one half inch double jacket, rubber lined, cotton hose and 1,750 feet of three quarter inch chemical hose. There has been pur- chased 500 feet of two and one half inch hose, and 1,150 feet condemned. As stated in my previous reports, there should be at least 12,000 feet of two and one half inch hose in the depart- ment, at least 2,000 feet should be purchased this year.


Brief Resume.


The average loss has been $11,350. a month, being $5,000 a month more than the previous year. The months of January and February totalled one half of the entire year's loss.


The following table gives the losses by months, -


January


$37,838 69


February


29,365 00


March


1,467 00


April


27,992 00


May


12,981 00


June


1,493 50


July


1,163 50


August


2,908 00


September


1,315 00


October


6,951 00


November


8,784 26 ,


December


3,970 00


$136,228 95


There have been twenty fires with an insurance loss in ex- cess of $1,000. as follows, -


January 5, 7:35 A. M. Box 225, 37 Union Square, the Bacon Hall building owned by Herbert Jay; occupants in- volved, H. G. Applin and W. N. Casey; damage to building $950. to contents $76. the probable cause, steam pipe and rub- bish.


January 5, 8:17 P. M. Box 443, a second alarm was sound- ed for this fire, 2 College Circle, commercial building owned by E. S. Sparrow, the occupants, Baker School Supply Co. and others, damage to building $4,250. to contents $5,835. Cause, spontaneous combustion.


361


CHIEF ENGINEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.


January 7, 8:40 A. M. Box 337, Incinerator owned by the City of Somerville, occupied by D. DeStefano Co. damage to building $2,500. to contents $3,400. Cause, spark in waste paper.


January 15, 10:53 P. M. Box 225, 285 Washington Street, wood working mill owned and occupied by Davenport-Brown Company, damage to building $200. to contents $4,115.79 due to water damage from sprinkler system. Cause, spark falling into sawdust.


January 19, 11:38 A. M. Box 28, 33 Laurel Street, dwell- ing owned and occupied by Andrew Mclaughlin, damage to building, $3,800. to contents $850. Cause, overheated heater.


January 22, 4 :35 P. M. Box 15, a second alarm was sound- ed for this fire, 48 Washington Street, New England Vinegar Works owned and occupied by Arthur E. Rowse, damage to buildings $2,281. to contents $8,980.15. Cause, careless smoker.


February 1, 12:22 A. M. Apartments and store at 245-247 Highland Avenue owned by Thomas J. Conroy, occupants, L. M. Copeland et al. damage to building $452.63; to contents, $5,627. Cause, defective heater.




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