USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1931 > Part 10
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From these inspections, there were 1,398 cases reported for fire hazards or violations of the law. Written notices were issued and reinspections made until the conditions were remedied. Conditions that existed over which the fire depart- ment had no control were reported to the respective municipal departments or public service companies for correction.
Because of a recent change in the law governing the stor- age of light fuel oil and the tremendous number of light fuel oil burners installed in ranges and house heaters in the past year, this division has been required to inspect each installa- tion before the issuance of a lawful permit. During the year 1931, there were 1140 permits issued for the storage and use of light fuel oil and each one is installed in accordance with the present laws.
Weekly inspections of all the motion picture theatres are made Saturday Afternoons, during which time there are large numbers of children in attendance.
The cooperation of the citizens with the Department in the removal of conditions that aggravate fire has made it possible for the fine results obtained.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I Respectfully Recommend :
The abolition of the present quarters occupied by Engine Company No. 4 at the corner of Highland Avenue and Grove Street and the erection of a building adequate for housing of the apparatus and habitable for the men in the Davis Square Section of the City.
A suitable location should be secured in the vicinity of Winter Hill and Ten Hills Section and a modern building erected for the housing of an additional engine company. This section of the City has developed in recent years with apart- ment houses, industrial buildings, school, church and a large number of two-family homes, but no additional fire proctection
196
ANNUAL REPORTS
has been provided, in fact, the station located on Marshall Street has been abolished.
The purchase of a 85-foot aerial ladder truck to replace the city service ladder truck in Union Square. This city ser- vice truck will then be placed in service at the Teele Square Station replacing the small combination ladder truck located there which is over eleven years old and is not equipped with ladders long enough to reach the upper floors and roofs of some of the apartment houses in that district.
The purchase of one 1000-gallon pumper and one hose wagon equipped with a booster tank to replace the 750-gallon pumper located in the Teele Square Station. The 750-gallon pumper, which is over eleven years old. will be transferred to replace Hose No. 5, located at Somerville Avenue and Lowell Street. The apparatus of Hose No. 5 was purchased October 30, 1913, and has outlived its usefulness.
The purchase of a searchlight wagon is necessary to suc- cessfully and efficiently combat large night fires, with con- sideration being given to the safety of the firemen. In the past, this department has used the searchlight wagons of the City of Cambridge and the Town of Arlington at some of our large night fires.
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 enactment 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 enactment of an ordinance regulating the installation and maintenance of artificial refrigeration of all units or systems containing in excess of twenty pounds of refrigerant. From the standpoint of a fire hazard, the inherent danger of flammable refrigerants is obvious. Irritant refrigerants are indirectly fire hazards in that their liberation at time of fire would retard fire fighting operations. The fires that have taken place and other occurrences, such as leakage of refrigerants which have resulted in driving people from buildings and in some instances serious casualties, make adequate safeguards a matter of first importance.
The purchase of at least ten thousand feet of two and one- half inch and three-inch double jacketed rubber lined fire hose. During this past year, only one thousand feet of two and one- half inch hose was purchased and over two thousand feet were
197
FIRE DEPARTMENT
condemned for fire service. Some of our present hose in service is over ten years old and there is no new hose in reserve. There is no three-inch hose in the department.
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 com- mendation 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, ١
Somerville Fire Department.
198
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT BUREAU
March 4, 1932.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :
Gentlemen :---
We respectfully submit the following as the Second An- nual Report of the Municipal Employment Service in which is presented a tabulated statement of the work done in the de- partment for the year ending December 31, 1931.
We have had 370 Female and 1379 Male applicants for work, of which 129 Female and 565 Male applicants have been placed in either permanent or temporary positions.
Of the special work handled through this office, 2810 men were placed in the Highway Department one and two days a week, and 509 were put to work two and three days a week from the Welfare and Soldier's Relief Departments during March, April and May.
The following is the monthly report :
Registrations
Place
January
366
81
February
220
64
March
147
46
April
148
54
May
111
43
June
144
81
July
126
79
August
99
45
September
117
81
October
·108
66
November
94
25
December
69
29
1,749
694
Municipal Employment Service,
ARTHUR C. COFFEY, Acting Commissioner.
