USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1939 > Part 20
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The installation of a new Vocal-Alarm System which would act as a secondary means for transmitting an alarm and which would greatly increase our receiving and transmitting equip- ment is recommended at this time.
Inasmuch as the supports for the tower bells and striking mechanism in some instances are unsafe, striking equipment worn and in general poor condition, it is recommended that they be discontinued and an air whistle substituted which would be located at City Hall for sounding multiple alarms.
ALARMS RECEIVED AND TRANSMITTED
Box Alarms
641
Second Alarms
8
Third Alarms
1
A. D. T. Alarms
12
Still Alarms
853
Total 1,515
Inhalator and Accident calls
31
Out of town calls (included in Still Alarms) 207
False Alarms (included in Box Alarms) 108
Trouble Calls
252
The central office equipment consists of the following :
2- 6 circuit operating boards
1- 5 circuit tapper boards
1- 5 circuit gong boards
2-16 circuit storage battery charging boards
1-32 circuit protective boards
1- 4 circuit punching registers and take up reels
2- 5 circuit punching registers and take up reels
13- 1 circuit 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 cells storage battery
520-
334
ANNUAL REPORTS
3-10 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 :
191 Fire Alarm signal boxes of which 31 boxes are Master boxes equipped with auxiliary stations located in various priv- ate and public buildings.
7-Tower strikers (only 4 in service)
28-cable terminal boxes
8-punching registers
28-close circuit tappers and 11 open circuit tappers
10-close circuit tappers (secondary)
13-still alarm bells
8-local telephones used as a still alarm system
1-private interior telephone consisting of 5 stations
3-traffic sirens
The Police Signal equipment is in good condition and addi- tions are constantly being made.
Four new boxes were added this year, making a total of seventy-six street boxes and two special bank alarm boxes. A modern and efficient burglar alarm system was installed in the City Treasurer's Office, having direct connection with the Police Station.
The Police Station equipment consists of the following :
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
Type C Police Desk 2-5 circuit registers 41-secondary batteries 1-charging panel
There are also four official telephones connected with the Police Desk. Over 400,000 calls were received from Police Boxes throughout the city during 1939. There were 347 repair calls.
The Police radio transmitter is rendering good service, but its efficiency would be greatly increased by the addition of a two-way equipment. There are eleven police receivers in ser-
335
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
vice and two auxiliaries. These sets are obsolete and should,. therefore be replaced.
TRAFFIC LIGHTS
There are twenty-nine inter-sections controlled by Traffic Signals, fourteen of which are equipped with pushbuttons for pedestrians traffic. The State Department of Public Works re- cently made a survey recommending changes on every control- ler in the City to meet State standards.
There are seven inter-sections controlled by blinkers oper- ated from Primary batteries which are so obsolete, that replace- ment parts cannot be obtained. There were 688 trouble calls.
There are ten Police traffic posts controlled by Spotlights. Damages amounting to $2500. were sustained during the year 1939 to our system, due to automobile accidents.
POLES AND STREET LIGHTS
The same attention has been given to the condition of poles and wires on the street as during the past. A number of defec- tive poles have been replaced by the companies owning same.
New Poles
Replaced Poles
Removed Poles
Reset Poles
Relocated Poles
New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co.
12
84
5
0
0
Boston Edison Company ..
6
78
0
0
8
Boston Elevated Railway
0
0
0
0
0
Permits issued to Boston Edison Co. for attach- ments to New England Tel & Tel. Co. Poles Permits issued to Boston
0
Edison Co. for attach- ments to Boston Ele-
vated Railway Co. for poles
0
Permits issued to New Eng. Tel & Tel. Co. for attachments to Boston Edison Company poles 1
The number of street lights January 1, 1940 are as follows :
996-80 candle power lights 8-60 watt 199-100 candle power lights 40-100 Watt
336
ANNUAL REPORTS
28-250 candle power lights 2-150 watt 497-600 candle power lights 11-300 watt 368-1000 candle power lights 5-1500 candle power lights 90-2500 candle power lights 280-Twin 1500 candle power lights
I am sincerely grateful and appreciative for the cooperation of his Honor the Mayor, the members of the Board of Alder- men, the various departmental heads and the men under my jurisdiction, during the year 1939.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT F. MAGUIRE, Commissioner of Lights and Lines
337
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
City Hall, Somerville, Mass. January 1, 1940.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen
Gentlemen :
In accordance with the provisions of the city charter the annual report of the Department of Public Buildings for the year ending December 31st, 1939 is herewith submitted.
