Report of the city of Somerville 1929, Part 23

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1929
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 438


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1929 > Part 23


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Bonair st.


Public


40


744


......


William


College ave.


Chandler st.


Public


. 40


381


......


William


Broadway


Medford line


Private


50


......


154


Willoughby


Central st.


Sycamore st.


Public


40


427


.....


Willow ave.


Elm st.


Broadway


Public


50


3,450


......


Willow pl.


Cambridge line


South st.


Public


25


125


......


Wilson ave.


Broadway


B. & L. R.R.


Public


20


307


Wilton


Lowell st.


Hinckley st.


Public


35


415


......


Winchester


Broadway


Medford line


Private


40


.....


65


Windom


Elm st.


Summer st.


Public


40


300


...


...


Windsor rd.


Willow ave.


Hancock st.


Public


40


575


......


Windsor


Cambridge line


Northerly


Public


40


40


Windsor


End of above


Fitchburg R.R.


Public


27


490


Winslow ave.


College ave.


Clifton st.


Public


40


1,087


......


Winter


College ave.


Holland st.


Public


30


402


......


Winter Hill cir.


Broadway


Northeasterly


Private


25


......


177


Wisconsin ave.


Broadway


Penn. ave.


Public


50


499


Woodbine


Centre st.


Westerly


Private


30


......


212


Woods ave.


North st.


Alewife Bk pky


. Public


40


1,152


......


Woodstock


Victoria st.


Alewife brook


Public


40 to 32


361


...


Wyatt cir.


Wyatt st. around to Wyatt st.


Private


20


......


315


Wyatt


Concord ave.


Lincoln pky


Public


40


505


......


Yorktown


Cambridge line


N. E. line


Malvern ave.


Public


40


294


......


Yorktown


N. E. line


Northerly


Private


40


......


110


......


......


Wesley


Pearl st.


Medford line


Public


40


292


......


Whipple


Willow ave. Elm st.


Highland ave.


Private


30


.....


....


.. 307


50


Williams ct.


Porter st.


Northwesterly


Private


30


.....


461


Woodbine Ex.


End of above


Lowell st.


Private


35


......


f Sidewalk in Somerville.


......


350


Washington pl.


Washington st.


Southerly


Private about 7.5


114


Washington ter. End of above


Westerly and Easterly


Private


40


......


269


Private


40


Public


40


403


Westwood rd.


Bailey st.


Cambridge line


Public


White St. pl.


......


Public


Width in


Length


......


Malvern ave.


368


ANNUAL REPORTS


Table Showing the Location, Length and Width of Public and Private Streets-Continued


Street


From


To


Public or Private


Width in Feet Public Private


Court


39 Adams st.


Southeasterly


Private


8


......


90


Court


Albion st.


Central st.


Private


12


......


216


Court


11 Albion st.


Northeasterly


Private


9


178


Court


21 Albion st.


Northeasterly


Private


10


100


Court


292 Broadway


Southwesterly


Private


15


90


Court


Buena Vista rd.


Easterly


Private


15


145


Court


Cambria st.


Northerly


Private


9


59


Court


12 Carlton st.


Southeasterly


Private


25


75


Court


113 Central st.


Southeasterly


Private


20


150


Court


227 Columbia st. Northwesterly


Private


10


117


Court


Conlon ct.


Windsor st. ex.


Private


20


240


Court


36 Craigie st.


Westerly


Private


25


126


Court


58 Dane st.


Easterly


Private


10


70


Court


20 Dimick st.


Southwesterly


Private


39.25


136


Court


91 Franklin st.


Westerly


Private


12


171


Court


35 Lexington av.Northerly


Private


21


90


Court


66 Lowell st.


Westerly


Private


25


101


Court


101 Medford st.


Easterly


Private


8


75


Court


335 Somerville ave.


Northerly


Private


15


60


Court


10 Stone ave.


Northwesterly


Private


20


113


Court


Windsor st. ex. E'ly and W'ly


Private


20


370


Court


Washington ave.Franklin st.


Private


6


95


Court


Irvington rd.


Boston ave.


Private


20


...


157


Total


475,226


54,622


......


..


...


188


Court


112 Central st.


Northwesterly


Private


10


..


