USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1938 > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Fire protection has been increased at the Prescott School, provided for at the New Vocational School, and all fire hose renewed at the Northeastern Junior High School. All extin- guishers have been recharged and additional protection pro- vided in the system.
A competent electrician was added to the department per- sonnel with the result that many obsolete and broken electrical devices have been renewed and many emergencies met with quick repair. A program of mechanical clock replacement to electric clocks is underway as well as replacement of hun- dreds of bothersome batteries with transformers and new
331
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
bells and horns for the various program systems. New light- ing fixtures have been installed in the auditorium of the West- ern Junior High School, in a shop in the Southern Junior High School, in the Electrical department, and in several other spots. It is recommended that the entire lighting system be changed at the Cutler School, in all libraries, and in various offices in City Hall. The department has encouraged the use of higher wattage lamps in classrooms and discouraged the practice of using high wattage lamps where not needed.
The department feels that an intensive economic drive on the proper use of lighting in its various buildings is a way toward great savings which can be used in the future pur- chases of modern electric fixtures.
The recent hurricane caused considerable damage to the roofs and about the grounds of the various buildings. Tem- porary repairs were immediately made and the permanent re- pairs projected into W. P. A. To date the roofs of the Pres- cott, Hanscom, and Morse Schools have been extensively re- paired and are now sound. Several sections of wire fence were replaced at the Cutler, Hodgkins, Durell, Glines Schools, and a wood fence at the Burns School. Many chimney tops were damaged, and at the Highland School the entire chimney top- pled tearing out the roof and wall of the teachers room and office. Many hundreds of pounds of copper flashing, tin and thousands of shingles were lost and although replacements have been underway it is unfortunate that this catastrophe has hastened the need for many complete roofing jobs, the cost of which normally might be met from departmental funds avail- able. It is recommended that a new roof be applied on the Northeastern Junior High School although this was not dam- aged by the recent hurricane.
An inspection was made of the towers on the various fire stations and although somewhat weakened we find no immi- nent danger. The Commissioner does, however, recommend that these towers be razed to the main roof and capped, thereby eliminating much maintenance trouble in the future. This would necessarily mean replacing the seven fire alarm bells with a modern air whistle centrally located, thus simplifying the maintenance problems of the Fire Alarm Department.
The leaky skylight over the Central Library has been com- pletely renovated and should cause no further trouble.
332
ANNUAL REPORTS
W. P. A.
Several schools under the blanket sash and door project were completed during the year and it is pleasing to note that trouble from these sources should be eliminated for some- time to come. It is, however, recommended that all locks be re-mastered to new keys.
A complete renovation project was started in the Central High School and should when fully underway absorb the bulk of the building tradesmen on the W. P. A. rolls. Several pro- jects for painting, including the City Home, Contagious Hos- pital, Fire Stations, Police Station and schools are being drawn and it is hoped that sufficient municipal funds will be available to continue this type of project, of which the Com- missioner is pleased to state have been most satisfactory and can be operated at a low municipal cost.
School yard resurfacing on W. P. A. projects at the Hodg- kins and Brown schools are awaiting municipal funds and the Commissioner urgently recommends their adoption in the en- suing year.
P. W. A.
The city took advantage of a P. W. A. grant and some un- used money from the Sale of Lands Account and will shortly have the addition of four modern toilet rooms as well as re- novated existing toilet facilities at the Northeastern Junior High School. It is recommended that an extension of class- rooms to one wing of this school be provided to care for the overcrowded condition there.
It is also recommended that consideration be given to the need of new housing at the Prescott School. It may be sug- gested that deliberation be given to the fact that grade school enrollment has apparently reached a peak and may be on the decline so that programs of redistricting with the prospects of eliminating an old structure may be a possibility, thereby effecting needed economics.
The Commissioner wishes to express his appreciation for the cooperation of the members of his department, all other city departments, including the valued assistance given to us by
333
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
the many capable recipients of the Public Welfare, the W. P. A. and His Honor, the Mayor and the Honorable Members of the Board of Aldermen.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT I. PARKER, Commissioner of Public Buildings.