The department is responsible for providing and maintain- ing the housing and furnishings for all municipal departments and functions.
The Commissioner has under his charge and direction, the work of building, replacement and maintenance, including cus- todial services, of some eighty odd buildings and their respec- tive grounds. The buildings include :
27 Elementary schools (2 occupied by W. P. A.)
3 Junior high schools
1 High School including Gymnasium building
1 Central Heating Plant
1 City Hall
1 Municipal building
1 Police Station including garage
7 Fire Stations
1 Electrical department building
3 Libraries
8 Park buildings, Field Houses, etc.
1 City Home Group (three buildings)
1 Contagious Hospital group (two buildings)
1 Public Works Group (eight buildings)
2 Sewer Department buildings
3 Portable buildings (for polling purposes)
1 Bath House and beach
338
ANNUAL REPORTS
The approximate valuation of buildings, grounds and fur- nishings is placed at $7,356,700.00 as shown by the Auditor's report elsewhere in this annual report.
The department is also required to build, furnish and main- tain quarters within the various buildings for such functions for public use as branch libraries, dental clinics for children, special classrooms for Americanization classes, etc., baby clinics shower baths for men and women, and any housing facilities for the good of the public welfare.
For the above services the department spent during the year 1939 $293,662.62 and the distribution of this amount is as fol- lows :
Buildings
Salaries
Fuel
Light
Care & Repair
Totals
Mtnce. Bathhouse
$352.00
$325.00
Bandstand
59.20
$5.28
64.48
"
Bow St. Municipal Bldg.
3,821.86
$612.10
746.31
102.69
5,282.96
"
Electrical Building
1,764.80
515.81
22.45
150.67
2,453.73
" Fire Buildings
2,412.11
2,650.17
3,119.87
333.14
10,515.29
" Municipal Garage
168.09
168.09
Contagious Hospital
824.32
1,175.45
567.38
893.90
3,460.05
Highway Buildings
259.69
756.65
196.30
212.49
1,425.13
"
City Home Buildings
223.44
1,794.72
799.39
1,449.04
4,266.59
Central Library
4,714.90
807.56
1,317.55
654.54
7,494.55
West Branch Library
2,368,80
519.45
336.52
133.02
3,357.79
East Branch Library
1,662.00
387.48
199.98
33.09
2,282.55
Municipal Buildings
8,937.33
1,514.45
7,022.51
17,474.29
"
Park Buildings
1,962.49
1,267.51
303.38
733.76
4,267.14
Police Building
4,397.91
752.95
1,517.22
1,494.63
8,162.71
",
School Buildigs
107,393.92
30,995.66
23,714.34
56,806.60
218,910.52
Sanitary Buildings
24.64
319.16
303.31
647.11
Sewer Buildings
142.49
28.44
170.93
"
Water Buildings
95.33
480.44
314.50
981.60
1,871.87
,
Polling Places
537.63
10.95
513.26
1,061.84
Totals
$141,785.37
$43,176.60
$34,848.68
$73,851.97
$293,662.62
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
339
340
ANNUAL REPORTS
The department is also required to inspect for building con- struction, plumbing and gasfitting all construction or altera- tions brought to their attention and to issue permits therefor.
The number of building permits issued by the Commission- er during the year 1939, having been duly inspected by the Building Inspector, is as follows :
Wood
Fire Resisting 25
Totals
New Buildings
11
36
Alterations
196
47
243
Totals
207
72
279
The fees collected for these permits totals $625.00 and has been turned over to the City Treasurer as revenue.
