Report of the city of Somerville 1934, Part 8

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1934
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 420


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1934 > Part 8


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114


97


3


636


351


347


147


58


148


10


33


31


81


28


3


43


4


5


15


5


12


....


July


SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED


13


47


30


45


29


1


36


6


7


13


5


2


4


....


August


SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED


5


15


56


162


46


10


45


13


3


14


2


1


3


....


September


SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED


3


11


46


126


41


5


55


3


6


7


6


....


7


1


October


11263


31


190


19


12


252


116


197


28


21


27


32


133


41


92


35


6


- 43


4


3


10


3


7


....


November


413


174


71


1


659


356


388


109


49


89


35


143


36


75


33


3


46


1


4


5


4


....


LA


1


December


566


154


101


2


823


457


439


130


92


119


13


61


42


135


28


14


43


2


3


2


A


...


Total


11,263


4096


1637


808


91


6632


3470


3577


1245


565


1170


211


818


503


1356


442


61


579


77


53


143


46


7


64


7


Number


Gas


Old


New


Emergency


Patients


Patients


Total Number


of Patients


Number of


Fillings


Number of


Extractions


Number of


Cleanings


Number of


Number of Cer-


Number of


Number of


Extractions


Number of


Patients


Number of


Extractions


Number Patients


Number at


Hospital


Number Novocaine


or Ethyl Chloride


Number


Number of


Patients


Number of


Extractions


at Clinic


Number at


Hospital


Number Novocaine


)r Ethyl Chloride


Treatments


tificates Granted


Hospital Clinic Cases


Patients


Patients


Special


Gas


Number Patients


....


....


....


...


....


162


Patients


at Clinic


...


157


BOARD OF HEALTHI


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS


January 2, 1935.


To the Board of Health,


Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen :


I submit the following as my report for the year ending December 31, 1934


The word establishment may be construed as including all places coming within the board's jurisdiction.


Number of visits to establishments


7,784


Yards inspected


13,885


Complaints investigated


453


License committee meetings attended


37


Notices sent


137


All complaints were satisfactorily adjusted.


CONDEMNATIONS


Beef


3212


lbs.


Fruit


597


1bs.


Pork


235


Bread


33


1vs.


Lamb


58


Miscellaneous


23


Ibs.


Veal


15


Vegetables


3221


Poultry


104


Flour


35411/2 "


Fish


2041/2


During the year 1934 we have made some progress with respect to raising the sanitary condition of many of our es- tablishments. However some of the property owners of places coming under our supervision, who have been seriously hand- icapped by the economic upheaval, have requested time exten- sion, in order to comply with recommended constructional al- terations. These periods of grace have been granted in cases where the health of the community would not seriously be im- paired.


158


ANNUAL REPORTS


I have confidence in the owners and proprietors of the es- tablishments in our city and look forward with great optimism, to the end that the year 1935 will be a banner one in the san- itary life of Somerville.


Respectfully submitted,


HENRY T. MURRAY, Chief Inspector.


159


BOARD OF HEALTH


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND VETERINARIAN


Somerville, Mass.


January 2, 1935.


To the Board of Health,


Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen :


The following is my report for the year ending December 31, 1934.


During the year 1934 there were 528 calls made in the in- spection of dog bite cases and the city home animal inspection.


There were nine cases of rabies during this period. Our city has been fortunate in the few numbers of dogs having rabies and I believe we could still further reduce this menace by the municipal inoculation of dogs arranged to be inoculated by myself.


Respectfully submitted,


DR. E. WILLIAM JOHANSEN,


Inspector of Animals and Veterinarian.


160


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY


City Hall, Somerville, Mass.


January 2nd, 1935.


To the Board of Health,


Somerville, Mass.


