USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1923 > Part 24
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Plans have been made by the various companies and filed in the city engineer's office, showing the locations of gas mains. poles. tracks and conduits in this city, which have been granted by the board of aldermen during the year ;- the work of placing overhead wire in conduits, underground, and removing poles from the streets should be extended as rapidly as possible.
In the city's squares overhead wires should be placed un- derground, immediately, and practically all poles (except for lights) removed-on the main thoroughfares many of the existing poles should be eliminated, at the present time, be- ing unnecessary.
A special ordinance should be enacted concerning city inspection on all underground work done by private com- panies or corporations and regulation as to method of street openings.
At the present time there are underground in the city's streets 18.13 miles of telephone conduits, 13.16 miles of elec- tric light conduits, 4.46 miles of electric railway conduits, Lud about 10.46 miles of underground conduits used for the city's wires.
The Cambridge and Charlestown gas companies have re- spectively 65.22 and 28.23 miles of gas mains in the city's streets.
Lines and grades have been given for laying new city water mains. New house services, many gates, hydrants, water posts and blow-offs have been located and recorded, sketches and plans made showing the same, and the water works maps corrected to date; also a large number of old water services where new meters were installed, have been located and recorded.
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
360
ANNUAL REPORTS.
be made and the maps and office records compiled. (Length 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 Junior 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 sew- ers, highways, bridges, etc., in this city for various state de- partments: 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.
A skeleton map of the city is on file in this office showing steam and electric car lines, principal streets, public buildings and locations of principal industries :- also special maps showing buildings and areas built upon previous to 1872 (when a town) and at the present time (a city more than 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 assessors' de- partment, and in this manner the correct areas of land de- determined.
This set of plans would show the area and dimensions of each lot. all houses and other buildings, sewers, catch basins, house drains, water services, gas mains, underground con- duits for wires, street lights, street railway tracks, etc., and be of great value to many city departments. Five of these sectional plans have been partially made. A separate appro- priation should be made for completing these plans.
Total number of plans on file in the office approximately eight thousand five hundred.
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,
361
CITY ENGINEER.
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.
I respectfully refer to some of the more important recom- mendations and suggestions made in reports of the city en- gineer for a number of years past, which are for the improve- ment 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
2700 acres
Water
100
acres
Streets
480
Boulevards-City and State
22.5 ",
Squares
9
Steam railroads, locations
90
Freight, distribution areas
26
Parks 38
Athletic fields and playgrounds
38
(28) Schoolhouse lots
21
66
( 7) Fire station lots
2.5
Miscellaneous city building lots and institutions
28
66
42) Church lots
13.5
(20) Large manufacturing and mercan- tile plants
100
Tufts College Land
41.5
60
Areas vacant and refilled marsh land
100
1110
acres
Approximate dwelling area built upon Approximate number of dwellings in city, 14,500.
1590
acres
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 drainage system and other items in this division are under the direc- tion, supervision and control of the city engineer.
Sewers were petitioned for and constructed during the year in newly laid out streets, where real estate owners com- menced extensive building operations ; approximately 130 new two-family houses and a few single houses were erected the past year on these streets.
The Boston Elevated Railway Company constructed a
1
66
362
ANNUAL REPORTS.
storm drain outlet extension across marsh land discharging into Mystic River, in the easterly part of the city, on account of filling in and improving their property.
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT, STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES, 1923.
Labor (city dept.)
$2,047 30
Labor (contract)
622 73
Teaming
421 96
Materials and Supplies
2,525 34
Total Expenditure
$5,617 33
Materials from Stock (1922)
223 60
$5,840 93
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES.
Constructing sewers (separate system)
$1,758 70
Constructing storm drains ·
522 39
Constructing catch basins .
.
2,390 97
Constructing manholes on sewers
591 07
Cost of new work
$5,263 13
Materials for other depts.
262 80
Materials on hand December 31, 1923 .
315 00
Total
$5,840 93
CREDIT.
Appropriation
$6,000 00
Balance unexpended, 1922
2,756 38
Received for materials, other depts .
