USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1920 > Part 24
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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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