Report of the city of Somerville 1941, Part 25

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1941
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 430


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1941 > Part 25


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


Only persons that are licensed as drain layers by the city and who have given satisfactory bonds are permitted to lay and repair private drains.


TABULAR STATEMENT OF SEWERS BUILT IN 1941 BY W. P. A. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CITY ENGINEER


LOCATION


ITEMS OF CONSTRUCTION


SIZE


LENGTH IN FT.


Street


From


To


Beech St.


East side


Cypress St.


Atherton St.


Excavated Ledge Sand, Ledge


Manholes S.D. C.S. 2


8"


124


Beech St.


West side


Somerville Ave.


Atherton St.


4


8"


327


Beech St.


Across


West side


East side


Ledge


0


8"


54


*Beech St.


Center Ifne


Somerville Ave.


Pitman St.


Gravei


1


12"


156


Bradford Ave.


South side


School St.


Opposite No. 25


Gravei


1


8"


139


Dartmouth St.


East side


Evergreen Ave.


Broadway


Gravel, Ledge


4


8"


691


Dartmouth St.


West side


Evergreen Ave.


Broadway


Gravel, Ledge Clay, Gravel


4


8"


697


Evergreen Ave.


South side


Marshall St.


Near Sycamore St.


10


10"


1218


Florence St.


East side


Opposite No. 27


Pearl St.


Gravei, Ledge


3


350


Florence St.


West side


Opposite No. 50


Pearl St.


Gravel, Ledge


3


398


Frankiin St.


East side


Opposite No. 97


Clay


2


8"


100


Franklin St.


East side


Opp. Palmer Ave.


Opposite No. 97


Clay


2


314


Franklin St.


Across


East side


West side


Clay


0


8"


30


Frankiin St.


East side


Opp. Palmer Ave.


Opposite No. 42


Gravel, Ledge


3


G53


Frankiin St.


East side


Pearl St.


Opposite No. 42


Ledge


1


8"


530


Laurel St.


East side


Park Pl.


Opp. No. 45 Lanrel St. .


Ledge. Clay, Gravel


4


8"


785


Mt. Vernon St.


East side


Washington St.


Ledge, Gravel


4


8"


G55


Mt. Vernon St.


West side


Washington St.


Pearl St.


Ledge, Gravei


Myrtle St.


West side


Washington St.


Pearl St.


Gravel, Ledge


5


8"


494


Myrtle St.


East side


Washington St.


Peari St.


Gravel, Ledge


3


465


Oakland Ave.


South side


Marshall St.


School St.


Olay, Gravel


3


8#


439


Oakland Ave.


North side


Marshall St.


School St.


Clay, Gravel


?


445


Pearl St.


South side


Myrtle St.


Franklin St.


Gravel


8"


190


Pearl St.


South side


Fiorence St.


Pinckney St.


Gravel


1


8"


198


Pearl St.


South side


Franklin St.


Opp. No. 80 Pearl St.


Gravel


1


198


Pearl St.


South side


Pinckney St.


Opp. No. 20 Peari St. .


Gravel


1


8"


274


Pinckney St.


East side


Washington St.


Pearl St.


Gravel, Ledge


G


8"


712


Pinckney St.


West side


Washington St.


Pearl St.


4


62G


*Pltman St.


Center fine


Beach St.


Opp. No. 18 Pitman St. ..


12"


219


School St.


West side


Evergreen Ave.


Opp. No. 262 School St.


Gravel, Ledge


3


547


School St.


East side


Evergreen Ave.


Oakland Ave.


Gravel. Ledge


0


202


School St.


East side


Oakland Ave.


Broadway


Gravel, Ledge


2


410


Thurston St.


East side


Evergreen Ave.


Broadway


Gravel, Ledge


3


8"


731


Thurston St.


West side


Evergreen Ave.


Broadway


Gravel. Ledge


3


8"


753


ยท Rebuilt Combined System Sewers


375' = Length of sewers reconstructed in 1941. 16,407' = Length of sewers added to system in 1941.


