USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1938 > Part 7
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In view of these considerations, I recommend that an ordi- nance be enacted, requiring that basements in all dwellings be made practically fireproof, with ceilings wire lathed and cement plastered. Although we have been extremely fortunate in this city in the small loss of life due to fire and smoke, I believe the proposed protective measures are vitally necessary. A few mo- ments delay in some of our recent fires, would have resulted in a deplorable loss of life. In all these instances, fire originated in the cellar and extended unhindered into the upper floors. Fully realizing the apparent hardship borne by property owners by this proposed ordinance, I feel that the resulting protection of life warrants the expense. I can think of no one corrective measure, which at a nominal cost of $50.00 to $75.00 can be productive of so much common good and which can benefit so many citizens by the saving of life and property.
In the absence of the above proposed Ordinance it will be necessary in the future as it has been in the past that the strength of the personnel and the amount of equipment of the
119
FIRE DEPARTMENT
fire and fire alarm departments be maintained at high stand- ards of efficiency.
I also respectfully refer to recommendations made in pre- vious reports relative to antiquated pumping apparatus.
IN CONCLUSION
In concluding my report I wish to state that I fully recog- nize the support and confidence accorded me, the past year, by His Honor the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen; I wish also to take this opportunity to thank the officers and members of the department for their faithfulness and efficiency.
Respectfully submitted, J. C. MCNALLY,
Chief Engineer.
120
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE SANITARY DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :-
The report of the Sanitary Department for the year 1938 is respectfully submitted herewith :
COLLECTIONS OF ASHES AND REFUSE
January
2,150
13,975
4,837
February
2,200
14,300
4,950
March
2,250
14,625
5,062
April
2,140
13,190
4,815
May
2,050
13,325
4,612
June
2,000
13,000
4,500
July
1,950
12,675
4,387
August
1,840
11,960
4,140
September
1,860
12,090
4,185
October
2,050
13,325
4,612
November
2,120
13,780
4,770
December
2,190
14,235
4,927
Totals
24,800
161,200
55,797
COLLECTION OF PAPER
Yards
Loads
January
3,600
480
February
3,750
500
March
3,525
470
April
4,500
600
May
4,350
580
June
4,125
550
July
3,900
520
August
4,350
580
September
4,575
610
October
4,875
650
November
4,650
620
December
5,250
700
51,450
6,860
....
Loads
Yards
Tons.
121
SANITARY DEPARTMENT
The above figures are approximate and are based on the general average of amounts carried by the trucks.
The ashes and refuse are being collected with motor trucks on account of the distance to the Medford dumps, which are being used by this department subject to the rules and regula- tions of the Board of Health of the City of Medford.
There is a general increase in the amount of paper being collected due to the fact that so many householders have in- stalled oil burners in their kitchen ranges and heaters. This paper is collected and taken to the incinerator, thereby, de- creasing the fire hazard on the dumps.
The total estimated collections of garbage amounted to 4,000 cords.
The garbage has been collected by contract which provides for collection twice a week throughout the year which as a whole, I believe has been pretty faithfully adhered to.
The department as a whole is operating efficiently and with the citizens co-operation we shall continue to carry on in the usual manner.
I wish to thank His Honor the Mayor, the Board of Alder- men and the employees of my department for their co-operation extended during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. MESKELL,
Superintendent of Sanitary Department
122
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRIC LINES & LIGHTS
February 24, 1939.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the
Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville:
Gentlemen :-
I respectfully submit the Annual Report of the Department of Electric Lights and Lines, for the year ending December 31, 1938.
INSPECTION OF WIRING IN BUILDINGS
Strict and careful inspection of electrical wiring and attach- ments thereto have been carried on as in the past.
Consistent re-inspection has resulted in the use of approved appliances and materials. Amateur work, and the use of un- approved appliances and materials has been constantly con- demned.
The number of permits issued for work, and inspections thereto are as follows :---
New Work (permits)
2,120
Inspections (new work)
2,570
Re-Inspections (new work)
189
Re-Inspections (old work)
259
Defective Installations (old work)
325
Defective Installations remedied 180
Permits issued to Edison Company
812
Total fees collected for permits
$2,463.00
In addition to the above inspection work performed, the hurricane of September 21, 1938, made it necessary to have this department inspect practically every service within the City of Somerville.
123
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
Defective and additional wires are required in the main cables, in order to meet increasing service needs.
