Report of the city of Somerville 1924, Part 23

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1924
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 446


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1924 > Part 23
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1924 > Part 23


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Libraries


The interior of the Central Library has been thoroughly repainted and redecorated. The appearance is such that it has called forth many favorable comments from both Library Trustees and the public.


The interior of the West Somerville Branch and the Union Square Branch Libraries are in such a condition that the Commissioner hopes to be able to thoroughly renovate them this year.


Water, Highway and Sanitary Buildings


WATER BUILDINGS


Many needed repairs have been made to these buildings and they are now in good shape.


A new storage building has been completed for the stor- age of valves, hydrants and other fittings. The completion of this building supplies a long felt want in the Water depart- ment.


347


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.


Hospital


The tuberculosis camp which has been closed for several years was reopened this year for a Preventorium. Many re- pairs were needed to the plumbing system, and new screens were fitted to the piazza. The interior of the building was painted and tinted, and building put in first class condition so that it may be used another year for the same purposes.


In the Contagious Disease Hospital many needed repairs have been made and the Commissioner hopes to be able to paint a great deal of the interior of the hospital this year.


City Home


Many much needed repairs have been completed on this building during the past year. The interior of both mens' and womens' dormitories were thoroughly renovated. The matrons quarters papered and painted.


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 more sightly fence on this much travelled roadway.


Police Buildings


The removal of the Courthouse to the new building now nearing completion on Walnut Street will necessitate many changes in this building if it is retained.


The Commissioner questions whether it would not be more profitable to build a new model station in a more central part of the city than to thoroughly renovate this old structure. The present building is in a very bad condition, and a careful study is necessary to adequately plan this building to satisfy the growing need of this very essential department.


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 150 tons of sand were purchased for resanding the beach.


348


ANNUAL REPORTS.


This particular recreation has been a great help to many mothers and children during the hot weather of the past seas- on. It is a common sight to see mothers and children arriv- ing at the beach as early as 9 o'clock with their lunches to spend the entire day.


The attendance at the beach during the warm weather has sometimes exceeded 1000 a day.


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.


349


ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS


Somerville, Mass. January 1, 1925.


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


Gentlemen :-


I most respectfully submit my sixteenth annual report as Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights for the year ending December 31. 1924.


Inspection of Wiring in Buildings


The inspecting of interior wiring for light, heat and power is a very important part of the work of the electrical department and every effort has been made to have all instal- lations of electric wiring done in a safe and workmanlike manner.


The greater percentage of electrical contractors and wire- men co-operate with the inspection department but there are some of the incompetent and careless workmen who cause considerable trouble. Unapproved wiring and attachments and over-fused cut-outs are to be carefully considered as many fires are directly traced to such conditions.


Having work done by unlicensed wiremen is another source of danger as no permit to do work can be issued to such men and consequently no inspection is called for by them.


With the increased use of electricity for lighting, heat- ing and power great care should be exercised to have every- thing up to the standard of safety.


Flat irons, washing machines, stoves and heaters must be on separate circuits and not attached to lighting fixtures. If this rule is followed the consumer will not have to call in a repair man so often.


350


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Number of notifications of new work


3003


Number of inspections of new work 4801


Number of re-inspections of new work 459


Number of inspections of old work 30


Number of defective installations of old work .


10


Number of defective installations remedied


10


Number of re-inspections of old work


10


Total number of inspections


5310


Number of permits issued to the Edison Electric


Illuminating Co. for installing meters, lamps, etc. .


6291


Fire Alarm System


The Fire Alarm System is in excellent condition but some of the older apparatus should be replaced.


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


937 telephone calls for fire were received and fire depart- ment sent.


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


The central office equipment consists of the following :


2- 6 circuit operating boards.


1-5 circuit tapper board.


1- 5 circuit gong board.


2-16 circuit storage battery charging boards.


1-32 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.


About 581/2 miles of overhead wires and 80 miles of un- derground wires. One new box has been installed No. 454


351


ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS.


Powder House Boulevard corner Dow Street and one box No. 113 has been discontinued.


9,000 feet of new overhead wire has been run and 17,300 feet of old wire removed.


9,925 feet of underground cable was installed.


Police Signal System


The police Signal System is now about 12 years old and 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 ser- vice 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 necessary.


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 141/2 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


5


9


Edison Electric Illuminating Co. .


98


51


4


11


Boston Elevated Railway Company Postal Telegraph Company .


3


2


2


2


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 .


100


75


352


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Street Lighting


A number of new lights have been added and some have been changed. The lights on Medford Street from Gilman Square to Magoun Square have been changed from 600 C. P. to 1000 C. P. and mounted on underground posts as the entire street is to be cleared of overhead wires.