16,782' = 3.1784 Miles. Total Construction in 1941.


Total Length of Public Sewers in the City, January 1, 1942


Total Length of Private Sewers In the City, January 1, 1942


637,990.7' = 120.8316 Aliles 34,896.0' = 6.6091 Miles


Total Length of Sewers in the City, January 1, 1942


672,88G.7' = 127.4407 Miles


(Including 58.0110 Miles


Total Length of Storm Drains in the City. January 1, 1942


123.393.3' = 23.3699 Miles


Separate System Sewers)


Total Length of City Drainage, January 1, 1942


796,280.0' = 150.810G Mlles


Total Length of Metropolitan Sewer Mains in the City, January 1, 1942


18,348.0' 3.4750 Miles


8


10"


1318


Evergreen Ave.


North side


Marshall St.


Sycamore St.


Clay, Gravei, Ledge


Franklin St.


West side


Oliver St.


Pearl St.


Ledge


4


542


Laurel St.


West side


Somerville Ave.


Opp. No. 46 Laurel St. ..


Ledge, Gravel


5


Near Pearl St.


638


Washington St.


Material


S.S. S.D. C.S. S.S.


Gravel, Ledge Gravei


0


1GO


-


385


CITY ENGINEER


Data concerning each drain connection with the public sewer is on file in this office and time and expense could be saved the owner, where trouble exists, by his applying directly to this department for investigation and advice.


Many car track catch basins and underground conduit man- holes built by public service corporations have been connected with the City's drainage system.


A special ordinance should be enacted to enforce a better system of grease traps in the premises of some of the larger manufacturing plants and rendering companies to prevent large amounts of grease and waste products from escaping into city sewer mains and partially blocking sections of sewers as has occurred at various times.


There are to date about 18,587 private drain connections with the city's drainage system.


NEW CONSTRUCTION


During the past year one of the largest industrial develop- ments within the city has been undertaken under the direction of the City Engineer, and that area bounded by the Mystic River, the main line of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and Mystic and Middlesex Avenues has been made very desirable for the location of industrial and manufacturing establish- ments.


Two new streets, approximately 1000 feet long and 50 feet in width, have been laid out as public ways. A new reinforced concrete storm drain, 36" in diameter, and a tide-gate chamber, for storm water only, totalling 3,000 feet in length from a point near the land of the Pennsylvania Oil Company to the Mystic River, has been laid out, and part of this line has al- ready been completed. The new sanitary separate system sewer has been constructed approximately 3,000 feet in length and 12" in diameter to discharge into the Metropolitan trunk sewer at North Union Street.


In all of this work the best engineering practises were car- ried out, both in the design and in the construction of these structures. When all underground work has been completed, the roadways will be paved with a high type permanent sur-


386


ANNUAL REPORTS


face. All this work was designed and construction supervised by the City Engineer. The construction was carried on by the the Works Progress Administration, and the City furnished a portion of the materials and the equipment, and the re- mainder of the materials was furnished by the Federal Gov- ernment and by the Boston and Maine Railroad.


As a result of this work, an area containing approximately 50 acres has been developed into a very desirable industrial site. Already a large warehouse containing over seven acres of floor space has been constructed by the Sears Roebuck Com- pany, and negotiations are now being carried on with several other well known concerns to interest them in constructing buildings on this site. It is hoped that during the coming year this enture area will furnish a much needed source for addi- tional, taxable property for the City of Somerville.


PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS DIVISION


There are at the present time nineteen parcels of land laid out as parks and playgrounds and maintained and im- proved by this department. Many of these areas are badly in need of improvement, and more play areas should be developed in the more densely populated sections of our City.


During the past year several of our parks and playgrounds were reconstructed and beautified under the direction of the City Engineer. Most of this work was done with the aid of the Works Progress Administration.