The W. P. A. program has resulted in 69,000 feet of under- ground cable being installed, and approximately 40 miles of overhead wire removed, during the year 1938. In conjunction with this work, 4 signal boxes were placed on underground circuits.
The system, as a whole, is in fairly good condition. How. ever, some of the older apparatus is showing signs of wear and should be replaced, especially the line from the Fire Alarm building to Magoun Square, and from Engine 2 on Broadway to Magoun Square.
ALARMS RECEIVED AND TRANSMITTED
Box Alarms
621
Second Alarms
6
Third Alarms
2
A. D. T. Alarms
6
Still Alarms
796
Total 1,431
Inhalator and accident calls
63
Out of town calls (included in Still Alarms) 219
False Alarms (included in Box Alarms)
90
The central office equipment consists of the following :-
2- 6 circuit operating boards
1-5 tapper boards
1-5 gong boards
2-16 ", storage battery charging boards
1-32
protective boards
1-12 automatic repeater
2- 5 , punching registers and take up reels
13-1 punching registers and take up reels
1- 1 dial 4 number manual transmitter
2-automatic time and date stamps
1-masterclock
1-local telephone used on still alarm system
568-cells storage battery
4-10 foot 4-shelf battery racks
5-metropolitan tappers and gongs
32-low rate rectifiers
1-high rate rectifiers
Apparatus outside the central office consists of the follow- ing :--
124
ANNUAL REPORTS
187-Fire alarm signal boxes, of which 31 boxes are Master boxes equipped with auxiliary stations located in various private and public buildings.
7-tower strikers 29-cable terminal boxes
8-punching registers
35-tappers (primary)
8-tappers (secondary)
13-still alarm bells 7-local telephones used as a still alarm system
1-private telephone and 2 extensions
3-traffic sirens
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
The police signal equipment is in good condition, except for some defective cable conditions.
The police radio is giving good service, except car receivers which show signs of wear and should be replaced.
The outside equipment consists of the following :-
71 Police Signal Boxes, 2 of which are Special Bank Alarm Boxes
14 Police Receiving Sets, 11 in service, and 3 as auxiliary
The same attention has been given to the condition of poles and wires on the street as during the past. A number of de- fective poles have been replaced by the companies owning same.
The hurricane of September 1938, made it necessary for the Boston Edison Company to replace 47 poles.
New Poles
Replaced Poles 64
Removed Poles 3 274
Reset Poles 0
3
Boston Edison Co.
10
27
0
9
Boston Elevated Railway
8
2
31
26
1
Permits issued to Boston Edison Co. for attach-
ments to New Eng.
Tel. & Tel. Co. Poles .. 6
Permits issued to Boston
Edison Co. for attach-
ments to Boston Ele-
vated Railway Co. for poles
8
Permits issued to New
Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. for
attachments to Boston
Edison Co. Poles ....
5
The number of street lights January 1, 1939 are as fol- lows :-
Relocated Poles
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
2
125
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
999 No. 20- 80 candle power lights
202 No. 30- : 100 "
27 No. 50- 250
506 No. 70- 600
4 No. 70- 300 watt mutiple
344 No. 75-1000 candle power lights 5 No. 80-1500 " " "
There are 29 intersections controlled by Traffic Signals (14 of these are equipped with pushbuttons for pedestrian traffic.)
There are 10 intersections controlled by blinkers.
There are 11 police traffic posts controlled by spotlights.
Damage on 20 signal posts from collisions during the year, approximately $1900.
I am sincerely grateful and appreciative for the co-operation of his Honor the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen, and the various departmental heads, during the year 1938.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT F. MAGUIRE, Commissioner Electric Lights and Lines
126
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN
The following number of calls were made by Doctor for the year 1938.
Welfare
8117
City Home
126
Soldier's Relief
240
Sick Police
221
Old Age
872
Firemen
178
9754
Patients' treated at Clinic
20,793
Pregnancy cases hospitalized :
Somerville Hospital
40
Central Hospital
9
Sunnyside Hospital
18
Pregnancy cases Hospital not recorded
106
Miscellaneous calls
523
X-ray reports-Somerville Hospital
201
X-ray reports-Central Hospital
152
X-ray reports-Sunnyside Hospital
6
DR. CIRO GIOBBE,
City Physician
127
BOARD OF APPEAL
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL
January 15, 1939.
To the Honorable the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :
The Board of Appeal of the City of Somerville respectfully submits the following report of its activities during the year ending December 31, 1938.
It has been the express intention of your Board at all times to act in good faith and without favor or prejudice to anyone, and to grant relief whenever the interests of both city and appellant would be most favorably served.
