Report of the city of Somerville 1922, Part 9

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 472


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1922 > Part 9


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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


153


CITY ENGINEER.


of water mains, details, etc., in report of Water Commis- sioner).


Lines and grades have been given for the erection of city buildings and plans and sketches made for the laying out of surrounding grounds :- a special plan being made showing a proposed development of the West Somerville Ju- nior High School grounds for athletic purposes.


Plans have been made where accidents have occurred on the city work, or where boundaries were in dispute and spe- cial plans and data prepared for the city solicitor's use in court cases, miscellaneous data compiled relating to the sewers, highways, bridges, etc., in this city for various state departments ; and Federal, State and Municipal hearings at- tended where information was required.


All plans of estates in Somerville recorded at the Regis- try 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 as- sessments made out showing the property owners.


Probably the proposed plan of widening Bridge street (East Cambridge) being the extension of Somerville avenue will be accomplished the coming year; after numerous hear- ings, the construction and completion of the work and pro- portioning of assessments has been placed under the control and jurisdiction of the County Commissioners-a much needed public improvement for relieving the present congested traf- fic and business.


A skeleton map of the city is on file in this office show- ing steam and electric car lines, principal streets, public buildings and locations of principal industries :- also spe- cial maps showing buildings and areas built upon previous to 1872 (when a town) and at the present time (a city 50 years).


A set of block plans should be made covering the entire city area, from accurate surveys made during the past twenty-five years, and carefully compared section by section with the deed dimensions and areas recorded in the asses- sor's department, and in this manner the correct areas of land determined.


This set of plans would show the area and dimensions of each lot, all houses and other buildings, sewers, catch ba- sins, house drains, water services, gas mains, underground conduits for wires, street lights, street railway tracks, etc., and be of great value to many city departments. Five of these sectional plans have already been made. A separate appropriation should be made for completing these plans.


154


ANNUAL REPORTS


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


Perambulation of the Somerville-Medford city boundary line :- December 13, 1922, a committee appointed from each city; including city engineers and street commissioners, ex- amined the monuments and reference points defining the divis- ion line between these two cities and reported their findings in due form to the board of aldermen; these boundary lines are. perambulated every five years as prescribed by the statues.


No action has been taken by representatives of the city governments of Somerville and Medford relative to the chang- ing of the boundary line between the two. cities. From the various studies presented, an exchange of territory can be made that would be equally advantageous.


In addition to the regular work of the department, con- siderable information and assistance has been furnished to the various city departments and citizens of the city; and special data for the development of real estate etc., given to private engineers, architects and builders.


For the immediate improvement of conditions in this city the highway bridges and approaches over the steam railroads should be rebuilt 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) reconstructed with increased head-room for street traffic,-the dangerous railroad 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 steam railroad tracks making a con- nection between Wilson square-Craigie street on the north- erly side and Stanford Terrace-Beacon street on the souther- ly side of this railroad.


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 im- provement of conditions in this city.


COMPILED TABLE OF AREAS, USEFUL FOR VARIOUS DEPART- MENTS, SHOWING A SUB-DIVISION OF CITY'S ACREAGE.


Land and water, total area city . Water


100


acres


Streets


480


22.6


Boulevards-city and State Squares


8.8


Steam railroads, locations


90


Freight, distribution areas Parks


26


38


2700


acres


.


.


155


CITY ENGINEER.


Athletic fields and playgrounds


30


(30) Schoolhouse lots


22.7


(7) Fire station lots


2.4


Miscellaneous city building lots and institutions


29.5


(40) Church lots


13


(20) Large manufacturing and mercan- tile plants


100


Tufts College land


46.5


Large areas vacant


and refilled


marsh land


115


1124.5 acres


Approximate dwelling area built upon (partly covered) 1575.5 acres Approximate number of dwellings in city, 14,140


Average area to a dwelling about 4,800 square feet.


SEWER DIVISION


The designing and constructing of sewers, storm drains, catch basins, house drains, etc.,-maintenance of the drain- age system and other items in this division are under the direction, supervision and control of the city engineer.


Sewers were petitioned for and constructed during the year in a number of newly laid out streets, where real estate owners commenced extensive building operations for the first time since the World War; approximately 140 new two-fam- ily houses were erected the past year on these streets.


CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT, STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES, 1922.


Labor (city dept.)


$1,022 05


Labor (contract) .


.


9,468 91


Inspection


387 45


Teaming


396 78


Materials and Supplies


3,010 90


Materials from Stock


199 05


Cost of new construction work .


