USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1936 > Part 11
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Retired September 14, 1936
Retired October 1, 1936
Patrolman John A. Dadmun Patrolman Myron S. Gott
Retired October 1, 1936
Patrolman Denis Downey
Retired October 1, 1936
204
ANNUAL REPORTS
Resignation
Asst. Matron Anna Robinson
Resigned June 5, 1936
Appointments
Patrolman John F. Heafey
Appointed April 30, 1936
Patrolman James L. Smith
Patrolman Howard F. Hallion
Patrolman Timothy F. Donovan
Appointed July 9, 1936
Asst. Matron Alice J. Buchert
Appointed June 5, 1936
Death
Patrolman Lawrence J. Chichester Died February 7, 1936
Death of Retired Membres
Patrolman Henry A. Sudbey Died January 1, 1936
Patrolman James J. Pollard
Died January 28, 193.6
Patrolman Jacob W. Skinner
Died November 3, 1936
Pensioners Retired on Half Pay
Appointed
Retired
Carlton, Ira S.
May 11, 1892
May 9, 1907
Hilton, Herbert
May 22, 1895
Dec. 21, 1911
Carleton, George H.
Jan. 9, 1883
Mar. 27, 1914
Drew, Elmer E.
May 22, 1895
July 25, 1918
Goff, Ernest S.
Mar. 22, 1900
July 11, 1919
Allen, Charles W.
Mar. 22, 1900
Mar. 26, 1920
Woodman, Charles E.
Feb. 8, 1888
June 22, 1921
Jones, Frederick G.
Oct. 11, 1906
Feb. 9, 1923
Howe, Hudson M.
Mar. 22, 1900
Sept. 14, 1925
Davies, Edward M.
May 22, 1905
Sept. 23, 1927
Heron, Theodore E.
Mar. 26, 1890
Sept. 28, 1927
Kendall, Charles A.
Feb. 25, 1909
Dec. 12, 1929
Groves, Walter L.
June 14, 1906
Oct. 6, 1930
Arnold, Louis F.
Sept. 16, 1902
Oct. 18, 1930
Rice, George L.
May 22, 1895
Apr. 11, 1931
Graves, Frank H.
Apr. 3, 1901
Sept. 25, 1932
Peters, George A. C.
Aug. 6, 1903
Oct. 28, 1932
Harmon, James M.
May 11, 1892
Nov. 22, 1932
Hawes, Albert C.
Jan. 13, 1910
Nov. 22, 1932
Burns, Samuel
Apr. 25, 1894
Dec. 31, 1932
Morrison, Alexander
Nov. 30, 1911
Apr. 14, 1934
Lacey, Charles F.
May 22, 1919
Apr. 14, 1934
Begley, Francis R.
Apr. 24, 1924
Sept. 14, 1936
Kennedy, Michael T.
May 11, 1892
Oct. 1, 1936
Dadmun, John A.
May 22, 1895
Oct. 1, 1936
Gott, Myron S.
May 22, 1895
Oct. 1, 1936
Downey, Denis
Apr. 5, 1905
Oct. 1, 1936
Appointed July 9, 1936
Appointed July 9, 1936
205
POLICE DEPARTMENT
OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE DEPARTMENT
Chief of Police Thomas Damery
Deputy Chief Charles J. Sharry
Captains
Howard, Ernest Kenney, William G.
Walsh, Thomas P.
Lieutenants
Fitzpatrick, Augustine J. Fulton, Charles J. Killourhy, John J.
O'Connell, Daniel M. Sharry, Augustine F. Sharry, Thomas M.
Sergeants
Cavanagh, Francis X.
Cunningham, Hugh R.
Dwyer, Joseph A.
Elliott, Earle W. Fitzpatrick, James A.
Lynch, James M. Pierce, LeRoy V.
Reed, Walter Roche, Frank J. Roche, Henry W.
Small, Joseph F.
Patrolmen
Allan, George R. Aucoin, Cornelius
Baird, William J.
Baker, John H.
Barrett, John K.
Begley, Cornelius T.
Berg, Edward L., Jr.
Blake, Joseph P.
Crowley, Joseph G. Cruise, John F. Culliton, Edward F.
Blake, William F. Brennan, Jeremiah G. Brosnahan, John J. Buckley, Timothy Burlingame, John F.
Cummings, John J. Curran, Joseph F. Curtin, John J.