168


Court


612 Broadway


Southwesterly


Private


20


......


Public, 90.005 miles [includes 1.406 miles of City Boulevard and Park Roadways, 2.331 miles of State Boulevard (Metropolitan Park Commission), and 0.98 miles State Highway]; private 10.345.


Total length of streets in the city, 100.350 miles.


..


...


..


...


..


Length


369


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


January 1, 1930.


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


Gentlemen :


The Board of Election Commissioners respectfully submits the following for the year 1929.


Registration was held at the City Hall daily from July 8 to September 24 from 8:00 A. M. until 4:00 P. M., except on Saturdays when the hours were from 8:00 A. M. until 12 Noon. On Wednesday, September 25th, and on Wednesday, October 16th the hours were from 12 Noon until 10:00 P. M.


Outside registration dates were as follows :


Outside Sessions from 7:30 to 9:30 P. M.


Carr Schoolhouse, Atherton Street, Tuesday, September 10th. Perry Schoolhouse, Washington Street, Tuesday, September 10th. Western Junior High School, Holland Street, Thursday, September 12th. Burns Schoolhouse, Cherry Street, Thursday, September 12th. Bingham Schoolhouse, Lowell Street, Friday, September 13th. Glines Schoolhouse, Jaques Street, Friday, September 13th. Knapp Schoolhouse, Newton Street, Tuesday, September 17th. Southworth Schoolhouse, Myrtle Street, Tuesday, September 17th. Brown Schoolhouse, Willow Avenue, Wednesday, September 18th. Cutler Schoolhouse, Powder House Blvd., Wednesday, September 18th. Edgerly Schoolhouse, Cross Street, Friday, September 20th. Bennett Schoolhouse, Poplar Street, Friday, September 20th.


Evening Sessions at City Hall, apart from Wednesday, September 25th, and October 16th, were Friday, September 6th, Monday, September 23rd, and Tuesday, September 24th.


370


ANNUAL REPORTS


THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF ASSESSED POLLS AND REGISTERED VOTERS


Assessed Polls Nov. 8 1929


Registered Voters Nov. 1928


Revised Lists July 1929


Names Added Sept. & Oct. 1929


Registered Voters Nov. 1929


Ward


Pct.


Men Women


Men Women Men Women Men Women


1


1 1,374


799


635


665


523


70


44


735


567


1


2


1,294


813


714


677


615


63


51


740


666


1


3


812


545


466


472


403


38


27


510


430


1


4


1,133


767


710


682


625


43


38


725


663


4,613


2,924


2,525


2,496


2,166


214


160


2,710


2,326


2


1


1,237


532


317


422


266


70


17


492


283


2


2


1,230


724


627


617


554


57


29


674


583


2


3


598


372


328


319


295


21


13


340


308


2


4


1,240


752


663


631


561


57


44


688


605


2


5


1,312


763


610


642


509


48


33


690


542


5,617


3,143


2,545


2,631


2,185


253


136


2,884


2,321


3


1


866


648


644


570


579


42


5


612


574


3


2


792


569


658


506


595


40


30


546


625


3


3


1,139


809


860


737


807


49


46


786


853


3


4


1,209


874


977


764


852


38


44


802


896


4,006


2,900


3,139


2,577


2,833


169


115


2,746


2,948


4


1


966


699


717


598


615


32


32


630


647


4


2


1,172


1,255


1,161


597


523


84


71


681


594


4


3


767


573


743


493


637


33


30


526


667


4


4


897


691


811


631


773


39


43


670


816


4


5


928


......


...