$14,485 14


CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES


Constructing sewers (separate system) .


$10,448 62


Constructing storm drains


2,999 81


Constructing catch basins


889 27


Constructing manholes on sewers .


147 14


Cost of new work


$14,485 14


Materials on hand December 31


223 60


Total


$14,708 74


156


ANNUAL REPORTS.


CREDIT.


Appropriations ($10,000)+($7,000)


$17,000 00


Balance unexpended, 1921 ·


42 47


Materials on hand January 1, 1922 .


422 65


Total


$17,465 12


Balance unexpended (over to 1923) .


$ 2,756 38


· Six sewers were completely constructed and one partial- ly built during the year and also storm drains; a length of 7,012 feet (1 1-3 miles) of 10" and 8" pipe, the greater part of the work being done by contract, the remainder by depart- ment labor. (See attached tabular statement for 1922, show- ing itemized account of work.)


The total length of the city's drainage system is 114.926 miles, and the entire cost of construction including catch basins has amounted to about $1,376,757.00, exclusive of the amount paid to the state for assessments for the construc- tion of the North Metropolitan sewerage system.


The city's assessment for the Metropolitan sewerage sys- tem for the past year was $52,388.51 on construction account and $42,676.63 for maintenance and operation, and the total amount paid the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for this state sewer has been $1,708,002.78 (1892-1922, both years in- clusive). The total length of the Metropolitan sewerage sys- tem 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 outlets through the city of Cambridge and three outlets through the city of Medford. The locations of the connec- tions of the city's mains with the state sewer are shown in the 1912 report, and details of construction in previous re- ports.


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


Fifteen catch basins have been constructed in the high- ways during the year, making a total of 2,055 basins in the city for street drainage purposes, constructed and maintained as follows :-


By the city (sewer division) :- . 1,863 basins Located in streets and subways


Located in city boulevard


33


66


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


Total catch basins constructed and main- tained by the city 1,925


TABULAR STATEMENT OF SEWERS AND STORM DRAINS BUILT IN 1922,


ITEMS OF CONSTRUCTION AND COST


LOCATION


SEWER


SUB-DRAIN


ROCK EXCAVATION


MANHOLES


COST PER LINEAR FOOT


Total Cost


Assessment


Cost to City


Alewife Brook Parkway Sewer Alewife Brook Parkway Storm Drain ....


Woods Avenue Woods Avenue


Sterling Street Fairfax Street


Denis I. Crimmings Denis I. Crimmings


Sand, Marl & Hardpan Sand, Marl & Hardpan


9'-1" 8'-2"


596.8 355.0


4"


596.8


21.5 7.5


$7.00 7.00


$111.50


15


$0.20


$0.30 0.29


$0.09 0.15


$0.84 0.51


$5.18 2.45


$3,092 08 869 41


$1,989 62 869 41


Crose Street Sewer Cross Street Storm Drain


Pennsylvania Avenue Pennsylvania Avenue


Blakeley Avenue Blakeley Avenue


Denis 1. Crimmings Denis I. Crimmings


Gravelly Hardpan Gravelly Hardpan


7'.4" 6'-5*


111.7 111.7


1


41.63


5 5


2.90 0.20


0.30 0.40


0.05 0.0


3.50 0.76


391 12 85 07


138 12 85 07


Fairfax Street Sewer Fairfax Street Storm Drain


Alewife Brook Parkway Alewife Brook Parkway


Near North Street Near North Street


Denis I. Crimmings Denis I. Crimmings


Gravelly Hardpan Gravelly Hardpan


7'-1" 6"-2"


8"


832.3 832.3


5.0


7.00


55.80


48 46


2.60 0.20


0.30 0.34


0.04 0.0


3.11 0.68


2,590 14 569 80


174 14 669 80


Parkdale Street Parkdale Street


Near Magnus Avenue Near Magnus Avenue


Bartholomew Bartholomew


Burke Burke


Filling & Sand Filling & Sand


6'-0" 5'-1"


260.0 260.0


1


1


3


Combi- nation


79.53


24 23


2.15 0.28


0.33 0.18


0.06 0.0


2.90 0.7


1,530 45 393 50


30 45 393 50


Upland Road Sewer Upland Road Storm Drain


East of Hillsdale Road East of Hillsdale Road


Near Curtis Street Near Curtis Street


City-Day Labor City-Day Labor


Gravelly Hardpan Gravelly Hardpan


7'-4" G'-5"


8*


226.1 226.1


498 38 195 05


498 38 195 06


Woods Avenue Sewer Woods Avenue Storm Drain


Alewife Brook Parkway Alewife Brook Parkway


Near North Street Near North Street


Denis I. Crimmings Denis I. Crimmings


Gravelly Hardpan Gravelly Hardpan


7'-9" 6'-10"


8º 00 00


1059.5 1059.5 ........