Gentlemen :


During the year six hundred and eighty six stores were licensed to sell milk, eighty dealers were licensed to distribute milk and thirty nine stores were registered to sell oleomar- garine. Nine dealers located in Somerville are licensed to oper- ate a milk pasteurizing plant. Six dealers sell cream exclusive- ly. Twenty four dealers purchase bottled pasteurized milk for distribution. One out-of-town dealer sells raw milk from tuber- culin tested cows. Two dealers sell raw certified milk and three dealers handle pasteurized certified milk. Two dealers handle raw and pasteurized Vitamin D milk. Three dealers sell Irrad- iated Pasteurized milk. Two dealers have discontinued busi- ness and one was refused a license. An average of 34,227 quarts of milk and 1291 quarts of cream were distributed daily in Somerville according to records submitted by the dealers.


The following tables, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are a summary of the work of the department for the year :


161


BOARD OF HEALTH


Table 1 RECEIPTS


Months


License


Applications


License Fees


Cash For


Analyses


Cash Paid


City Treasurer


Analyses on


Account


Total Income


For Department


January


11


$5.50


$4.00


$9.50


$132.50


$142.00


February


11


5.50


5.50


120.00


125.50


March


15


7.50


7.50


182.50


190.00


April


8


4.00


3.50


7.50


177.50


185.00


May


513


256.50


3.50


260.00


172.00


432.00


June


142


71.00


7.00


78.00


183.50


261.50


July


26


13.00


1.00


14.00


212.00


226.00


August


31


15.50


15.50


160.50


176.00


September


*15


55.00


55.00


182.00


237.00


October


៛ 9


14.00


14.00


139.00


153.00


November


#24


31.00


.50


31.50


98.50


130.00


December


+ 9


14.00


14.00


162.50


176.50


814


$492.50


$19.50


$512.00


$1,922.50


$2,434.50


* 5 Pasteurizing Licenses Included


1 Pasteurizing License Included


# 2 Pasteurizing Licenses Included


Table 2 SAMPLES EXAMINED


Months


Chemical Samples


153


210


363


123


124


220


830


February


144


144


288


100


114


190


692


March


194


145


339


98


187


185


809


April


205


194


399


154


169


248


970


May


213


276


489


125


162


311


1087


June


96


57


153


9


210


262


634


July


124


176


300


24


198


247


769


August


45


184


229


2


142


213


586


September


67


96


163


0


178


176


517


October


106


145


251


45


135


145


576


November


75


156


231


17


94


157


499


December


81


85


166


51


151


120


488


1503


1868


3371


748


1864


2474


8457


...


...


Lorenz


Tests


Samples


Submitted


Microscopical


Examinations


Total


January


Collected


Bacteria Samples


Collected


Total


Collections


......


...


...


162


ANNUAL REPORTS


Table 3 LEGAL NOTICES


Months


0 0 1 0 2 20H · · Chemical


Bacteriological


0 0 0 0 0 ···· · Lorenz


- Temperature


Milk Plant and


Dairy Corrections


Total


Table 4 INSPECTIONS


Months


Dairy Milk Stations


Milk and Ice


Cream Plants


Restaurants


+ and Stores


Total


January


124


169


February


6


106


20


132


March


22


137


16


175


April


19


121


10


150


May


8


133


17


158


June


9


111


0


120


July


12


96


5


113


August


16


79


125


220


September


10


79


18


107


October


9


98


5


112


November


8


95


12


115


December


7


88


0


95


137


1267


262


1666


0


9


0


18


11


38


July


0


17


0


12


13


42


August


0


27


0


10


14


51


September


0


10


0


2


12


24


October


0


5


0


0


14


19


November


1


10


1


0


1


13


December


1


6


0


0


11


18


5


225


1


51


166


448


January


36


19


55


February


14


0


23


37


March


15


0


30


April


25


2


12


39


May


51


7


22


82


June


Hand R.R.


163


BOARD OF HEALTH


During 1934 license fees and fees for analyses amounted to $2,434.50. There were in 1934, 8,457 laboratory examinations. Sediment and microscopical examinations were carried out as routine and the Reductase Test applied as occasion demanded.


In previous years it has been the policy of the Department of Milk Inspection to seize original packages, that is pints or quarts of milk, of each grade, from each dealer, each month, and analyze for food value (fats and solids) and cleanliness (bacterial count and sediment) and examine microscopically for types of bacteria.


