Report of the city of Somerville 1923, Part 29

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 468


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1923 > Part 29


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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52


Number of births in other places in 1922 registered 653


Number of cases of twins .


16


Number of cases of triplets


1


Marriages


Number of intention certificates issued in 1923


1,285


More than previous year


71


Marriages registered


1,396


More than previous year.


167


Both parties American


876


Both parties foreign


215


American groom and foreign bride


155


Foreign groom and American bride


150


First marriage of


2,455


Second marriage of


321


Third marriage


16


.


Deaths


(Exclusive of still-births)


Number of deaths in Somerville in 1923


1,108


More than previous year


89


Males


487


Females


621


1,108


Under ten years of age


229


10 and under 20 years of age


26


20 and under 30 years of age


43


30 and under 40 years of age


52


40 and under 50 years of age


71


50 and under 60 years of age


147


60 and under 70 years of age


198


70 and under 80 years of age


219


80 and under 90 years of age


104


90 years of age and over


19


Age of oldest person deceased .


101 years


Born in Somerville


238


Born in other places in the United States


468


Of foreign birth


400


Birthplace unknown


2


.


·


1,108


1,108


1,396 c'pls


1,396 c'pls


412


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Number of deaths in January ..


.


148


Number of deaths in February


113


Number of deaths in March


149


Number of deaths in April


94


Number of deaths in May


93


Number of deaths in June


71


Number of deaths in July


61


Number of deaths in August


61


Number of deaths in September


64


Number of deaths in October


72


Number of deaths in November


81


Number of deaths in December


101


1,108


The number of still-births. during the year was eighty- six. In addition to the above 296 deaths which occurred else- where were recorded in Somerville, almost the entire number of persons deceased having been residents of this city.


413


CITY CLERK.


Liquor License Question.


The following is a statement of the votes, during the sev- eral years of its submission to the people, on the question of granting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors (and cer- tain non-intoxicating beverages) in this city, together with the number of registered voters and the estimated population for each year :-


YEAR.


YES.


No.


BLANK.


REGISTERED VOTERS.


ESTIMATED POPULATION.


1881


979


1,222


3,678


26,000


1882


627


1,159


3,778


26,500


1883


767


1,343


4,407


27,000


1884


806


1,709.


4,470


28,000


1885


428


1,604


3,969


*29,992


1886


214


1,321


4,089


32,000


1887


555


2,427


4,574


34.000


1888


744


2,456


5,399


36,000


1889


635


1,706


335


5,286


39,000


1890


999


2,282


409


5,556


*40,117


1891


1,054


2,598


279


5,938


43,000


1892


1,427


3,288


347


7,587


46,000


1893


1,547


2,654


218


7,943


48,000


1894


1,098


2,869


246


8,007


50,000


1895


1,854


4,708


459


8,410


*52,200


1896


1,466


3,680


332


9,379


54,000


1897


1,626


3,815


486


8,925


56,000


1898


1,595


3,501


486


8,657


57,500


1899


1,892


3,340


374


8,838


60,000


1900


1,660


3,427


321


9,620


*61,643


1901


1,579


3,295


374


9,499


63,500


1902


1,645


3,242


360


10,100


65,000


1903


2,248


4,410


550


11,346


67,000


1904


2,022


4,338


447


11,682


69,500


1905


2,483


4,660


531


11,340


*69,272


1906


2,193


5,204


582


11,571


70,000


1907


1,735


4,591


459


11,558


74,000


1908


1,780


4,760


491


12,777


75,500


1909


1,830


4,601


530


12,479


75,500


1910


1,544


3,968


365


12,522


*77,236


1911


2,193


4,841


492


13,226


80,000


1912


2,421


6,182


546


13,854


81,000


1913


2,348


6,431


550


13,417


82,000


1914


2,178


5,535


488


13,404


85,000


1915


1,705


5,262


379


13,805


*86,854


1916


1,100


4,158


271


14,500


88,000


1917


1,291


3,457


232


13,826


90,000


1918


690


1,935


161


13,477


90,500


1919


2,777


2,297


261


14,810


91,000


1920


27,307


*93,091


1921


5,143


8,751 .


2,992


27,545


95,000


1922


96,000


1923


7,266


9,822


4,382


28,149


97,000


*Census.


414


ANNUAL REPORTS.


ORDINANCES.


Somerville, January 1, 1924.


The following ordinances have been adopted since the printing of the annual reports for the year 1922 :-


ORDINANCE NO. 102.


An Ordinance Establishing a Licensing Commission.


Be it ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somer- ville, as follows :-


Section 1. A licensing commission is hereby established under the provisions of chapter 191 of the Acts of the Legislature of Massa- chusetts for the year 1923, entitled "An Act Authorizing the Estab- lishment of a Licensing Commision in the City of Somerville." The commission shall be composed of three residents of this city.