515


501


28


34


543


535


4,730


3,218


3,432


2,834


3,049


216


210


3,050


3,259


5


1


1,094


777


787


697


691


58


52


755


743


5


2


1,130


760


704


659


594


53


41


712


635


5


3


1,192


842


801


739


713


37


38


776


751


5


4


1,101


826


781


692


668


41


43


733


711


4,517


3,205


3,073


2,787


2,666


189


174


2,976


2,840


6


1


941


770


822


652


731


26


34


678


765


6


2


902


682


756


592


652


26


24


618


676


6


3


1,052


746


795


609


689


54


33


663


722


6


4


885


774


890


685


820


19


28


704


848


3,780


2,972


3,263


2,538


2,892


125


119


2,663


3,011


7


1


928


688


714


609


625


45


44


654


669


7


2


866


615


602


522


498


37


25


559


523


7


3


824


716


732


620


653


26


32


646


ยท 685


7


4


802


539


514


502


466


37


27


539


493


5


826


655


652


577


581


39


36


616


617


4,246


3,213


3,214


2,830


2,823


184


164


3,014


2,987


Total


31,509


21,575


21,191


18,693


18,614


1,350


1,078


20,043


19,692


371


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


This being the year of the biennial election for the various municipal officers, nomination papers were received for the office of Mayor, Board of Aldermen and School Committee and names certified ; also, referendum petitions were received and names certified.


A recount of Democratic ballots cast at the primary elec- tion, October 15th, for the office of Mayor, Ward Alderman, Ward 2; Ward Alderman, Ward 5; School Committee, Ward 5, and Alderman at Large, Ward 6, was held Monday and Tues- day evenings, October 21st and 22nd, without any material change from the original count.


In accordance with chapter 234, of the General Laws, as amended by chapter 311 of the Acts of 1924, the Election Com- missioners prepared a list of the inhabitants of Somerville, liable to serve as jurors. The Board has established a system of having each person provisionally selected for jury duty fill out a questionnaire and appear before a member of the Board at the office and make oath to the statements contained therein. This gives the Board an opportunity to meet each individual and note, if any, his physical defects or disability to render the county the service that would be required of him as a juror. These personal examinations also, enable the Board to know the educational qualifications of each prospective juror.


The members of the Board make an impartial selection from all parts of the city, of men of various occupations, and are of the opinion that the persons finally selected represent an average of our citizenship. The jury list prepared by the Board for 1929 contains the names of 1157 voters of Somerville.


The expense of the Election Department for the year ending December 31, 1929. Board of Election Commissioners, $11,394.22. Pay of Election Officers, $4,712.00. Total $16,106.22.


A vault has been erected for the storage of supplies and records. The Commission has made changes in the method of handling election returns, which has worked out, in their opinion very satisfactorily.


The Board of Election Commissioners has had the co- operation of His Honor, the Mayor, the Honorable Members of the Board of Aldermen and the City Officials, for which it is deeply grateful.


WILLIAM F. BURNS, Chairman CHARLES LEO SHEA, FRANCIS W. K. SMITH, ARTHUR G. BURTNETT, Secretary, Board of Election Commissioners.


372


ANNUAL REPORTS


STATISTICS


Record of City Election Primary, October 15, 1929. Record of City Election, November 5, 1929. Record of Total number of Votes Cast.


PRIMARY.


ELECTION.


Candidates


Ward One


Ward Two


Ward Three


Ward Four Ward Five


Ward Six


Ward Seven


Candidates


Ward One


Ward Two


Ward Three


Ward Four


Ward Five


1


2


Ward Seven


Total


MAYOR


Warren C. D C. Harris


Inm S. Howe


noch .Roberston


David


ALDERMAN AT LARGE


1028


mik


142


John h J.


Were Three


3Jichael


Daily ...


- .....


Ward Four


1.00 B.


James


George


Frederick


Ward SIN


William F.


George


Van Auker


30: 310


1691


WARD ALDERMEN


Ward One %. Carreti


VARD ALDERNEN


Ward On John J.


Democratle


Republico.n Demeerntle


Democmile


Detnocrafle


Ward Three


Demeernllc


Glurnl


Repulillean Repubdlean Republican Demoeralle


Jacob H. Lamn Fico9 11. Lampert Thomas F. Mackey whitney'


Frnach:


Demoeralle


Richard J. Mel &leh 3clAlchlin Democratie


Arthur G.


Repoliican Republicsn


Perry Wintlead Patterson Ward Flv


wallle P. Elliott


-


Caulder


& C. Cobron _...


ce C


Watson


Ward Sever


Ward Four


John Joseph Brower


Edward H. Rtlley


134


44-44


....-


Philly Sherman


ERS OF


Ward One


Charles


Walter R. Whittaker


Ward Two


-John M


Ward Three


Fred


Conwell


Walter 1 Valter L Chapman


.....