The number of street lights January 1. 1925 are as fol- lows :


182 Magnetite lights. 20 -1000 C. P. lights. 383- 600 C. P. lights. 129- 125 C. P. lights. 986- 60 C. P. lights.


Recommendation


I respectfully recommend that one assistant inspector 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.


353


CITY CLERK.


REPORT OF THE CITY CLERK


OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, January 1, 1925.


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


Gentlemen :- The following is respectfully submitted as the fifty-third annual report of the city clerk of the City of Somerville, and is for the year ending December 31, 1924. The receipts and payments were as follows :-


Receipts


Balance from year 1923 being for dog li-


censes issued in December 1923


7 males at $2.00


$14 00


1 female at $5.00


5 00


1 spayed at $2.00


2 00


21 00


Less city clerk's fees paid to the city


treasurer, 9 @ $.20 .


1 80


$19 20


For dog licenses issued in 1924:


783 males at $2.00


1,566 00


195 females at $5.00


975 00


100 spayed at $2.00


200 00


3 kennel at $25.00


75 00


For hunting and fishing licenses issued in 1924 :-


147 hunting and fishing at $2.00 .


294 00


164 hunting and trapping at $1.50


246 00


5 alien £ hunting and trapping at $15.00


75 00


2 trapping at $.25


50


206 fishing at $1.00


206 00


4 alien fishing at $2.00


8 00


1 non-resident fishing at $2.00 .


2 00


Recording mortgages, assignments, etc. 864 papers


1,236 68


Certificates of marriage intentions,-


1283 licenses and 1 duplicate


1,284 00


Furnishing copies of records .


330 25


Carried forward .


$2,850 93


3,666 70


.


2,816 00


831 50


354


ANNUAL REPORTS


Brought forward


$2,850 93 $3,666 70


Licenses : --


Auctioneers, 33 licenses at $2.00 . 66 00


Billiard and pool tables and bowling


alleys, 162 licenses for 104 tables and 58 alleys including 1 table granted in 1923 at $2.00


324 00


Drain layers, 6 licenses at $1.00


6 00


Drivers, 96 at $1.00


96 00


Engines and motors,-


17 licenses for 12 motors, 3 boilers and 2 engines including 1 boiler and 2 motors granted in 1923 at $1.00 17 00


Garages 187 licenses including 11


granted in 1923 at $2.00 374 00


Gasoline tanks. 52 licenses including 4 granted in 1923 at $1.00 . 52 00


Hackney carriages. 259 at $1.00 259 00


Intelligence offices, 5 at $2.00 . 10 00


Junk and second hand licenses,-


28 licenses including 3 granted in 1923 at $10 280 00


17 licenses including 2 granted in 1923 at $25 ·


425 00


Liquor licenses (third class) 24 includ- ing 1 granted in 1923 at $1.00 . 24 00


Lodging house licenses, 49 including 2 granted in 1923 at $2.00 .


98 00


Second hand auto licenses, 38 including 2 granted in 1923 at $25.00 .


950 00


Slaughtering, 7 at $1.00 .


7 00


Street Musicians, 4 at $.50


2 00


Victualler licenses, 73 at $2.00


146 00


Wagons, 63 at $1.00


63 00


Wagon stands, 15 at $1.00


15 00


License to operate motor busses 1 at $25.00 .


25 00


Storage of rags 1 at $1.00


1 00


Permits for projections over sidewalks,


49 permits for 11 electric signs, 15 stationary signs, 6 swing arms, 1 swinging sign, 5 awnings, 1 coal hole, 1 revolving barber pole and 1 marquee including 1 electric sign granted in 1923 at $1.00 .


49 00


Filing Certificates 9 at $.50


4 50


Interest on deposits


19 40


Badges


4 75


Witness fees


: 00


Physicians' Registration, 9 at $.25


2 25


Miscellaneous


.


5 88


6,182 71


Total receipts


9,849 41


355


CITY CLERK.


Payments


To Charles E. Hatfield, county treasurer, June 1 and December 1, receipts for dog licenses from December 1, 1923 to November 30, 1924, both inclusive


778 males at $2.00 .


$1,556 00


195 females at $5.00


975 00


100 spayed at $2.00 .


200 00


3 kennels at $25.00


·


2,590 80


To the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game, for licenses for hunting and fish- ing in 1924,-


147 hunting and fishing at $2.00 . 294 00


246 00


164 hunting and trapping at $1.50 5 alien hunting and trapping at $15.00


75 00


2 trapping at $.25


50


206 fishing at $1.00


206 00


4 alien fishing at $2.00


8 00


1 non-resident fishing at $2.00 .


