USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1923 > Part 23
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During the past year the yards of the Perry School, Dur- ell School with the additional ground purchased by the city for playground purposes, and the Cummings School yards have been resurfaced. These yards will have a smooth resili- ant surface from which the danger of a child getting hurt is obviatd.
346
ANNUAL REPORTS.
FURNITURE.
Owing to changes in some of the school buildings, it has been necessary to change several rooms of furniture during the past year.
A number of new teachers' desks and chairs have been purchased and a great many new pupils' desks and chairs have been installed to replace damaged or worn out furniture.
At the High School over 100 new Oak chairs, several type- writing desks and chairs, new teachers' desks and tables and 150 new tablet arm chairs have been purchased.
The new auditorium at the Western Junior High School which was completed this year was furnished with 1000 new folding chairs, stage curtains and other fittings.
The new addition to the Southern Junior High School was completed this year and 6 rooms fitted with fixed furni- ture, 1 sewing room, and two shop rooms fitted with benches, fixtures, etc. This change required changes also in the old Bell School building and several additional rooms were fitted with fixed furniture.
In preparation for the opening of the new Northern East- ern Junior High School containing 34 rooms and auditorium, invitations for bids for furniture were sent to various con- cerns. These prices have been received and contracts awarded for future delivery when building is completed.
Owing to a change in grades new furniture was pur- chased and installed in. one room each of the Glines and Knapp Schools.
FIRE ALARM.
The Commissioner has been trying for several years to established a new system of Fire Alarms at the various school houses.
The bell type of fire alarm was not very satisfactory as the bells were used for various calls in school work, and it seemed advisable to replace them with something which would be distinctly a fire gong, that is, one which both teachers and pupils could distinguish immediately as a fire signal.
In the High School, a new system was installed consist- ing of thirteen 9"-110 volt fire alarm horns, with four sta- tions, one on each floor, from which the signal for operating can easily be given by breaking the glass. This system is a great improvement on the bell system as it is immediately recognized as a fire signal. This fire alarm is directly con- nected with the Electric light system and not dependent on batteries.
347
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
This system has also been installed in the Morse, Lowe and Prescott Schools.
It is the hope of the Commissioner to be able to equip other school buildings in a similar manner this year.
Fire Department Buildings
There have been numerous repairs and improvments made in the fire buildings of the city.
At Engine Three a new platform and drill landing has been erected in rear of building.
At Engine 6 and Ladder Two apparatus doors have been repaired.
At Engine Four the floors have been strengthened to ac- commodate the new motor apparatus that has been installed in place of the lighter horse drawn apparatus.
Interior painting has been done in Ladder Two, Engine Six and the Central Fire Stations.
The recreation and sleeping rooms of Engine Four have been painted.
The Commissioner recommends the following considera- tions for this coming year
Removal of the gas heaters used for heating water, and the in- stallation of tanks connected with a coal heater, of sufficient capa- city for summer use, and connected with the heating plant for winter use. This would mean a great saving of gas, which is at present quite an expense.
I urgently recommend that Engine Four building be replaced by a new one as it is in such bad shape that it does not seem wise to spend much on repairs. As a fire station is needed in this vicinity, I recommend that this station be torn down and a new one built on less valuable land, and this lot sold for commercial purposes. Much of the material in the old building could be made use of in a new one.
Municipal Buildings
Considerable work has been done by this department in fitting up new quarters for the different departments owing to the remodeling of City Hall.
The old Alderman's Chamber was cleared out and furni- ture stored, making use of the room for the Treasurer's and Assessor's office force.
Owing to the lack of vault space four new safes of large dimensions were obtained and installed.
The office of the Building Commissioner was moved to a portion of the office of the Overseer of the Poor, City Hall Annex.
318
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The Auditor was moved to the office formerly used by the Building Commissioner.
The Highway department was moved to the private office of the City Clerk.
The Engineering department was moved to the office of the assessors and one formerly used as a private office by the Water Commissioner.
The Clerk of Committees and the City Messenger were moved to the private office of the Sealer of Weights and Meas- ures.
The contents of the several vaults were moved to the fire- proof vault of the Central Library.
While the remodeling has been going on the Aldermen have met at the High School Auditorium.