The higher the fats and solids the greater the food value. The lower the bacterial count the greater care in production, better handling during transportation and storage or more ef- ficient pasteurization.


During the current year owing to a reduced budget and a lack of transportation facilities the work of collecting samples was somewhat curtailed.


The results available will be cheerfully quoted to any per- son entitled to receive them.


DAIRY AND CREAMERY INSPECTION


All dairies whether located in Massachusetts or in another State supplying milk to Massachusetts consumers are now re- quired to have a certificate of fitness by the Dairy Division of the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, certifying that they are properly equipped to produce milk in a sanitary man- ner.


These certificates are issued after an inspection by a De- partment of Agriculture inspector or by the local inspector where the milk is delivered.


During the year many corrections have been requested and some imperfect equipment has been condemned at creameries. Several grade "A" dairies were refused a permit on account of improper methods and equipment. Cows with mastitis were or- dered quarantined in several herds.


GRADE A DAIRIES


The major part of this grade of milk is produced in Massa- chusetts but some is produced in Vermont and New Hampshire. The requirements for the production of Grade A Milk are much


164


ANNUAL REPORTS


more strict than for the regular Market Milk. Covered pails, cooling to below 50°F., milk houses and better equipment are required. This grade of milk must contain not less than 4% butter fat when delivered to the consumer. All dairies supply- ing Grade A Milk are required to have a permit, issued by the department in the city or town where the milk is consumed.


CERTIFIED MILK


Certified milk can now be purchased either raw or pas- teurized and also with or without the Vitamin "D" Concentra- tion. In this state Vitamin "D" Concentration is produced by the feeding of irradiated yeast to the herd.


CREAM FROM DISTANT POINTS


During the year there have been a few additional permits issued to creameries located at a distance from New England to ship cream for manufacturing purposes to this city, New England is unable to supply sufficient cream for Massachusetts needs. These certificates are issued after the dealer has filed with this department a questionnaire properly filled out which assures this department that the plant is equipped and proc- esses the cream according to Massachusetts standards. This questionnaire is accompanied by a voucher from the state or city department which supervises the sanitary conditions at the plant, and approves the source of supply.


QUALITY


During the year the quality of the milk distributed in Somerville has averaged well within the limits prescribed by legislative act and local regulations. Due to economic condi- tions the quality of the raw milk shipped to the dealers to be pasteurized has not improved as rapidly as we expected and, constant vigilance will be necessary if the more stringent reg- ulations suggested by the Dairy Division are to be observed. There has been added to the numerous grades and brands of milk now on the market, an "Irradiated Milk" which can be purchased as regular market milk or grade "A" milk.


Vitamin "D" is added by a patented process which sub- jects a thin film of milk to ultra violet light.


Due to financial stress the consumption of fresh milk and cream has fallen a little below 1933.


165


BOARD OF HEALTH


RECOMMENDATIONS


1. That all operators of pasteurizing equipment be ex- amined, as to the purposes, legal requirements and methods of control of all types of pasteurizing machines and if successful in obtaining a passing mark they should receive a certificate au- thorizing them to operate such machines. This examination could be conducted by the State College or Health Department.


2. That plate counts, direct microscopical counts or Methylene Blue tests of the raw milk from each producer be made at the creamery or milk plant receiving same, at least once in two weeks.


APPRECIATION


This is the twenty-sixth annual report I have submitted to the Somerville Board of Health and I wish to take this op- portunity to express my appreciation of the co-operation and the many courtesies extended to me by the various Boards of Health and by my associates in the department.


Respectfully submitted,


HERBERT E. BOWMAN,


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar.


166


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


January 1, 1935.


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


The following report is respectfully submitted as the An- nual Report of the Board of Assessors for the year ending December 31, 1934.