Dewar, Robert D. Dillaway, John E.
Donovan, Jeremiah F.
Donovan, Thomas A.
Donovan, Timothy F.
Donovan, William H. Doolin, Patrick J.
Dowd, Michael T., Jr. Dunleavey, John M. Dwyer, William E.
€1
Burnett, William R. Burns, Allan S. Butman, Edward G.
Cameron, John L. Canavan, Cornelius P. Canty, Eugene M. Carey, Alfred J. Caswell, Lester A. Cidado, August S.
Clark, John J. Coffey, Harold L. Collins, Cornelius J.
Corkery, Timothy J.
Courtney, John J.
Cronin, John J. Crosby, George W.
Crossman, Claude L.
206
ANNUAL REPORTS
Ellis, Charles W. Estee, George R., Jr. Fedele, Joseph F. Fitzgerald, William J. Fitzpatrick, Augustine W. Flanagan, Thomas J.
Fleming, Thomas J. Forristall, Edward G.
Gallagher, John J. Griffin, William H. Gullage, George, Jr.
Hagerty, John J.
Hallion, Howard F.
Higgins, Francis E.
Higgins, Francis P.
Higgins, James J.
Holmes, James F.
Hopkins, Edward J.
Hourihan, James G.
Hughes, James E., Jr.
Hughes, John E.
Johnson, William E.
Keane, Edmund J.
Kearney, Dennis F.
Kelley, Arthur W.
Keniry, Jeremiah
Kiley, Edward J.
Kilmartin, James M.
Landry, Frederick A. Lyons, Patrick J.
MacDonald, George D.
MacRae, Walter J.
Mahoney, Thomas F.
Mahood, John T.
May, Edward A. McAuliffe, Daniel F.
McAvoy, Charles H. McCabe, Bernard
McCauley, George W.
McDonald, Stephen D.
McFadden, Alfred J.
McGovern, Frederick W. McGrath, Patrick
Mckenzie, John H. McNamara, Thomas F. Mehigan, Garrett F. J. Moore, Peter Mulqueeney, Denis G. Murphy, Daniel F., No. 1 Murphy, Daniel F., No. 2
Nelson, Ludwig
O'Brien, John H.
O'Brien, Patrick F.
O'Connell, Daniel J.
O'Connor, Jeremiah
O'Keefe, John P. L. O'Loughlin, Michael J. Oesting, Walter C.
Phillips, George B., Jr.
Powers, James M.
Powers, John F.
Quinlan, William J.
Raymond, Elmer E. G.
Reardon, Leo C.
Reid, Garnet L.
Riley, Daniel J.
Robitaille, Alfred E.
Rogers, Francis L.
Ronayne, Pierce P.
Rossi, Ricco J.
Scotti, James V. Shay, John J.
Sheehan, Jeremiah G.
Shepherd, Charles W.
Silva, Frank A., Jr.
Skeffington, Richard H.
Smith, James L. Smith, John J. Souza, James
Spiers, George
Strangman, George H.
Stokes, Herbert H.
Sullivan, Timothy L.
Warner, Chester F.
Young, Harry C.
Matron Kammerer, Helen F.
Assistant Matron Buchert, Alice J.
207
POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN CONCLUSION
I wish to thank his Honor, the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen and the various Heads of Departments for their cooperation and assistance rendered my department dur- ing the year.
To every member of the department I wish to express my appreciation and thanks for their unstinted police work throughout the year.
Very respectfully,
THOMAS DAMERY, Chief of Police.
208
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
January 15, 1937.
TO THE HONORABLE, THE MAYOR, AND THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN :
Gentlemen :
In compliance with the Revised Ordinances of the City of Somerville, I have the honor of submitting, for your informa- tion, the Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1936.
ALARMS AND LOSSES
Number of Alarms during 1936 1,317
Value of Buildings at risk 1,966,153.00
Insurance on Buildings at risk 1,761,515.00
Insurance loss on Buildings 70,003.99
Value of Contents at risk 1,003,658.00
Insurance on contents at risk 984,100.00
Insurance loss on Contents 20,590.02
TOTAL VALUE AT RISK $2,999,811.00
TOTAL INSURANCE BY FIRE 90,594.01
AVERAGE PER CAPITA FIRE LOSS FOR 1936 .88
During the past year, this Department responded to eighteen less alarms than in the year 1935, but, there was an in- crease of twelve actual fires during 1936 over the previous year. The per capita fire loss this year was lowered from $1.17 to $0.88. This is the lowest per capita fire loss this City has en- joyed in over fifteen years. I feel that improved modernized equipment with efficient training of the personnel has been a contributing cause of our gradual decrease in fire losses during recent years.
