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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