Several changes in the lighting system and additional fixtures have been necessary to accommodate the different departments owing to these changes.
The new wing and rear of old building is now nearly com- pleted, and will be occupied in the near future. Immediately work will be begun on the old City Hall, putting in new floors of fireproof construction and carrying out the style of archi- tecture of the new building.
The new building when completed will be first class con- struction throughout with commodious offices and available vault space very much needed.
The main entrance will face the parkway with another entrance to the basement on the School Street side.
The new building will be heated from the Central Heat- ing plant from which the heat is now generated for the City Hall Annex and High School.
Libraries
Very few repairs have been made to the library build- ings this year.
The interior of the Central and West Somerville Branch Libraries are in such a condition that they will need painting throughout in the near future.
The roof of the Central Library has been repaired dur- ing the past year.
Considerable new furniture. has been bought.
Water, Highway and Sanitary Buildings
WATER BUILDINGS.
New windows have been installed in shop making a very fine workshop.
349
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
A new office has been built taking in the old office and part of the barn not in use. New lighting and heating ap- paratus have been installed, making a very light and commo- dious office which was much needed by this department.
A new storage building is nearing completion for the storage of heavy valves and fittings. This building will be equipped with a one ton crane for loading the material on trucks as needed.
HIGHWAY BUILDINGS.
Two large sheds have been closed in for garage purposes. New steam heating equipment and electric lighting installed. A new tar and gravel roof has been laid on the garage.
Several minor repairs such as new stall bottoms, floor repairs, window cords, electric lighting and plumbing have been taken care of during the year.
SANITARY BUILDING.
New stall bottoms were installed in all stables.
Several changes and repairs were made in the electric lighting system.
Extensive plumbing repairs were needed during the past season, the most important being the renewal of the water and soil pipe which had become badly corroded at the stable.
Hospital
General repairs have been made to the hospital buildings. The outside of the buildings have been painted, and quite a little carpenter work completed before painting.
Several hundred feet of fence surrounding these buildings was rebuilt.
A change in the heating system was made so that in mild weather only one boiler need be used instead of two as formerly.
The kitchen, dining room and corridor in quarters for help have been thoroughly renovated and painted.
The Commissioner hopes to be able to paint a great deal of the interior of the hospital this year.
City Home
Many very much needed repairs have been completed on this building during the past year.
New gutters and conductors were installed on the build-
350
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ing. New sash and blinds put on to replace the old and broken ones. Clap-boarding repaired, replaced and renailed. New fence built, and new floor laid in stable.
Buildings repainted on the exterior.
Considerable interior painting has been done during the past year but there is still quite a little more to be taken care of during the coming year.
Chimneys have been rebuilt and repointed.
I would recommend the removal of the old wooden fence along the boulevard and the substitution of a chain link wire fence which would make a much more sightly fence on this much travelled roadway.
Police Buildings
Considerable repairs were made during the past year. Many new pieces of furniture have been purchased to replace worn out material.
Bath House
The public bathhouse on the Mystic River at Wellington Bridge was opened and maintained as usual this year with a good attendance.
About 500 tons of sand were purchased for resanding the beach.
This particular recreation has been a great help during the hot spell of the past season to many mothers and children. It is a common sight to see mothers and children arriving at the beach as early as 9 o'clock with their lunches to spend the entire day.
The Commissioner regrets that his appropriation is not large enough to allow him to have the mud bar dredged in front of the beach, thus allowing bathing facilities even at low tide.
The attendance at the beach during the warm weather has sometimes exceeded 1000 a day.
Park Buildings
The total amount expended on our Park Buildings during the year 1923 was $3250.79, and of this amount only $772.90 was spent for actual repairs, the greater portion having been spent for salary of attendant, fuel and light, laundry and supplies, and one large item, the boiler and storage tank at Lincoln Park.
351
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
A new building has been erected on the Richard Trum Field during the past year at a cost of $5172.00. This build- ing provides comfort stations for men and women and a stor- age space for the Park department on the Broadway level.
Also a large dressing room, shower bath and heater room on the playground level.
At Lincoln Park a new heater has been installed together with 500 gallon hot water storage tank to take care of Shower baths.
At Dilboy Field the dressing rooms under the stands have been renovated, new sheathing on walls, new floors laid, new toilet facilities and electric lights installed.