Section 2. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of the Board of Aldermen as soon as this ordinance takes effect, one to serve until the appoint- ment and qualification of his successor in the year 1924, one to serve until the appointment and qualification of his successor in the year 1925, and one to serve until the appointment and qualification of his successor in the year 1926. There shall be appointed yearly, begin- ning in the year 1924, one member to serve for the period of three years and until his successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacan- cy shall be filled by appointment for the balance if the unexpired term.


Section 3. In addition to the powers mentioned in said chapter 191, the commission shall have in charge the issuing of licenses for garages for not more than two automobiles subject to the provisions of ordinances heretofore and hereafter passed relating to such gar- ages.


Section 4. Whoever erects, occupies, or uses a garage for not more than two automobiles without a license from the commission shall be liable to a penalty of not more than twenty dollars for each offense. This section shall not apply to an erection, occupation or use heretofore licensed by the Board of Aldermen.


Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage.


Approved July 18, 1923.


415


CITY CLERK.


ORDINANCE NO. 103.


An Ordinance Relative to Fire Protection of Ceilings of Garage Buildings.


Be it ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville as follows:


Section 1. The ceilings or the underside of the roof of all one story second class garages, hereafter constructed, having a capacity of one, two or three motor vehicles, shall be fire protected with metal lath and cement plaster to a thickness of not less than three quarters of an inch.


Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage.


Approved August 13, 1923.


416


ANNUAL REPORTS.


ELECTIONS


The following is a statement of the votes cast in the several wards of the city, for the candidates for the various offices and on the question of granting licenses for the sale of certain non-intoxicating beverages in this city, at the city election held December 11, 1923.


CANDIDATE.


PARTY.


1


·2


3


4


5


6


7


Total.


MAYOR


John J. Murphy Democratic


John M. Webster


Republican


1,396 1,098


1,893 269


1,196 1,454


749 1,293


1,485 1,672


1,698 2,050


1,401 3,646


11,482


ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE, WARD 1.


Lyman A. Hodgdon Republican


1,331


416


1,304


1,217


1,704


1,993


3,277


11,242


ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE, WARD 2.


Edwin J. Grant Republican


969


583


1,282


1,139


1,664


1,956


3,203


10,796


ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE, WARD 3


Thomas D. Mitchell Republican


922


420


11,630


1,111


1,611


1,892


3,137


10,723


ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE, WARD 4.


John S. Smith, Jr. Republican


907


358


1.236


1,387


1,616


1,862


3,094


10,460


ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE, WARD 5.


Arthur W. Russell Republican


885


356


1,246


1,101


1,835


1,846


3,096


10.365


ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE, WARD 6.


Albert E. Hughes Republican Henry Miller


941


425


1,244


1,099


1,626


2,243


3,106


10,681


1


1


Enoch B. Robertson


ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE WARD 7.


.


880


339 1,218


1,057


1,571


1,861


13,653


10,579


1


1


Arthur F. Mason


Republican


WARDS.


9,818


417


CITY CLERK.


1 WARDS.


CANDIDATE.


PARTY.


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


Total.


WARD ALDERMAN, WARD 1.


William F. Burns Democratic


1,356


1,356


Daniel A. Downey Democratic


Wallace E. Loveless Republican


Francis J. Murphy Republican


840


WARD ALDERMAN, WARD 2.


Joseph Haley Democratic


1,741


1,741


John J. Hoban


Democratic


1,587


WARD ALDERMAN, WARD 3.


William C. Abbott Republican


1,287


1,287


George A. Berry Republican


1,344


1,344


William F. Fitzgerald Democratic


879


879


James C. Scanlan Democratic


1,190


WARD ALDERMAN, WARD 4.


Henry J. Connell


Republican


1,514


1,514


Warren A. Perry


Republican


1,305


1,305


WARD ALDERMAN, WARD 5.


Warren C. Blair


Republican


1,629


1,629


Charles C. Grimmons Republican


1,780


1,780


John E. O'Brion


Democratic


1,319


1,319


WARD ALDERMAN, WARD 6.


I. Ormand Jackson Republican


2,026


2,026


William M. Morrison Republican


2,129


2,129


Dennis H. Mckenzie


306


306


David E. Foley


289


289


WARD ALDERMAN, WARD 7.


Paul O. Curtis


3,766


3,766


3,632


3,632


SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WARD 1.


Francis J. Fitzpatrick Democratic


1,332


Emma Prichard Hadley Republican


999


999


Elmer B. Hayes Republican


977


977


John J. Hayes Democratic


1,244


1,244


SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WARD 2.