262 80
Materials on hand January 1, 1923
223 60
Total
$9,242 78
Balance unexpended (over to 1924)
$3,401 85
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·
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Three sewers were completely constructed and one par- tially built during the year and also storm drains; a length of 2,206 feet (0.42 of a mile) of 20" and S" pipe, part of the work being done by department labor, the remainder by con- tract. (See attached tabular statement for 1923, showing itemized account. of work.)
The total length of the city's drainage system is 115.344 miles, and the entire cost of construction including catch basins has amounted to about $1,382,374.00, 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 $52,644.57 on construction account
363
CITY ENGINEER.
and $53,537.71 for maintenance and operation, and the total amount paid the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for this state sewer has been $1,814,185.06 (1892-1923, 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.
Twenty-one catch basins have been constructed in the highways during the year, making a total of 2,076 basins in the city for street drainage purposes, constructed and main- tained as follows :-
By the city (sewer division) :-
Located in streets and subways
1,884 basins ..
Located in city boulevard
33
Located in parks (17) and other city lots (12) 29
Total catch basins constructed and main- tained by the city 1,946
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 . 2,112 .
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 Somerville 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 construc- ted immediately and a section of the old sewer in Poplar Street reconstructed, relieving the continuous blocking of house drains under existing conditions.
364
ANNUAL REPORTS.
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, 1923
Labor (includes $122.50 contract)
$12,040 21
Teaming
9,737 22
Equipment and Supplies
908 81
Repairing property and tools
381 55
Total Expenditure
$23,067 79
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES
Maintenance ' of sewers, including cleaning,
flushing,
supervision, etc. (115.3 miles)
$6,449 23
Maintenance
of catch basins, cleaning, and supervision, etc. (1946)
12,441 19
Maintenance of storin water pump, Medford Street
137 82
Changing line and grade and repairing catch basins -
529 71
Changing line and grade holes and repairing man-
124 64
Repairing old sewers
700 99
Inspection and location or house drains
894 17
New tools and supplies
701 23
Repairs of tools and property
226 55
Maintenance of sewer division yards
792 50
Telephone (2)
69 76
Total Expenditure
$23,067 79
CREDIT
Appropriation
$24,000 00
Balance unexpended
$932 21
·
Value of tools and property on hand, maintenance of Sewers, $2,000.00.
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.
flushing,
TABULAR STATEMENT OF SEWERS AND STORM DRAINS BUILT IN 1923
LOCATION
ITEMS OF CONSTRUCTION AND COST
SEWER
SUB-DRAIN
ROCK EXCAVATION
MANHOLES
COST PER LINEAR FOOT
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
Number of Inlets
Sewer
Storm
Drain
Sub-Drain
Pipe. Cement, etc.
Sub-Drain
Engineering
Inspection
Lumber
Average Cost
per Linear Foot
Cost to City
$2.281.09 $1,739.37 $1,040.10 498.38 (1922)
Total length of public sewers in the city Jan. 1, 1924 Total length of private sewers in the city Jan. 1, 1924 . Total length of sewers in the city Jan. 1, 1924 Total length of storm drains in the city Jan. 1, 1924 Total length of the city drainage system Jan, 1, 1924 Total length of Metropolitan sewerage system mains in the city . . . . . .
507,113.9 feet == 96.044 miles 34,896.0 feet = 6,609 miles
542,009.9 feet = 102.653 miles
66,998.6 feet == 12,689 miles
609,008.5 feet = 115,342 miles
Assessment
-
Hillsdale Road Sewer
Sunset Road
Upland Road
City-Day Labor
7'-10 **
8
199.7
12
$1.68
$0.58
$0.08
$2.33
$466.14 498.38 (1922) 774.85
$1,739.37
Upland Road Sewer
Hillsdale Road
Easterly to Sewer
City-Day Labor
Gravelly Hardpan
6'- 7"
375.0
8
200.0
.......
13
0.17
0.38
0.03
0.58
115.38
$115.38
Upland Road Storm Drain
Hillsdale Road
Easterly to S. D. Built 1922
City-Day Labor
Gravelly Hardpan
5'- 8"
8
375.0
See Sewer
See Sewer
17
0.18
0.4
0.02
0.69
260 53
260.53
Rose Street Storm Drain
Centre of Wash St. { Combined Sewer)
Manhole in Washing- ton St. Sidewalk
City-Day Labor
Sand
9' 0"
8
23.4
4.67
1.59
6.2€
146.48
146.48
Frum Playground Sewer
Cedar Street
Easterly
City-Day Labor
Clayey Hardpan
4'-10"
325.0
....