In General
The Building Commissioner has had the co-operation of all branches of the City Government, including His Honor, the Mayor, the honorable members of the Board of Aldermen and all the city officials, and desires to thank them for their kindly consideration.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE L. DUDLEY, Commissioner of Public Buildings.
352
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER
OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER,
CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, JANUARY 20, 1924.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen,-In accordance with the city ordinances, the following report of the work done and expense incurred for the year ending December 31, 1923, by the Engineering De- partment and appropriations under my charge and supervi- sion, including the accounts of city engineer, sewers construc- tion, sewers maintenance, parks maintenance, playgrounds maintenance, and other public works, is herewith presented :- the 51st annual report-my twenty-eighth report as city en- gineer.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
In previous reports the general work, charter require- ments and city ordinances relating to the duties of the city engineer have been fully described-he shall be consulted in relation to public improvements of every kind when the ad- vice of a civil engineer would be of service-and no pipes, con- duits, railway tracks, poles or other structures shall be placed beneath or upon the city streets unless a plan showing pro- posed location thereof has first been approved by the city en- gineer. City engineer is also Supt. of Sewers and Supt. of Parks and grounds.
New construction work in general has been carried on more extensively during the past year than any time since the World War.
Divisions Appropriations and Credits
Expenditures
Balances
City Engineer
$13,100 00
$12,908 45
$ 191 55
Parks Maintenance
.
11,200 00
11,185 76
14 24
Playgrounds Maint.
6,600 00
6,545 13
54 87
Sewers Maintenance .
24,000 00
23,067 79
932 21
Sewers Construction
8,756 38
$262 80
5,525 93
3,401 85
Stock Account
223 60
315 00
(Expenditures in the various divisions are shown in de- tail in the City Auditor's annual report.)
353
CITY ENGINEER.
CITY ENGINEER DIVISION, CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDI- TURES, 1923.
Sewers and Storm Drains,-comprising surveys, esti-
mates, profiles, lines, grades, titles, plans, assess- ments, all engineering work relating to same and supervision
$ 877 55
Highways,-comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving and all other engineering work relating to the department 1,082 89
Sidewalks,-comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, inspection, titles, costs and assessments 318 31
Water Works,-comprising lines, grades, locations of mains, gates, hydrants, services and other matters relating to the department 406 26
Parks and Playgrounds,-comprising surveys, plans, esti- mates, profiles, and grades, including laying out of parks, playgrounds, boulevard and supervision
308 20
Public Buildings,-comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to construction and laying out of grounds
208 34
Street Numbering,-comprising locations of buildings, plans, assigning street numbers, etc. · Street Lines and Grades,-comprising establishing of lines, grades, and miscellaneous data given parties for building and grading
415 60
Bridges and Grade Crossings,-comprising surveys, plans, profiles, estimates, lines and grades, etc. 38 00
City Survey,-comprising establishing of street lines, acceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city map, etc.
392 07
Middlesex Registry and Land Court,-comprising copying of plans, and abstracts from deeds and examination of titles filed at East Cambridge, also tracing of street acceptance and sewer taking plans, filed for record Private Corporations, Railway, Telephone, Electric Light and Gas Light Companies,-comprising grades, plans, profiles and office notes, locations poles and conduits of
148 84
Office Work,-comprising record of all locations, indexing, typewriting, bookkeeping, calculations, reports, and general draughting
1,562 00
Miscellaneous Work,-comprising designs, sketches, etc., relating to various schemes for committees 15 83
Holidays, Vacations and Sickness 857 65
National Guard Duty 64 00
Engineering,-General Departmental expenses (all divi- sions) comprising city engineer's salary, auto, tele- phone, car fares, and supplies
5,667 45
Total
$12,908 45
Value of field instruments, tools and office instruments, $1,500.00.
186 33
Setting Stone Bounds and Brass Rods,-defining street lines and city boundary lines 13 06
346 07
354
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The total cost of maintaining the Engineer's Division since it was established, 1872-1923 both years inclusive, has amounted to $451,371.00.
Five assistants have been employed the greater part of the year, on engineering. work.
A number of plans were made during the year for street acceptance and six streets have been accepted as public high- ways, under the betterment act.