All of the members of your Board have during the year made it a part of their duty, in conjunction with the work of hearing and deciding appeals, to visit the premises that would be affected by the appeal, so that when the hearing was held the members had a mental picture of just what the appellant wanted.
A large percentage of the matters considered have been appeals from the decision of the Commissioner of Public Build- ings refusing to grant permits to alter two family dwellings into three family dwellings in accordance with the provisions of Section 10, Paragraph "D" of the Building Ordinance and in view of prevalent economic conditions and because of no great variance from existing ordinances and the fact that un- necessary hardship would be suffered by the appellants, it has seemed advisable by the Board to grant such appeals in most instances.
Respectfully submitted,
PLUMER E. POPE, Chairman ROBERT J. MOSELEY, Secretary CHARLES R. BRUNELLE GEORGE T. LOWDEN ALBERT F. BYRNES
128
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION
March 1, 1939.
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the
Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :
Gentlemen :
The Licensing Commission respectfully submits the follow- ing report for the year ending December 31, 1938.
During the year the Commission issued one hundred and twelve alcoholic beverage licenses out of a total of approximate- ly one hundred and fifty applications.
On November 22, 1938, Mr. John F. McNamara was ap- pointed to the Commission for a term of three years, which expires June 1, 1941.
Attached hereto is a table showing the number of different licenses granted and the total income of this department. After deducting the sum of $2,946.85, which was the expense of run- ning this department for the year, the total income would be $74,768.15.
REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1938
Licenses granted and fees received :
4 Garage licenses granted @ $2.00
8.00
265 Lord's Day licenses granted @ $5.00
1,325.00
231 Common Victualler licenses granted @ $5.00
1,155.00
2 Innholder licenses granted @ $5.00
10.00
112 Alcoholic Beverages licenses granted
74,875.00
42 Special Alcoholic licenses granted
42.00
71 Entertainment permits granted
300.00
$77,715.00
Expenses
2,946.85
Net total revenue of the department for 1938
$74,768.15
129
LICENSING COMMISSION
Respectfully submitted,
EUGENE M. FLANAGAN, Chairman LAWRENCE L. SHEEHAN JOHN F. MCNAMARA
Commissioners
Attest :
ALMA R. MORANDI, Secretary
130
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE SOLDIERS' RELIEF DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board' of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :-
I am submitting the annual report of the Soldiers' Relief Department in which is presented a tabulated statement of the aid rendered to the veterans and their dependents of the Civil, Spanish, German and Mexican Border Wars for the year ending December 31, 1938.
Twenty-four hundred and eighty cases were aided during the year and the total amount spent for Military Aid, State Aid and Soldiers' Relief, including medical services, was $89,060.24.
These figures show an increase in expenditures over those of 1937 due to several reasons.
Many veterans died during the year and their widows and children were given aid. An unusual number of sick cases added to the medical expense. Several veterans were laid off W P A projects and had to come back on the relief rolls.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS F. MCGRATH,
Commissioner
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS MADE BY THE SOLDIERS' RELIEF DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1938
SOLDIERS' RELIEF.
Military Aid
State Aid $594.00
Direct Relief $2,595.40
Work Relief
Medical Care
Orders Etc.
Total Relief
Number Cases
January
$600.00
660.00
564.00
2,679.20
1,126.00
256.62
2,063.72
7,349.54
214
March
625.00
544.00
2,523.55
1,170.50
796.84
2,345.86
8,005.75
206
April
650.00
524.00
2,700.10
1,154.00
987.94
1,692.51
7,708.55
215
May
643.00
459.00
2,784.45
1,249.50
753.85
1,492.87
7,382.67
205
June
739.00
599.00
2,371.80
1,796.00
716.55
1,237.41
7,459.76
207
July
813.00
604.00
2,606.25
1,682.50
679.07
1,027.91
7,412.73
223
August
697.50
554.00
2,677.75
1,721.00
607.96
1,110.54
7,368.75
204
September
705.50
564.00
2,551.00
1,487.00
351.97
1,191.46
6,850.93
207
October
605.50
577.00
2,721.50
1,122.50
555.48
1,430.25
7,012.23
202
November
674.40
651.00
2,738.75
786.50
896.27
1,923.00
7,669.92
196
December
735.50
687.42
2,732.25
1,092.00
596.60
2,689.12
8,532.89
204
Totals
$8,148.40
$6,921.42
$31,682.00
$15,367.00
$7,506.00
$19,435.42
$89,060.24
2,480
SOLDIERS' RELIEF DEPARTMENT
...