The manual force consists of one hundred and sixty-two (162) permanent men. During the year one private died and three privates were appointed permanent.
209
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Roster of the Department is as follows :
1 Chief Enginerr
1 Deputy Chief
2 District Chiefs
7 Captains
1 Master Mechanic
19 Lieutenants
119 Privates 3rd Grade
9 Privates 2nd Grade
3 Privates 1st Grade
The motor apparatus in the Department is as follows :
APPARATUS
1-1300 gallon pumpem and hose wagon
3-1000 gallon pumpers and hose wagons
1
900 gallon pumper and hose wagon
2
750 gallon pumpers and hose wagon
1
4
500 gallon pumper and hose wagon Combination booster pumpers and hose wagons Combination chemical and hose wagons
2
1 85 foot aerial ladder truck with booster pump
1
2
1
Combination city service and chemical ladder truck (reserve) Combination Rescue, Salvage and Lighting Truck Wrecking truck
1
1 Automobile, Packard Sedan, Chief Engineer's car 1 Automobile, Ford Sedan, Deputy Chief's car
2
Automobile, Ford Sedan, District Chief's cars
1
Automobile, Ford Coach, Master Mechanic's car.
HOSE
Two and one-half inch rubber lined fire hose :
On hand January 1, 1936
13,100
Purchased during 1936
500
Condemned from fire service
1,800
Total on Hand January 1, 1937
11,800
One and one-half inch rubber lined fire hose:
On hand January 1, 1936
1,400
Purchased during 1936
U
Condemned from fire service
U
Total on Hand January 1, 1937
1,400
Three-quarter inch chemical and booster hose :
On hand January 1, 1936
3,200
Purchased during 1936
450
Condemned from fire service
900
Total on Hand January 1, 1937
2,750
1
75 foot aerial ladder truck City Service tiller ladder trucks
210
TYPICAL CLASSIFICATION OF ALARMS
Classification
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct. 30
Nov. 28
19
288
Fires in Residence Buildings
24
27
23
18
26
20
29
17
27
10
11
12
14
128
Chimney Fires
3
6
2
3
3
....
5
3
1
9
6
2
6
83
Fires in Dumps and Vacant lots ..
11
..
....
1
2
3
6
9
3
....
7
6
3
56
Mirsc. Fires Out-of-doors
7
9
15
7
8
7
11
8
13
15
13
14
127
Automobile Fires on Street
10
7
11
4
3
11
13
15
10
10
4
11
109
False Alarms
9
1
2
7
5
2
5
5
4
3
4
7
54
Smoke Scares and Needless Alarms ..
5
1
1
....
3
y
7
16
11
9
16
8
9
115
Misc. Emergency Calls
22
15
13
9
23
18
18
14
21
18
20
13
204
Out-of-City Calls
TOTALS
117
86
91
73
114
108
157
98
103
137
115
118
1,317
Fires in Buildings
448
Out-of-door Fires
238
Automobile Fires
127
TOTAL FIRES
813
False Alarms
109
Other Alarms, no fire
191
TOTAL ALARMS IN CITY 1,113
Out-of-City Calls
TOTAL ALARMS ANSWERED
1,317
5
9
9
8
8
8
22
12
1
2
9
3
32
Fires in Rubbish near buildings
9
....
1
2
5
4
2
16
14
17
6
3
9
1
11
49
Grass Fires
4
....
2
3
8
4
8
8
4
3
....
..
1
1
2
3
22
Accidents and Inhalator Calls
8.
9
10
1
3
4
...
204
ANNUAL REPORTS
Dec. Total
Fires in Other Buildings
....
....
5 50
6
SEgine One
6.0 Engine Two
Engine Three
Engine Four
Engine Five
-Engine Six
SEngine Seven
Ladder One
Ladder Two
Ladder Three
der Four
Bell Alarms answered ....
402
240
328
175
220
351
Still Alarms answered ....
56
159
168
41
49
145
76
103
60
72
- 31
Miles traveled
591
572
757
291
534
318
677
566
700
267
683
Ft. 21/2" Hose used
12,200
25,150
18,950
18,600
6,900
9,050
10.050
....