Daniel H. Bradley Democratic Christopher Muldoon, Jr. Democratic


1,640


1,640


1.425


1,425


1,229


1,229


989


989


840


1,587


1,190


Republican Albert F. McLean Republican


1,332


418


ANNUAL REPORTS.


CANDIDATE.


PARTY.


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


Total


SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WARD 3.


Charles W Boyer Republican Oscar W. Codding Republican


SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WARD 4.


Katherine C. Coveney Republican Walter E. Whitaker Republican


SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WARD 5.


Harry M. Stoodley Republican Minnie S. Turner Republican


1,867 1,859


1,867


1,859


SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WARD 6.


.


Walter I. Chapman Republican Waiter F. Turner Republican Mrs. Fronie Johnson Robert Ramsy


2,277


2.277


2,247


2,247


1 1


1 1


SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WARD 7.


Herbert Cholerton Republican


3,725 3,678


13,725 3,678


1


1


"SHALL LICENCES BE GRANTED FOR THE SALE OF CERTAIN NON-INTOXICATING BEVERAGES IN THIS CITY?"'


"YES"


1,014


1,114


857


624


954


1,333


1,370


7,266


"NO"


899


488


1,280


1,049


1,575


1,694


2,837


9,822


WARDS.


1,469


1,469 1,449


1,449


1,356


1,356 1,405


1,405


Edwin A. Shaw Republican


George E. Heath


419


CITY CLERK.


ASSESSED POLLS AND REGISTERED VOTERS.


REGISTERED VOTERS.


WARD


Por.


As- sessed Polls, April 1 1923


Nov. 7, 1922 Men


Nov. 7. 1922 Women


Re- vised Lists of July 19:23 Men


Re- vised Lists of July 1923 Women


Add- ed in July 1923 Men


Add- ed in July 1923 Women


Dec. 11, 1923 Men


Dce. 11, 1923 Women


Voted Dec. 11, 1923


Ward 1 ..


1


1,709


810


563


700


492


110


71


772


550


1091


1


2


1,135


597


391


506


332


91


59


544


370


697


..


..


3


590


318


194


287


173


31


21


311


197


430


4


658


205


106


188


100


17


6


206


122


297


4,092


1,930


1,254


1.681


1097


249


157


1,833


1,239


2,515


Ward 2 Pct.


2


2


1.948


882


587


792


518


90


69


909


660


1,217


890


403


215


364


199


39


16


417


248


554


3,954


1,651


989


1,465


872


186


117


1,663


1.085


2,182


Ward 3 Pct. 3


1


1,456


924


732


838


673


86


59


884


759


1,383


1,351


835


649


759


607


76


42


811


696


1,290


2,807


1,759


1,381


1,597


1,280


162


101


1,695


1,445


2,673


Ward 4 Pct. 4


1


1,472


889


672


803


599


86


73


848


649


1,065


2


1,419


798


611


706


531


92


80


746


573


1,000


2,891


1,687


1,283,


1,509


1,130


178


153


1,594


1,222


2,065


Ward 5 Pct.


1


1,592


983


896


874


807


109


89


917


845


1,234


..


..


3


1,075


679


528


606


476


73


52


658


536


973


3,902


2,408


$2,008


2,150


1,813


258


195


2,276


1,960


3,180


Ward 6|Pct.


6


..


2


1,333


738


416


623


356


115


60


694


423


823


..


6


3


1,016


643


463


579


430


64


33


608


480


793


6


4


1,331


893


663


804


607


89


56


849


650


1,117


4,930


2,967


2,055


2,647


1,855


320


200


2,862


2,095


3,769


Ward 7 Pct.


1,168


811


669


754


611


57


58


800


647


1,013


..


7


2


1,450


901


713


779


644


122


69


812


676


1,006


..


3


1,721


1,011


735


923


675


88


60


1006


757


1,235


7


4


1,203


761


613


698


535


63


78


757


579


1,020


7


5


1,059


614


482


575


461


39


21


637


509


814


6,601


4,098


3,212


3,729


2 926


369


286


4,012


3,1.68


5,088


City


29,177


16,500


12,182


14.778|


10,973


1.722


1,209


15 935


12.214


21,472


1


1,116


366


187


309


155


57


:32


337


177


411


..


. .


2


5


2


1,235


746


584


670


530


76


54


701


579


973


5


1


1,250


693


513


641


462


52


51


711


542


1,036


1


..


1


Pct. ..


]


7


..


2


420


ANNUAL REPORTS.


CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS FOR 1923


Mayor. JOHN M. WEBSTER, 76 Boston Street


Board of Aldermen. President, WALDO D. PHELPS Vice-President. ARTHUR F. MASON


1


WARD ONE


Lyman A. Hodgdon, Alderman-at-Large


8 Indiana Avenue


William F. Burns


John R. Spiers


21 Illinois Avenue 52 Franklin Street


WARD TWO


1


Robert C. Harris, Alderman-at-Large


Joseph A. Haley . .