199
LAW DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
The annual report of the Law Department for the year ending December 31st, 1931 is hereby respectfully submitted for your consideration :
During the year, an Act authorizing the Metropolitan District Commission to widen certain portions of the Alewife Brook Parkway was passed by the Legislature and approved June 10th, 1931. In connection with this improvement, the Board of Aldermen passed an order approving certain changes in City street lines near Woods Avenue. This project has been completed and Somerville will be assessed its proportionate share of this expense, as well as other Metropolitan improve- ments.
See Acts of 1931, Chapter 450, Section 2.
A resolve was also passed by the Legislature ordering an investigation by the Metropolitan Planning Division relative to the extension of the Boston Elevated Rapid Transit System from Lechmere Square to Davis Square.
See Chapter 37 of the Resolves of 1931.
Authority was also given the City by the Legislature to borrow money outside the debt limit to construct a new ele- mentary school building and a new police station building.
The City was permitted to borrow one hundred thousand dollars by issuing bonds payable in not more than fifteen years to construct the new school building, and two hundred twenty- five thousand dollars on bonds payable over the same period of time to construct the new police station.
See Chapters 105 and 106 of the Acts of 1931.
Under the provisions of Chapter 458, Section 4 of the Acts of 1931, cities and towns may now indemnify officers and em- ployees for expenses or damages incurred in defense or settle- ment of any claims for bodily injuries or death resulting or arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle owned by the city or town, provided that the officer or employee was acting within the scope of his duties. All settlements must be made
200
ANNUAL REPORTS
with the approval of the City Solicitor and the City Solicitor must undertake the defense or settlement of all such personal injury or death claims.
Prior to this new law, only firemen and policemen could be indemnified or reimbursed only for property damage, and then only if the damage was caused while on duty and without fault on their part. This is still the law as regards property damage as the new law only applies to bodily injuries or death. This new law was approved June 10th, 1931.
There is still pending before the Legislature a bill to es- tablish a Park Department in order to do away with the con- flict of and division of authority existing with reference to all parks and playgrounds in the city. This proposed legislation has been referred to the next annual session of the Legislature, and it is expected that it will be enacted during the session of 1932.
Each year new projects are proposed by the Metropolitan District Commission, or by some city or town in the district, which, if authorized mean additional assessments on the City as a member of the Metropolitan District.
It was, therefore, necessary to attend hearings before the Legislature on many matters concerning the City, more es- pecially on proposed Metropolitan improvements. It was also necessary to visit and consult with different State Departments on business concerning the City.
There is pending before the Supreme Judicial Court on ap- peal from an adverse decision of the Department of Public Utilities the case begun on petition of his Honor, the Mayor, against the Boston Consolidated Gas Company. When this Company took over the Charlestown Gas Company, it imposed a service charge on every user of gas in the city without notice and without a hearing. Hearings were held and the City en- deavored to have the service charge eliminated. This service charge imposed an expense on all gas users in Somerville of about forty thousand dollars. The Board of Aldermen author- ized an appropriation of five hundred dollars to pay for the expense of this proceeding.
The County Commissioners held a final hearing on the proposed new foot bridge at Kent Street and it is expected that a final decree will soon be entered premitting this needed im- provement now pending since 1929 due to opposition of one of the property owners on Kent Street.
201
LAW DEPARTMENT
"There are seven land damage claims pending, either for 'trial or settlement, as follows: two cases arising out of the taking of property on Prescott Street on June 3rd, 1931, for the new elementary school on School Street: two cases aris- ing out of the taking of property in Union Square on Novem- ber 16th, 1931, for the new police station ; two cases arising out of the taking of property on Hinckley Street and City Road on July 17th, 1931, for city garage purposes ; and one case arising out of the taking of property on Victoria Street in con- nection with the extension and laying out of Hooker Avenue by order of Board of Aldermen on February 12th, 1931.
There was also a taking made by the Board of Aldermen for the purpose of widening Cutter Avenue by order adopted .June 25th, 1931. This order was later modified and there is now pending before the Board of Aldermen an order for the purpose of revoking this order of taking and abandoning this proposed improvement.