....
....
....
Ft. 11/2" Hose used
200
600
600
1,250
600
..
....
....
....
....
Ft. 34" Hose used
29,250
28,900
49,500
10,500
14,500
17,300
14,800
2,600
....
....
..
....
150
60
62
30
4,580
1,678
1.011
2,323
Extinguishers used
8
23
6
19
5
12
14
14
6
4
6
Salvage Covers used ....
4
....
....
....
....
....
....
y
2
Covering other stations
....
....
...
....
....
....
Out-of-City Calls
10
12
55
3
....
44
32
4
8
16
....
FIRE DEPARTMENT
1
15
5
5
....
T
10
Ft. Ladders used
....
1,100
294
140
211
212
ANNUAL REPORTS
In Memoriam
ANDERSEN, TRYGVE Died at United Veterans Hospital February 21, 1936 Appointed November 21, 1935 as Permanent
BIXBY, GEORGE F. (Retired) Died at his home April 6, 1936 Appointed September 22, 1904 as Permanent Pensioned May 2, 1933
SHEA, JAMES J. (Retired) Died by accident January 21, 1936 Appointed February 2, 1920 as Permanent Pensioned December 16, 1935
CAPTAIN TREFREN, EDWIN F. (Retired) Died at his home April 11, 1936 Appointed October 1, 1882 as Permanent Appointed January 1, 1890 as Lieutenant Appointed December 2, 1894 as Captain Pensioned October 2, 1927
213
FIRE DEPARTMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS
On the site of the previous American Tube Works located on Somerville Avenue there is a deficiency of water service for fire protection. When the American Tube Works were in oper- ation, there was a minimum amount of industrial fire hazards and the two hydrants on six inch mains were ample for their protection. This site covers approximately ten acres of build- ings which today are occupied by various industries with their attending increases of fire hazards. At present, it is necessary to stretch water lines from Somerville Avenue, a distance of over one thousand feet, to reach the buildings located on the railroad side.
I therefore, recommend that the two hydrants that are lo- cated within this area be changed to the type that have a 41% inch outlet for connecting pumpers thereto, also, the installa- tion of at least four more hydrants with sufficient size mains to supply them for fire service.
As Somerville has several private hospitals housed in buildings that were originally built for private residences and containing large numbers of incapacitated people, which in case of fire, it would be difficult to remove if a fire had gained much headway, I recommend that an ordinance be enacted re- quiring all hospitals and homes for aged to install a fire detec- tion and notification system or automatic sprinklers.
In recent years, the floor areas of several of the retail stores have been enlarged, particularly the chain stores. Some of these contain basements extending back from the street line a distance of over one hundred and twenty-five feet with- out a fire break and as these basements are practically inac- cessible during a fire in them, I recommend that an ordinance be enacted requiring all basements of commercial stores over five thousand square feet in area be protected with automatic sprinkler systems with outside fire department connections thereto.
I recommend that the Revised Building Ordinance (page 205) relative to holes in store floors be revised as follows :
By striking out the existing paragraph, i. e. "There shall be installed in the first floor of every store a hole not less than twelve inches square, with suitable cover, for every five hun-
214
ANNUAL REPORTS
dred square feet of floor space, in order that a celler pipe may be used in case of fire."
And inserting in its place the following paragraph, i. e. "There shall be installed in the first floor of every store a hole not less than twelve inches in diameter, with a ribbed or ground glass not less than one inch in thickness cover set in a metal rabbitted frame and located twenty feet in from each main en- trance to such store in order that a cellar pipe may be used in case of fire. These glassed openings shall not be obstructed with show-cases, counters, floor coverings or merchandise, but shall be kept visible at all times. The space directly beneath these openings shall not be obstructed with any permanent con- struction.
The hazards of artificial refrigeration are primarily exces- sive pressure and leakage. There is, of course, the usual hazard of motive power, but these are common to numerous other processes and therefore, not special to refrigeration. Exces- sive pressures, unless properly provided for, involve the pos- sibility of pressure ruptures attended with such violence as to approximate the results of an explosion. Leakage is a matter of concern because of the nature of the refrigerant usually em- ployed. These features are of course affected by the character of installation. Systems of the multiple type must also be thor- oughly protected against mechanical injury. Faculty operat- ing methods and poor maintenance are contributing hazards which should be given consideration.