John Joseph Hoban


.


12 Dimick Street 7 Linden Street 39 Mansfield Street


WARD THREE


William C. Abbott, Alderman-at-Large .


George A. Berry .


Thomas D. Mitchell


.


73 Avon Street 60 Prescott Street 25 Warren Avenue


WARD FOUR


Waldo D. Phelps, Alderman-at-Large .


John S. Smith, Jr.


.


.


.


Henry F. Welch


14 Delaware Street 52 Sydney Street 56 Otis Street


WARD FIVE


Fred Allen, Alderman-at-Large


·


J. Freeman Saville .


Arthur W. Russell . . .


.


121 Central Street 64 Sycamore Street 16 Heath Street


WARD SIX


Enoch B. Robertson, Alderman-at-Large Albert E. Hughes . William M. Morrison


39 Highland Road 262 Highland Avenue 97 Rogers Avenue


421


CITY CLERK.


WARD SEVEN


Hiram N. Dearborn, Alderman-at-Large


Emerson J. Coldwell Arthur F. Mason


86 Electric Avenue 27 Hall Avenue 18 Hall Avenue


City Clerk, JASON M. CARSON Assistant City Clerk. HENRY J. ALLEN City Messenger. FRED E. HANLEY


Regular meetings second and fourth Thursday evenings of each month. at eight o'clock, except when such Thursday is a holiday, in which case the meeting is held on the preced- ing Tuesday evening.


Standing Committees of the Board of Aldermen


ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS-Aldermen Mason, Spiers, Hoban, Mitchell and Hughes.


FINANCE-The President, Aldermen Haley, Robertson, Allen, Mason, Abbott and Hodgdon.


LEGISLATIVE MATTERS-Aldermen Saville, Mitchell, Haley, Coldwell and Smith of Ward Four.


LICENSES AND PERMITS-Aldermen Smith of Ward Four, Burns, Ab- bott, Harris, Dearborn, Morrison and Russell.


PUBLIC PROPERTY-Aldermen Burns, Welch, Hughes, Berry, Saville, Hoban and Coldwell.


PUBLIC SÅFETY-Aldermen Hughes, Burns, Mason, Smith of Ward Four and Haley.


PUBLIC SERVICE-Aldermen Harris, Hodgdon, Morrison, Russell, Ab- bott, Welch and Dearborn.


PUBLIC WORKS-Aldermen Robertson, Allen, Welch, Spiers, Hoban, Berry and Coldwell.


School Committee Chairman. HERBERT CHOLERTON Vice-Chairman. Walter I. Chapman


Members


Hon. John M. Webster Mayor, (ex-officio) 76 Boston Street, Waldo D. Phelps, President of the Board of Aldermen, (ex-officio) 14 Delaware Street


WARD ONE


Julia A. Crowley


Francis J. Fitzpatrick


. .


34 Pinckney Street 2 Austin Street


WARD TWO


Daniel H. Bradley


Christopher J. Muldoon .


.


.


19 Concord Avenue 88 Concord Avenue


422


ANNUAL REPORTS.


WARD THREE


Charles W. Boyer


.


Oscar W. Codding .


.


66 Avon Street 59 Vinal Avenue


WARD FOUR


Katherine C. Coveney Edward I. Tripp ·


.


.


73 Marshall Street 21 Wigglesworth Street


WARD FIVE


Harry M. Stoodley


.


Minnie S. Turner .


WARD SIX


Walter I. Chapman


.


Walter Frye Turner


.


18a Central Street 15 Highland Road


Herbert Cholerton


Paul O. Curtis .


94 College Avenue 41 Mason Street


Superintendent and Secretary-CHARLES S. CLARK


Regular meetings last Monday evening of each month, except July and August, when none are held, and December, when meeting is held on the Friday preceding the first Mon- day in January.


Assessors


FRED E. WARREN, Chairman (term expires 1926) WINSOR L. SNOW (term expires 1924) HARRY VAN IDERSTINE (term expires 1926) J. ROBERT FENELON (term expires 1925) DAVID B. ARMSTRONG (term expires 1924)


Assistant Assessors


FRED B. CLAPP LAWRENCE J. WARD JOSEPH O. KNOX


JOHN J. MCCARTHY JOHN M. NANGLE LEONARD C. SPINNEY


Board of Health


WESLEY M. GOFF (term expires 1925) JAMES A. KILEY (term expires 1924) CHESLIE A. C. RICHARDSON. M. D., Chairman (term expires 1924) Clerk-LAURENCE S. HOWARD Agent-GEORGE I. CANFIELD Medical Inspector-FRANK L. MORSE. M. D. Inspector of Animals and Provisions-CHARLES M. BERRY Inspector of Milk and Vinegar-HERBERT E. BOWMAN


Licensing Commission


WILLIAM J. SHANAHAN (term expires 1928) EUGENE M. CARMAN (term expires 1926) WILLIAM H. SMITH (term expires 1924)


WARD SEVEN


.