4*


206.0


77.12


78 78


1.48 0.20


0.36 0.33


0.06 0.05


2.16 0.74


2,288 28 786 61


786 61


7011.6 (1.328 miles) Sewers and Storm Drains


$13,448 43


$7,559 74


$5,888 69


Totai length of public sewers in the city January 1, 1923 Total length of private sewers in the city January 1, 1923 . Total length of sewers in the city January 1, 1923 . Total length of storm drains in the city January 1, 1923 Total length of the city drainage system January 1, 1923 . Total length of Metropolitan sewerage system mains in the city


506,214.2 feet 34,748.0 feet


540,692.2 feet = 102.455 miles (32.206 miles sep- arate eystem sewers)


65,849.2 feet = 12,471 miles


= 114.926 miles


3.476 miles


Number of Inlets


Excavation Pipelaying and Refilling


Name of street


From


To


Contractor


Material Excavated


Average Cut


Size In inches


Length in


Size in inches


Length in


Cubic yards


Price per yard


Number


Average Cost


Sewer


or


Storm


Drain


Sub-Drain


Pipe, Cement, etc.


Sub-Drain


Engineering


and


Inspection


Lumber


Average Cost


per Linear Foot


1 Combi- nation


4 Combi- nation


6.5


7.00


.****


10"


........


2 Combi nation


62.48


11 11


1.27 0.22


0.50 0.47


0.04 0.0


2.20 0.86


58 17 100 37


100 37


Parkdale Street Sewer Parkdale Street Storm Drain


Wasbington Street Washington Street


Lewis Street Lewie Street


Denis I. Crimmings Denis I. Crimmings


Sand Sand


7'.4ª 6'-5"



10º


528.5 552.1


..........


Materlais and Labor Furnished By Owner


68 17


Lewis Street Sewer Lewis Street Storm Drain


0.30


0.0 0.01


0.39


0.09


1,500 00


0.20


0.05


2,288 28


feet


feet


$1,102 46


253 00


3


Combi- nation


2,416 00


0.03


50:13


$3.10 0.20


including


٠


-----


.....


157


CITY ENGINEER.


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 · 2,091


The "separate system" sewers should be extended in the older 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 Som- erville District, including Morrison Avenue-Highland Road area and the B. and M. railroad valley; and at the East Cambridge line extending from the Somerville avenue sewer and discharging into Miller's River.


Sidewalk sewers in Mossland street should be constructed immediately and a section of the old sewer in Poplar street reconstructed, relieving the continuous blocking of house drains under existing conditions.


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


MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT, STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES, 1922.


Labor


$12,222 25


Inspection


793 93


Teaming (includes $199.76 Highway


Dept. etc.)


10,463 95


Equipment and Supplies


412 64


Repairing property and tools


280 82


Total Expenditure


$24,173 59


CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES.


Maintenance of sewers, including clean- ing, flushing, supervision, etc. (114.9 miles )


$5,008 53


Maintenance of catch basins, cleaning, and flushing, supervision etc. (1925) 14,980 31 Maintenance of storm water pump, Med- ford Street 157 65


Changing line and grade and repairing catch basins ·


868 81


Changing line and grade and repairing manholes


382 59


Repairing old sewers


708 41


Inspection and location of house drains . New tools and supplies


763 10


325 21


158


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Repairs of tools and property 78 22


Maintenance of sewer division yards 760 00


Telephone (2) 74 89


Labor, teaming and materials for other departments


65 87


Cost of work done


$24,173 59


Transfer to City Engineer Ac- count


.


400 00


Total expenditures


.


$24,573 59


-


CREDIT.


Appropriation


$24,500 00


Received from other departments


419 40


Total credit .


$24,919 40


Balance unexpended


$345 81


Value of tools and property on hand, maintenance of sewers, $2,000.00.


John J. Foley, a faithful laborer for more than a quarter of a century in this division, who was retired on a pension the latter part of 1921, died August 30, 1922-the only per- son ever receiving a pension in the department.