334
ANNUAL REPORTS
SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS
SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX CO., MASSACHUSETTS
Settled, when part of Charlestown 1630 Incorporated a Town; 1842 Established a City, 1872
Location: Somerville City Hall (Near centre of the city), 2% miles northerly from State House, in Boston. Greatest extent of the City north and south about 4.2 miles. Greatest extent of the City east and west about 2.1 miles. Elevation Highland Avenue at City Hall 105 feet above mean low water. Highest building elevation in the city 145 feet. Lowest building elevation in the city 13 feet. Area of City, including land and water, about 4.22 square miles. Land, 2,461.50 acres; water and marsh 238.50 acres. Population, 1920 Census, 93,033. Population, State census, 1935, 100,773. Entire population on line of pipe and supplied with water.
Water works owned by City of Somerville. Construction commenced in 1868. Source of supply: Metropolitan system. Range of pressure on street mains: Low service 35 to 65 pounds; High service 45 to 100 pounds.
Mayor HON. JOHN M. LYNCH
Water Commissioner JOHN T. FORD
Office of the Water Department City Hall, Highland Ave., corner School St.
Department Buildings and Yard 275 Cedar Street, near Broadway
335
WATER COMMISSIONER
ADMINISTRATION OF WATER WORKS VESTED AS BELOW
1861-1871 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER COMMITTEE (5) Acts 1868; Chap. 202
1872-1890 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD (5) Acts 1871; Chap. 182
1891-1897 SOMERVILLE MYSTIC WATER BOARD (3) Acts 1890; Chap. 218
1898-1899 BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS (3) Acts 1898; Chap. 33
WATER COMMISSIONER (1) 1900 Acts 1899; Chap. 240
336
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONER
OFFICE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER
January 2, 1939.
To His Honor, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen :
I present herewith my report for the year ending December 31, 1938, this being the Sixty-fourth Annual Report of the Water Department.
Water Charges committed to the City Treasurer and Col- lector of Taxes during the year 1938 :
Quarterly Accounts
Committed
$250,871.21
Less: Adjustments
452.15
$250,419.06
Commercial Accounts
Committed
$192,811.67
Less: Adjustments
45.68
$192,765.99
Additional
Committed
57.64
Service Assessments
Committed
150.00
Maintenance Charges
Committed
785.93
Less: Adjustments
58.08
727.85
TOTAL COMMITMENTS ....
$444,120.54
Note: See report of City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for Collections.
Liens created during the year amounted to ...... $463.76
Expenditures:
Under Control of the Water Commissioner
Water Maintenance and Extension $89,260.15
337
WATER COMMISSIONER
Not Under Control of the Water Commissioner
Metropolitan Water Assessment
$305,322.39
Maintenance of Water Works Buildings
1,880.02
$307,202.41
$396,462.56
APPROPRIATION AND EXPENDITURES Water Maintenance and Extension Account
Appropriations made by the Board of Aldermen
$100,367.00
Labor and materials for operation, mainten-
ance and renewal of the Water Works ....
$89,260.15
Transfers
6,500.00
Balance
4,606.85
$100,367.00
$100,367.00
CHAPTER NO. 44 WATER BONDS
Balance January 1, 1938
$26,983.92 75,000.00
Bond Issue
Receipts
457.13
$102,441.05
Expended during 1938
63,818.35
Balance December 31, 1938
$38,622.70-
338
ANNUAL REPORTS
In Memoriam
RUSSELL H. SPAULDING
Foreman, Water Department 1907 - 1938
339
WATER COMMISSIONER
WATER ASSESSMENTS
The assessment paid to the Commonwealth by this City as its proportionate part of the cost and operation of the Metro- politan Water Works for the year 1938 was as follows :
Sinking Fund
$8,910.28
Maintenance
72,836.18
Interest
121,829.23
Maturing Bonds
91,207.43
Brookline Credit
10,539.27
Total payment for 1938
$305,322.39
The amount paid by the City since the beginning in 1898 is. as follows :
$542,477.63
Maintenance
3,179,597.10
Maturing Bonds
594,231.40
Brookline Credit and Miscellaneous
77,911.01
Total payments to date
$5,857,632.47
The pipes constructed and replaced during the year are as follows :
Feet Laid
Feet Dis- continued
Size
Benedict Avenue
90
90
2"
Burnham Street
12"
608
608
Campbell Park Place
4"
90
90
1"
College Avenue
12"
1215
200
10"
6
8"
80
1000
6"
1104
Conwell Street
74
4
6"
Glendale Avenue
10"
465
465
6"
Kidder Avenue
12"
648
648
6"
Kingston Street
12"
297
257
6"
40
Malvern Avenue
10"
15
15
6"
Morrison Avenue
12"
1745
1770
6"
Powder House Boulevard
12"
35
35
10m
Seven Pines Avenue
4"
154
194
1".