238 Highland Avenue


64 Hudson Street


423


CITY CLERK.


Overseers of the Poor


FRED E. DURGIN, Chairman (term expires 1926) MICHAEL COLL, Vice-Chairman (term expires 1924) GEORGE G. BRAYLEY (term expires 1925) Agent-WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE Warden, City Home-J. FOSTER COLQUHOUN Matron. City Home-CATHERINE COLQUHOUN


Planning Board


WILLIAM F. RILEY, Chairman (term expires 1926) DAVID J. KELLEY, Secretary (term expires 1924) BENJAMIN J. SURRETT (term expires 1925) JOHN WILLIAMSON (term expires 1927) GEORGE J. RAUH (term expires 1928)


Registrars of Voters


EDWIN D. SIBLEY, Chairman (term expires 1924) DOUGLASS B. FOSTER (term expires 1926) CHARLES LEO SHEA (term expires 1925) JASON M. CARSON, City Clerk


Public Library Trustees


THOMAS M. DURRELL, Chairman (term expires 1925) J. FRANK WELLINGTON, (term expires 1926) WILLIAM L. BARBER (term expires 1925) HERBERT L. BUFFUM (term expires 1926) GILES W. BRYANT (term expires 1924) DAVID H. FULTON (term expires 1924) FRANK M. BARNARD (term expires 1925) ALBERT L. HASKELL (term expires 1924) LEON M. CONWELL (term expires 1924) Librarian and Secretary-GEORGE H. EVANS


Public Welfare and Recreation Commission


ERNEST W. BAILEY (term expires 1925) SOPIIIE C. BATEMAN (term expires 1925) WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE (term expires 1925) GEORGE L. DUDLEY (term expires 1925) FLORENCE B. HAMILTON (term expires 1924) WILLIAM S. HOWE (term expires 1924) MARGARET L. MAGUIRE (term expires 1925) MARY M. McGANN (term expires 1924) ANNIE M. SMITH (term expires 1924)


City Clerk JASON M. CARSON Assistant City Clerk-HENRY J. ALLEN


City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes JOSEPH S. PIKE


424


ANNUAL REPORTS.


City · Messenger FRED E. HANLEY


Mayor's Secretary SUMNER M. TEELE


City Solicitor FRANK W. KAAN


Assistant City Solicitor RALPH M. SMITH


City Auditor HOWARD E. WEMYSS


City Engineer ERNEST W. BAILEY


Commissioner of Streets ASA B. PRICHARD


Commissioner of Public Buildings and Inspector of Buildings GEORGE L. DUDLEY


Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights WALTER I. FULLER


Water Commissioner FRANK E. MERRILL


Superintendent of Sanitary Department EDGAR T. MAYHEW


Clerk of Committees RICHARD A. KEYES


Chief of Police CHARLES A. KENDALL


Chief Engineer of the Fire Department SEWALL M. RICH


CITY CLERK. 425


City Physician FRANK E. BATEMAN


Inspector of Plumbing DUNCAN C. GREENE


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar HERBERT E. BOWMAN


Inspector of Animals and Provisions CHARLES M. BERRY


Inspector of Petroleum SEWALL M. RICH


Sealer of Weights and Measures BENJAMIN S. ABBOTT


Registration Clerk, City Laborers FLORENCE A. COOK


Fence Viewers


CHARLES M. BERRY HOWARD LOWELL


Agent of Military and State Aid and Soldiers' Relief and Burial Agent BENJAMIN S. ABBOTT


Constables


MAURICE F. AHEARN


CHIARLES M. AUSTIN


CHARLES W. F. BENNETT


CHARLES A. KENDALL


MICHAEL T KENNEDY


WILLIAM E. COPITHORNE


ELBRIDGE G. LAVENDER


WINSLOW W. COFFIN THOMAS DAMERY


EDWARD E. MARSH


JOHN M. NANGLE


WILLIAM J. DIGUISEPPE


HECTOR PALLADINO


CHARLES L. ELLIS


JOHN A. RAY


JOHN F. SCANNELL


ARTHUR L. GILMAN FRED E. HANLEY


WILLIAM E. YOUNG


EUGENE A. CARTER


JAMES M. HARMON FRANK B. KARCHER


-


426


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF LICENSING COMMISSION


-


February 25, 1924.