-


Republican


moerallC


Delhormillo


Republican Recubilear


13


Freu Fletcher


Republican Democralle


Scanla


Demnneralle


De. Wallter


Ward Four


Democratie


Republican


Republican


Is Buckley


Pidech J. Corney


William F IN


Rtmund M. Tantgan


[tomueral


Democratic


.....


Republican:


1346


Gilwin


Ward Seven


Jennie G, Cribe Crawford K. Sweeley


Orville S. Walcron


Elizabeth 3


Ward Four


Mary E Morrissey


Louls B. C


Edmund M. Lanigan


D. Frank MeNetil, Jf. Powrotu Perry P. Nangle Ward Slx


Elizabeth Culens


-


444444


. Crine


Jennie E. Crire


Elizabeth Coires


.....


-


......


-...


Ifred E. Magele


Ward Six


Francis


Donovan


TTE4


william LA. @' Brien


Ward Seven


WillInm G. Barrett


444444


-- 444 4444-


WARD ALDERMAN . Ward One


CROWLEY


Daniel A, D


LA Hasicell ..............


Ernest Caff mm


Oskor Couding


Pred GlIt-Ft


Ward Four


Winfield S


Patterson


Arthur G.


150


-- 44


.. 44


Daniel J. Griffin Thomas H. Kenned


John J Portunni1


Patrick


. Greenwood


Arthur . While


William J william J. wright, Jr. Sealtered v


Ward Three


. Kelleher


Democralle


Patrick Henry Rtyin


Waldo


tepublican


Ward Seven Laalle Edgar Jereminh J, Began Philip Sherman


Repabilcam


.....


-


--


-.


-


Ward Six


Nu Candidates Ward Seven


Jereminh J. Regn


denale . Crine


Pelllp Sherman


Manuel Seus1 .


Bloger Blanchard Try P. Nangle


-


& F.


Harriet C.


444 44


Ward Six


893


Herbert Cholerlos


4444


Crawford 16 Sweeley Orville S. Waldron


-


-


-


--


.....


Francis Arkinsont


Candidates


Ward One


Ward Two


1 Ward Three


Ward Four


Ward Five


Ward Six Ward Seven


Total 16336


MAYOR Arthur J. Healey Robert W. Howley . Murphy


ALDERMAN AT LARGE Ward Ont


John M. Gmtuin


Timothy . Cronin ...........


Eliner E Hayes - Ward Twp


268 217


.....


44444


.....


Ward Three


Demoeralle Republienn 376


Ward Four Mavidson


Republican 363 Dymoeralle 534


Deenacralle


Frederick W. WoliTer


Ward Six william


Ttepullpean Democralle 631


BE SE


321 381 32%


265 328 524 150T


Francis


Harold G.


3. Kcmapp


Ward Two


No Candidales


Ward Three


Gloral Incoh H. Lampert


Walsh Ward Two Moran


WILIlim I Joseph Stokes Eines F. Walsh Ward Two Lt. Conway J. Greeley


P. Slynes


ani


Warren


Jolin LA


Democratic


.. ..


-


. Perry


Ward Six


76


Dwyer


Ilchard J. Melaughlin Ward Five


.....


John


Atthur P. Dlenne


-


Saward 1. Hughes ..


-


Charles O X Martienetle


Daniel P. 3 . Sturpay


Fletcher


Scattered Y


4444


Ward Four


-4444


-444


1844


Ward Five


Jesse J. Enox


MEMBERS SCHOOL COMN. Ward One


Fratele J. Fitzpatrick


44 44


.....