During the year 1939 there have been 2341 inspections of plumbing and gasfitting, and the number of permits are class- ified as follows :
The number of plumbing permits issued during 1939
was
401
The number of permits for installation of new plumb- ing
8
The number of permits for alterations to plumbing ....
393
The number of buildings in which soil pipes were tested
278
The fees collected for plumbing for the year 1939 amounts to $430.00 and has been turned over to the City Treasurer as revenue.
The number of permits issued for gasfitting in 1939 was 553
The number of permits for new installation of gas 3
The number of permits for additions and alterations 550
The number of buildings in which gas pipes was test- ed with mercury test tubes 421
The number of buildings in which gas piping was test-
ed after change from gas to electric lighting 43
The fees collected for gasfitting for the year 1939 amounts to $140.75 and has been turned over to the City Treasurer as revenue.
The total estimated cost of new buildings and alterations as filed by the grantees on the permits issued amounts to $365,- 125.00 in 1939. For comparison the estimated cost for the same
341
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
amounted to $270,132.00 in 1938. The total number of permits for all purposes, not including plumbing and gasfitting, viz. 305, is 43 less than in 1938 when 348 permits were issued.
Many of the alterations to dwellings have been in the na- ture of remodeling third floor rooms in normally two family houses to provide a new apartment. Although the department cannot authorize such changes and refuses to do so in order to comply with the Building Ordinances, it does not object in most cases to its opinion being set aside by the Board of Ap- peals. We acknowledge the hardship the average property owner has to-day to gain sufficient income from his property to pay taxes and running expenses and realize that additional unused areas within a house may be put to tenable use with- out, in most cases, causing any exterior changes ; thereby mak- ing the property self supporting and tax secure. We do, how- ever, insist that compliance to the full extent of our ordinances pertaining to construction be followed, and are constantly at- tempting to discourage the past practices on the part of some of the public to do building operations without filing for per- mits in the prescribed manner. The department is insisting that the public, for its own protection, observe the require- ments before entering upon any construction or commercial occupancy. It also appreciates that many changes should be made in our building code to accommodate the use of recently accepted practices in construction methods and the use of new materials.
The Commissioner urgently recommends a modification of the Building Code and complete revamping of the Zoning Laws in order to compensate for commercial expansion and to gen- erally encourage building alterations toward securing economic freedom for our citizens and their city.
The Commissioner also recommends the enactment of local ordinances confining the use, type and size of outdoor adver- tising to specific districts and with the consideration of the abutters to such installations.
OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Reviewing the two years in office, the Commissioner has found that his attentions have been directed almost wholly to the responsibilities of the care and repair of the thirty school buildings and their facilities. A continual stream of emergency
342
ANNUAL REPORTS
orders have been and are continuing to be received by the de- partment and it is with deep satisfaction that with the splendid cooperation of the employees these emergencies have been met with speedy dispatch so that no municipal function was serious- ly inconvenienced.
It is evident that emergencies will always accur, but it is regrettable that sufficient funds, labor, personnel, etc. are not available to modernize the system sufficiently to limit the na- ture of these occurances to those beyond the control of man.
Coupled with the lack of funds available for normal repairs and improvements has been the ever increasing use of public school buildings for uses not directly educational. These need no enumeration as most of the public from time to time have used these facilities unmindful of its extra cost to the depart- ment. Under our State Statues incomes from this use of school buildings when charged for profit making ventures does not come into the departments funds but goes into general revenue through the City Treasurer. Yet the added cost of light, heat, power, janitoral services, and excessive depreciation has to be paid from the departments regular appropriation.