RECAPITULATION-1935


City Appropriations


$5,011,506.10


City Appro. from Available Funds


154,052.81 $5,165,558.91 2.00


Overlay Deficit-1931


2.00


Overlay Deficit-1932


1,485.64


1,485.64


State Tax


181,700.00


Charles River Basin Loan Fund


12,000.00


Metropolitan Parks Loan Sinking Fund


51,500.00


Metropolitan Planning Division (Chap. 399 Acts 1923)


800.00


Metropolitan Parks Loan Sinking Fund


Series No. 2 Loan


7,727.00


Metropolitan Parks Fund - Nantasket, Main- tenance


2,850.00


Wellington Bridge Maintenance


155.00


Metropolitan Sewerage Loan Sinking Fund- No. System


64,625.00


Metropolitan Water Loan Sinking Fund


311,200.00


Special Wellington Bridge


2,511.00


Abatement of Smoke Nuisance


630.00


Auditing Municipal Accounts


236.52


Hospital or Home Care for Civil War Vets


985.00


Expenses Municipal Relief Loans


25.00


Veterans' Exemptions


50.00


Boston Metropolitan District Expenses


300.00


Boston Elevated Railway Deficiency


95,075.00


Boston Met. Dist. El. Rwy. rental deficiency.


6,925.00


Canterbury Street Highway


245.00


Land Takings Revere Highway


2,510.00


Ocean Ave., Revere


975.00


Ways in Malden, Braintree, Weymouth and Hingham


15.00


West Roxbury-Brookline Parkway


340.00


743,379.52


County Tax


172,421.30


Tuberculosis Hospital


43,549.56


215,970.86


Overlay (Current Year)


42,734.07


42,734.07


Total


$6,169,131.00 $6,169,131.00


167


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


ESTIMATED RECEIPTS


Income Tax


$221,367.38


Corporation Tax


95,115.31


Motor Vehicles


85,000.00


Race Track District


9,085.00


Licenses


98,000.00


Fines


5,000.00


Special Assessments


2,500.00


General Government


14,100.00


Protection of persons and property


1,700.00


Health and sanitation


21,000.00


Highways


500.00


Charities


226,000.00


Old Age Assistance


50,000.00


Soldiers' Benefits


17,400.00


Schools


38,000.00


Libraries


2,000.00


Recreation


500.00


Interest on taxes and assessments


77,000.00


Electrolysis


500.00


Public Service Enterprises (Water)


462,000.00


Dog Licenses


3,200.00


Total Estimated Receipts $1,429,967.69


Available funds (voted by City Government to be used by assessors )


154,052.81


Total Deductions


$1,584,020.50


Net amount raised by taxation on polls and property


4,585,110.50


Number of polls 30,933 @ $2.00 each


$61,866.00


Total valuation-$117,182,500. Tax Rate-$38.60


Property Tax


4,523,244.50


Additional betterment assessments (outside the taxes levied on property at the tax rate) as follows :


Sewer Assessments


$ 16.65


Int. $ .96 $ 17.61


Sidewalk Assessments


445.24


80.44


525.68


Highway Assessments


2,240.35


602.45


2,842.80


Total amount of all taxes listed in the collector's commit- ment lists for the year nineteen hundred and thrity- five


$4,588,496.59


168


ANNUAL REPORTS


We acknowledge the splendid cooperation given the Board of Assessors by the other departments of our City.


Respectfully submitted,


MAURICE F. AHEARN, Chairman of the Board of Assessors.


169


LICENSING COMMISSION


REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION


March 11, 1935.


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the


Board of Aldermen, of the City of Somerville :


Gentlemen :


The License Commission respectfully submits the follow- ing report for the year ending December 31, 1934.


The Commission has been particularly concerned with the regulation and control of the sale of alcoholic beverages in the city, the sale of which was legalized approximately one month preceeding the period of this report.


The rules and regulations adopted by this board were in- tended to conform with the intent of the Legislature in passing the liquor control measure.


There were two particular rules which this Commission was alone, of all other licensing commissions in the state, in adopting and which proved to be the subject of state wide con- troversy, namely,


(1) restricting the issuance of licenses within a prescribed distance of a church or school, and


(2) requiring the applicant to advertise in a local newspaper, notice of the hearing.