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


Gentlemen :


The Licensing Commission respectfully submits the fol -. lowing report for the year 1923. Up to August 9, 1923, the License Commission still functioned for the granting of Lord's Day Licenses only. The same rules and general principles applied to this class of license that had been carried out in former years. One hundred and nine new licenses were granted and five hundred and forty-five dollars paid to the city treasurer for revenue.


On August 9, 1923 the License Commission suspended its activities and work as a body acting under the General Laws of the Commonwealth by virtue of the passage by the Legisla- ture of an Act authorizing the city of Somerville to establish by ordinance a Licensing Commission.


His honor the Mayor following the passage of said ordi- nance appointed to the new Licensing Commission the under- signed who had comprised the old License Commission. The Licensing Commission received by ordinance from the Board of Aldermen the right to grant licenses on all applications for garages holding not more than two automobiles.


The commission approached this new phase of its work with an earnest desire to respond to the intent of the ordi- nance by facilitating the granting of licenses for garages, thus giving to our citizens and residents a speedier report on their applications.


Applications were received and acted upon by the Com- mission as follows :


Garage Licenses


163 Applications received.


137 Licenses granted and issued.


4 Licenses granted but not issued (fees unpaid ).


11 Applications leave to withdraw.


1 Application (motorcycle garage) no action necessary.


10 Applications laid over to 1924.


1


427


LICENSE COMMISSION.


LORD'S DAY LICENSES


49 Applications received.


20 Licenses granted and issued.


1 License granted but not issued (fee unpaid ).


1 Transfer of location.


26 Applications leave to withdraw.


1 Application laid over to 1924.


Fees for the above licenses granted and issued, amount- ing to $374.50 were paid over to the city treasurer.


Respectfully submitted,


EUGENE M. CARMAN, WM. H. SMITH, WM. J. SHANAHAN, Licensing Commission.


Attest :


R. A. KEYES, Secretary.


1


428


ANNUAL REPORTS.


REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS


Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1924.


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


Gentlemen :-


I most respectfully submit my fifteenth annual report as Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights for the year ending December 31, 1923.


Inspection of Wiring in Buildings


The work of the inspection department has increased greatly over last year.


More new buildings have been erected and more old buildings have been wired than in previous years. To take care of this increase of electrical installations constant super- vision is required.


Old installations should be inspected periodically as it is found that improper connections are often made by un- licensed electricians or by occupants and no permit obtained from or notification sent to this office.


When these are found orders are given to have defects remedied and the work must be done for the second time.


Attaching flat irons, washing machines, cooking and heating appliances is a very bad practice which is increasing and it is found that lighting circuits are being overfused and overloaded which constitutes a fire hazard and is not dis- covered until damage is done to the premises where such conditions exist.


Such attachments to lighting circuits or sockets are not approved and separate circuits must be run for these appli- ances.


The draping of paper and other inflammable material over electric light bulbs is another menace and fires have been caused by such decorations.


529


ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


I again call the attention of the public to the necessity of having only reliable licensed electricians do any work of an electrical nature as expense and annoyance will be avoided.


Number of notifications of new work . 2749


Number of inspections of new work . .


4300


Number of re-inspections of new work 518


Number of inspections of old work .


20


Number of defective installations of old work . 5


Number of defective installations remedied


5


Number of re-inspections of old work


5


Total number of inspections 4848


Number of permits issued to the Edison Electric


Illuminating Co. for installing meters, lamps, etc.


5102


Fire Alarm System


The Fire Alarm System is in excellent condition but some replacement of apparatus is required.


The old storage batteries have been replaced by new and are in good condition.


308 bell alarms have been received and transmitted dur- ing the year.


831 telephone calls for fire were received and fire de- partment sent.


5 A. D. T. alarms were received and transmitted.


The central office equipment consists of the following :


2 - 6 circuit operating boards.


5 circuit tapper board.


1 - 5 circuit gong board.


2-16 circuit storage battery charging boards.


-- 32 circuit protector board.


1 -


- 12 circuit automatic repeater.


1 dial, 4 number manual transmitter.


2 - 5 circuit punching registers.


13 punching registers and take up reels ..


2 automatic time and date stamps.


1 master clock.


940 cells storage battery.


5-10 foot 4 shelf battery racks.


4 metropolitan tappers and 2 gongs.


The apparatus outside the central office consists of the following :


134 signal boxes. 7 tower strikers.


45 gongs.


10 punching registers.


20 tappers.


8 private telephones.


1 -


430


ANNUAL REPORTS


About 60 miles of overhead wires and 781/2 miles of underground wires Three new boxes have been installed. Box 723 High Street cor. Boulevard; Box 437 Prichard Ave. cor. Kidder Ave. and Special box at Boston Elevated Car Barn.