6"
50
Sartwell Avenue
4"
11
Thorndike Street
12"
750
750
Williams Street
8"
5
6"
107
190
6₥
10"
190
107
2"
7814
6425
2
8»-
14"
25
10
Yorktown Street
Size
Sinking Fund
1,463,415.33
Interest
340
ANNUAL REPORTS
Size
Feet Laid 121
Feet Dis- continued
Hydrant Branches
6"
41
Blow-off
6"*
16
7951
6466
Hydrants, Gates, Etc.
Number of fire hydrants in City, January 1, 1938
1340
Number set during the year
13
Number removed during the year
12
Net increase in number of hydrants
1
Total number of public fire hydrants
1341
Number of private fire hydrants, December 31, 1938
88
Number of gates in the city, January 1, 1938
2742
Number set during the year for streets
34
Number set on hydrant branches
22
"Number set on blow-off branches
2
58
Number of gates removed
17
Net increase in number of gates
41
Total number of gates in city
2783
Number of check-valves in city, January 1, 1938
9
_Number added during the year
0
`Total number of check-valves
9
Number of blow-offs in city, January 1, 1938 Number added during the year
2
Total number of blow-offs
231
Number of Waterposts in city, January 1, 1938
61
Number removed during the year
0
Total number of waterposts
61
Number of drinking fountains in city, Jan- uary 1, 1938
9
Number added during the year
0
-
Number now in city
9
Number of car-sprinkler connections in city, January 1, 1938
12
Number set during the year
0
Number discontinued
0
12
Size 6"
-
229
341
WATER COMMISSIONER
Operating Meters, December 31, 1938
Size 5/8"
3/4 "
1" 11/2"
2"
3"
6"
10"
12' Total
13266
274
118
35
56
18
9
4
1
1 13,782
Motor and elevator register
1
Total
13,783
Per cent of services metered
100%
Number of Services supplying Public Property
City Hall
1
Police Station, Bow Street
1
Bathhouse, Shore Drive
1
City Home, Broadway, 3 (1 shut-off)
2
Contagious Hospital
1
Tuberculosis Hospital
1
Water Works
1
Incinerator
1
City Stables, City Road
1
Garbage Plant
1
Sewerage Yard
1
Public Libraries
4
Fire Stations
7
Schools
32
Public Grounds
20
Water Posts
61
Street Sprinklers
15
Drinking Fountains
9
New Police Station
1
Total
161
Water is furnished without charge to all city departments and municipal buildings.
Summary of Pipes and Fixtures of the Water System
December 31, 1938
Feet of main pipe (approximately)
597,017
Miles of main pipe (approximately )
113.07
Services in use (approximately)
13,783
Services supplying public property
161
Private fire supplies (sprinkler system)
106
Fire supplies to public buildings
26
Public fire hydrants
1,341
Private fire hydrants
88
Sprinkler systems installed in public buildings
0
Gates
2,783
Check Valves
9
Meters (including 1 motor register)
13,783
Waterposts
61
Car-sprinkler connections
12
Blow-offs
231
Drinking Fountains and troughs
12
342
ANNUAL REPORTS
Total number of services required to be metered in actual use
13,783
Services supplying public property 161
Total number of services 13,944
In addition to the above there are fire supplies for private sprinkler systems, which are not re- quired to be metered
106
Size, number and length of services installed in 1938 :
5 .... 3/4" Services 69'
2
4" Services 102'
171
Fire Services in Public Buildings
No.
