USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1929 > Part 12
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Somerville Avenue
Near Elm Street
Denis I. Crimmings Day Labor
Clay
8'-11"
8" Portland Pipe
276.0'
46.34
5 02
0.32
0.07
0.0
5.81
Mystic Avenue Nortbeasterly Side Sewer
Near Middlesex Avenue
Opposite Austin Street
Denis I. Crimmings Day Labor
Clay
12'-0"
[10"-8" Portland Pipe
715.7'|
Combination
116.50
4.23
0.29
0.08
0.22
5.20
3,721.67
3,721.67
Mystic Avenue Storm Drain
Near Middlesex Avenue
Opposite Austin Street
Denis I. Crimmings Day Labor
Clay
7'-6"
10" Portland Pipe
696.5'
See Sewer
See Sewer
2
2.03
0.31
0.05
0.03
2.35
1,636.05
1,636.05
Mystic Avenue Metropolitan Connection
Oppos. New Hampshire Ave.
Denis I. Crimmings Day Labor
Clay
17'-6"
10" Portland Pipe
20,5
46.35
0.36
46.71
976.29
976.29
Alewife Brook Parkway and Dilboy Field Storm Drain
Near North Street
Near Centre Dilboy Field
Filling and Hard Pan
24"-18" Portland Pipe
420.0'
1
43.00
3.47
0.76
0.11
0.12
4.48
1,881.49
1,881.49
Private Lands (Polly Swamp Outlet) Storm Drain
Near Lowell Street Bridge Over B. & L. Div., B. & M. R. R.|
Near Princeton Street
Denis I. Crimmings Day Labor
Sand and Clay
7'-6""
30" Portland Pipe
266.5'
2
40.33
11.28
1.89
0.15
0.09
8.25
2,200.88
2,200.88
Private Lands Storm Drain
North Union Street
W'ly to First National Stores 1
First National Stores
Private Lands Storm Drain Outlet Re- construction
Shore Drive
Mystic River
City -- Day Labor
Filling and Clay
16" Corrugated Iron Pipe
68.0'
8.19
1.49
0.38
10.00
684.12
684.12
*Tannery Brook Storm Drain
Clarendon Avenue
Alewife Brook Parkway
Denis I. Crimmings
Filling and Clay
6"
1088.0'
4
31.03
32
18.04
0.61
13.81
0.88
0.09
34.11
*$11,118.23
¡$25,942.54
* Constructed in Cambridge by City of Somerville according to agreement. Cambridge to pay 30% of cost.
$53,853.55
$14.839.90
$39,013.65
Length of sewers added to system, 1929
1,461.1 3,318.0 Length of storm drains added to system, 1929
68.0 Length of storm drains reconstructed in 1929
1.088 0
Length of storm drain built in Cambridge (Tannery Brook)
5,935.1
Total, 1.1241 miles
Total length of public sewers in the city Jan. 1st, 1930. Total length of private sewers in the city Jan. 1st, 1930.
Total length of sewers in the city Jan. 1st, 1930.
Total length of storm drains in the city Jan. 1st, 1930.
Total length of city drainage system Jan. Ist, 1930.
Total length of Metropolitan sewer mains in the city Jan. 1st, 1930.
18,348.0 ft.
526,350.7 ft. 34,896.0 ft 561,246.7 ft. 97,006.6 ft. 658,253.3 ft.
99.6874 miles
6.6091 miles
106.2966 miles, including 36.7822 miles separate system. 18.3723 miles
124.6691 miles 3.4750 miles
Excavation Pipe Laying and Refilling
Pipe, Cement, etc.
including
and
Average Cost
per Linear Foot
$37,060.77
5'-6ª
Two Lines of 54" Concrete Pipe |1088.0'
1225.0'
8
Filling and Clay
John F. Kennedy for
18"-15"-12"-8" Akron Pipe
1
Denis I. Crimmings Day Labor
4'.3"
46.34
8
Northeasterly Side
or
223
CITY ENGINEER
CREDIT
Appropriation
$20,300 00
Balance unexpended (1928)
661 88
Service Transfers and Credits
357 83
Materials on hand Dec. 31, 1928
554 70
Total
$21,874 41
Balance unexpended
1,478 66
TANNERY BROOK STORM WATER DRAIN CREDIT
Appropriation
$35,000 00
Service Transfer
4 88 $35,004 88
EXPENDITURES
Engineering and inspection $ 851 74
14 64
Moving materials and clearing up
Labor
$49 34
Truck
27 00
76 34
Backfill and grading
9 76
Trucking
12 00
Contract (D. I. Crimmings)
15,485 00
Pipe and fittings
$554 74
Labor hauling pipe
7 58
Truck hauling pipe
10 50
572 82
Construction of manholes
Frames and grates
$56 92
Manhole steps
23 47
Setting in extra steps.