We are attaching hereto, and making a part hereof, a copy of the editorials which appeared in the Boston Herald, April 8, 1934, the Boston Traveler, April 5, 1934, the Somerville Press, April 12, 1934, the Boston Traveler, April 21, 1934 and Somerville Journal, April 6, 1934.


In most instances where an appeal was made to the State Commission, by applicants who were affected by the church or school restrictions, the licenses were issued by the State Com- mission.


170


ANNUAL REPORTS


Not withstanding the absence of provision in the state law requiring the advertising of notice, we insisted upon the applications being advertised. It is of interest to advise you


that the State Legislature, during the 1934 session, amended the law by requiring publication of notice.


Under the state law Somerville's quota for package goods stores licenses was twenty-one, which quota was filled by June, 1934.


Under the law we were permitted to grant eighty-two "all forms" restaurant licenses, however, we issued but thirty-eight. The law placed no restriction upon the number of malt bev- erage and wines licenses. We issued twenty-nine such licenses, three of which applied to "not to be drunk on the premises."


The responsibility for issuance of denatured alcohol li- censes under the new law was transferred from the Board of Health department to this Commission.


On August 6, 1934, after a conference with all restaurant licensees holding alcoholic beverage licenses, the Commission, through the cooperation of the said licensees, brought about the prohibition of the sale of liquor in restaurants on the Lord's Day.


Mr. Eugene M. Flanagan was appointed to the Commission upon the expiration of the term of Mr. Thomas M. Clancy.


In accordance with the summary listed below, the total revenue for the department for the year 1934 was $81,691.50 as compared with the revenue for the year 1932, $2,103.50.


The cost of administering the affairs of the Licensing Com- mission, including salaries and all expenses amounted to $3,374.40.


During the year we received fourteen complaints against the various liquor licensees.


You will readily see from the foregoing report that the number of complaints have been extremely nominal.


Conditions in the city relative to licensed premises as com- pared with other cities and towns are very favorable and it is a source of great satisfaction that this condition is due in a


171


LICENSING COMMISSION


large measure to the cooperation of the licensees, however, there is much room for improvement.


Respectfully submitted,


EUGENE A. HUDSON, Chairman RICHARD J. MCLAUGHLIN EUGENE M. FLANAGAN


Attest :


JOHN P. DROMGOOLE, Secretary


March 11, 1935.


172


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF LICENSING COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1934


Licenses granted and fees received :


3 Transfers of Lord's Day licenses @ 0.50 $1.50


7 Transfers of Common victualler licenses @ $1.00 7.00


15 Garage licenses granted @ $2.00 30.00


24 Entertainment permits granted 56.00


20 Special alcoholic licenses


16.00


276 Lord's Day licenses granted @ $5.00 1,380.00


243 Common Victualler licenses granted @ $5.00 1,215.00


103 Alcoholic beverage licenses granted 79,610.00


Total


$82,315.50


Rebated on 3.2 beer licenses. Special appropriation


$3,200.00


57-3.2 licenses rebated. Total


3,069.09


Balance 130.91


Rebated on other alcoholic licenses :


Estate of John Judge


234.00


Elias Rabbatt


150.00


Overpayment 4 druggist's licenses


240.00


Total


$624.00


Total revenue of department for year 1934 $81,691.50


During the year eight alcoholic licenses were surrendered :


1 restaurant selling all forms of alcoholic beverages


1 restaurant selling malt beverages and wines


6 druggist's licenses selling all forms of alcoholic beverages


During the year the Commission revoked two alcoholic licenses and suspended seven alcoholic licenses for different periods of time.


Copy of Editorial from The Boston Traveler of April 21, 1934


ABC ARROGANCE


"Local opinion opposing the granting of liquor licenses was defiantly flouted by the state alcoholic beverages control commission which has given licenses previously refused by the Somerville licensing author- ity and unanimously opposed by the Somerville Board of Aldermen.


The local board has a rule which denies licenses to establishments located within 300 feet of churches.


173


LICENSING COMMISSION


The rule is applied, not "as the crow flies," but by meas- uring along the thoroughfare.