0.94
0.66
1.59
517.71
517.71
Laurel Terrace Sewer
Private Lands Sewer
Easterly and Westerly
John D. Collins
Filling
S
148.0
1
7
Land of Boston Elevated Ry. Storm Drain
No. Union St. Ext. Built 1894
Private Contract
Filling
12' 0"
20
551.0
3
Materials and Labor Furnished B. E. Ry.
T
2197.1 (0.416 Miles) Sewers and Storm Drains
Excavation Pipelaying and Refilling
including
and
Total Cost
2.07
17
1.28
0.53
0.03
Built 1922
Hillsdale Road Storm Drain
Sunset Road
Upland Road
City-Day Labor
Gravelly Hardpan
6'-11"
feet
feet
1 Combi- nation
$108.24
or
3,475 miles
Materials and Labor Furnished By Owner
Mystic River
Gravelly Hardpan
-
365
CITY ENGINEER.
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 3,360 cubic yards of material have been removed from the catch basins and hauled to dumps during the year, at an average cost of about $3.70 per cubic yard ($1.60 removal-$2.10 teaming) and the average cost per mile for cleaning and flushing the drainage system, including catch basins, has amounted to about $164.00. There are about twenty catch basins (average) to a mile of roadway in this city and the approximate cost of cleaning, flushing, and gen- eral maintenance per basin has been $6.40 the past year.
Another demonstration of machine cleaned catch basins, similar to last year, was conducted for a few 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; one of these machines could be used advantageously in this city about one-quarter of the time. during the year.
A number of repairs have been made and sections rebuilt on some of the old sewers, alterations made in the outlets and overflows, and extra manholes built for the purpose of improving the system.
Many catch basins and manholes have been repaired and grade or line changed.
Three hundred and thirty-seven permits have been issued to licensed drain layers for connecting buildings with main sewers and storm drains; seventy three being for repairs, alterations 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 serwer 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.
366
ANNUAL REPORTS
A number of car track catch basins and underground conduit manholes have been connected with the city's drainage system.
There are to date about 17,149 private house drain con- nections with the city's drainage system.
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 masonry 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 ren- dering 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 scraped and removed from the sewers at a considerable expense.
During the year the sewer division has done considerable miscellaneous work for other city departments and outside 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 re- named in honor of Somerville young men who lost their lives in the World War ;- also where a number of streets intersect,
367
CITY ENGINEER.
(making a small square) some of these areas have been named in honor of Somerville heroes.
An additional area, situated between the Western Junior High School building and Broadway, has been named the Walter Ernest Shaw Playground,-in honor of a West Somer- ville young man who was killed in the late war while on active duty at Chateau Thierry.
MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS, STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES, 1923
Playgrounds
Parks
$4,700 85 Labor
$8,243 62
424 13 Teaming
763 65
402 10 Equipment-Improvement-Supplies
873 38
915 96 Repairing property and tools
415 28
102 09 Fountains and Bubblers-Maint. (Paid Water Dept.)
104 29
Trees-Plants-Floral Decorations
633 26
Flagpoles-Flags-Painting
152 28
$6,545 13
Total Expenditures
$11,185 76
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES
Playgrounds and
$ 560 12 ·Central Hill Park (13.1 acres)
Parks $2,702 95
620.95 Saxton C. Foss Park (formerly
. Broadway
1,693 62
1,557 86
Park) (15.9 acres) Broadway Parkway (1.6 acres) Lincoln Park (7.2 acres)
1,247 30
66 75 Prospect Hill Park (2.6 acres)
1,791 56
4 00 Tufts Park (4.5 acres)
1,090 73
Paul Revere Park (0.02 acres)
131 07
Belmont Street Park (0.4 acres)
584 33
Powder House Boulevard (0.9 mile long) .
709 17
Powder House Square Parkway (0.2 acre) Cemetery, Somerville Avenue (0.7 acre)
220 00
1,597 26 Dilboy Field (formerly Somerville Field) Alewife Brook )11.5 acres) 333 61
815 48 Richard Trum Playground, Cedar Street and Broadway (4.3 acres) ·
209.43
85 25 Playground, Glen Street and Oliver Street (1.0 acre + 1.5 acres private land) .