There are plans for acceptance of eleven private streets on file in this office, that for various reasons have not been made public ways.
Surveys, calculations, estimates and plans have been made for taking land, buildings and private property for School house purposes in certain sections of the city and borings and tests made by this department to determine the character of the soil for the foundation of proposed buildings to he erected on the areas taken.
The improvement of Medford Street (between Washing- ton Street and Central Square) has been accomplished by widening the roadway and narrowing the sidewalks eighteen inches on either side of the street, placing overhead service wires in underground conduits and removing old poles from the street.
At the junction of Prospect Street, Webster Avenue and Concord Avenue a widening of the roadway has been made by the taking of private land, improving the traffic conditions, and adjacent to this locality -- the Prospect Street wooden bridge over the steam railroad tracks-is to be partially re- constructed, by building an overhanging sidewalk on the east- erly side, thereby widening the roadway.
The junction of Broadway, Walnut Street and Fellsway West has been named George Cedric Stimpson Square.
Some of the old main thoroughfares should be renumber- ed their entire length, so as to eliminate half numbers and letters now being used.
STREETS ACCEPTED AS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS IN 1923, UNDER THE BETTERMENT ACT.
Name of Street
Ward
From
To Width in ft.
Length in ft.
Date of Acceptance
Chetwynd Road
7
Curtis Street
West Adams Street .
40
852
July
1923
Dow Street
·
.
7
Powder House Blvd
Ware Street ·
40
257
Jan.
3, 1923
High Street
.
.
7
North Street .
Alewife Brook Parkway
40
679
Dec.
28, 1923
Lewis Street
2
Magnus Avenue .
Dead End . ·
40
416
Dec. 28, 1923
Parkdale Street
2
Washington Street
Lewis Street
40
500
Dec.
28, 1923
Sterling Street .
7
North Street .
Alewife Brook Parkway 40
816
Dec.
28, 1923
Webster Avenue and
(Junction )
Prospect Street . .
2
Street Widening ·
Westerly side
July
6, 1923
Total
(0.67 Miles)
3,517
·
.
·
.
.
·
·
.
.
CITY ENGINEER.
355
356
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Summary .- Public streets 86.36 miles (includes 1.406 miles of City Boulevard and Park Roadways, 2.331 miles of State Boulevard (Metropolitan Park Commission), and 1.596 miles State Highway) ; private streets 14.53 miles.
Total length of streets in the city 100.89 miles.
In the 1910 report, tables were published showing old names of certain streets as formerly known, and names of public squares in the city ; the names of some of these squares having been changed recently.
Length of Publc Streets in Each Ward.
Ward one .
.
.
Miles 10.824 ·
Ward two
.
.
9.912
Ward three
.
·
7.630
Ward four
10.026
Ward five
12.540
Ward six
· 13.795
Ward seven
21.630
Total length of public streets in the city . 86.357
Street "Markers" -- (Stone Bounds) (Brass rods set in cement sidewalks).
1923-2 stone bounds set northeast side Princeton Street.
Stone bounds have been reset in Portland cement con- crete at a number of street intersections and angles, to define and preserve the true lines of public streets, and this work should be continued as much as possible each year. These bounds are also of great convenience in establishing perma- nent "Bench Marks" throughout the city for giving grades.
In the 1907 report a table was compiled from old reports, maps, and office notes, showing the location of stone bounds ; the year when set, and whether existing or removed from 1860 to 1907 inclusive, and additional lists in the reports of 1908, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1922 will show location of all street bounds set to 1924.
There are at the present time a total of 662 bounds or brass rods set for defining street lines.
Seven new streets have been constructed, under the better- ment act, with a bituminous macadam wearing surface, con- crete gutters and granite edgestone, at total of 3,229 feet (0.61 mile).
The average cost of this type of construction complete, for 40 ft. width streets, was $11.34 per linear foot.
Assessments have been levied on abutting property own-
·
357
CITY ENGINEER.
ers for approximately one-half of the cost of constructing these streets.
Re-cut granite block pavement has been laid on a con- crete base with a cement grout in sections of Somerville Ave- nue, Prospect Street and Medford Street; 14,123 square yards (5,803 feet in length) of this type of pavement were construct- ed by contract. In conjunction with this paving the street railway company also relaid approximately 1,898 square yards re-cut granite paving between rails where tracks existed and new tracks added.