Eugene H. Clroux Ward Two


Franela a. s . Marion Merrill


S. Turner


Ward Five


lease J


153


Ward Si


Herbert Cholerton


Republican


Ward Three


Paul I L. McCarchy


Republican


--


-


1501


Ward Seven Willlun G, Barrett George While Van Auken


Democratie El Gi3 4112 539


Republican 352


339


Republican Jetoperalle


J. Murphy D. Healey


4511 ALDERMEN AT LARGE Ward One . Grattan Alter I


Ward Two Timelhy


Democralle G49


15150


1507


422 650


410 957 308


1490


Wailer Ward Four ward Four . Davidson


1429


Ward Five


And Five


Havican Marmanyd. Ward Five


Robert C. Donovan


44G 659 250


Part


RECORD OF VOTES CAST IN THE CITY ELECTION, HELD NOVEMBER 5. 1929,


Record of votes cast at the City Election Primary, October 15, 1929. DEMOCRATIC


Record of votes cast in the Election Primary, October 15, 1929. REPUBLICAN


Total


-


.....


rd Seven


131


Pourl M. Woodward


Cristopher J. Muldoor


MEMBERS OF SCHOOL COMMA


Ward One


Francis J. Plixpatrick


Themocratie


Lucene H. Giroux R. Whitlake


Ward Two Elizabeth J. Caires llam F. Dewire


Jelan 31. Holden John 31. Ward Three


Ware slx


613


....


.....


ard Five


-


##144


-


.....


+4444


144-4


....


....


-....


446


82 78


-


-


6


Daniel A. O' Brien .. un


G10 133 441 679 1347


. Donovan


Ward Six


373


BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS


RECORD OF VOTES CAST AT THE CITY ELECTION PRIMARY OCTOBER 15, 1929


Ward


Pct.


Democratic


Republican


1


1


348


302


1


2


343


309


1


3


269


201


1


4


315


351


2


1


508


42


2


2


694


190


2


3


283


110


2


4


851


76


2


5


536


136


2,872


554


3


1


425


298


3


2


265


362


3


3


448


518


3


4


501


383


1639


1,561


4


1


194


404


4


2


369


226


4


3


191


397


4


4


249


445


4


5


227


254


1,230


1,726


5


1


595


268


5


2


356


310


5


3


297


418


5


4


316


371


1,564


1,367


6


1


153


479


6


2


129


439


6


3


96


509


6


4


108


651


486


2,078


7


1


153


473


7


2


107


371


7


3


97


541


7


4


155


355


7


5


136


380


648


2,120


Total


9,714


9,714


10,569


10,569


1,275


1,163


374


ANNUAL REPORTS


RECORD OF VOTES CAST AT THE CITY ELECTION NOVEMBER 5, 1929


Ward


Pct.


1


1


1,049


1


2


1,103


1


3


769


1


4


1,106


4,027


2


1


684


2


2


1,085


2


3


545


2


4


1,101


2


5


970


3


1


1,041


3


2


1,004


3


3


1,413


3


4


1,386


4


1


997


4


2


942


4


3


925


4


4


1,198


4


5


774


5


1


1,229


5


2


1,075


5


3


1,245


5


4


1,147


4,696


6


1


1,147


6


2


1,057


6


3


1,087


6


4


1,259


4,550


7


1


1,064


7


2


861


7


3


1,044


7


4


837


7


5


958


4,764


Total


32,102


32,102


4,385


4,844


4,836


375


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


City Hall, Somerville, January 1, 1930.


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


. Gentlemen :


In accordance with the provisions of the City Charter, I submit herewith the annual report of the public buildings de- partment for the year ending December 31, 1929.


The total valuation of the property which is in the custody of the public buildings department is approximately $4,922,800.


The total expenditures for the year 1929 for the care and maintenance of the property was $282,391.84.


This amount was expended as follows :


Janitors


Fuel


Light


Care and Repairs


Total


School Buildings


$89,035 39 $27,205 70 $18,487 94 $78,031 99 $212,761 02


Municipal Bldgs.


5,553 86


1,566 73


4,780 43


11,901 02


Polling Places


15.18


21 47


1,207 27


1,243 92


Police Buildings


2,941 78


534 02


1,442 66


2,034 66


6,953 12


Fire Buildings


2,522 18


3,366 87


4,391 14


10,280 19


Electrical Bldgs.


1,274 71


401 44


98 10


498 74


2,272 99


Contagious Hospital 416 00


1,357 86


730 22


1,003 41


3,507 49


Sewer Buildings


89 67


45 08


103 38


238 13


Sanitary Bldgs.


149 61


899 15


1,048 76


Highway Bldgs.


1,278 70


247 72


682 34


2,208 76


City Home Bldgs.


