USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1949 > Part 15
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1936
James Keefe, 108 Webster Street, Arlington
1938
°Wilson E. Whittaker, 135 Walnut Street Gasperina Messina, 49 Pennsylvania Avenue
1942
°Mrs. Dorothy Merrifield, 84 Bay State Avenue Elena Alberghini, 12 Lowell Street
1943
Susanne Lombardi, 8 Mount Pleasant Street
1946
Donald Jones, 12 Brown Street, Maynard
1948
SIGHT SAVING
Alice M. Hayes, 181 Central Street
1913
LIP READING
Marion C. Moran, 42 Montrose Street
1929
THRIFT
E. Bella Weisman, 78 Gibbs Street, Brookline Eva Palmer, Assistant, 24 Austin Street
1921
1930
FIELD MUSIC
Bart E. Grady, Jr., 123 Highland Avenue
1945
AMERICANIZATION
Mary A. Whitney, Supervisor, 10 Dow Street 1916
Dorothy M. Leighton, 148 Lovell Road, Watertown
1949
1946
237
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Teachers in Service, December 31, 1948-Continued PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
Began
Service
Name and Residence Mrs. Blanche G. Crowell, 145 Highland Avenue Mary E. Miller, 16 MacArthur Street
1928
1936
°Mrs. Clifford Hulbert, 67 Ossipee Road 1946
Anna L. McCarthy, 51 Liberty Avenue
1930
AUDIOMETER
Marion T. Carroll, 82 Belmont Street 1948
SUPERINTENDENT AND SECRETARY
Everett W. Ireland, 18 Day Street
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
Leo C. Donahue, 108 Summer Street
CLERKS
Marion E. Marshall, 62 Highland Avenue
Regina Truelson, 38 Rogers Avenue
Margaret R. O'Connor, 2 Adrian Street
Frances C. Geaton, 29 Tennyson Street
William E. Hogan, 23 Calvin Street
Mary P. Brady, 164 Washington Street
SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
James G. Hourihan, 225 Powder House Boulevard
VISITING TEACHER
Estelle M. Walsh, 12 Wendell Street, Cambridge
CUSTODIAN SCHOOL COMMITTEE ROOMS
Leo J. Callahan, 9 Spring Hill Terrace
238
ANNUAL REPORTS
SCHOOL CUSTODIANS, DECEMBER, 1948
School
Name
Residence
Frank Quirk
333 Broadway
George A. Sullivan
275 Medford St.
John F. Mack
120 Summer St. 10 Sterling St.
John J. Irving
Andrew J. Curran
11 Pleasant Ave.
High High
High High, Gymnasium
High, Central Heating Plant High, Central Heating Plant High, Central Heating Plant
Prescott
Prescott Hanscom Bennett Baxter Knapp Perry
Southern Jr. High
Michael J. Reilly
52 Thurston St.
Southern Jr. High
Bartholomew Cronin
23 Summit Ave.
Southern Jr. High
James E. Dowd
66 Hudson St.
Frank J. Boyle
36 Greenville St.
Thomas Murphy
William J. Hickey
9 Aberdeen Rd.
New Vocational
New Vocational New Vocational Glines
Glines
Grimmons
Northeastern Jr. High Northeastern Jr. High
Northeastern Jr. High Forster Forster Annex
John F. O'Connell George E. Babin Frank Regan Arthur F. Law
Bernard J. Kelley
Walter W. Kennedy
508 Broadway
84 Rogers Ave.
Morse
Proctor
Durell
Francis J. Donovan
Anthony Liberatore
95 Jaques St.
Brown
William Anderson Emilio P. Buccelli
16 Grant St.
Hodgkins
Cornelius Collins
49 Woods Ave.
Western Jr. High
18 Acadia Park
27 Pearson Rd.
92 Elm St.
5 Grove St.
22 Richdale Ave.
Cutler
Antonio Severino
Thomas Copithorne
95 Heath St.
Paul F. Sheridan
7 Record Court
Michael P. Harrington
Jeremiah O'Connor
Thomas R. Mullins
13 Fremont Ave.
Richard Sullivan
64a Gordon St.