20.00
367 66 Playground, Kent Street and Somerville Ave- nue (0.8 acre) .
103 31
238 98 Playground, Poplar Street and Joy Street (0.5 acre)
8 00 Playground, Beacon Street near Washington Street (0.2 acre)
35 67
224 63 Playground, Fellsway East (2.5 acres private land)
189 65
at
123 30
Recreation
368
ANNUAL REPORTS.
398 19 Tufts College Land, Summer and Winter Play- ground (5 acres) . Total expenditure, maintenance (73.5 acres) 64 acres city property + 9 acres private land, 0.7 acre cemetery and 0.9 mile boulevard, and 0.54 mile parkway roads
$6,545 13
$11,185 76
CREDIT
Playgrounds and Recreation
Parks
Appropriation for Parks
$11,200 00
$6,600 00 Appropriation for Playgrounds .
.
$54 87
Balance Unexpended
$14 24
The city's assessment for Metropolitan parks and boule- vards for the year 1923 amounted to $17,858.13 on construc- tion account, and $48,443.17 being the proportional cost for maintenance and operation; in addition to this the city's special assessment for the Charles River basin construction and maintenance amounted to $9,843.61; for the improvement of Alewife Brook and maintenance of same $1,054.72 and for the maintenance of Wellington Bridge across Mystic River, $3,251.80. The total of these assessments amounts to $80,451- 43, being Somerville's proportional payment to the State on account of the Metropolitan park system for the year 1923.
The total assessment paid to the State for parks and boulevards amounts to $1,070,725.17, January 1, 1924 and the length of State boulevard at present constructed in this city consists of seven-tenths of a mile of double roadway, located in the easterly part of the city and extending between Broad- way and Mystic River, and one and two-tenths miles border- ing 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 boulevard and traffic road, which will probably pass through the easterly part of this city,-the "Northern Gateway" and connections ; using Cross Street the entire length from Central Square to Mystic Avenue for heavy traffic.
A war memorial has been erected on Trum Playground, located at the northeasterly corner, constructed of concrete and granite with a bronze tablet on which is inscribed the names of dead heroes formerly residing in the vicinity.
An historical tablet formerly located on the northerly
369
CITY ENGINEER.
side of Main Street at the top of Winter Hill has been re- moved and located in Paul Revere Park.
A Section of Powder House boulevard where the road- way had deteriorated, about 1600 feet in length, has been re- constructed with an asphaltic macadam wearing surface (the first reconstruction work done since the original construc- tion in 1901.) New hardy growth trees should replace the old poplar trees the entire length of this boulevard immedi- ately, the abutting property owners paying for the trees, this department the cost of planting.
About $1,000 was spent in reconstructing fences on some of the principal parks-a granolithic sidewalk was construc- ted on the Liberty Avenue side of Tufts Park.
Athletics in general have been very active during the year and the baseball "diamonds," football fields, tennis courts and athletic apparatus located on the various playfields have been in constant use.
During the Daylight Saving period "twilight" baseball has been exceedingly popular, practically all of the city's fields being used, and at Lincoln Park and Tufts College grounds games were scheduled for every evening during the season with crowds in attendance. Approximately 500 games were scheduled on the city's playfields during the year.
Additional seats have been erected at Lincoln Park and Trum Playground and hockey rinks of regulation size were: constructed in the winter season.
A new concrete field-house and public comfort station has been constructed at Trum Playground and shower baths have been maintained at this playground and the baths located at Lincoln Park have been kept open certain evenings during: each week; more of these baths should be established at the. various fields. Wading pools for the children have been maintained at these two places.
Tennis courts have been in use at Dilboy Field, Foss, Central Hill and Lincoln parks.
Kent Street playground could be enlarged by using the westerly sidewalk and a portion of the street area.
Special supervision was provided by the Welfare and Recreation Commission during the months of July and August especially for the children's activities, to make the playgrounds popular and successful ;- the summer gardens were abandoned and an extra appropriation should be made for improving, reconstructing and renovating these park areas, especially on Central Hill.
The Metropolitan District Commission has furnished
370
ANNUAL REPORTS.
band concerts, certain evenings during summer months, at Foss Park.
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