906 35


353 53


5,352 44


6,612 32


Central Library


3,908 42


708 48


1,571 99


1,238 15


7,427 04


West Br. Library


1,743 72


684 00


555 86


483 40


3,466 98


East Br. Library


1,457 71


382 65


290 51


844 98


2,975 85


Union Sq. Library


1,457 71


259 89


229 57


141 75


2,088 92


Park Buildings


722 80


90 82


1,953 27


2,766 89


Bathhouse


1,641 84


1,040 57


2,682 41


Water Buildings


368 41


352 36


884 38


1,605 15


Bandstand


350 88


350 88


..


Total


$109,431 14 $37,437 33 $29,601 04$105,922 33 $282,391 84


Inspection of Buildings


The Commissioner of Public Buildings is also the in- spector of buildings according to the terms of the charter and


376


ANNUAL REPORTS


as such during the past year has made over 3,000 formal in- spections of buildings in the process of construction.


The following table shows the number of permits issued for building operations during the year 1929 :


WARDS


Buildings


1


2


3


4


5


6


Dwellings


36


70


47


70


40


25


43


7 Totals 331


Dwellings & Stores.


1


1


1


2


....


....


6


Stores


4


12


8


2


3


8


2


39


Storage


2


7


....


....


1


1


....


11


Shops


2


....


....


....


1


....


4


Garages


13


22


16


29


25


13


31


149


Apartments


....


....


....


3


....


4


....


7


Manufactories


3


4


....


....


....


....


9


Stables


1


....


....


....


....


....


1


Sheds


4


8


2


2


....


....


16


Bakeries


1


2


1


....


....


....


7


Restaurants


1


....


....


....


1


1


....


3


Warehouses


1


1


....


....


....


....


....


4


Filling Stations


2


3


1


2


3


....


....


11


Shops


1


....


....


....


....


....


....


1


Shops


1


....


....


....


....


....


....


1


Launderies


....


....


....


....


....


....


2


Miscellaneous


1.


3


5


1


....


3


....


13


Torn Down


4


7


4


2


2


3


....


22


Totals


78


146


84


115


82


62


76


643


Wood


Fire-resisting


Totals


New Buildings


57


182


239


Alterations


339


43


382


Totals


396


225


621


WARDS


Buildings


1


2


3


4


5


6


7 Totals


Wood


45


99


50


76


50


33


42


395


Wood & Iron


1


....


....


....


....


2


Fireproofed Wood


....


....


....


....


....


....


1


Brick


7


8


9


3


3


10


2


42


Brick & Wood


3


4


5


3


1


2


....


18


Brick & Stone


1


....


....


....


....


3


Brick, Steel & Wood


....


2


1


....


....


....


....


6


Brick Veneer


1


....


....


....


....


....


3


Brick and


Cement


Block


....


....


....


....


....


2


Hen Houses


1


1


....


....


2


....


....


1


Hospitals


....


1


....


....


....


....


....


3


Club Houses


..


....


1


1


....


....


....


2


Wood & Metal


....


1


....


....


1


....


....


3


Brick & Concrete ......


2


1


1


1


....


1


....


2


2


1


3


..


....


1


1


1


2


2


....


3


Offices and Machine


3


1


1


1


377


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


WARDS


Buildings


1


2


3


4


5


6


7 Totals


Cement Block


11


16


16


27


24


13


31


138


Cement Block and


Steel


....


....


....


....


....


....


8


Metal


4


8


1


2


1


....


....


16


Corrugated Iron


1


....


....


....


....


....


....


1


Stucco


....


....


...


....


....


....


-


-


Totals


78


146


84


115


82


62


76


643


The number of plumbing permits issued during 1929 was


284


Number of permits for plumbing in new buildings


90


Number of permits for plumbing in old buildings


194


Number of buildings in which soil pipes were tested


220


Fees collected for 284 plumbing permits amounted to


$464 00


The total estimated cost of new buildings and alterations during the year 1929 was $3,086,154, while the estimated cost in 1928 was $3,513,417.00, showing a decrease of $427,263.00.


The total number of permits issued during the year 1929, viz 643, was 89 less than during the year 1928, when 732 per- mits for new buildings and alterations were issued.