If it were economically feasible at the moment the Commis- sioner would not hesitate recommending the erection of a mu- nicipal recreation building which should be made self support- ing at least as far as operating expenses are concerned. This should have sufficient gymnasium and assembly hall quarters to care for the normal requests of the various organizations throughout the city. To you of the public who naturally accept the use of these recreational facilities it is important that you realize that educational requirements for modern school hous- ing are being sacrificed to pay for the costs of neglect and mis- use of these facilities, that the scope of the term "to be free of charge for charitable use" has many times not been willingly defined by the petitioner, that the departments clerical work to care for requests has been taxed beyond its capacity, and that the responsibility of the Commissioner to abide by the Department of Public Safety Laws is considerably increased with its consequent jeopardy to harmonious public relations.
Summarizing the foregoing it would appear that need for additional funds is imperative and were it not for the critical economic conditions of the day the requisition would immedi- ately be made.
343
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Reporting upon the conditions of the Public Buildings sys- tem for the past year all facilities have been maintained and children in our schools have been comfortably housed without any loss of the school year because of building conditions. Emergency repairs have been met. However the lack of funds have precluded any possibility of extensively redecorating our public buildings system.
The policy of testing our fuel supply periodically has been maintained and results have been quite satisfactory so that the city has received its greatest value.
Two fire stations have been equipped with automatic stok- ers which have proved to be most economical in that the in- vestment costs have been retired by the cost of fuel saved in the prior installations of a year ago.
An automatic coal stoker has been installed at the City Home and the results have been most gratifying and indicate that our investment will be liquidated within two years, and from then on shall be a distinct saving to that account.
LIBRARIES
A new branch library has been opened at the Bingham School and is enjoying a very good circulation.
The West Branch library has been refinished inside and equipped with new type fluorescent tube lighting which has proved quite satisfactory, and the Commissioner wishes to continue this type of installation providing the funds are forth- coming.
A new cold water system was installed in the Central Li- brary replacing the existing galvanized iron system.
PARK BUILDINGS
Showers at the Lincoln Park Field House have been com- pletely revamped, and building renovated so that the structure is now in good shape.
SCHOOLS
The Northeastern Junior High School now boasts of four additional lavatory rooms which will provide for the over-
344
ANNUAL REPORTS
burdened enrollment at that school. This was built under P. W. A. docket for which the city contributed fifty-five per cent of the cost.
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
A new cold water system in the City Hall was installed re- placing the galvanized iron system.
W. P. A.
During the past year a W. P. A. program of renovation has been under way at the Central High School and I am pleased to report that results have been most satisfactory, and at the present writing the program is practically completed. All rooms and corridors have been painted out, hundreds of yards of dangerous plaster have been renewed, the entire galvanized water system replaced with copper tubing so that the water supply for many years to come should be adequate and trouble free.
In the rear of the High School an unsightly and unused area has been excavated, retaining walls erected and consider- able grading done. At all exits from the building concrete steps have been installed with walks. Although the project closed for the winter months we were able to lay down in this area a wood running track previously constructed by this depart- ment. The athletic department of the school system have gain- ed recognition in the inter-scholastic track meets due to the practice they were able to have with this track. It is hoped that sufficient funds will be available this year to complete the program, and to beautify the entire rear of Central Hill to the railroad tracks.
A renovation program was under way in the Proctor School and is now completed, and the building is in a most satisfactory condition. A new playground has been laid in at the Brown School on Willow Avenue, protecting fences and curbs erected. At the present writing a program of renovation is going on within the building.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The department recommends that it be given sufficient funds to do renovation work within our buildings on a wider scale. We also recommend that the Prescott and Burns School build- ings be demolished ; that an addition be built onto the South-
345
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
worth School building to take care of children now going to the Prescott School; and that a suitable school be erected where the Burns School now stands to take of the pupils now going to the Burns School and to the Highland School. The High- land School on Grove Street, which is in a Business District, can then be abandoned and sold for business puposes.
The department again recommends that the five towers on our fire stations be removed, and that a four way whistle be installed at a central location.
In conclusion, if a stricter sense of economy were shown by the general public in the daily use of the facilities at their disposal, our operating costs would be reduced, and more funds thereby directed into most necessary rehabilitation. For example : The use of electricity within our public system pre- sents a great margin for worthwhile economy and it is almost entirely uncontrollable by this office.