2 00


831 50


Less city clerk's fees 287 at $.15 and


242 at $.25 103 55


727 95


To the city treasurer, monthly :-


City clerk's fees for issuing and record- ing dog licenses, 1081 at $.20 . 216 20


City clerk's fees for issuing and record- ing fishing and hunting licenses 287 at $.15 and 242 at $.25 . .


103 55


All the receipts above specified except for dog licenses and hunting and fish- ing licenses


6,182 71


6,502 46


Total payments


9,821 21


Balance, January 1, 1925, being for dog licenses issued in December, 1924 :-


12 males at $2.00 $24 00


1 female at $5.00 . 5 00


1 spayed at $2.00 . 2 00


31 00


less city clerk's fees paid to the city treasurer 14 at $.20 2 80


28 20


9,849 41


75 00


2,806 00


Less city clerk's fees, 1,076 at $.20


215 20


2,590 80


356


ANNUAL REPORTS


Licenses and Permits


Besides the licenses mentioned in the foregoing list of receipts, licenses and permits have been granted by the Board of Aldermen, without charge, as follows :-


Children under fifteen to take part in entertainments 4


Operate whippet tank


1


Parade in streets, with music, etc. 11


To hold religious services in streets and squares


1


To hold fireworks 1


13


To move buildings through streets


4


Births


1924


Number of births reported by physicians and midwives for 1924


Males


1089


Females


952


2041


A canvass of the city is at present being made under the direction of the city clerk as required by section 5. chapter 29. of the Revised Laws, to ascertain the facts required for record relative to children born during the year.


As the information derived from such canvass will not be available in time sufficient for its incorporation in this report, a statement in full of the births of 1924 will be given in the city clerk's report for the year 1925.


1923


The following is a statement in full of the births for 1923.


Number of births (exclusive of still births) in Somerville


Males in 1923 registered . 996 1,955


Females


959


1,955


Born of American parents 875


Born of foreign parents . 676


Born of American father and foreign mother 182


Born of foreign father and American mother .


203


Born of American mother and father un- known nationality 17


Born of foreign mother and father of un- known nationality


2


1,955


Newsboys .


CITY CLERK. 357


Number of still-births in Somerville in 1923 as registered Number of births in other places in 1923 registered . .


88


685


Number of cases of twins .


26


Marriages


Number of intention certificates issued in 1924


1,285


(Same as previous year )


Marriages registered ./


1,286


Less than previous year


100


Both parties American


770


Both parties foreign


240


American groom and foreign bride


133


Foreign groom and American bride


143


1,286


First marriage of


2,245


Second marriage of .


306


Third marriage of


19


Fourth marriage of


2


1,286 c'pls


Deaths


(Exclusive of still-births)


Number of deaths in Somerville in 1924


979


Less than previous year


129


Males


443


Females


536


979


Under ten years of age .


159


10 and under 20 years of age .


27


20 and under 30 years of age .


42


30 and under 40 years of age .


44


40 and under 50 years of age .


68


50 and under 60 years of age .


125


60 and under 70 years of age


191


70 and under 80 years of age .


206


80 and under 90 years of age . 90 years of age and over .


18


Age of oldest person deceased 99 years


Born in Somerville .


180


Born in other places in the United States . 430


Of foreign birth


366


Birthplace unknown


3


99


979


979


358


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Number of deaths in January


98


Number of deaths in February


84


Number of deaths in March


90


Number of deaths in April


91


Number of deaths in May


99


Number of deaths in June


68


Number of deaths in July


80


Number of deaths in August


57


Number of deaths in September


66


Number of deaths in October


72


Number of deaths in November


82


Number of deaths in December


92


·


979


The number of still-births during the year was seventy- six. In addition to the above, 254 deaths which occurred elsewhere were recorded in Somerville, almost the entire num- ber of persons deceased having been residents of this city.


359


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


1924


98,000


.Census.


360


ANNUAL REPORTS.


ORDINANCES


Somerville, January 1, 1925.


The following ordinances have been adopted since the printing of the annual reports for the year 1923 :-


(Ordinances Nos. 104, 106, 107, 108 and 109)


ORDINANCE NO. 104


An Ordinance Relative to the Salary of the Mayor.


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


Section 1. The salary of the Mayor shall hereafter be at the rate of five thousand dollars a year beginning with the next municipal year, to wit, the municipal year nineteen hundred and twenty-four.


Section 2. The Ordinance shall take effect upon its passage.


Approved January 5, 1924.


ORDINANCE NO. 106


An Ordinance establishing Dover and Day Streets as One Way Streets.