Lincoln Park. The improvements outlined in previous re- ports have been completed. To complete this excellent park a new field-house should be constructed, plans for which have already been prepared by the City Engineer.


Foss Park will also be improved by constructing tennis courts and new drains and reconstructing the large pond in the park. Provision will be made for additional ice hockey rinks at this park.


Dickerman Park is being constructed on land graciously donated to the City of Somerville by Mrs. Minnie L. Dickerman for a children's playground. A wading pool, swings and other play equipment, sand boxes and bubblers have been completed.


387


CITY ENGINEER


The entire park will be landscaped, trees and lawns planted, and an artistic rubble masonry wall has been erected around the park.


The City has become so densely populated (averaging nearly 26,000 people a square mile) that some of the larger park areas should be more extensively utilized for public recreation and physical training purposes. In several parks, field houses should be constructed, additional apparatus and shelters pro- vided and some of the smaller playground areas should be enclosed by wire fencing for protection.


MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS 1941


Playgrounds


Credit


Parks


Appropriation Parks and Playgrounds. .... $26,259.00


Statement of Expenditures


$12,850.90 Labor


$10,277.06


2.00


Maintenance of truck


122.52


35.51 Equipment and supplies


518.31


123.16 Repairing tools and property


224.34


3.92 Flags, flag poles, painting, etc.


45.57


Maintenance of fountains and bubblers


48.52


34.35


Damage caused by ball-playing (broken


windows, etc)


Telephone


46.12


2.55


Lighting Dilboy Field*


11.08 Repair seats, fences, backstops, doors, etc.


Trees, shrubs, plants, etc.


85.00


New truck


770.00


Grading, beautifying, fence, etc. East Som-


erville Branch Library


1,048.90


** $13,063.47 Totals


$13,186.34


** 13,063.47


GRAND TOTAL EXPENSE


$26,249.81


BALANCE UNEXPENDED $9.19


* (For evening games, etc. Discontinued Jan. 29, 1942.)


GENERAL


During the year, at the request of His Honor, Mayor John M. Lynch, special studies and plans have been made looking toward the development of a Rapid Transit System for Som-


388


ANNUAL REPORTS


erville. In this connection the City Engineers has conferred with the Metropolitan Division of Planning, the Boston and Maine Railroad, and others. The present main line of the Southern Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad could feasibly serve as the location of this proposed extension. Studies of this proposal are still being carried on by the City Engineer.


The City Engineer has been called upon to assist the Law Department by preparing plans of locations of accidents in- volving the City of Somerville. On several occasions the City Engineer appeared in court in connection with law suits in- volving the City.


For the Assessors several plans and data for tax appeal cases were prepared including computed areas of buildings and lots. Floor areas on buildings were computed and furnished to the Assessors from measurements taken in the field. In this connection, it would be of great value, not only to the Assessors, but to other departments, if Architects and En- gineers were required to furnish with each set of plans the cubical contents of all buildings to be constructed.


The problem of attracting new industries to the City of Somerville has been given a great deal of thought and study by the City Engineer, in co-operation with the Mayor and other department heads. Several of the vacant industrial sites of this city have been studied, their advantages have been analysed and noted, and this information has been brought to the attention of many well known concerns, with the idea of attracting them to locate in the City of Somerville. The Mayor and the City Engineer, in company with the Chair- man of the Board of Assessors, have personally interviewed sev- eral firms and endeavored to bring them to Somerville. It is felt that attracting new industries to Somerville is one way of making our city a better place in which to live and of light- ening the burden of taxation from the shoulders of home own- ers to industry.


I have mentioned in another section of this report one def- inite example of how these efforts have met with success.


CHAPTER 90 HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION


During the year 1941 the City of Somerville continued its program of reconstructing main highways under so-called


FINAL ESTIMATE OF WORK DONE ON CHAPTER 90 CONTRACTS


Items


Units


Contract Prices


Quantity


Prices


Rdwy. Earth Excavation


C.Y.