12,500 feet of new overhead wire has been run and 29, 650 feet of old wire removed.


2,600 feet of underground cable was installed.


Police Signal System


The police Signal System which was installed 11 years ago begins to show signs of wear and some of the apparatus will have to be replaced.


Some trouble has been found with signal boxes but service has not often been interrupted.


A number of boxes have been overhauled and parts re- placed.


A new register and time stamp for the signal desk is nec- essary.


The system consists of the following :


1-4 circuit police desk.


About 191/2 miles of overhead wire.


4 special boxes.


59 street signal boxes.


About 13 miles of underground cable.


Supervision of Poles and Wires on the Streets.


The same attention has been given to the condition of poles and wires on the streets as in previous years. A num- ber of defective poles have been replaced by the companies owning same.


New poles have been placed in locations granted for the purpose of supplying lighting and telephone service and abandoned poles have been removed.


New poles


Re- placed


Re- moved


Re- set


New England Telephone & Telegraph Company


2


29


16


7


60


153


19


1


8


3


Edison Electric Illuminating Company Boston Elevated Railway Company · Permits given to the New England Tel. & Tel. Co. for attachments to the Edison Company's poles Permits given to the Edison Electric Ill. Co. for attachments to the New England Tel. & Tel. Company's poles


33


71


431


ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


Street Lighting.


The matter of street lighting has had the same atten- tion as in previous years and additional lights have been placed in various parts of the City.


More lights are required in the western part of the City as some new streets are inadequately lighted.


Additional spot lights have been installed at places where traffic officers are posted and are of great assistance to them.


The number of street lights January 1, 1924 are as follows :


155 Magnetite lights. 381-600 C. P. lights. 129-125 C. P. lights. 970- 60 C. P. lights.


Recommendation


I respectfully recommend that two assistant inspectors be employed to enable the department to more thoroughly cover all new and old installations of electrical wiring in the City. This is imperative as the work cannot be done by one man.


Conclusion


I wish to thank His Honor, the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen and the several departments for the many courtesies received.


Respectfully yours, WALTER I. FULLER,


Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights.


432


ANNUAL REPORTS


INDEX.


City Auditor, Report of .


3


Balance Sheet .


4


Cash Statement


6


Taxes - Special Assessments .


8


Departmental Bills .


9


Water Department Accounts .


10


Statement of Estimated Revenue


11


Appropriations


14


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


23


County of Middlesex


24


Revenue and Expenses


24


Temporary Loans


25


Taxes


27


Funded Debt


26, 29


Maturities on Funded Debt .


31, 32


Interest Requirements on Funded Debt


30, 31, 32 33


Abatements, Refunds, State Income Tax, Etc.


34, 35, 36


Overlay Accounts .


36, 37


Excess and Deficiency Account .


38


Receipts and Expenditures, Classification of


39


Schedule of Public Property .


74


City Clerk. Report of


407


Receipts


407


Payments


409


Licenses and Permits


410


Births


410


Marriages


411


Deaths


41:


Assessed Polls and Registered Voters


419


Elections


416


Liquor License Question


413


Ordinances


414


City Engineer, Report of


352


Engineering Department


352


City Engineer Division, Classification of Expenses


353


Streets Accepted as Public Ways in 1923 Table of Street Construction .


355


Sewer Division


361


Sewers and Storm Drains Constructed .


364


Maintenance Account


364


Parks and Playgrounds Division


366


Maintenance Account


367


Public and Private Streets .


.


372


.


357


Borrowing Capacity


-


INDEX. 433


City Government and Officers for 1923 .


420


City Solicitor, Report of 281


City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Report of .


77


Revenue and Expense, Statement of


78


Cash Statement


79, 80


Taxes .


86


Street Sprinkling Assessments


87


Overlay and Abatement .


88


Supplementary Assessments


88


Betterment Assessments .


89


Departmental Accounts


90


Revenue Loans .


91


Bonds


93, 94, 95


Borrowing Capacity .


78


Memorandum of Payments on account of Debt


95


Treasury Department


96


Commissioner of Public Buildings (see Public Buildings Commissioner ) . 338


Commissioner of Streets (see Street Commissioner) .


326


Commissioner of Water (see Water Commissioner) . 97


428


Fire Alarm System .


429


Police Signal System


430


Supervision of Poles and Wires on the Streets


430


Street Lighting


431


Recommendations


431


Conclusion


431


Fire Department, Chief of, Report of . Alarms of Fire


291


List of Probable Causes


291


Manual Force


291


Apparatus


296


Hose


296


Resume


296


Recommendations


301


Conclusion


302


Health, Board of, Report of .


