USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1930 > Part 34
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The erection of a drill tower and the purchase of necessary equipment to properly educate and instruct the Department members in the modern methods of efficient fire fighting.
The acceptance of Chapter 351 of the Acts of 1930 by the City Government which authorizes the City to purchase uni- forms for the members of its Fire and Police Departments.
The passing of an ordinance forbidding the laying of fire resisting shingles or coverings over the old wooden shingles on the roof of buildings within the City limits.
The installation of new Fire Alarm Signal boxes in the vicinity of the following locations :
502
ANNUAL REPORTS
Brastow Avenue, corner of Porter Street.
Elm Street, corner of St. James Avenue. Shore Drive, corner of Crest Hill Road. George Street yards, Boston Elevated Railway. Warwick Street, near the Agar Manufacturing Co. College Avenue, corner of Morrison Avenue. Lowden Avenue, corner of Mallet Street.
Broadway, corner of Paulina Street. Broadway, corner of Garrison Avenue.
Curtis Street, corner of Chetwynd Road. Cameron Avenue, corner of Malvern Avenue. Powder House Boulevard, corner of Burnham Street.
Alewife Brook Parkway, corner of Woods Avenue.
Columbus Avenue, corner of Stone Avenue.
CONCLUSION
My sincere appreciation is hereby expressed to His Honor, Mayor John J. Murphy, the Public Safety Committee, the City Government as a whole and to the various other municipal Departments.
The Officers and members of the Department have my commendation and sincere thanks for the efficient and faithful manner in which they have performed their duties during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. CRIBBY, Chief Engineer Somerville Fire Dept.
503
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU Located at Fire Headquarters
Somerville, Mass., January 1, 1931.
JOSEPH A. CRIBBY,
Chief of Department,
Sir :
I have the honor to submit the sixth annual report of the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Somerville Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1930.
There were 7429 original inspections, of the different mer- cantile and manufacturing establishments, garages, apartment and tenement houses, theatres and the cellars of some of the private dwellings throughout the city.
Of the 7429 original inspections, there were 501 cases re- ported for correction and written notices were issued and each case followed up until rectified. Conditions over which the fire department has not control were reported to either the Building Commissioner, Wire Commissioner, Board of Health or the Gas Companies.
Respectfully,
JOSEPH F. GREENE, Lieutenant in Charge of Bureau.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH A. CRIBBY, Chief Engineer.
1930
Engine Co. No. 1
Engine Co. No. 2.
Engine Co. No. 3
"Engine Co. No. 4
Engine Co. No. 6
Hose Co. No. 7.
Hose Co. No. 5
Ladder Co. No. I
Ladder Co. No. 2
54 37 OgLadder Co. No. 3
Ladder Co. No. 4
Totals H
323
Still alarms
86
169
120
53
125
71
60
90
81
75
984
Miles traveled
447
394
315
210
317
225
159
249
259
207
329
3,311
Feet Hose used
20,300
45,200
22,400
12,500
17,600
8,450
10,800
137,250
Chemical hose
16,000
16,100
31,100
8,750
7,500
11,000
8,000
2,250
100,700
Feet of ladders
60
20
22
40
4,054
2,934
1,520
2,093
10,743
Extinguishers
8
16
18
16
14
19
2
8
7
2
110
Gallons of Gasoline.
675
909
656
432
315
320
110
235
220
150
295
4,317
Gallons of Oil
9
40
16
17
15
8
4
5
6
5
7
132
Out of town
15
35
12
5
48
6
9
4
2
4
1
141
Covers used
6
1
8
11
10
3
39
ANNUAL REPORTS
..
..
504
Bell alarms
103
505
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
OFFICE OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
City Hall, Somerville, January 1, 1931
To HIS HONOR, THE MAYOR, AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN :-
The following report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year 1930 is respectfully submitted .-
Work of Weights and Measures Department for 1930
Adjusted
Sealed
Not Sealed
Con- demned
Platform over 5000 capacity ....
......
51
......
......
Platform under 5000 capacity
53
363
12
11
Counter
4
456
7
10
Spring
1
685
......
23
Computing
......
562
8
19
Slot Personal Weighing
....
42
...
...
...
......
Beam
......
16
2
......
Weights
Avoirdupois
27
2894
....
4
Apothecary
......
699
.....
19
Metric
......
174
2
Capacity Measures
Vehicle Tanks
59
...
..
......
Dry
......
19
...
..
......
Liquid
......
2782
20
50
Gasoline Pumps
11
367
29
15
Gasoline Meters
......
...
......
Oil Pumps
......
98
604
......
Molasses Pumps
......
15
. ......
Quantity measures on Pumps
......
1795
......
Yard Sticks
......
..
...
Wood Baskets
4
.....
......
Cloth Measuring Devices
......
5
......
......
Taxi Meters
......