.50


2933


1,466.50


Cl. A Rock Excavation


C.Y.


2.50


12


30.00


Street Rail. Excavation


C.Y.


2.50


1527


3,817.50


Trench Excavation


C.Y.


1.20


70


84.00


53


63.60


57


68.40


Gravel Borrow


C.Y.


.55


3152


1,733.60


2889


1,588.95


2250


1,237.50


Fine Grading R & F


S.Y.


.04


7782


311.28


5777


231.08


3707


148.28


Cl. B Rock Excavation


C.Y.


3.75


2


7.50


3


11.25


Cr. Stone for base


Tons


2.30


1468


3,376.40


1527


3,512.10


891


2,049.30


Bitumen for Base


Gals.


.12


10672


1,280.64


12306


1,476.72


6577


789.24


Cl. I Bit. Concrete


Tons


5.12


910


4,659.20


815


4,172.80


591


3,025.92


Catch Basins


Each


57.50


7


402.50


3


172.50


3


172.50


Manholes


Each


55.00


1


55.00


C.B. or M.H. Adj. to Line Grade


Each


10.00


11


110.00


17


170.00


4


40.00


12" R.C. Pipe


L.F.


1.15


68.6


78.89


10" H.W.C.I. Pipe


L.F.


2.00


149.6


299.20


74.4


148.80


Gran. Curb Inlets


Each


18.00


7


126.00


1


18.00


3


36.00


Curbing R & R


L.F.


.45


244


109.80


77


349.65


602


270.90


Town Line Posts


Each


10.00


1


10.00


1


10.00


Loam Borrow


C.Y.


1.35


12


16.20


Seeding


S.Y.


.05


168


8.40


Gran. Block Excavation


C.Y.


2.00


676


1,352.00


513


1,026.00


Conc. Base Excavation


780


1,560.00


717


1,434.00


Portland Cem. Mortar


C.Y.


15.00


6.5


97.50


4.8


72,00


8" H.W.C.I. Pipe


L.F.


1.50


25


37.50


149.9


224.85


10" V.C. Pipe


L.F.


.50


40


20.00


107


53.50


Gran. Walk


S.Y.


2.30


77


177.10


C.B. or M.H. Remod.


Each


20.00


5


100.00


Traffic Men


315.00


Gravel Overhaul


$200.00 $1,353.47


200.00


$570 $1,488.41


1,488.41


$315 $1,159.20


1,159.20


Extra Work


No. 1 .- 1 Grano. Walk


S.Y.


2,30


215


494.50


No. 1-2 6"x20" Str. Gran. Curb.


L.F.


1.10


123


135.30


No. 1-3 6"x20" Cvd. Gran. Curb


L.F.


1.50


35


49,50


TOTAL


$20,215.38


$18,332.71


$12,971.84


WASHINGTON ST. (NORTH SIDE) Contract No. 8174 Amounts at Contract Prices 738.00


COLLEGE AVE. Contract No. 7928 Amounts at Contract


WASHINGTON ST. (SOUTH SIDE) Contract No. 8068 Amounts at Contract Prices 1,116.00


Quantity 2232


Quantity 1476


570.00


1,353.47


C.Y.


2.00


389


CITY ENGINEER


Chapter 90 plan. Under this plan the State contributes ap- proximately 50%, the Commissioners of Middlesex County contribute 16 2/3% of the cost of reconstructing main or con- necting highways, and the City of Somerville pays the balance of the cost. All this work is done under supervision of the State Highway Department. and the unit prices are set by the same department.


In 1941 College Avenue from the Traffic Circle at Powder House Square to the Medford City Line was entirely recon- structed and paved. The abandoned street car rails were re- moved. This work cost $20,215.38. The State contributed $10,108, The County $3,370, and the City the balance.


Washington Street from Station 6 + 95 to Station 25 + 23 on the southerly side and from Station 7 + 00 to Station 25 + 23 on the northerly side was also completely constructed, using a Bituminous Concrete surface on a penetrated asphalt stone base. The total cost of these two projects was $31,722, of which the State paid $15,405, the County $6,615, and the City the balance.