However, the titles to all these various parcels of real es- tate had to be examined in order to determine the ownership of the property and any outstanding mortgages or other en- cumbrances, including unpaid taxes, if any.
The construction of the new elementary school on School Street, new street construction and other public works re- quired conferences with contractors, architects, engineers and the Department Heads concerned, as well as the drafting of necessary contracts and bonds to secure the proper perform- ance and completion of these public works.
During the construction of the Southern Junior High School by Frankini Bros Co., Inc., a receiver was appointed for Frankini Bros. Co., Inc., in October by the Supreme Jud- icial Court. This unforseen difficulty required numerous con- ferences with the Building Commissioner, the architect and the receiver, as well as court proceedings to protect the inter- ests of the City. Numerous liens were filed by sub-contractors which required my attention, and these claimants were obliged to verify their respective claims. Payment of many of these claims have been in accordance with a decree of the Supreme Judicial Court in this case, and all claims justly due will be paid in full. There are, however, some claims which are dis- puted and others not fully satisfied, but it is expected that all these matters will be adjusted. On my advice, payment was stopped on a check for twenty-two thousand three hundred fifty two dollars and forty-five cents given to Frankini Bros. Co., Inc. and deposited in the Medford Trust Company a few hours before it was closed by the bank commissioner. After a
202
ANNUAL REPORTS
hearing before the Supreme Court, the check was ordered re- turned to the City Treasurer and the money saved for the benefit of the City and used to pay sub-contractors in accord- ance with the contracts and decree of the court.
The approval of different bonds required to be furnished by city officers, and the numerous bonds required by statutes and ordinances were also considered and approved as to form.
Many conferences were held with department heads relat- ing to various legal matters and written opinions furnished at their request. It was necessary also to consult with the Build- ing Commissioner on many cases arising in connection with the Zoning law.
I helped prepare various orders and ordinances for the Board of Aldermen and during the year several opinions were given to the Board of Aldermen by the Law Department.
A report made to me by Robert J. Muldoon, as assistant in this Department, is also submitted herewith as a part of this report covering that portion of the work of the Law De- partment under his charge.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID J. KELLEY, City Solicitor.
REPORT OF ROBERT J. MULDOON FOR THE YEAR 1931
Herewith I respectfully submit a report of that portion of the work of the Law Department of the City of Somerville which has been in my charge for the year 1931.
The major part of that work has been composed of claims against the City based on alleged defects in ways. The num- ber of claims received in 1931 was slightly less than the num- ber of claims received in 1930. The number of suits entered against the City to enforce these claims was slightly larger than 1930. The increase in the number of suits brought is no doubt the result of the policy of the department, instituted at the direction of his Honor the Mayor, of bringing to trial cases in which damages of more than one hundred (100) dollars are claimed.
The following is a summary of the cases dealt with by my office in 1931 :
203
LAW DEPARTMENT
Highway Accident Notices
Pending, December 31, 1930
139
Notices received in 1931 95
Disposed of and settled
106
Pending December 31, 1931
128
Highway Accident Cases in Suit
Pending December 31, 1930
60
Suits entered in 1931
26
Disposed of and settled
32
Pending December 31, 1931
54
I have also handled routine collection matters forwarded to me by the City Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT J. MULDOON, Assistant City Solicitor.
204
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER
OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER,
CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, JANUARY 1932.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen :
Gentlemen :- The undersigned presents herewith the 59th annual report, for the year ending December 31, 1931, of the Engineering Department, including sewer, park and play- ground divisions.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
In previous reports the general work, charter require- ments and city ordinances relating to the duties of the City Engineer have been fully described. City Engineer is also Su- perintendent of Sewers and Superintendent of Parks and Play- ground's.
GENERAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Transfers
Divisions
Appropriations
and Credits Expenditures
Balances
City Engineer
$23,185 00
$126 15
Sewers Maintenance.