There has been considerable speculative building of dwell- ings going on this year, or to be exact there were permits is- sued for 59 new dwellings housing 305 families.


On September 1, 1918 the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville passed an ordinance requiring a fee to be col- lected for every building permit issued by this department. In accordance with this, fees collected for buildings during the year 1929 amounted to $1,604.00.


The Commissioner has under his charge and direction the work of maintenance and upkeep of the eighty-four public buildings of this City and the grounds in connection there- with, all janitors in the City's employ, a force of mechanics who perform the work of keeping all buildings in repair, the inspection of installation and care of all elevators, the super- vision of construction of all new municipal buildings, the main- tenance of the public bathing beach and public municipal baths in the Bennett and Bingham Schools, and Lincoln Park.


The various activities in connection with the department work require a vast amount of time and attention in order to keep the property in proper condition for occupancy.


Coal


As in the past years an invitation was sent out for bids for supplying the necessary tonnage of both Anthracite and


1


Concrete


3


2


1


....


1


1


....


1


1


1


378


ANNUAL REPORTS


Bituminous coal for the city buildings for the Winter of 1929 and the Spring of 1930.


1


The contract for both Bituminous and Anthracite coal was awarded to the Commonwealth Fuel Company of Somer- ville.


The above firm furnished a chemical analysis of the coal which they agreed to supply. A sample from each delivery was sent to Arthur D. Little Company for analysis.


Elevators


According to an act of the legislature, the Building Com- missioner is required to have every elevator in the city in- spected yearly, and a report of the conditions and necessary repairs made to the Public Safety Department, State House, Boston.


Plans and specifications of all new installations of eleva- tors must be filed in this office and certificates of approval granted by the Commissioner. There have been 7 elevators installed during the past year, and 131 elevator inspections made. 25 orders for repairs were sent out to owners covering 46 elevators.


School Buildings


The maintenance and care of the school buildings has, as formerly, demanded the most vigilant attention from this de- partment and the appropriation made for that purpose I be- lieve has been expended carefully and judiciously.


Every year, before the summer vacation arrives, this de- partment sends out blanks to be filled in by both the principles and janitors of the school buildings for all requisitions and repairs needed.


These repairs and requests are taken up with the Super- intendent of Schools, and taken care of in the order which he suggests so far as the appropriation will allow.


First are taken into consideration the requests and re- pairs absolutely needed for the opening of schools in the Fall.


379


COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS


Then the others are taken up in the order of their importance. This in itself is a huge task as the wants of every section must be taken into consideration.


Lighting of School Buildings


The care of the pupils' eyesight is one of the most nec- essary things to be taken into consideration, and the Com- missioner has during the past year equipped the last of the grade schools with a complete lighting system of the most modern type at a cost of about $1,683.


There is still one school, The Continuation School, that is not fully equipped with artificial lighting and the Commission- er hopes to be able to install a lighting system in this build- ing during the coming year.


Fire Escapes


Somerville has unfortunately several three story school buildings of the older type with stairs running from a com- mon hallway.


The Bell, Prescott, and Forster School buildings have been taken care of by enclosed fire stairways of non-combustible material, entirely separate from the building but accessible from each floor.


The Commissioner again recommends that the Morse, Highland and Edgerly Schools be immediately equipped with enclosed fire stairways.


School Yards


During the past year the Hanscom, Edgerly, Pope, Cutler, Forster and Bingham School yards have been fenced with modern six-foot chain wire fencing. This prevents the child- ren, while at play, from running into roadway, thereby sav- ing the possibility of accidents. It is the hope of the Com- missioner to continue on this line and to erect several more such fences during the coming year.


There are several school yards that need resurfacing bad- ly as they are very rough and this creates the danger of child- ren being hurt while playing. The Burns, Carr, Hanscom,


380


ANNUAL REPORTS


Forster and Durell School yards have been resurfaced during the past year at a cost of $4,724.43. The Commissioner hopes to resurface several more yards during the coming year.


As in past years an invitation was sent out for bids for the care of lawns at the various school buildings. The con- tract was awarded to William Kelleher, the lowest bidder. His bid was $550.


Heating of Schools


Several boilers have been retubed and otherwise repaired during the past year.




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