A permanent force of men, varying in number from eight to thirteen per week, 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, storm drains and catch basins are added to the system, and the distance increased to the dumping places, which are fast diminishing, only two being available at present.


This question of scarcity of dumping places has con- fronted the city for some time and various schemes have been considered for efficient and economical methods of disposal but no feasible plan has been provided.


Approximately 4,000 cubic yards of material have been removed from the catch basins and hauled to dumps during the year, at an average cost of about $3.00 per cubic yard ($1.47 removal-$1.53 teaming) and the average cost per mile for cleaning and flushing the drainage system, includ- ing catch basins, has amounted to about $174.00. There are about twenty catch basins (average) to a mile of roadway in this city and the approximate cost of cleaning, flushing, and general maintenance per basin has been $7.78 the past year.


159


CITY ENGINEER.


A demonstration of machine cleaned catch basins was conducted for a period of five consecutive days-an auto- truck cleaning machine ("orange peel grab" lift equipment) removed material in less time than could be done by day labor, but the cost per cubic yard exceeded the hand work- the result being speedier cleaning.


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 improving the system.


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


Three hundred and fifty-nine permits have been issued to licensed drain layers for connecting buildings with main sewers and storm drains; sixty-eight being for repairs, alter- ations or extensions, all of the work being done under the supervision of the city's inspector.


Many of these repairs and alterations were made neces- sary by the growth of tree roots in the private drain pipe. In several cases, these private drains were relaid with iron pipe and lead joints, which is the type of construction recom- mended by this department, where drain connections have become stopped on account of tree roots.


Certain persons are licensed as drain layers by the city and are under bonds, for the purpose of laying and repairing these private drains :- none others are permitted to do this work.


Reference to data concerning each drain connection with the public sewer is on file in this office, and time and expense could be saved by the owner, by applying directly to this de- partment for investigation and advice, where trouble exists.


Many car track catch basins and underground conduit manholes have been connected with the city's drainage sys- tem.


There are to date about 16,892 private house drain con- nections with the city's drainage system.


Extensive repairs have been made to the automatic machinery, tanks, copper floats, tide gates, etc., constructed and installed more than twenty-five years ago in brick mason- ry chambers, where the city's mains are discharging into the state sewer.


A better system of grease traps should be installed in the premises of some of the larger manufacturing plants and rendering companies to prevent large amounts of grease and waste products from escaping into the city sewer mains and at various times has partially blocked sections of sewers- the past year a number of loads of heavy grease has been


160


ANNUAL REPORTS.


scraped and removed from the sewers at a considerable exª pense.


During the year the sewer division has done consider- able miscellaneous work for other city departments and out- side companies, furnishing material 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


The care, superintendance and management of the city's parks and public grounds is under the direction of the city engineer, who is also, at the present time, a member of the Public Welfare and Recreation Commission.


About seventy-four acres are maintained as parks and playgrounds and approximately a mile of city boulevard; 64 acres are owned by the city and certain areas owned by pri- vate parties are turned over to the city for recreation pur- poses, also satisfactory arrangements have been made for a number of years whereby the city has the use of Tufts College playfields during the summer vacation months, and skating areas in the winter. Approximately two thousand trees of various varieties are located on these grounds.


These areas when completely developed will compare favorably with other cities in the vicinity.


Some of the larger parks and playgrounds have been renamed in honor of Somerville young men who lost their lives in the World War.


The general maintenance of the grounds includes-mow- ing lawns, repairing and edging walks,-grading, rolling and keeping in condition baseball "diamonds," football fields, tennis courts, and children's playing areas,-planting bulbs, flowers, trees, shrubs, and weeding, watering and pruning same,-plowing, harrowing and fertilizing school garden areas,-repairing city boulevard and park roads and treating with road application,-repairing and painting fences, back- stops, flagpoles, settees, playground apparatus, drinking foun- tains, etc .- during the winter, removing snow from drives, walks, sanding when necessary, flooding ponds, artificial areas, hockey rinks and keeping same in condition for skating and playing of games.


The number of men employed has varied from seven to fifteen per week.


161


CITY ENGINEER.


MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS, STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES, 1922.


Playgrounds


Parks


$4,332 80 Labor


$7,778 84


1,083 14 Teaming


903 52


788 58 Equipment - Improvement - Supplies


1,063 63


154 47 Repairing property and tools


446 07


136 48 Fountains and Bubblers-Maint. (Paid Water Dept)


358 69


Trees - Plants - Floral Decorations


736 60


Flagpoles - Flags - Painting


95 80


$6,495 47


Total Expenditures .