Size Installed
Atherton Street, Carr School
1
6"
1927
Boston Street, Pope School
1
6"
1927
Broadway, Lincoln School
1
6"
1927
Broadway, City Home
1
1916
Cherry Street, Burns School
1
6"
1916
Concord Square, Knapp School
1
6"
1927
Craigie Street, Morse School
1
6"
1927
Cross Street, Edgerly School
1
6"
1927
Evergreen Avenue, Forster School Annex
1
1923
*Gov. Winthrop Road, Charles A. Grim- mons School
1
6"
1929
Highland Avenue, Central High School
1
8 '
1916
*Holland Street, Western Jr. High School Holland Street, Western Jr. High School Holland Street, Hodgkins School
1
6"
1916
Jaques Street, Glines School
1
1928
Lowell Street, Bingham School
1
6"
1927
Maple Street, Bennett School
1
6"
1927
*Marshall Street, Northeastern School
Jr. High
1
6"
1923
Myrtle Street, Prescott School
1
6"
1927
Powder House Boulevard, Cutler School
1
6"
1916
School Street, Cummings School
1
6"
1916
School Street, High School (West Wing)
1
6"
1928
Summer Street, Southern Jr. High School
1
6"
1930
Sycamore Street, Forster School
1
6"
1927
Willow Avenue, Brown School
1
6"
1928
Total
26
* No Sprinklers Installed.
...
Grove Street, Highland School
1
6"
1927
..
1
1930
1
6"
1928
The consumption of water for the City of Somerville for the year 1938, total quantity, averages daily and per capita, the per capita consumption being figured on an estimated pop- ulation for the year of 98,450.
343
WATER COMMISSIONER
Month
Gallons per day
Gallons per capita
January
9,518,700
96
February
9,359,400
95
March
9,072,500
92
April
8,672,200
88
May
8,733,700
89
June
9,350,800
95
July
9,390,600
95
August
9,947,500
101
September
8,727,700
89
October
8,994,100
92
November
9,027,000
92
December
8,959,600
91
Year 1938
9,146,600
93
Total consumption for the year 1938: High-service
Low-service
707,975,000 gals. 2,630,536,000
Total city
3,338,511,000 "
The following table shows the daily per capita consumption of water in the cities and towns in the Metropolitan Water District for the year 1938, as registered by the Metropolitan meters.
City of Town Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Yr.
Arlington
56
51
50
50
50
57
50
52
51
51
49
48 51
Belmont
48
47
47
47
48
56
49
55
53
52
48
47 50
Boston
109
105
101
96
96
104
106
113
105
80
79
79 96
79 97
76 96
Lexington
54
52
53
56
60
70
72
72
75
63 73 53 61 48 120
54 61 51 81
53 57 52 73
54 70 53 56 52 60 49 57 91 58 64 57
62
Somerville
96
95
92
88
89
95
Stoneham
59
58
60
60 61
60 66 55
62 78 60
78 56
84 59
51 63 89 63 82 59
51 58 92 60 68 62
51 57 92 58 62 59
93 60 66 57
Winthrop
73
65
63
64 83
83
89
94 90
96
90
79 90
69 88
72 91
76
Met. Dist.
91
89
86
71
68
72
77
82
105
112
101
58 72
55 72
58 72
Medford
51
53
54
54
53
55
Melrose
55
57
56
Milton
49 115
52 89
53 84
54 53 81 47
55 55 86 48 63
60 55 130 51 65
53 57 47 152 50 68 95 59
54 61 48 162 54 72
101 62
Swampscott
51
51
52
Watertown
56
56
56
54
68
79
96
86
107 104
110 105
Chelsea
77
77
74
91
86
88
94
97 60
62
Malden
71
71
72
71
70
53 57 51 103 50
Nahant
Quincy
49
47
48
Revere
61
59
58
60
89
Everett
95
93
344
ANNUAL REPORTS
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS For the Year Ending December 31, 1938 In form recommended by the New England Water Works Association
SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASS. General Statistics
Population: Census 1920, 93,033; State Census 1935, 100,773.
Date of Construction: Commenced in 1868.
By whom owned: City of Somerville.
Source of supply: Metropolitan Water System.
Mode of supply: Water is delivered into the city's mains, both high and low pressure, by the Metropolitan Water Works.
Statistics of Consumption of Water
Census population : 1920, 93,033; 1935, 100,773.
Population on lines of pipe, December 31, 1938, Est. 98,450.
Population supplies, December 31, 1938, Est. 98,450.
Total consumption for the year, 3,338,511,000 gallons.
Average daily consumption 9,146,600 gallons.
Gallons per day to e. . ch inhabitant, 93.