TOTAL RELIEF INCLUDING ORDERS AND MEDICAL CARE
$89,060.24
$979.50
$306.85
$1,230.77
$6,306.52
197
February
131
132
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
February 7, 1939.
To the Honorables, The Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :
Gentlemen :
The Planning Board of the City of Somerville respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1938.
There were eight petitions presented to the Board seeking a change in the Building Zone map of the City of Somerville and public hearings after due notice were held by the Board on these petitions. The Board also met in executive session on many other occasions to take action on these petitions and other business of the Board.
The City Treasurer has included in his report the fees re- ceived.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. HURLEY, Chairman VINCENT W. SENA, Secretary JOHN P. SILK HARRY MACNUTT JOSEPH D. LONERGAN
133
SCHOOL, DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT
December 31, 1938.
To the Honorables, the Mayor and the
Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :
Herewith I respectfully submit the Annual Report of the City Solicitor for the year 1938.
It is only natural, perhaps, that the work of the Law De- partment has increased in each of the recent years, principally because of the severe economic stress that prevails everywhere today. This is most readily observed in the increasing number of cases which have been brought to the Appellate Tax Board by taxpayers seeking abatements of their assessments, and in the growing number of tax title foreclosure petitions filed in the Land Court. Due to the industry of the Board of Assessors, very few actual trials are had before the Appellate Tax Board, as the great majority of these petitions are disposed of by amicable settlements between the taxpayers and the Board of Assessors.
The tax title foreclosure liens present an increasingly serious problem to the City. Foreclosure petitions in these cases are filed only as a last resort after every effort has been made by the Collector of Taxes to secure payment of these outstanding accounts. The value of filing these petitions is shown by the volume of taxes collected as a result of entering these petitions in the Land Court.
In cooperation with the Department of Old Age Assistance, a number of bonds and mortgages have been drawn by this Department as required by the provisions of the Old Age As- sistance law. As the law becomes liberalized there will un. doubtedly be considerably more of these instruments to be drawn.
134
ANNUAL REPORTS
A considerable amount of time has been required in carry- ing out the policy adopted by the Board of Aldermen and the School Committee of eliminating married women employees. Two cases arising out of this litigation are now pending in the Supreme Judicial Court, and a third action involving the group of teachers dismissed by the School Committee will undoubt- edly be instituted in the near future.
The number of claims arising out of alleged defective ways increased by a considerable amount in 1938. Examination of the causes of these claims discloses that a great part of the increase can be attributed to the activities of the W. P. A. That organization has been engaged in considerable work which in- volved opening and repairing of streets which, of course, neces- sarily resulted in a number of accidents on the streets where such work was progressing.
The Department was most fortunate this year in having the services of Charles L. Doherty as Assistant City Solicitor. Be- cause of his long experience in handling litigation of this nature, Mr. Doherty has had charge of that division of the work. He has been ably assisted in the investigation of claims by Lieutenant Thomas M. Sharry and the results of the efforts of these two gentlemen may be best attested by the fact that with an increase of claims filed of almost fifty percent over the number filed in 1937, the expenditures by the Department for the year totaled approximately $2,000 less than was expended in 1937.
The relations of the Law Department with your Honorable Board and all of the departments of the City have been of such a nature that the work of the year has been most pleasant.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT J. MULDOON,
City Solicitor.
135
SCHOOL, DEPARTMENT
CITY OF SOMERVILLE REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ROOMS
December 19, 1938.
Ordered, that the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools be adopted as the Annual Report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Board to the opinions or recommendations made therein ; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers ; and that six hundred copies be printed separately.
EVERETT W. IRELAND, Secretary of School Board.
136
ANNUAL REPORTS
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1938
CHARLES A. CAMPBELL
Chairman
WILLIAM J. KOEN
Vice-Chairman
Members
EX-OFFICIIS
JOHN M. LYNCH, Mayor 52 Porter St. LEO B. HAVICAN, President, Board of Aldermen 32 Willoughby St.
WARD ONE
WALTER E. WHITTAKER 135 Walnut St.
WARD TWO
LAWRENCE J. DONOVAN
68 Elm St.
WARD THREE
EDWARD M. MCCARTY
4A Pleasant Ave.
EDITH L. HURD .
WARD FOUR
125 Central St.
WILLIAM J. KOEN
WARD FIVE 34 Lexington Ave.