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 the many capable recipients of the Public Welfare, the W. P. A., and by His Honor, the Mayor, and the Honorable- Members of the Board of Aldermen.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT L. PARKER, Commissioner of Public Buildings
-346
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER
Office of the City Engineer, City Hall, Somerville, January, 1940.
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 Ordinances of 1929 of the City of Somerville, I hereby submit the Sixty-seventh Annual Report of the Engi- neering Department for the year ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred and thirty-nine.
This report summarizes the work performed and the expend- itures of the following divisions :
First-Engineering Division
Second-Sewer Division
Third-Park Division and Playground Division.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS E. HEGARTY,
City Engineer
POWDER HOUSE SQUARE TRAFFIC CIRCLE
347
CITY ENGINEER
GENERAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Divisions
Appropriations or Balances $9,731.63 11,216.64
Transfers and Credits
Expenditures $9,670.47 10,944.67
Balances
City Engineer
$61.16
Sewers Maintenance ..
$190.00
461.97
Sewers Construction
570.72*
..
Balance from 1938
HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT IN THE ENGINEERING DIVISION
Sewers and Storm Drains,-comprising surveys, estimates,
profiles, lines, grades, titles, plans, assessments, all engin- eering work relating to same and supervision
$1,132.84
Highways, - comprising plans, estimates, titles, profiles, lines and grades, inspection of paving and all other en- gineering work relating to the department
282.84
Parks and Playgrounds, - comprising surveys, plans, es- timates, profiles, and grades, including laying out of parks, playgrounds, boulevard and supervision
20.00
City Survey, - comprising establishing of street lines, ac- ceptance plans, and miscellaneous survey work for city maps, etc.
17.73
Office Work, - comprising record of all locations, indexing, typewriting, bookkeeping, calculations, reports, and gen- eral drafting
2,787.60
Miscellaneous Work, - comprising designs, sketches, etc., relating to various plans for committees, etc.
9.10
Holidays, Vacations and Sickness
582.42
City Supervision on W. P. A. Work
40.00
Engineering, - General Departmental expenses (all divi- sions) comprising City Engineer's' salary, automoible maintenance, telephone, car fares, and supplies
4,797.94
Total
$9,670.47
..
23,607.92
39.56
Park & Playground
Improvements, etc.
798.48*
..
............
798.48
P.W.A. Sewer Ac-
count
2,945.25*
... ...
..........
570.72
Parks a nd Play-
grounds Mainten-
nance
23,647.48
2,945.25
The total cost of maintaining the Engineering Division since it was established in 1872 up to December 31, 1939, has amounted to $723,079.41.
Four assistants have been employed the greater part of the year on engineering work.
There are on file in this office plans for acceptance of sev- eral streets that for various reasons have not been made public ways.
348
ANNUAL REPORTS
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 consist- ing of stone bounds and brass rods set in cement for defining street lines, and the number should be increased each year; definite boundaries do much to simplify surveying and are con- venient 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.
349
CITY ENGINEER
TABLE OF STREET CONSTRUCTION
*
** Streets paved with granite blocks
Streets paved with vitrified brick
0.288
Streets constructed with concrete base and bituminous concrete top
287,616
12,428
Streets constructed with bituminous con- crete base and bituminous concrete top ¿Streets constructed with concrete base and bituminous penetrated top
3,790
0.215
19,245
0.461
¿Streets constructed with broken stone and bituminous concrete top
113,958
7.252
ĮStreets constructed with broken stone and bituminous penetrated top
48.923
Streets constructed of water bound maca- dam
11.967
Streets graveled or unimproved
......
Total (Miles)
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.
1-++ 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 22,893 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
Edgestone
Gravel Sidewalk
Brick Sidewalk
Granolithic Sidewalk
Ward One
20.936
2.525
5.523
12.419
Ward Two
17.946
4.470
3.580
8.628
Ward Three
14.619
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