Statistics Relating to Distributing System, 1938 Mains
Kind of Pipe, cast iron.
Sizes from 4-inch and under to 20-inch.
Laid 7951 feet; discontinued 6,466 feet; net extension 1,485.
Total now in use, 113.07 miles.
Number of hydrants added during the year; Public 1; private, 0.
Number of hydrants (public and private) now in use, 1,429.
Number of stop gates added during the year, net increase, 41. Number of stop gates now in use, 2783.
Number of blow-offs, 231.
Range of pressure on mains, 35 pounds to 100 pounds.
Services
Kind of pipe; Lead, lead-lined wrought iron, cement-lined wrought iron, cast iron, brass, copper tubing.
Sizes, one-half to eight inches.
Laid 171 feet of new service pipe during the year.
Number of service connections made, 7.
Services in use, approximately, 13,783.
Number of private fire supplies (sprinkler systems), 106.
Number of meters now in use, 13783.
Percentage of services metered, 100.
Number of motors and elevator registers added, O; removed, O.
Number now in use, 1 (included in number of meters.)
345
WATER COMMISSIONER
I am sincerely grateful for the interest and co-operation accorded me during the year by His Honor the Mayor; the members of the Board of Aldermen ; the employees of the Water Department and to those men engaged on W. P. A. Water pro- jects, and I earnestly solicit their continued support for the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN T. FORD,
Water Commissioner.
346
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER
City Hall, Somerville, January, 1939. Office of the City Engineer,
Honorable John M. Lynch, Mayor,
and Members of the Board of Aldermen :
Gentlemen :
In accordance with the provisions of Chapter X, Section 5, of the Revised Ordiances of 1929 of the City of Somerville, I hereby submit the Sixty-sixth Annual Report of the Engineer- ing Department for the year ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred and thirty-eight.
This report summarizes the work performed and the ex- penditures of the following divisions :
First-Engineering Division Second-Sewer Division Third-Park Division Fourth-Playground Division.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS E. HEGARTY, City Engineer.
347
CITY ENGINEER
GENERAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Divisions
Appropriations or Balances
Transfers and Credits
Balances
City Engineer
$17,346.00
Expenditures $16,246.97 18,124.28
$1,099.03
Sewers Maintenance
19,066.57
490.44
1,432.73
Sewers Construction
570.72*
570.72
Parks Maintenance ..
13,125.00
11,816.27
1,308.73
Playgrounds
Maintenance
15,000.00
13,451.60
1,548.40
Park and Playground
Improvements, etc.
798.48*
...
...
* Balance from 1937
HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT IN THE ENGINEERING DIVISION
Sewers and Storm Drains,-comprising surveys, estimates,
profiles, lines, grades, titles, plans, assessments, all engi- neering work relating to same and supervision Highways,-comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving and all other engineering work relating to the department
$4,242.83
Water Works,-comprising giving lines and grades and other matters relating to the department 22.33
Parks and Playgrounds,-comprising surveys, plans, es- timates, profiles, and grades, including, laying out of parks, playgrounds, boulevard and supervision
964.71
Public Buildings,-comprising surveys, estimates, lines and grades, and other work relating to construction and lay- ing out of grounds of public buildings
14.00
Street Numbering,-comprising locations of buildings, plans, assigning street numbers, etc.
23.99
Street Lines and Grades,-comprising establishment of lines, grades, and miscellaneous data given parties for building and grading
40.06
City Survey,-comprising establishing of street lines, ac- ceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city maps, etc.
602.53
Office Work,-comprising record of all locations, indexing, typewriting, bookkeeping, calculations, reports, and gen- eral drafting
3,391.60
Holidays, Vacations and Sickness
993.43
City Supervision on W. P. A. Work
489.76
Engineering,-General Departmental expenses (all divi-
sions) comprising City Engineer's salary, automobile maintenance, telephone, car fares, and supplies
4,865.44
Total
$16,246.97
..
798.48
P. W. A. Sewer Ac-
count
2,945.25*
2,945.25
596.29
The total cost of maintaining the Engineering Division since it was established in 1872 up to December 31, 1938, has amount- ed to $713,408.94.
Five assistants have been employed the greater part of the year on engineering work.
348
ANNUAL REPORTS
There are on file in this office, plans for acceptance of sev- eral streets that for various reasons have not been made pub- lic ways.