16 73
97 12
Printing and advertising
122 30
Lumber
99 60
Cement (credit received later)
4 88
I beams and expended metal reinforcing
61 55
Stakes
2 85
Catch Basin Frames and Grates
15 00
Burlap used on underdrain
10 00
Cost to city in 1929
$17,435 60
Balance unexpended
$17,569 28*
*Bills amounting to $6,999.19 to be paid in 1930.
-
Labor digging test holes
Twelve new sewers and storm drains were constructed totaling in length 4779.1 feet and one storm drain 68.0 feet long was reconstructed, aggregating 4847.1 feet (0.9171 mile) the work being done in part by day labor and the remainder by percentage contract. In addition to the foregoing the open
ANNUAL REPORTS
channel portion of Tannery Brook in Cambridge, a length of 1088 feet, was replaced with two lines of concrete pipe, the construction being done by Somerville. (See tabular state- ment of sewers and storm drains built in 1929 showing item- ized account of work.)
Total length of city's drainage system 124.6691 Miles Cost of construction to date (including catch basins)
$1,651,489 00
Assessments for Metropolitan sewerage system, 1929
(City's proportional cost)
Total paid Commonwealth of Massachusetts for state
105,517 78.
sewer 1892-1929, inclusive
$2,469,549 63
Total length of Metropolitan sewerage system mains
running through this city
17 connections, in Somerville, with Metropolitan sewer- age mains. Also 4 connections through Medford and one connection through Cambridge. Locations of city's mains connecting with state sewer in 1912 report, and details of construction in previous re- ports.
3.475 miles
New catch basins constructed in city's highways, 1929. ... Total catch basins maintained by sewer division. ... Other catch basins-State Highway, Metropolitan Park, Boston Elevated Railway, etc. 274
26
2,037
Total catch basins in the city for storm drainage pur-
2,311 poses
Sump manholes on drainage system 138
The separate sewerage system should be extended each year to assist in the ultimate separation of sewerage and storm water which the Metropolitan District Commission is striving to accomplish. The growing tendency to occupy all land to its fullest extent with houses, garages, granolithic drives and walks, combined with the paved or bituminous streets which prevail, has reduced the soakage area to the extent that the consequent increased run-off during storms is a heavy tax upon the capacity of the sewers. It is therefore advisable to extend the storm drain system as fast as finances permit, par- ticularly in the North Somerville District into Two Penny Brook. West Somerville District into Tannery Brook, and Win- ter Hill District into the Mystic River, thus relieving the com- bined sewerage system of much surface water. The city's drain- age problems will be simplified with every move in this direc- tion. The territory in general west of Cedar Street drains to Alewife Brook through a tributary known as Tannery Brook which has been replaced by pipe and concrete conduits. Part of this construction was done in 1896 when a length of 3200 feet, about 200 feet being in Cambridge, was built from Davis Square to Clarendon Avenue. The remaining open brook, from Clar- endon Avenue to Alewife Brook Parkway, has been the cause
225
CITY ENGINEER
of much complaint from the nearby residents and in con- sequence an agreement was made by the cities of Somerville- and Cambridge to construct the storm drain and apportion the cost as follows: Somerville to pay 70% and Cambridge 30%, Somerville to perform the work. This was done in the Fall of 1929 at a cost of $37,060.77.
MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT, STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES, 1929
Labor and inspection
$17,607 40
Teaming
5,708 25
Maintenance of trucks
887 81
Equipment, supplies and repairing property.
7,703 88*
Total
$31,907 34
* Includes cost of two Ford trucks costing respectively $1,132 and $1,152; also catch basin cleaning machine casting $4,500.