......
......
Total
48
11297
682
158
1
Prescription
......
55
...
...
......
14
127
4
......
15
506
ANNUAL REPORTS
Inspections other than sealing:
Number of scales and measures in stores
142
Number of Pedler's scales 63
Number of Junk scales
6
Number of Ice scales
14
Number of Gasoline devices
127
Number of Pedler's Licenses
115
Taxi Meters
39
Coal Certificates
3
Condemned for repairs or replacement on road:
Number of scales and measures inspected and C D ....
51
Number repaired or replaced and sealed 21
Number not reported ready for sealing
30
Condemned for repairs or replacement at office :
Number of scales and measures inspected and C D ....
74
Number repaired or replaced and sealed
57
Number not reported ready for sealing
17
Gasoline Station Tests:
Total number of calls
183
Number of different stations
120
Number of call backs to stations previously inspected
62
Number of pumps retested and inspected
127
Total number of gallons of gas drawn for tests
12932
Average gallons of gas drawn per pump
311/2
Total number of pumps inspected
410
Number of pumps sealed
37S
Number of pump non-sealed
22
Number of pumps C D
2
Total number of oil pumps
702
Number of oil pumps sealed
98
Number of oil pumps non-sealed
604
Summary of tests and inspections:
Total Number
Correct
Under
Over
Loaves of Bread
153
86
27
40
Packages of Butter
183
148
32
3
Coal in Paper Bags
9
9
....
....
Coal in Transit
3
....
....
3
Confectionery
15
15
....
....
Dry Commodity
412
354
51
7
Bags of Flour
161
64
79
18
Fruits and Vegetables
204
138
51
15
Ice
1
...
1
....
Meats and Provisions
199
125
63
11
Total
1340
939
304
97
507
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Other Inspections:
Marking of Food Packages
304
Marking of Bread
153
Paper or Fibre Cartons
130
Milk Jars 275
Wholesale Milk Cans
175
Metal Ice Cream Containers
500
Taxi Meters
39
Miscellaneous :
Complaints Investigated
6
Total Number Licenses Issued
263
Amount paid City Treasurer for Pedlers' Licenses. $ 834 00
Amount paid City Treasurer as Sealing Fees ... 1,032 38
Applications inspected and signed for Special Licenses:
Special City Licenses
17
County
75
State
68
Disabled Veterans
17
Transfers
30
Total
207
508
ANNUAL REPORTS
May I respectfully call to your attention again the need of a public scale, for reweighing purposes. The department is greatly handicapped in reweighing of coal in transit by having to direct vehicles to different parts of the City to weight loads on privately owned scales that have been sealed previously by this department.
B. S. ABBOTT,
Scaler of Weights and Measures.
509
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
January 1, 1931.
To the Honorable, The Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :-
I most respectfully submit the twenty-sixth annual report of the Electrical Department for the year ending December 31, 1930.
Inspection of Wiring in Buildings
The same rigid inspections of electrical wiring and at- tachments thereto have been carried on as in previous years.
The increased uses of unapproved and improperly con- structed appliances have caused serious life and fire hazard, but due to the new re-inspection system inaugurated this year electrical fires have been cut down to a minimum.
Electric circuits are a potential life and fire hazard and the greatest care has been taken in the inspection of all in- stallations. A large number of cases of poor work have been found, and have either been removed or remedied.
Number of advisatory inspections before work is
started
440
Number of inspections without notifications 300
Number of inspections of new work 3,448
Number of re-inspections on new work 604
Number of defective conditions not remedied 201
Number of re-inspections of old work 1,220
Total number of inspections 6,213 Number of permits issued to the Edison Electric Ill.
Co. for installing meters, lamps, etc. 882
(On re-inspections of old work at least two calls on each notice were made.)
510
ANNUAL REPORTS
Fire Alarm System
The Fire Alarm System is in excellent condition but a number of the older fire boxes should be replaced.
315 Box alarms have been received and transmitted dur- ing the year.
8 A. D. T. alarms.
684 telephone calls were received and the fire department sent.
7 two alarm fires and 1 three alarm occurred.
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- 1 dial 4 number manual transmitter.
13-
2- 5 circuit punching registers and take up reels. punching registers and take up reels.
2- automatic time and date stamps.
1- master clock.
962- cells storage battery.
5- 10 foot 4 shelf battery racks.
4- metropolitan tappers and 2 gongs. 2- motor generators.
Apparatus outside the central office consists of the fol- lowing :-
151 signal boxes. 7 tower strikers.
45 gongs.
10 punching registers.
20 tappers.
10 private telephones.
3 traffic horns.
About 68 miles of overhead wires and 85 miles of under- ground wires.
Four new boxes have been added during the past year.
Box 343-Shore Drive Box 4522-Contagious Hospital Box 2152-High School Box 245-Wyatt and Merriam Sts.