EDWIN A. SHAW
WARD SIX 63 College Ave.
CHARLES A. CAMPBELL
22 Barton St.
Superintendent of Schools EVERETT W. IRELAND
Office: West Building, High School, Highland Avenue.
Residence: 137 Powder House Boulevard.
The Superintendent's Office will be open on school days from 8:00 to 5:00; Saturdays, 8:00 to 10:00. His office hour is 4 o'clock on school days and 8:30 on Saturdays.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools WALTER P. SWEET 71 Hume Ave., Medford
Superintendent's Office Force
Mary A. Clark, 15 Pleasant Avenue Mildred A. Merrill, 108 Highland Avenue Marion E. Marshall, 30 Gilman Street S. Regina Truelson, 38 Rogers Avenue Margaret R. O'Connor, 2 Adrian Street Frances C. Geaton, 29 Tennyson Street
WARD SEVEN
137
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Standing Committees
NOTE: The member first named is Chairman; the second, Vice-Chair- man.
HIGH SCHOOLS .
Donovan, Whittaker
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS
Shaw, McCarty
TEACHERS
McCarty, Shaw
FINANCE
Koen, Hurd
TEXTBOOKS AND COURSES OF STUDY
Koen, Hurd
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
McCarty, Donovan
HEALTH, PHYSICAL TRAINING AND ATHLETICS
Whittaker, Donovan
RULES AND REGULATIONS Hurd, Shaw
Board Meetings
January 3
April 25
October 31
January 31
May 20 November 28
February 18
June 27 December 19
March 28
September 26
138
ANNUAL REPORTS
TO THE HONORABLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
Dr. Hurd and Gentlemen :
In accordance with the provisions of the Rules and Regula- tions of the Somerville School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools has prepared and submits herewith his eleventh an- nual report, which is the sixty-seventh in a series of annual re- ports of the Somerville public schools and covers the calendar year 1938.
The report of the Superintendent of Schools, which com- prises Part I of this document, is his report of his stewardship to the School Committee and gives consideration to a theme in- dicative. of an outstanding activity representing the expend- iture of time, energy, and serious thought on the part of the School Committee during the year just closing.
In addition there is a discussion of the conditions of the schools with respect to changes, improvements, and progress, which includes statements regarding personnel, membership, and buildings, with recommendations concerning the immedi- ate and necessary needs of our educational system.
Part II is prepared as a report of the School Committee to the citizens and consists of (1) a description of the school prop- erty, (2) statistical tables which set forth comparative figures covering a period of years concerning enrollment, membership, attendance, cost of instruction and maintenance, and other matters of organization, and (3) tables showing statistics, not necessary for comparison, covering the last fiscal year.
Part III presents the organization of the school system at the close of the year 1938, and the lists of graduates of this year from the secondary schools, the evening high school, and the vocational school.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT W. IRELAND,
Superintendent of Schools
December 19, 1938
139
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
PART I REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 1938
In order that the citizens of the City of Somerville be made acquainted and kept informed of the well sustained progress of their public school system, with its resultant activities and accomplishments, and its progressiveness with relation to for- ward looking changes drawn from the implications presented by the social, political, and economic trends of our rapidly and ever changing social world, it is required by the Statutes of the Commonwealth, and the Rules and Regulations of the Somerville School Committee, that annually in December a survey which will set forth these facts be presented to the School Committee by the Superintendent of Schools, and through the School Committee to the public.
It has been the proud privilege of the Superintendent of Schools during his incumbency to be able each year to report a sustained program accompanied by a rate of advancement which is indicative that the legislative body in control of schools has made every attempt not only to keep abreast of the best in progressive educational thoughts and practices, but in many cases to be in advance of them, and that its administrators have energetically and aggressively kept the principles, policies, and aims of the best in education constantly in the foreground of the thoughts and actions of the School Commit- tee.
In the years immediately preceding 1934 the Superintendent in his reports attempted to inform the public upon the prob- lems confronting the educational leaders of the country, the ways in which it was felt the problems could best be solved, and how the schools of our city were being affected by the changing social conditions and the resultant effects of those changes.
In the report for 1934 an academic discussion was made of the important social trends, of the implications for future
140
ANNUAL REPORTS
educational policies, and of the necessary educational adjust- ments which should follow.
It was a pleasure to report for 1935 that the School Com- mittee had taken long forward looking steps in the develop- ment of the school work along the lines of the evident implica- tions for education drawn from changes manifested by the social trends.
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