Be it ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the city of Somerville, as follows :-


Section 1. No person shall cause or allow a vehicle other than a vehicle propelled by hand to pass along any portion of Dover street except in a southwesterly direction or along any portion of Day street except in a northeasterly direction.


Section 2. Whoever violates any provision of this ordinance shall be liable to a penalty of not exceeding twenty dollars for each offense.


Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect May 15, 1924.


Approved May 5, 1924.


ORDINANCE NO. 107


Be it ordained by the board of aldermen of the city of Somerville as follows: --


Section 1. The following orders, rules and regulations are here- by made and adopted relative to the transportation and carriage of passengers for hire by motor vehicles under the provisions of sections 45 to 49 inclusive of chapter 159 of the General Laws of Massachusetts.


Section 2. Every application for a license for the transportation and carriage of passengers as aforesaid shall set forth the name and the place of residence if any, and the place of business of the applicant and shall designate the route over which it is desired to operate and the termini and rates of fare to be charged. Such route and termini and rates of fare may be changed only with the consent of the board of aldermen.


361


CITY CLERK.


Section 3. A schedule of operation shall be filed with the appli- cation for said license and shall provide for the regular operation of such motor vehicle between the termini and over the route to be designated in the license. The licensee shall regularly operate such motor vehicle in substantial accordance with the schedule of operation except in cases of accidents, breakdowns or other emergency and shall always operate the motor vehicle to the terminus of the route before turning around and shall not operate or permit to be operated any motor vehicle elsewhere than on the routei stated in the license ex- cept in case of emergency. Nothing herein shall be construed to pro- hibit the operation, in addition to the service described in the schedule, of special or extra trips over said route or portions thereof.


Section 4. Every such license shall be signed by the city clerk. It shall set forth the name of the person, firm or corporation receiving the license and the place of residence, if any, and the place of busi- ness of the licensee. A fee of twenty-five dollars shall be paid the city clerk for every such license.


Section 5. No such license shall be issued until the licensee shall have deposited with the city treasurer a bond of a surety company approved by the city treasurer and by said board in accordance with the provisions of section 46 of said chapter 159. The bond shall cover each and every motor vehicle operated by the licensee as follows:


For a vehicle having a seating capacity of five passengers or less, $10,000.


For a vehicle having a seating capacity of six or more passengers, $10,000 and $1,000 additional for each passenger seat in excess of five.


Provided however, that a bond of $25,000 shall be deemed sufficient to cover all the vehicles operated by any one licensee, or in lieu of such bond an automobile liability insurance policy of the commercial type accompanied by a bond of the licensee, such policy insuring pay- ments to the amount herein specified.


If said board shall at any time, determine that any bond is in- sufficient, it may require an additional bond.


Section 6. No person shall operate or cause to be operated a motor vehicle for the transportation or carriage of passengers as aforesaid unless said vehicle has been licensed by said board. Every application for such license shall set forth the name and the place- of residence, if any, and the place of business of the owner and a description of the vehicle and the number of persons exclusive of the operator which the vehicle is to carry. The description shall state- the trade name of the motor vehicle, the type of body, the engine or motor number, the kind of power, the manufacturer's name and num- ber, the year of make and the length of wheel base. No vehicle shall be licensed until it has been inspected by or for the committee on licenses of said board and reported by said committee to be in its. opinion safe and suitable.


Section 7. Every license for a motor vehicle shall be signed by the city clerk. It shall set forth the name and the place of residence, if any, and the place of business of the owner and a description of the vehicle similar to that required by section 6. A fee of ten dollars shall be paid the city clerk for every such license for a motor vehicle carrying six passengers or less exclusive of the driver and two dollars additional for each passenger in excess of six which the license author- izes the vehicle to carry, but in no case shall said license fee exceed twenty-five dollars.


362


ANNUAL REPORTS


Section 8. The license issued for a motor vehicle shall designate the number of passengers, exclusive of the operator, the licensee is authorized to carry in said vehicle, and no person operating said vehicle shall cause or allow more persons to be carried thereon at any time than the number designated in the license or allow any person to stand or sit upon the running board, step, fender, dash or hood thereof' or allow any person otherwise to ride on such motor vehicle outside the body thereof; provided, however, that in addition to the number of passengers which said motor vehicle by the terms of its license is permitted to carry, children under seven years of age may be carried therein in arms or seated on the laps of adult persons accompanying them, but no passenger with a child in arms or seated on the lap shall be permitted on any front seat of the vehicle.


Section 9. The licensee shall not reconstruct or materially change a motor vehicle after the license thereof has been issued, without the consent of the board.


Section 10. Change of ownership of such motor vehicle shall operate as a revocation of its license.




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