25,960 00
$583 13
$23,058 85 25,933 89
609 24
Sewers Construction
9,248 85
14 62
8,697 57
565 90
Parks Maintenance
28,900 00
143 52
28,448 59
594 93
Playgrounds Mainten- ance
18,800 00
10 07
18,334 04
476 03
Playground, Foss Park
328 06
73 50
254 56
John M. Woods Play- ground
501 25
..........
........
501 25
Improvement Walter Ernest Shaw Play- ground
745 81
....
225 00
520 81
Tannery Brook Drain Construction
985 13
985 13
............
Playground Improve- ment and Exten-
sion Account
10,981 54
.........
10,848 55
132 99
..
205
CITY ENGINEER
Sewers and Storm Drains,-comprising surveys, estimates, profiles, lines, grades, titles, plans, assessments, all engineering work relating to same and supervision ....... Highways, - comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving and all other engineering work relating to the department
$2,214 26
2,508 20
Sidewalks, - comprising profiles, lines, grades, measure- ments, inspection, titles, costs and assessments 593 11
Water Works, - comprising giving lines and grades and other matters relating to the department 48 25
Parks and Playgrounds,-comprising surveys, plans, esti- mates, profiles, and grades, including laying out of parks, playgrounds, boulevard and supervision
3,125 55
Public Buildings,-comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to construction and laying out of grounds of public buildings 79 63
Street Numbering, - comprising locations of buildings, plans, assigning street numbers, etc.
737 83
Street Lines and Grades, - comprising establishments of lines, grades, and miscellaneous data given parties for building and grading
142 37
Subways, Bridges and Grade Crossings,-comprising sur- veys, plans, profiles, estimates, lines and grades, etc. City Survey,-comprising establishing of street lines, ac- ceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city map, etc.
9 50
Middlesex Registry and Land Court,-comprising copying of plans, and abstracts from deeds and examination of titles filed at East Cambridge, also tracing of street acceptance and sewer taking plans, filed for record
1,521 68
Private Corporations, Railway, Telephone, Electric Light and Gas Light Companies,-comprising grades, plans, profiles and office notes, locations of poles and conduits Setting Stone Bounds and Brass Rods, - defining street lines and city boundary lines
9 50
Office Work,-comprising record of all locations, indexing, typewriting, bookkeeping, calculations, reports, and general drafting 4,013 04
Holidays, Vacations and Sickness
1,597 41
Engineering, - general departmental expenses (all di-
visions) comprising City Engineer's salary, automobile maintenance, telephone, car fares, and supplies
6,157 29
Work on New City Maps
285 00
Total
$23,058 85
The total cost of maintaining the Engineer's Division since it was established, 1872-1931, both years inclusive, has amounted to $588,919.31
Seven assistants have been employed the greater part of the year on engineering work.
A number of plans have been made during the year for street acceptance and two streets were accepted as public high- ways under the betterment act; and there are plans for accep-
16 23
206
ANNUAL REPORTS
tance of ten streets on file in this office, that for various rea- sons have not been made public ways.
Surveys, calculations, estimates and plans have been made for taking land, buildings and private property for various purposes in certain sections of the city.
Some of the main thoroughfares should be renumbered their entire length to eliminate half numbers and letters now being used, also certain streets, continuing in bordering cities where numbers conflict.
A perambulation of the Boston-Somerville city bounds was made in the summer by this department in conjunction with Street Commissioner of Somerville, Public Works Commis- sioner of Boston, City Clerks of both cities and Aldermanic Committees of both cities. All bounds were found to be in good order.
STREETS ACCEPTED AS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS IN 1931, UNDER THE BETTERMENT ACT
Name of Street
Ward From
To
Width in ft.
Length in ft.
Date of Acceptance Feb. 13, 1931
Hooker Avenue
7 Victoria Street
East line of Endicott Avenue .. 40
683 (0.129 Mile) 523
June 29, 1931
Ten Hills Street
4 Mystic Avenue
Temple Street 40
(0.099 Mile)
1
CITY ENGINEER
207
208
ANNUAL REPORTS
LENGTH OF STREETS
Miles
*Public
90.254
Private
10.107
100.361
* Includes 1.406 Miles City Boulevard and Park Roadways. 2.331 Miles Metropolitan District Boulevard. 0.98 Mile State Highway.
