Report of the city of Somerville 1938, Part 22

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1938
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 444


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1938 > Part 22


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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.




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