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES
Maintenance of Sewers, including cleaning
$ 6,497 27
flushing, supervision, etc. (124.6691 miles) Maintenance of Catch Basins, cleaning and flushing, supervision, etc (2026) 13,746 19
Maintenance of Storm Water Pump, Medford Street Underpass
307 60
Changing line and grade and repairing man- holes
358 78
Changing line and grade and repairing catch basins
972 61
Repairing old sewers and storm drains
1,040 43
Reconstruction and repairing tide-gates and
floats in chambers, on storm drains and sewers
..
Inspection and location of House drains
383 33
Labor, teaming, materials, other departments and divisions
645 25
Equipment and supplies
7,184 59
Repairs of tools and property
92 27
Maintenance of Sewer Division Yards (2)
605 96
Telephones (2)
73 06
Total expenditure
$31,907 34
CREDIT
Appropriation
$31,375 00
Credits
556 96
Total
31,931 96
Balance unexpended
$24 62
226
ANNUAL REPORTS
A permanent force of men, varying in number from eight to thirteen, and hired teams, are kept continually at work, flushing, cleaning and repairing the city's drainage system, including catch basins, the expense necessarily increasing yearly as sewers, storm drains and catch basins are added to the system, and the distance increased to the dumping places, only two of which are available at present.
The scarcity of dumping places has confronted the city for some time and various schemes have been considered for efficient and economical methods of disposal but no plan has been adopted.
Cubic yards of material removed from catch basins and hauled to dumps 4711
Average cost per cubic yard (including depreciation of equipment) $ 3 38 Average annual cost, cleaning, flushing and general main- tenance per basin 6 78
Average annual cost, cleaning and flushing drainage sys-
tem, including catch basins, per mile .. 162 38
Average number of catch basins to a mile of roadway ........ 21
A motor-driven catch basin cleaning machine and two light trucks were purchased in 1929. This new apparatus is satisfactory in operation and economy. At present this depart- ment owns four light trucks, a tractor for rolling and plowing snow and the above-mentioned catch basin cleaning machine.
The drainage system, built as required by the growth of the city, is composed of units of different type and age. Re- pairs, additions and alterations due to deterioration or chang- ing conditions are necessary very frequently.
One hundred and fifty-three permits have been issued for private drain connections from buildings to sewers or storm drains; fifty-five of these being for repairs, alterations or ex- tensions. All work is done subject to inspection by this depart- ment.
Many of the repairs and alterations were made necessary by the growth of tree roots into the private drain pipe. In several cases, these private drains were relaid with iron pipe and lead joints ; which type of construction is recommended by this department in districts where trees are found.
Only persons that are licensed as drainlayers by the city and have given satisfactory bonds are permitted to lay and re- pair private drains.
227
CITY ENGINEER
· Data concerning each drain connection with the public sewer is on file in this office, and time and expense could be saved by the owner, by applying directly to this department for investigation and advice, where trouble exists.
Many car track catch basins and underground conduit manholes built by public service corporations have been con- nected with the city's drainage system.
There are to date about 18,340 private drain connections with the city's drainage system.
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 city sewer mains and partially blocking sections of sewers as has occured at various times.
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS DIVISION
This division has the control and maintainence of seven- teen parcels of land, (about 75 acres) laid out as parks and recreation playgrounds in about equal proportions.
These areas if completely developed would compare fav- orably with other cities in the vicinity.
MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS, STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES, 1929
Playgrounds
Parks
$8,361 84 Labor
$8,253 73
336 75 Teamnig
253 00
859 76 Equipment and supplies
241 32
110 64 Repairing tools and property
515 72*
234 42 Fountains and Bubblers Maintenance (Paid Water Dept. $227 48 and $144 79)
147 79
Trees, Shrubs, Plants, Floral Decorations, trimming and spraying trees, etc.
2,866 67+
Flags, flagpoles, painting, etc.
693 691
Repairing roadways and walks
253 47
Fences, gates, steps, etc. (maint. and const.)
262 32
1,291 24 Fences, seats, grandstands, 'backstops, etc. (maint. and const.)