(A revision of lengths of public and private streets showing that, owing to abandoned and duplicated streets and streets incorporated into the North- ern Artery, the total length has decreased.)
A table of former names of certain streets was printed in the 1910 report, also table of public squares.
LENGTH OF PUBLIC STREETS IN EACH WARD
Miles
Ward one
13.922
Ward two
14.671
Ward three
10.321
Ward four
14.737
Ward five
11.799
Ward six
11.591
Ward seven
13.213
Total length of public streets in the city
90.254
There are at the present time 665 street boundaries con- sisting of stone bounds and brass rods set in cement for de- fining street lines, and the number should be increased each year : definite boundaries do much to simplify surveying and are convenient to use for bench marks. Previous reports give locations of existing bounds.
STREETS RESURFACED WITH WARRENITE
Square Yards
Length
Bow Street-Warren Avenue to Walnut Street (Warrenite top on old and new concrete base)
1,427
299
Broadway and Ball Square (Warrenite on old and new concrete base)
4,228
663
Broadway and Magoun Square (Warrenite on old and new concrete base)
2,104
323
College Avenue - Highland Avenue to north line Winter Street (Warrenite top on old and new concrete base)
1,006
194
Elm Street-East line Russell Street to B. & M. R. R. (Warrenite top on old and new concrete base)
8,103
1,275
209
CITY ENGINEER
Highland Avenue - College Avenue Easterly
(Warrenite top on old and new concrete base)
267
190
Powder House Boulevard-North Street West- erly (Warrenite top on new concrete base)
1,474
289
Washington Street-Webster Avenue to Fitch- burg R. R. Bridge (Warrenite top on old and new concrete base)
3,154
583
Total
21,763
3,816
(0.722 Mile)
The total length of permanent paved streets in the city amounts to 21.808 miles.
Permanent street pavement should be extended as rapidly as possible, using a base of cement concrete and some kind of high type wearing surface.
Grades were given and measurements taken for the recon- struction of two streets with asphaltic penetration wearing surfaces, a length of 1064 feet (0.201 Mile).
In the construction of new streets, new granolithic side- walks and reconstructing old streets, 342.9 linear feet (0.065. mile) of edgestone was set.
TABLE OF STREET CONSTRUCTION
** Streets paved with granite blocks
Square Yards 218,759 794
Miles 9.013:
Streets paved with vitrified brick
0.548.
Streets constructed with concrete base and asphaltic mixed top
156,706
7.043
Streets constructed with concrete base and bituminous penetrated top ... ¿Streets constructed with broken stone base and asphaltic mixed top
26,118
1.912.
§Streets constructed with broken stone base and bituminous penterated top
51.609
16.877
Streets constructed of water bound macadam Streets graveled or unimproved
10.155
Total
100.361
* Also 27.92 miles (single track) electric railway paved with granite, asphalt, bitulithic, etc.
¿ Includes 6.149 square yards (0.438 mile) cement concrete roadway Middlesex Avenue.
¿ Includes 0.98 mile of state highway.
§ Includes 1.406 miles of city boulevard and park roadways and 2.231 miles of state boulevard (Metropolitan District Commission, Park Division)
Boston Elevated car tracks have been removed from Bow Street and also from Webster Avenue (Columbia Street to City Line) 0.343 mile.“
The constantly increasing volume and speed of traffic makes a distinctly dangerous condition at many street inter- sections. This dangerous condition would be relieved to a great
56,710
3.204
210
ANNUAL REPORTS
extent by replacing the present approximately right angle corners by circular corners; also on certain streets, particu- larly where street car lines are present, resetting the edge- stone so that a wider roadway and consequent narrower side- walk would improve traffic conditions.
Lines and grades were given and measurements taken for constructing four new granolithic sidewalks-1525 square yards (0.436 mile) and assessments were computed, the abut- ting property owners paying one-half of the cost.
In laying out new work, under orders passed for construc- tion of sidewalks, etc., occasionally portions of buildings and fences are found to be encroaching on the sidewalk and on some of the old rangeways, these enroachments existing for many years; as improvements are made, the full width of sidewalk should be maintained.
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