122


Organization, Officers, etc


121


Nuisances


122


Permits and Licenses


122


Stables


123


Board of Infants .


124


Deaths .


.


128


Mortality Statistics .


125


Diseases Dangerous to Public Health


130


Specimens and Supplies .


130


Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights, Report of Inspection of Wiring in Buildings .


428


291


434


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Medical Inspection of Schools


131


Bacteriological Department 133


Undertakers


133


Examination of Plumbers


133


Health Nurses, Report of .


133, 135


Medical Inspection, Report of


137


Inspector of Animals and Provisions


140


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar


.


143


Inspector of Animals and Provisions, Report of . 140


Inspector of Buildings (see Public Buildings Commis- sioner )


338


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar, Report of the .


143


City Physician, Report of


325


Law Department, Report of .


287


Licensing Commission, Report of . 426


Medical Inspection, Report of


137


Visits


137


Contagious Disease Hospital


137


Laboratory Examinations


137


Tuberculosis


138


Infant Hygiene Clinics


139


Ordinances


414


Planning Board, Report of


303


Organization


303


Previous Recommendations


304


Preliminary Survey


304


Revision of Building Laws


305


Recommendations


305


Appropriations .


306


Police, Chief of, Report of .


307


Arrests


307


Crimes and Offenses Against the Person


307


Crimes and Offenses Against Property .


308


Crimes and Offenses Against Public Order


308


Recapitulation .


309


Roster of Department


313


Changes in the Force


314


Liquor Officers, Report of


316


Police Matron, Report of .


317


Conclusion


317


Population


. 239, 322, 413


435


INDEX.


Public Buildings Commissioner, Report of .


338


Inspection of Buildings .


338


Coal


341


Elevators


341


School Buildings


341


Fire Department Buildings


347


Municipal Buildings


347


Libraries


348


Water, Highway, Sanitary and Sewer Buildings


348


Hospital Buildings


349


Police Buildings


350


Bath House


350


Park Buildings .


350


In General


351


Public Grounds (City Engineer) . 160


Public Library


149


Board of Trustees and Officers - Committees


149


Organization of Library and Staff Personnel


150


Report of Trustees


153


Report of Librarian .


154


Statistics .


158


Public Welfare, Department of .


319


Members of the Board, Committees, Officers, etc. .


319


Full Support


321


Partial Support


321


Aid Under 1913 Law


(Mothers' Aid)


321


Cost to City


321


Reimbursements


322


Somerville Hospital


322


Population and Gross Expenditures


322


Overseers of the Poor Since 1885 .


323


Recapitulation .


323


City Home, Report of Warden


324


City Physician, Report of


325


Public Welfare and Recreation Commission . Financial Statement


385


Sanitary Department, Report of .


161


Collection of Ashes and Paper


161


School Department .


163


Superintendent of Schools, Report of


166


Appendix, Contents of


227


Accommodations


186


Dental Dispensary


225


Graduates - High school


259


Junior High schools


263


Vocational schools


272


High School Athletic Association


222


Membership ·


167


405


Report of General Agent,


321


436


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Report of Head Master, High School


193


66


Principal, Vocational school for Boys


199


66


Director of the Continuation Schools and


Americanization Work 201


66 Report of Principal of the Evening High school


216


66 Report of the Director of Household Arts


209


School Committee, 1923-1924 .


164, 272


School Nurses


224


Somerville Teachers' Association


220


Somerville Teachers' Club


221


Somerville Teachers' Council .


223


Teachers in Service .


189


Sealer of Weights and Measures, Report of .


289


Sewers (see City Engineer) .


361


Street Commissioner, Report of


326


Appropriations .


326


Highway Maintenance


327


Bridges


328


Street Railways


328


Underground Wires


329


Crushed Stone


329


Steam Rollers


329


Sidewalks Maintenance


329


Street Sprinkling


329


Street Cleaning


330


Suppression of Moths


330


Shade Trees


331


Highways Construction, New Streets


331


Sidewalks Construction .


331, 334


Streets Constructed in 1923


333


Highways Construction, Permanent Pavement


335


Reconstruction and Resurfacing


335


Miscellaneous


335


Permit


336


Recommendations


336


Public and Private Streets


372


Water Commissioner, Report of


97


Revenue and Expenditures


99


Cost of Water Works


100


Water Works Income and Distribution .


101


Water Distribution System, Construction


101


Hydrants, Gates, etc.


102


Water Services


103


Water Meters


104


Summary of Pipes and Fixtures


106


Water Assessments and Consumption


106


Construction, Maintenance, Operation


108


Class of Premises covered by service installation .


109


Street Mains, Gates, Hydrants, etc.


112


Summary of Statistics


119


Financial Statistics .


.


7516 017


.


120


Snow and 'Ice


328





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