511
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
A new emergency truck was purchased this year and fully equipped for Fire Alarm repairs and Traffic Signal work.
27,000 feet of overhead wire has been run and 29,000 feet of old wire removed.
A number of the Fire Alarm boxes are of the old type and I recommend their replacement with a new type of Fire Alarm box.
I recommend that a new 6 dial transmitter be installed in the operating room so that a system of coding fire alarm calls from large manufacturing plants may be transmitted to the Fire Department so that they may know the building or part of the building from which the alarm was sounded.
Police Signal System
The Police Signal System is in good condition after 18 years of service.
A number of boxes have been overhauled and parts re- placed.
As it is planned to build a new police station I recommend an entire new police signal system and I further recommend that larger cables be installed so that wires will be available for traffic control wires, citizen call wires, or audible signals for the Police Department.
The system consists of the following 1-4 circuit police desk. About 18 miles of overhead wire.
3 Special boxes. 64 street signal boxes. About 18 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 aban- doned poles have been removed.
512
ANNUAL REPORTS
New Poles
Re- moved
Re- set
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co.
5
Re- placed 62 251
6
2
Edison Electric Illuminating Co. ...
30
7
0
Boston Elevated Railway Co.
1
....
1
3
Permits given to the New England Tel. & Tel Co. for attachments to the Edi- son Company's poles
35
....
....
....
Permits given to the Edison Electric Ill. Co. for attachments to the New
England Tel. & Tel. Company's poles ....
14
....
....
....
Street Lighting
A number of new lights have been added and some have been changed.
The number of street lights January 1, 1931 are as fol- lows :-
287 1500 C. P. lights.
55 1000 C. P. lights.
488 600 C. P. lights.
250 11 C. P. lights.
178 100 C. P. lights.
1006
80 C. P. lights.
A survey is recommended with the view of standardizing the type of pole and lamp, and to plan for better lighting in the city.
Traffic Lights
The installation and maintenance of Traffic Lights has been transferred from the Executive Department to this De- partment, and a program planned, the completion of which is expected early in 1931.
One maintenance contract was terminated December 1, and the balance were terminated December 31, with the ex- ception of the signal located at Broadway and Alewife Brook Parkway, which is leased on a five year contract.
I wish to thank His Honor, the Mayor, and the members of the Board of Aldermen and the several departments for the many courtesies received.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN F. KNIGHT,
Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights.
513:
INDEX
INDEX
Appeal, Board of, Report of 409
Assessors, Board of. Report of
492
Valuation of Real Estate and Personal Property 492
Supplementary Assessments
492
Valuation of Exempted Property
492
Warrants
493
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
493
Special Work
493
Table of Tax Rates in Surrounding Cities
497
City Auditor, Report of
15
Balance Sheet
18
Cash Statement
21
Taxes-Special Assessments
24
Departmental Bills
27
Water Department Accounts
28: 29
Appropriations
32
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
42
County of Middlesex
43
Revenue and Expenses
44
Temporary Loans
45.
Taxes
47
Special Assessments
48 49
Interest Requirements on Present City Debt
49
Interest Requirements on Funded Debt
50
Borrowing Capacity
51
Overlay Accounts
Excess and Deficiency Account
55
Receipts and Expenditures, Classifications of
57
Schedule of Public Property
100
City Clerk, Report of
307
Receipts
307
Payments
308
Licenses and Permits
309
Births
310
Marriages
310
Deaths
311
Ordinances
312
Liquor License Question
314
Statement of Estimated Revenue
Funded Debt
46
Maturities on Funded Debt
Abatements, Refunds, State Income Tax, etc. 52, 53, 54 54
514
INDEX
City Engineer, Report of
290
Engineering Department
290
City Engineer Division, Classification of Expenses 290
Streets Accepted as Public Ways
293
Table of Street Construction
295
Sewer Division
298
Sewers and Storm Drains Constructed
299
Maintenance Account
300
Parks and Playgrounds Division
302
Maintenance Account
302
City Government and Officers for 1930
315
City Solicitor, Report of 411
City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Report of
103
Revenue and Expense, Statement of
104
Borrowing Capacity
104
Cash Statement
105, 106
Taxes
115
Street Sprinkling Assessments
116
Overlay and Abatement
117
Betterment Assessments
118
Departmental Accounts
121
Revenue Loans
122
Bonds
125, 126, 127
Memorandum of Payments on Account of Debt 127
Treasury Department
128
Commissioner of Public Buildings (see Public Buildings Commissioner) ... .... 322
Commissioner of Streets (see Street Commissioner) ... 470
Commissioner of Water (see Water Commissioner) 420
Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights, Report of 509
Inspection of Wiring in Buildings
509
Fire Alarm System
510
Police Signal System
511
Supervision of Poles and Wires on the Streets
511
Street Lighting
512
Traffic Lights
512
Election Commissioners, Board of, Report of 273
List of Assessed Polls and Registered Voters
277
Election Statistics
278
Record of Votes Cast at State Primary
279
Record of Votes Cast at State Election
280
INDEX
515
Employment Bureau, Report of 408
Fire Department, Chief of. Report of
498
Alarms of Fire
498
List of Probable Causes
Manual Force
499
Apparatus
500
Hose
500
Recommendations
500
Conclusion
502
Fire Prevention Bureau
503
Health, Board of, Report of
Organization, Officers, Etc.