LENGTH OF STREETS
Miles
*Public
90.288
Private
10.804
101.092
* Includes 1.406 Miles City Boulevard and Park Roadways 2.331 Miles Metropolitan District Boulevard 0.98 Mile State Highway
(A revision of lengths of public and private streets show- ing that, owing to abandoned and duplicated streets and streets incorporated into the Northern Artery, the total length has decreased.)
LENGTH OF PUBLIC STREETS IN EACH WARD
Miles
Ward one
13.922
Ward two
14.671
Ward three
10.321
Ward four
14.771
Ward five
11.799
Ward six
11.591
Ward seven
13.213
Total length of public streets in the city 90.288
There are at the present time 665 street boundaries con- sisting of stone bounds and brass rods set in cement for de- fining street lines, and the number should be increased each year; definite boundaries do much to simplify surveying and are convenient to use for bench marks. Previous reports give locations of existing bounds.
The total length of permanent paved streets in the city is 25.48 miles.
Permanent street pavement should be extended as rapidly as possible.
TABLE OF STREET CONSTRUCTION
* ** Streets paved with granite blocks
Square Yards 214,608 1,648
Miles
8.778
Streets paved with vitrified brick
0.288
Streets constructed with concrete base and bituminous concrete top
281,872
12.428
349
CITY ENGINEER
¿Streets constructed with concrete base and bituminous penetrated top
19,245
0.461
¿Streets constructed with broken stone and bituminous concrete top ¿Streets constructed with broken stone and bituminous penetrated top
83,847
5.213
49.928
Streets constructed of water bound maca- dam
13.216
Streets graveled or unimproved
10.780
Total
101.092
* Also 27.92 miles (single track) electric railway paved with granite, as- phalt, etc.
** Includes 6,149 sq. yds. (0.438 mile) cement concrete roadway Middlesex Avenue. Includes 0.98 mile of state highway.
Includes 1.406 miles of city boulevard and park roadways and 2.331 miles of state boulevard (Metropolitan District Commission, Park Division.)
During the year, approximately 19,667 square yards of Portland cement concrete sidewalks were constructed, replac- ing the old brick, dirt and old concrete.
MILES OF EDGESTONE, GRANOLITHIC, GRAVEL AND BRICK SIDEWALKS IN EACH WARD
Ward one
Edgestone 20.936
Gravel Sidewalk 2.525
Brick Sidewalk 8.402
Granolithic Sidewalk
Ward two
17.946
4.722
3.676
8.280
Ward three
14.619
0.504
10.734
3.163
Ward four
20.901
0.564
6.618
11.244
Ward five
23.309
3.106
10.696
7.807
Ward six
25.873
3.319
9.375
13.351
Ward seven
38.807
1.514
6.998
27.838
162.391
16.254
56.499
81.223
(Details, etc., streets and sidewalks in report of Street Commissioner.)
UNDERGROUND CONDUITS (Public Service Corporations)
Miles laid in City Streets
Boston Elevated Railway Co.
5.55
Edison Electric Illuminating Co.
20.68
New England Tel. & Tel. Company
19.59
Cambridge Gas Light Company
67.56
Boston Consolidated Gas Co. (formerly Charlestown Gas Co.)
32.27
Somerville Department of Electric Lines and Lights, Police and Fire Alarm (wires are in corporation conduits )
Total
145.65
...
....
9.540
350
ANNUAL REPORTS
All locations for sub-surface construction are assigned by this department.
Lines and grades have been given for laying new city water mains and measurements taken of same. Length of new mains, etc., in the report of Water Commissioners.
All plans of estates in Somerville recorded at the Registry of Deeds, East Cambridge, including land court plans, have been copied, also titles examined, abstracts from deeds made for the purpose of assessments, and the proportional part of the cost of new work computed, and schedules of assessments made out showing the property owners.
Total number of plans on file in this office approximately ten thousand.
For the immediate improvement of conditions in this city the highway bridges and approaches over the steam railroads should be rebuilt the full width of the street at Broadway, (North Somerville), Prospect Street and Washington Street, near Union Square; and Northern Artery over the Fitchburg Railroad and the dangerous grade crossing at Park Street should be abolished, as decreed by the courts a number of years ago.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.