$11,383 15


CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES.


Playgrounds


and


Recreation


$ 444 41 Central Hill Park (13.1 acres) . ·


$2,534 67


583 58 Saxton C. Foss Park (formerly


Broadway


Park) (15.9 acres)


1,612 71


Broadway Parkway (1.6 acres)


168 20


1,395 83


Lincoln Park (7.2 acres) .


955 34


11 26 Prospect Hill Park (2.6 acres)


1,814 42


Tufts Park (4.5 acres)


1,258 22


Paul Revere Park (0.02 acre) .


664 65


Belmont Street Park (0.4 acre)


599 28


Powder House Boulevard (0.9 mile long)


907 34


Powder House Square Parkway (0.2 acre) Cemetery, Somerville Avenue (0.7 acre) . .


206 50


923 94 Dilboy Field (formerly Somerville Field) at Alewife Brook (11.5 acres) . 448 82


680 91


Richard Trum Playground, Cedar street and Broadway (4.3 acres) . 35 24


327 24 Playground, Glen street and Oliver street (0.9 acre + 1.5 acres private land) . 11 78


827 81 Playground, Kent street and Somerville avenue (0.8 acre) 67 78 .


164 51 Playground, Poplar street and Joy street (0.5 acre) .


14 00


10 00 Playground, Beacon street near Washington street (0.2 acre)


174 36 Playground, Mason street and Broadway Tennis Court (0.3 acre)


305 50 Playground, Fellsway East (2.5 acres private land )


234 62 Tufts College Land, Summer and Winter Play- ground (5 acres) . .


72 00 Plowing, harrowing and fertilizing Park and Playground areas for planting .


Parks


83 20


162


ANNUAL REPORTS.


339 50 Plowing, harrowing, teaming, etc., for Welfare and Recreation Commission (Private Land) Total expenditure, maintenance (73.7 acres) 64 acres city property + 9 acres private land, 0.7 acre cemetery and 0.9 mile boule- vard, and 0.54 mile parkway roads


$6,495 47 300 00 Transfer to City Engineer Account


$11,383 15


$6,795 47


CREDIT.


Playgrounds and


Recreation


Parks


Appropriation for Parks


$11,450 00


$6,510 00 Appropriation for Playgrounds .


299 50 Received from Public Welfare and Recrea-


tion Commission


40 25 Received from Celebrations Account


$6,849 75


Total Credit


$11,450 00


$54 28


Balance unexpended


$66.85


The city's assessment for Metropolitan parks and boule- vards for the year 1922 amounted to $18,387.91 on construc- tion account, and $42,998.76 being the proportional cost for maintenance and operation; in addition to this the city's spe- cial assessment for the Charles River basin construction and maintenance amounted to $8,923.72; for the improvement of Alewife Brook and maintenance of same $1,083.37 and for the maintenance of Wellington Bridge across Mystic River, $3,- 352.75. The total of these assessments amounts to $74,746.51, being Somerville's proportional payment to the State on ac- count of the Metropolitan park system for the year 1922.


The total assessment paid to the State for parks and boulevards amounts to $990,273.74, January 1, 1923 and the length of State boulevard at present constructed in this city consists of seven-tenths of a mile of double roadway, lo- cated in the easterly part of the city and extending between Broadway and Mystic River, and one and two-tenths miles bordering Mystic River and Alewife Brook located in the westerly part of the city.


A special state commission has been appointed to report a route and estimated cost of constructing a cross-town boule- vard and traffic road which will probably pass through the easterly part of this city.


163


CITY ENGINEER.


A number of young maple trees have been planted on the Powder House Boulevard where the old poplars were up- rooted, broken and split during terrific wind, rain and ice storms, the abutting property owners paying for the trees, this department the planting-new hardy growth trees should replace the old poplar trees the entire length of the boulevard immediately. A section of this boulevard where the roadway has deteriorated, about 2,800 feet in length, should be re- constructed with an asphaltic macadam wearing surface (no reconstruction work having been done since the original con- struction in 1901.)


Paul Revere Park, occasionally termed the smallest park in the world, has been improved-inside granite curbing was set, on top of this a low iron fence was erected and grano- lithic sidewalk constructed; this area should be enlarged by acquiring additional land and constructing a passageway acrosss from Main street to Broadway, separating the city's park from the adjoining land, thereby preserving an historical spot on the top of Winter Hill for the future, also making a. convenient connection for travel.




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