374 374
Nuisances
376
Permits and Licenses
376
Stables
377
Board of Infants
378
Lying-in Hospitals
378 379 382
Mortality Statistics
384
Specimens and Supplies
384
Medical Inspection of Schools
385
Bacteriological Work
387
Undertakers
387
Examination of Plumbers
388 388
Health Nurses, Report of
388, 389
Medical Inspection, Report of
391
Dental Hygiene, Report of Department
394
Inspection of Animals and Provisions
398
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar
401
Inaugural Address-Hon. John J. Murphy 3
Inspector of Buildings (see Buildings Commissioner) ..... 322
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar, Report of the
401
Law Department, Report of 411
Licensing Commission, Report of 417
Mayor-Inaugural Address
3
Address to Board of Aldermen 10
Communication to Board of Aldermen 13.
Deaths
Diseases Dangerous to Public Health
Infant Hygiene Clinics
498
516
INDEX
Medical Inspection, Report of
391
Visits
391
Contagious Disease Hospital
391
Laboratory Examinations
391
Tuberculosis
392
Infant Hygiene Clinics
352
Ordinances 312
Police, Chief of, Report of
341
Arrests
341
Crimes and Offenses Against the Person
341
Crimes and Offenses Against Property
342
Crimes and Offenses Against Public Order
342
Recapitulation
343
Miscellaneous Report
343
Roster of Department
346
Changes in the Force
349
Police Matron, Report of
351
Liquor Officers, Report of
352
Automobile and Traffic Department
353
Population
314, 466
Public Buildings Commissioner, Report of
322
Inspection of Buildings
322
Gas Inspections
Coal
326
Elevators
326
School Buildings
326
Fire Department Buildings
335
Libraries
336
Highway Buildings, Sanitary Buildings
337
Contagious Hospital
337
City Home
338
Police Buildings
333
Park Buildings
338
Bath House
339
Polling Places
339
Fire Alarm Buildings
339
Municipal Buildings
340
In General
340
Public Grounds (City Engineer)
290
Public Library ...
357
Report of Trustees
357
Board of Trustees and Officers-Committees
358
Organization of Library and Staff Personnel
359
Report of Librarian
362
Statistics
370
Public Welfare, Department of
462
Members of the Board, Committees, Officers, etc.
462
Report of General Agent
464
Full Support
464
324
517
INDEX
Partial Support
464
Aid Under 1913 Law (Mothers' Aid)
464
Cost to City
464
Reimbursements
465
Somerville Hospital
465
Population and Gross Expenditures
466
Overseers of the Poor Since 1885
467
Recapitulation
467
City Home, Report of Warden
468
City Physician, Report of
469
Recreation Commission
240
Report of Director
244
Financial Statement
272
Sanitary Department, Report of
405
Collection of Ashes and Paper
405
School Department
129
Superintendent of Schools, Report of
132
High School Athletic Association
166
Dental Dispensary
169
Appendix, Contents of
170
Graduates-High School
206
Junior High School
212
Vocational Schools
222
School Committees
130, 223
Somerville Teachers' Club
166
Teachers in Service
225
Sealer of Weights and Measures, Report of
505
Sewers (see City Engineer)
298
Street Commissioner, Report of
470
Appropriations
470
Snow and Ice
470
Highway Maintenance
471
Bridges
472
Street Railways
472
Underground Wires
472
Crushed Stone
472
Sidewalks Maintenance
472
Street Sprinkling
472
Street Cleaning
472
Suppression of Moths
473 473
Shade Trees
473, 475
Highways Construction, Permanent Pavement
474, 475
Reconstruction and Resurfacing
475, 476
Miscellaneous
476
Permits
476
Traffic Control
476
Recommendations
477
Table of Streets, Location of, etc.
478
Sidewalks Construction
518
INDEX
Water Commissioner, Report of
420
Revenue and Expenditures
422
Cost of Water Works
423
Water Works Income and Distribution
424
Water Distribution System, Construction
425
Hydrants, Gates, Etc.
- 427
Water Services
428
Water Meters
430
Water Assessments and Consumption
431
Summary of Statistics
433
Financial Statistics
434
Operation
435
List of Fire Hydrants
438
Summary of Pipes and Fixtures
431
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