327 00 Fence, Joy St. Playground
477 90 Fence, Richard Trum Playground
1,470 33
Fence, Dilboy Field
700 00
Concrete footing course Dilboy Field
35 00
Transferred to other appropriations
Special equipment for tractor
950 00
Cutting down trees, planting new trees, etc.,
Powder House Boulevard
2,393 21
228
ANNUAL REPORTS
Reconstruction of driveway in front of Public Library
1,482 11
$14,204 88
Totals $18,313 03
*Includes $247 for cleaning monument Central Hill.
¡Includes planting new trees $772.
#Includes $400 for moving, repairing and resetting flag pole Central Hill Park; also $200 for new flag pole erected complete Prospect Hill Park.
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES
Recreation Playgrounds Central Hill Park (13.1 acres)
Parks $5,532 80
$ 24 40
1,898 56 Foss Park (formerly Broadway Park) (15.9 acres ) Broadway Parkway (1.6 acres)
2,129 32
3,151 81
Lincoln Park (7.2 acres)
917 34
136 05
Prospect Hill Park (2.6 acres)
2,523 00
127 85 Tufts Park (4.5 acres)
2,330 03
Paul Revere Park (0.02 acres)
58 40
46 79 Belmont Street Park (0.4 acres)
351 17
Powder House Boulevard (0.9 mile long)
3,712 14
Powder House Square Parkway
11 80
Cemetery, Somerville Avenue (0.7 acre)
143 23
5,219 63 Dilboy Field (15.2 acres)
2,232 50 Richard Trum Playground (4.3 acres)
32 09
66 19 Playground, Glen Street and Oliver Street (2.3 acres)
201 93 Playground, Kent Street and Somerville
Avenue (0.8 acre)
43 24
377 34 Playground, Poplar Street and Joy Street
71
239 02 Woods Playground, corner Elm Street, Cher- ry Street and Sartwell Avenue (2.1 acres)
48 66
373 25
Shaw Playground, Broadway at Western Junior High School (2.8 acres) Charges other Depts. and Divs.
23 12
74 56
$14,169 88 35 00
Transferred to other appropriations
$14,204 88
Total expenditures, maintenance (74.92 acres) 74.22 acres parks and playgrounds, 0.7 acre cemetery and 0.9 mile boulevard, and 0.54 mile parkway roads.
CREDIT
Recreation Playgrounds
Appropriation for Parks
Parks $18,400 00
$14,700 00 Appropriation for Playgrounds
67 24 Service Transfers
$14.767 24
Total Credit
$18,400 00
$ 562 36
Balance unexpended
$ 86 97
IMPROVEMENT OF PLAYGROUNDS
Playground Foss Park (about 5.5 acres north- erly end Foss Park)
$18,313 03
(0.5 acre)
214 58
241 40
229
CITY ENGINEER
CREDIT
Unexpended balance (1928) $ 880 04
Balance unexpended Dec. 31, 1929 (no expenditures having been made)
$880 04
John M. Woods Playground (Elm St., Cherry St. and Sartwell Ave.)
CREDIT
Unexpended balance (1928)
$1,000 00
Balance unexpended Dec. 31, 1929 (no expenditures having been made ....
$1,000 00
Improvement Walter Ernest Shaw Playground
EXPENDITURES
Labor, grading and seeding; placing signs, etc. $ 47 42
CREDIT
Unexpended balance (1928) 1,093 23
$1,045 81
Balance unexpended Dec. 31, 1929.
Assessments for Metropolitan parks and boulevards (City's proportional cost) $80,633 66 Total paid Commonwealth of Massachusetts-Metropoli- tan Park System, to January 1, 1930. 1,578,852 42 Total length Metropolitan boulevard in Somerville 2.33 miles
All of the city's playfield areas have been in constant use throughout the year ;- 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 ; an exhibition on Trum Field featured the closing of the summer work.
At the athletic field bordering Alewife Brook the outdoor runing track has been very popular and the enclosed area might be used as a wading pool if a cement floor was installed. The remaining area should be graded as soon as finances permit. The playing surface of Dilboy Field has deteriorated badly due principally to settlement in the filling where Alewife Brook was straightened.
The city has become so densely populated (averaging near- ly 25,000 people a square mile) that some of the larger park areas should be more extensively utilized for public recreation and physical training purposes. On several of the play fields concrete buildings should be constructed, additional apparatus and shelters provided and some of the smaller playground areas should be enclosed by wire fencing for protection.
