Report of the city of Somerville 1936, Part 11

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1936
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 438


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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