Stubbornly the state commission has ignored the expressed wishes of local authorities. Does Gov. Ely approve of this use of power? Is this the sort of super- vision the public can expect from the commission ? To be sure, the ABC was set up with power to overrule boards, but in this case local sentiment as expressed unanimously through the people's local representa- tives was unanimously against the granting of the licenses.


The Boston Traveler makes no criticism of the ap- plicants, who were exercising their legal rights. This newspaper is critical of the state commission and stands ready to assist the people of Somerville in any lawful step they may choose to take in the matter."


Copy of Editorial from the Boston Traveler of April 5, 1934


STATE FLOUTS LOCAL OPINION


"Somerville's license commission says that liquor shall not be sold within 300 feet of churches or schools. The state alcoholic beverages control commission says that the local board should grant the licenses and that if it does not do so, the state board will.


The state commission is acting within its legal rights. The state commission has another choice in the matter. It could decline to support the appeal of the license-seeker. This is what it should have done.


Whether liquor should be sold within 300 feet of a church or school is a debatable moral topic. Peculiar circumstances might enter into such a debate. But when a local licensing board rejects applications for such permits, its opinion should be of more importance than that of the state commission.


Plenty of drinking and package establishments are in existence without riding roughshod over local sentiment in order to put liquor shops within the shadow of churches and schools.


No one argues against the state commission's right to override the local commission. Many persons


174


ANNUAL REPORTS


will question the state commission's judgement. The controversey, if not decided upon moral and legal grounds, could be solved by practical considerations.


Question : Is there a public demand for liquor shops at the spots under discussion or do the requests come simply from persons who own the stores ? Answer that question and you have settled the argument."


Copy of Editorial from the Somerville Journal of April 6, 1934


LIQUOR LICENSE STATE CONTROL


"State control of liquor licenses, which was in- tended to prevent evils resulting from local control, has in its decisions on Somerville appeals, upset the regulations which the Somerville Licensing Commis- sion adopted as wise and reasonable. This apparently does away with home rule on the liquor licenses, a situation directly opposed to the local option idea. Somerville can control the liquor situation by voting no-license, but is not to be allowed regulatory powers. -


Protests that convinced the Somerville commis- sioners, were set aside by the State Commission, and the general rule that no liquor licenses would be granted within 300 feet of a church or school, which the Somerville commission adopted, is rejected by the state. This action is the more curious because those who attended the hearings on appeals to the State Commission were led to believe that local regulations would be upheld.


Confident that they are acting in conformity with public sentiment in Somerville, the Somerville com- mission has decided to take no further action on cer- tain licenses on which appeals were sustained. The State Commission has authority to grant local licenses under such conditions, and we await developments."


Copy of Editorial from the Somerville Press of April 12, 1934


THE STAND OF THE ABC COMMISSION


"Already on the eve of the repeal of prohibition the Somerville Licensing Commission-whose members


175


LICENSING COMMISSION


are Eugene A. Hudson, chairman, Thomas M. Clancy and Richard J. Mclaughlin-had begun to formulate regulations for the sale of liquor that would cause least offence to the hundreds of convinced prohibition- ists who made Somerville a banner dry city once, that would least lower the high residential tone of the city, that would nevertheless provide ample and convenient facilities for liquor-purchasers.


After deliberation the commissioners decided on a number of rules they felt would best fulfill these ends ; for example, that liquor should not be sold with- in 300 feet of a church or school, that it should not be sold after 11:45 p.m., that no person under twenty-one should buy or sell liquor, or a drunken person be sold liquor, or a drunken person be allowed on the prem- ises. The commissioners further decreed that each ap- plicant for a license be granted a public hearing which the applicant should advertise in the newspapers. The Somerville commission was first in the field with these rules and the Somerville code became a model for many Massachusetts communities which sought both to permit the sale of liquor and retain what was per- haps their most precious asset, respectability. It has been a matter of considerable pride to the people of Somerville that the Somerville commissioners should have proved themselves among the leaders in an in- telligent endeavor.




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