Attached herewith are statements showing quantities of work done on these Chapter 90 Projects.


INSPECTION OF MATERIALS


I am pleased to report at this time that during the past four years testing of certain materials, used in construction and purchased by the City, has been carried on by an independ- ent Testing Laboratory. The results of this work have justified the insignificant expense entailed. This work should be ex- tended to include testing of all materials purchased by the City.


May I extend at this time my personal appreciation for the excellent spirit of co-operation extended to this department by all City departments and Municipal officials ?


390


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD


To the Honorables, the Board of Aldermen City of Somerville Somerville, Mass.


July 11, 1942.


Gentlemen :-


The Planning Board of the City of Somerville respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1941 :


There were seven 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.


Considerable aid was given by this Board to the Somerville High School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in their planning survey of the City.


Respectfully submitted,


KATHERINE J. KILEY, Clerk


391


INDEX


INDEX


Appeal, Board of, Report of 363


Assessors, Board of, Report of


134


Estimated Receipts and Available Funds 135


City Auditor, Report of


9


Appropriations


Insert 20


Balance Sheet


12


Borrowing Capacity, Dec. 31, 1941


37


Cash Statement


18, 19,20


Classified Debt Jan. 1, 1941


29


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


26


County of Middlesex


26


Detail of Estimated Receipts


21


Excess and Deficiency Account


41


Funded Debt 29, Insert 30


Interest Requirements on Funded Debt 1942


34


Interest Requirements on Funded Debt (Six Years)


36


Interest Requirements on Present City Debt to Maturity .. Insert 30 Loans Increasing the Debt 30


33


Maturities on Funded Debt (Six Years)


35


Net Funded or Fixed Debt


16


Other Revenue Accounts


24


Overlay Accounts


38-40


Receipts and Expenditures, Classification


42-82


Refunds


46


Revenue and Expenses


27


Schedule of Public Property


85-87


Somerville Retirement System 88-91


Statement of Appropriations (Revenue) Insert 20


Statement of Revenue and Expenses 1941


27


Statement of Other Revenue Accounts


24


Statement of Appropriations (Non-Revenue)


Insert 20


Tailings


38


Taxes


31


Tax Titles


38


Temporary Loans


28


City Clerk, Report of


365


Births


367


Deaths


368


Licenses and Permits


367


Marriages


368


Payments


366


Receipts


365


Maturities on Funded Debt 1942


392


INDEX


City Engineer, Report of


378


Chapter 90 Highway Construction


388


General Financial Statement


379


Inspection of Materials


389


Length of Public Streets in Each Ward


380


Length of Streets


380


Maintenance Accounts


387


Miles of Edgestones and Sidewalk in Each Ward


381


New Construction


385


Parks and Playgrounds Division


386


Sewers Built by W. P. A.


Insert 380


Sewer Division


382


Table of Street Construction


381


Testimonial, Frederick Elmer Jones


377


Underground Conduits


381


City Government and Officers for 1941


369


City Physician, Report of


285


City Solicitor, Report of


362


City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Report of


92


Bonds Due in 1942


98


Bond Interest Due in 1942


99


Bond Maturities with Interest, Yearly


97


Cash Statement


93


Funded Debt as of December 31, 1941


96


Motor Vehicle Excise


94


Loans, All other


97


Tax Title Loans


95


Temporary Loans


95


Commissioner of Public Buildings (see Public Buildings Com- missioner ) 293


Commissioner of Streets (see Street Commissioner)