In constructing the granite pavement, new bituminous streets and granolithic sidewalks, 6,694 feet (1.27 mile) of new edgestone was set.
The total length of permanent paved streets in the city amounts to 18.54 miles.
Permanent street pavement should be extended as rapidly as possible, using old granite blocks, re-cut and laid on a con- crete base-the best and most economical pavement for this city.
Grades were given and measurements taken for the recon- struction of two streets with a bituminous wearing surface, a length of 3,082 feet,-two sections of Broadway were recon- structed, laying Warrenite Bitulithic wearing surface on top of the old concrete street surface, a length of 1,800 feet (8,819 sq. yds.)
TABLE OF STREET CONSTRUCTION
Square Yards
Miles
*Streets paved with granite blocks
158,738
7.04
** Streets paved with concrete
22,889
1.34
¡Streets paved with asphaltic top
32,428
1.90
Streets paved with vitrified brick
20,958
1.29
Streets paved with "Bi-co-mac"
10,100
0.77
Streets paved with bitulithic (patent)
11,009
0.64
Combination pavement (concrete base with bit- uminous top)
82,877
5.58
¿Streets macadamized (bituminous binder )
44.40
Streets macadamized (water bound)
22.61
Streets graveled or unimproved
15.32
Total
100.89
*Also 32.5 miles (single track) electric railway paved with granite, asphalt, bitulithic, etc.
** Includes 0.42 mile state highway.
tIncludes 1.16 miles of state highway.
#Includes 1.406 miles of city boulevard and park roadways and 2.331 miles of state boulevard (Metropolitan District Commission, Park Division.)
358
ANNUAL REPORTS
There are a number of crossings in this city at intersect- ing public thoroughfares. where the corners should be cut back and the roadway widened for the safety of traffic and improvement in appearance.
Lines and grades were given and measurements taken for constructing twenty-eight new granolithic sidewalks-6,323 square yards (2.052 miles), and assessments were computed, the abutting property owners paying one-half the cost on seventeen sidewalks. the remainder the entire cost. The greater part of this work was done at an average cost of $2.94 per square yard.
In laying out new work, under orders passed for con- struction of sidewalks, etc., occasionally portions of buildings and fences are found to be encroaching on the sidewalk and on some of the old rangeways these encroachments have ex- isted for many years; as improvements are made, the full width of sidewalk should be maintained.
In sections of the city where brick sidewalks have been laid many years. and must necessarily be relaid on account of deterioration and unevenness, granolithic should be substi- tuted in place of brick.
Miles of Edgestone, Granolithic, Gravel and Brick Sidewalks in Each Ward.
Gravel Edgestone Sidewalk
Brick Sidewalk 11.898
Granolithic Sidewalk
Ward one
20.159
3.478
5.090
Ward two
17.140
6,034
6.386
4.240
Ward three
14.325
0.906
11.545
1.968
Ward four
15.435
1.125
9.696
4.420
Ward five
22.716
4.399
12.155
6.056
Ward six
.
25.432
3.829
10.668
11.549
Ward seven
.
33.955
1.008
8.349
24.061
149.162
20.779
70.679
57.384
.
(Details, etc., streets and sidewalks in report of Street Commissioner) .
The Boston Elevated Railway Company has made exten- sive repairs in its roadbed in this city during the past year, replacing long sections of old tracks with new and heavier rails. The double tracks have been reconstructed in Broad- way between the Boston City line and Fellsway East, the tracks being raised to conform with the city's street; similar work was done in College Avenue between Powder House Square and Medford city line, and tracks relaid in Somerville Avenue and Medford Street where the city laid granite block paving-all paving between rails being granite blocks, grouted
359
CITY ENGINEER.
with Portland cement. laid on a concrete base. Additional catch basins have been constructed within the track location.
There are, however, a number of miles of trackage, orders having been granted for widening in the city's main through- fares. where the old granite block pavement, within the rail- road location should be relaid and grouted with cement and additional catch basins constructed between the rails to re- lieve the flooding of sections of certain streets in times of heavy storms. There are 32.5 miles of electric railroad (sin- gle track length) at the present time in the city's streets. A considerable length of high power cables have been placed in underground conduits.
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