230
ANNUAL REPORTS
In certain localities of the city well-lighted playgrounds should be maintained during the summer evenings for the young men and women who are obliged to work in the day time.
Previous reports are respectfuly referred to for suggest- ions and recommendations for improvement of park and play- ground areas.
The Recreation Commission and various other public and private organizations have been of great assistance in advising and promoting the progress of this division.
(See City Auditor's report for total expenditure by city departments and commissions for recreation and play the past year.)
In closing this report I feel that attention should be called to the fact that the writer did not have charge of the Depart- ment during any part of the year covered by this report.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP P. WELCH, City Engineer.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
231
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
Somerville, Mass., 31, 1930.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :-- Gentlemen :-
In compliance with the City Ordinance; I have the honor of submitting for your information the Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1929.
Alarms and Losses
Number of Bell Alarms
365
Number of Still Alarms.
663
Total Alarms
1,028
Number in excess of 1928 109
Value of Buildings at risk
$2,928,345 00
Insurance on Buildings at risk
4,362,445 00
Damage to Buildings
166,020 58
Value of Contents
369,095 00
Insurance on Contents.
274,241 14
Damage to Contents.
67,845 35
Total value at risk
3,241,270 00
Total damage
234,895 93
Approximate per capita loss.
2 34
Classification of Causes of Alarms
Automobiles
129
Chimney fires
69
Bonfires
82
Careless smoker
58
Rubbish
40
Dump fires
25
Smoke and steam mistaken for fire.
22
Sparks on shingle roof
35
False alarms
23
Undetermined
30
Children playing with matches.
32
Defective furnaces and heaters.
26
Grass fires
49
Fireworks and Firecrackers
16
Hot ashes in wooden receptacles
13
Awning fires
11
Electric appliances and wires
56
Out of town
112
Miscellaneous
83
Defective oil heaters
13
Spontaneous combustion
17
Cigarettes
34
Wooden receptacles too near heaters.
13
Food and clothes on stove
40
1028
232
ANNUAL REPORTS
Manual Force
The manual force consists of one hundred and forty (140) permanent men ; during the year the Chief, a Captain and one of the permanent men has been retired and placed on the Pen- sion list and six have been added from the eligible list of the Civil Service.
The roster of the Department is as follows :-
1 Deputy Chief (Acting Chief)
2 District Chiefs
7 Captains
1 Master Mechanic
15 Lieutenants
1 Engineman
113 Permanent men
Apparatus'
On September 12th an Ahrens-Fox Combination Wagon equipped with a Booster Pump was placed in service at Union Square Station to be used as a tender for Engine 3.
The apparatus is as follows :-
1 Motor driven 1,300 Pump and Hose Wagon;
1 Motor driven 1,000 gallon Pump and Hose wagon;
1 Motor driven 900 gallon Pump and Hose wagon;
2 Motor driven 750 gallon Pump Hose wagon and chemical;
2 Motor driven Hose wagon and Booster Pump;
4 Motor driven Combination hose and chemical wagons;
1 Motor driven Combination Ladder Truck and chemical;
2 Motor driven Tiller Steering Ladder Trucks;
1 Motor driven Tiller steering 75 ft. Aerial Ladder Truck; 1 Automobile Buick Sedan, Chief's car;
1 Automobile Deputy Chief's car;
1 Automobile District Chief's car;
1 Automobile Master Mechanic's car;
1 Automobile Service and supply car ;
1 Relief Wagon Combination hose and chemical.
Hose
The present amount of serviceable hose is 9,650 feet of two and one half (21/2) inch double jacketed rubber lined water hose and 2,200 feet of three quarter inch and one inch Chemical hose. There has been 1000 feet of new two and one half inch hose purchased in October which was immediately placed in service. At present there is 1500 feet of two and one half inch hose and 300 feet of Chemical hose which is condemmed for fire duty.