From the standpoint of the fire hazard, the inherent danger of flamable refrigerants is obvious. Irritant refriger- ants are directly fire hazards in that their liberation. at time of fire would retard fire fighting operations. The fires that have taken place and other occurences, such as leakage of refriger- ants which have resulted in driving people from buildings and in some instances serious casualties make adequate safeguards a matter of first importance. This can best be accomplished by the enforcement of suitable installation requirements.
As this City has no ordinance covering this serious subject, I, therefore recommend the enactment of an ordinance govern- ing the installation, maintenance and storage of artificial re- frigerants.
215
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The basements of all apartment houses in addition to the general fire hazards contain tenants' individual storage rooms, usually well filled, and a potential fire hazard always exists because of the fact that all kinds of materials subject to spon- taneous combustion are stored therein, and also, there are no means of safe illumination causing the careless use of matches in a number of cases while searching the contents. Most base- ments are not isolated from the stairways and hallways used for exit purposes by the occupants, therefore, I recommend that an ordinance be enacted requiring all apartment houses of eight (8) apartments or over be equipped with automatic sprinklers and alarms in the basements, hallways and stair- ways.
Respectfully submitted,
J. C. MCNALLY,
Chief Engineer.
216
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION
DANIEL J. COTTER, Chairman
MEMBERS
Term Expires January 1938
Daniel J. Cotter
Dr. Winnifred P. Davis
1937
Dr. William E. Denvir
1937
Mrs. Nellie M. Fitzpatrick
1938
Mrs. Harriett M. Hurlburt
1938
Mrs. Elizabeth F. McKenna
1938
Rev. Nazareno Properzi
1937
Mrs. Marie V. Sanborn
1938
Louis F. Solano
1938
Dr. Soter G. Zaharoolis
1937
Secretary to The Commission: FRANCIS J. MAHONEY
217
RECREATION COMMISSION
December 31, 1936.
To The Honorable The Mayor and The Board of Aldermen :
Respectfully the Recreation Commission reports that the operation of the service under the Commission during the year 1936 has been beset with difficulties and impediments well known to your honorable body. These conditions underlie and control the entire procedure of this Commission during that year, and also the operation of its service. Therefore there seems little need for reporting in detail the affairs of the Commission for that period.
During the previous year, 1935, the successive curtail- ments and withdrawals of appropriations by the appropriat- ing body, affecting this Commission, had reached a point which amounted to an undermining of what had been previously built up and carried on. Meanwhile sponsorship of the Recreation projects under the Federal W. P. A. had continued. The ap- propriating body had indicated its intention, and actually had attempted. to have these projects supplant the regular muni- cipal service-an arrangement which violated the arrangement with the Federal Government, and was not calculated to serve the purposes for which the service exists under this Com- mission.
A year ago this Commission recommended that "the process of discontinuing the Commission's service be stopped." As your honorable body is aware, a procedure directly contrary to that recommendation by the Commission was followed. A still further reduction of annual appropriation was made early in the fiscal year, 1936, and this reduction was attended by a public statement of intention to transfer the City's functions to the Federal W. P. A. When the Federal W. P. A. authorities pointed out that this procedure was not in accord with the purposes of the W. P. A., the W. P. A. Recreation project was cancelled. Since, even after this decision, funds for the Con- mission were still not appropriated, the latter found itself without adequate resources either Municipal or Federal; and its work suffered extremely and disastrously, as detailed be- low. When in the last week of 1936 a small transfer of funds to the Commission from another municipal Department was made, it was too late, and the sum which thus became avail- able was barely sufficient to meet the unpaid salaries of three year-round workers and to pay a few small outstanding bills.
218
ANNUAL REPORTS
The following tabulation shows how the program of the Recreation service under this Commission has suffered by the successive inroads made, during the past two years, upon the normal appropriation.
SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS
--
Number of units reduced from 19 to 4; Length of season reduced 6%; Number of employes reduced from 50 to 10; Certain types of equipment eliminated.
SATURDAY PLAYGROUNDS (for younger children)
Eliminated.
CHILDREN'S THEATRE
Eliminated.
AFTER-SCHOOL ATHLETICS (for (older boys and girls)
Eliminated in latter half of year and not ¿ now in operation.
EVENING RECREATION ( Eliminated in latter half of year and not CENTERS (for Adults) \ now in operation.