336


Commissioner of Water (see Water Commissioner) 258


Commissioner of Electric Lines and Lights, Report of 273


Fire Alarm System


273


Inspection of Wiring in Buildings


273


Police Signal System


276


Street Lighting, Poles and Trackless Trolleys


277


Supervision Poles and Wires 277


276


Dental Hygiene, Report of 120


Election Commissioners, Board of, Report of


300


City Election Nov. 4, 1941 Insert 311


Expenses


302


Jurors and Jury List 301,315


Traffic Lights


393


INDEX


List Registered Voters


305


Listing Board, Report of


303


Nomination Papers Referendum Petitions


301


Preliminary Election Oct. 7, 1941


Insert 307


Recount


302


Registration


300


Fire Department, Chief of, Report of


267


Alarms of Fire


267


Apparatus


268


Classification of Alarms


269,270


In Memoriam


268


Recommendations


271


Health, Board of, Report of 100


Bacteriological Work


112


Board of Infants


101


Dental Hygiene, Report of


Insert :20, 121


Diseases Dangerous to Public Health


109


Funeral Directors


112


Health Nurses, Report of


114, 115


In Memoriam, Charles L. McCrossan, M. D.


113


Infant Hygiene Clinics


113


Inspection of Animals and Provisions, Report of


119


Inspector of Animals and Veterinarian, Report of.


120


Inspection of Milk and Vinegar, Report of


122


Lying-In Hospitals


101


Medical Inspection of Schools


109


Medical Inspection, Report of


116


Mortality Statistics


102


Nuisances


100


Permits and Licenses


100


Specimens and Supplies


109


Inaugural Address, Hon. John M. Lynch


5


Inspector of Milk and Vinegar, Report of


122


Law Department, Report of


362


Licensing Commission, Report of


131


List of Streets 340


Medical Inspection, Report of


116


Diphtheria Immunization


118


Laboratory Examinations


117


Open Air School


118


Tuberculosis


117


Visits


116


Planning Board 390


394


ANNUAL REPORTS


Police, Chief of, Report of


125


Arrests


125


Changes in Department


126


Roster of Department


127


Recommendations


129


Public Buildings, Commissioner, Report of


293


Buildings, under jurisdiction of


293


Estimated Cost New Buildings and Alterations


295


Fees Collected


295


Recommendations


298, 299


Maintenance of Municipal Buildings


297


Public Grounds (City Engineer)


378


Public Library


247


Board of Trustees and Officers


247


Report of Librarian


250


Report of Trustees


246


Organization of Library and Staff Personnel


248


Statistics


254


Public Welfare, Department of


Aid to Dependent Children


Children


City Home, Reports of Warden


City Physician, Report of


285


Full Support


282


Members of Board, Committee, Officers, etc.


279, 280


Old Age Assistance


284


Partial Support


282


Population and Gross Expenditures


287


Recapitulation


Insert 284


Report of General Agent


282


Reimbursements


283, 284


Retirement System


88-91


Sanitary Department, Report of


137


Collection of Ashes and Paper


137


School Department


139


Appendix, Contents of


171


Graduates-High School


207


Junior High Schools


215


Evening High School


226


Vocational School


227


School Committees and Office Force


140, 141


Somerville Teachers' Club


169


Somerville High School


166


Somerville High School Athletic Committee


168


Superintendent of Schools, Report of


143


Teachers in Service


231


Statement of Work of School Nurses


Insert 172


Building Permits Issued


294


279


283


282


286


395


INDEX


Sealer of Weights and Measures


290


Sewers (see City Engineer)


378


Soldiers' Relief Commission 361


Street Commissioner, Report of


List of Streets


340


Miscellaneous


338


Snow and Ice


336


Street Cleaning


337


Suppression of Moths


337


Traffic Control


338


Recommendations


339


Water Commissioner, Report of


258


Chapter 44 Water Bonds


259


Fire Services


262


Hydrants, Gates, etc.


260


Number of Services Supplying Public Property


261


Revenue and Expenditures


259


Summary Pipes and Fixtures


262


Summary and Statistics


256,265


Water Assessments


259


Water Consumption


263


...


337


Sidewalks and Highway Maintenance


336


Per Capita Consumption of Water in Cities and Towns


264


1





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.