1929
Engine 1
Engine 2
Engine 3
Engine 4
Hose 5
Engine 6
Hose 7
Ladder 1
Ladder 2
Ladder 3
Ladder 4
Totals
Bell alarms
265
233
219
118
85
52
120
130
126
31
139
365
Still alarms
99
163
102
35
56
99
57
14
15
9
14
663
Miles traveled
485
347
409
137
160
221
286
156
161
118
312
2,792
Feet of Hose used
20,800
40,400
22,900
12,300
12,600
10,250
9,950
129,200
Chemical Hose
11,600
18,500
22,700
7,900
5,250
9,000
11,500
650
87,100
Feet of Ladders
54
40
40
80
3,871
2,861
1,354
2,647
10,947
Extinguishers
14
18
31
22
20
6
16
2
5
1
6
141
Gals. of Chemical
3,080
2,129
1,268
840
1,885
153
9,355
Covering
1
8
7
16
Out of town
6
39
9
5
43
3
1
2
108
Covers used
6
2
6
23
3
3
43
..
FIRE DEPARTMENT
233
234
ANNUAL, REPORTS
Recommendations
It is imperative that a new station and location be pro- cured and built for Engine Co. No. 4 at the Corner of Grove Street and Highland Avenue. The building is 50 years old and is impossible of remodelling both as to construction and approach.
A new Station and location be procured and built for Hose Co. No. S at or in the vicinity of Winter Hill, to provide adequate protection for the fast growing development in that section and to replace the Station abandoned some 8 years ago.
A Pumping Engine capacity 1000 gallons, Wagon with Booster Pump to be used as tender, an aerial Ladder Truck with an 85 foot Extension, 3 Light Autos for the use of the Deputy Chief and the District Chiefs, 2 Deck Guns, 1 Formon Generator, 2 Baker Cellar Pipes, 25 Gas Masks, 6 Rubber Covers, 2 Searchlights, 5 Rectifiers, 5 Lieutenants to be pro- mcted to Captain and new Badges for Officers, 12 additional permanent men.
In Conclusion
In concluding this report, I desire to express my ap- preciation to His Honor, Mayor Conwell and to the Board of Aldermen also to all other City Officials who have in any way co-operated with this department.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Offi- cers and members of the' Department for their efficiency and loyalty to the Department.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. CRIBBY, Chief Engineer.
235.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU
Union Square Station
January 1, 1923
Joseph A. Cribby, Chief Engineer, Somerville Fire Department,
Somerville, Massachusetts.
Sir :-
I have the honor to submit herewith my sixth annual. report of the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Somerville Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1929.
The following shows in part the activities of the Bureau :
Original inspections 2779 Follow-up re-inspections 1146
Total inspections 3925
Of the 2779 original inspections, it was necessary to issue- 569 written notices to correct violations of the Department of Public Safety Regulations and remove conditions that were a menace to the Public Safety. The different mercantile and manufacturing establishments, garages, theaters, storage warehouses, apartment and tenement houses, and the cellars- of some of the private dwellings throughout the city have been inspected. When ever hazardous or unlawful conditions exist- ed, they were remedied by the owners or occupants by verbal requests or written notices.
Conditions over which the fire department had no control were reported to either the Building Commissioner, Wire Commissioner, Board of Health or the Gas Companies.
There were 82 permits issued for the retail sale of fire- works. These premises were inspected several times while the fireworks were on sale and the Department Regulations were enforced.
There were several dilapidated buildings that were a menace, torn down and removed, that were reported by the- inspectors. Broken doors and windows have been boarded up or otherwise secured against illegal trespassers on other un- used buildings.
236
ANNUAL REPORTS
A recapitulation of the 23,409 inspections made since the establishing of a Fire Prevention Bureau follows :-
Year
Original Inspections
Follow-up Re-inspections
Notices Issued
1924 ...
1.936
1,690
840
1925
.......... ...
1,536
974
460
1926
3,817
2,109
1,041
1927
2,859
1,042
516
1928
2,634
887
439
1929
2,779
1,146
569
Total
15,561
7,848
3,865
As it is proposed to detail members of the department to perform full time inspection work, I recommend that a suitable Fire Prevention Inspector's examination be held under Civil Service Rules and all full paid members of the department to be eligible to compete. As it requires months of careful coaching and studying of laws and ordinances to be able to have the ability to judge conditions and render advice on the best method to pursue in the elimination of hazardous conditions, it cannot be expected that men who have had no preparation or any inclination to perfect themselves will ever be able to perform efficient fire prevention duties.
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