EVENING GYMNASIUM
§ Eliminated in latter half of year and not now in operation.
ADULT LEAGUES (in § Eliminated in latter half of year and not Baseball and Basketball) } now in operation.
BOYS' CLUBS
Some maintained with difficulty through ¿ services of overworked leaders, some eliminated for lack of leaders, no funds.
COMMUNITY DRAMA AND DRAMATICS
[ Some phases of activities continued but ¿ seriously impaired for lack of paid leader- [ ship and inavailablity of indoor facilities.
OFFICE
No regular services of clerk-secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT
Salary reduction 9%, voluntary.
Those few workers under the municipal service who have been left in the employ of the Commission in spite of the situa- tion explained above, have continued their zealous and efficient work; and this has been the saving feature of the 1936 situa- tion.
219
RECREATION COMMISSION
The following table shows how the Commission's financial resources have been reduced from year to year since the estab lishment of its year-round service.
*1931
$33,038.45
1932
27,000.00
1933
17,944.96
1934
13,655.99
1935
9,915.00
1936
9,999.79
* 1931 was the first full (12 months) year of the full-time, year-round organ- ization with full-time executive; the change from part-time organization having been made on May 1, 1930.
These figures show that while annual appropriations to other municipal departments in general have been increasing 131/2%, there has been a reduction of appropriation to this Commission amounting to 67% a fact which shows plainly how the service under this Commission has been handicapped. This extreme situation has existed in the face of the fact that during the same period, the demands, requirements and needs of the public for recreation service have-as a consequence of the un- precendented leisure for citizens-increased more, probably, than the demand and need for any other municipal service. During this period municipalities everywhere have extended their community recreation services while Somerville, a pion- eer, has been reversing itself.
The above facts are reported in no spirit of controversy or disposition to scold, criticize or blame. The Commission is simply carrying out its duty to make accurate report of its affairs. It must place upon the records the scope of its work and the reasons why it has been greatly increased or curtailed as the case may be. Duty to its membership and to the general public requires the Commission to make clear that the great decrease in its useful activities has been against the will of its membership and through policies beyond its control.
It is also only fair to add that the situation appears much brighter for 1937, and that a spirit of cooperation and helpful- ness prevails on the side of the Executive and appropriating Departments-a happy augury of a harmonious year and a partial revival of its activities.
220
ANNUAL REPORTS
FINANCIAL SUMMARY, 1936
Appropriated and Transferred
Appropriated, May 9, 1936
$7,678.00
Transferred from Interest Account,
December 26 2,325.00
TOTAL APPROPRIATION $10,003.00
Expended
Salaries and Wages:
Leaders, Supervisors, etc.
$5,202.25
Director
4,000.00
Other Expenses:
Equipment and Supplies
32.47
Office Supplies and Printing
52.74
Director's Automobile Maintenance
120.00
Telephone
138.23
Postage
30.09
Disbursements
22.56
Clerical Hire
397.95
All Other
3.50
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 9,999.79
UNEXPENDED BALANCE
3.21
Respectfully submitted for the Recreation Commission by
DANIEL J. COTTER,
Chairman.
221
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
March 10, 1937.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :
I herewith respectfully submit the annual report of the Department of Electric Lines and Lights for the year ending December 31, 1936.
INSPECTION OF WIRING IN BUILDINGS
Strict inspection of electrical wiring and attachments thereto have been carried on as in the past.
By consistent re-inspection the use of unapproved appli- ances and materials, as well as amateur work are being con- stantly condemned.
The number of permits issued for work and the inspections thereof are as follows:
New Work (Permits)
2,095
Inspections (new work)
2,812
Re-Inspections (new work)
284
Re-Inspections (old work)
1,027
Defective Installations (old work)
540
Defective Installations remedied
487
5,150
Permits issued to Edison Co.
1,073
Total Fees Collected for Permits
$2,512.50
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Defective and the need of additional wires in the main cables, requires immediate consideration, in order to meet in- creasing service needs.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Under the W. P. A. program 18,410 feet of underground cable was installed and approximately 20 miles of overhead wire removed during the year. In conjunction with this work 40 signal boxes have been placed on underground circuits.
The system as a whole is in fairly good condition but some of the older apparatus is showing signs of wear and should be replaced.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I respectfully refer to the 1935 report for important sug. gestions to improve the service.
ALARMS RECEIVED AND TRANSMITTED
Box Alarms
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