Edwin C. Lamkin
George M. Caley
192 Morrison Ave.
Peter McNally George Kelley John F. Kiley
23 Everett Ave. 10 Nevada Ave.
Southern Jr. High Cummings New Vocational
John F. Fonseca
43 Garrison Ave. 67 Electric Ave.
162 Hudson St.
44 Montrose St. 32 Sewall St.
121 Ten Hills Rd.
Hugh F. McQuaid
139 Walnut St. 40 Concord Ave.
33 Vernon St.
209 Powder House Blvd.
71 Park St. 98 School St.
Bingham Bingham Carr
Joseph F. Kelley
Joseph Binari
47 Lowell St.
Thomas J. Driscoll
20 Lincoln Parkway 3 Harvard Place
Burns
Cholerton
Western Jr. High Western Jr. High Western Jr. High Cutler
Harry Dangora
Thurston W. Buchan
53 Sunset Rd.
Lowe
John Mullaney
11 Stone Ave.
William G. Hitch
393 Somerville Ave.
Patrick Delmore
3 Harvard Place
Martin J. Frazer
7 Lee St. 12 Delaware St.
17 Grand View Ave.
122 Heath St.
63 Endicott Ave.
Elmer Carleton Austin A. Albanese John P. Driscoll Francis Gormley Earl R. March
36 Rhode Island Ave.
Wilfred J. Secord Edward Buckley Harry Hoyt
23 Gordon St.
High
High High High
239
WATER COMMISSIONER
REPORT OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER
OFFICE OF THE WATER COMMISSIONER
January 1, 1950.
To His Honor, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen:
I present herewith my report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1949.
Water charges committed to the City Treasurer and Col- lector of Taxes during the year 1949:
Quarterly Accounts
Committed
$310,061.25
Commercial Accounts
Committed
202,991.85
Additional Accounts
Committed
Service Assessments
Committed
2,377.39
Maintenance Charges
Committed
1,661.94
TOTAL COMMITMENT
$517,092.43
APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES Water Maintenance and Extension Account
Appropriations made by the Board of Alder- men
$4,486.35
Ordinary Maintenance (brought forward from '48) Budget
26,995.00
31,481.35
240
ANNUAL REPORTS
Labor
Personal Service
84,748.73 39,734.13
Special Item
5,000.00
160,964.21
Expenditures
Ordinary Maintenance
$27,000.97
Labor
82,994.90
Personal
38,617.66
Special Item
4,990.04
153,603.57
Balances
Ordinary Maintenance
Encumbered Balance brought forward 1950
$971.13
Unencumbered Balance
3,509.25
Personal Service balance
1,116.47
Labor Balance
1,753.83
Special Item balance
9.96
$7,360.64
Expenditures
$153,603.57
Balances
7,360.64
$160,964.21
$160,964.21
No main pipe construction or replacement during the year. Size, number and length of new services installed during the year:
Size
Number
Total Length 172
3/4"
6
1ª
0
0
1 1/2"
2
31 1/2
2ª
2
37 1/2
4" Fire
1
22
6" Fire
3
37
HYDRANTS, GATES, ETC. IN CITY DECEMBER 31, 1949
Number of Fire Hydrants, January 1, 1949
1,360
Set during the year
5
Removed during the year
5
Net increase in fire hydrants
0
Total number of fire hydrants
1,360
Number of private fire hydrants
90
Number of Gates January 1, 1949 Set during the year
2
Removed during the year
2
Net increase in gates
3,026
3,028
241
WATER COMMISSIONER
Number of check valves
9
Number of blow-offs
237
Number of waterposts
59
Number of drinking fountains
11
Number of car-sprinkler connections not in
use
10
SUMMARY OF PIPES AND FIXTURES OF THE WATER SYSTEM December 31, 1949
Feet of main pipe (approximately)
602.698
Miles of main pipe (approximately)
114.15
Services in use
14,018
Services supplying public property
86
Private fire supplies (sprinkler systems)
130
Fire supplies to public buildings
26
Public fire hydrants
1,360
Private fire hydrants
90
Sprinkler systems installed in public buildings
0
Gates
3,028
Check valves
9
Meters (including 1 motor register)
13,902
Waterposts (not in use)
59
Car-sprinkler connections (not in use)
10
Blow-offs
237
Drinking fountains
11
Total number of services required to be metered in actual use
13,902
Services supplying public property
86
Total number of services 14,004
In addition to the above there are fire supplies for private sprinkler systems which are not required to be metered .. 130
OPERATING METERS, DECEMBER 31, 1949
Size 5/8" 3/4" 11/2" 2" 3"
4"
6"
10" 12" Total
No. 13,353 283 121 43 70 18 9
4 1 1 13,902
Percentage of services metered-100 %
Water is furnished without charge to all City Departments and Municipal Buildings.
The consumption of water for the City of Somerville for the year 1949, total quantity, average daily and per capita, consumption, the per capita consumption being figured on an estimated population for the year of 107,580.
Month
Gallons per day
Gallons per capita
January
10,536,200
98
February
10,311.700
96
March
10,483,100
97
April
11,250,800
105
242
ANNUAL REPORTS
May
11,394,000
106
June
12,329,700
115
July
12,108,300
113
August
11,799,300
110
September
11,200,900
104
October
10,941,700
102
November
10,688,900
99
December
10,371,300
96
Year 1949
11,121,900
103
Total consumption for the year 1949:
High-service
838,506,000 gals .-
Low-service
3,220,979,000
Total city
4,059,485,000 gals ..
243
WATER COMMISSIONER
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS For the year ending December 31, 1949 In form recommended by the New England Water Works Association
SOMERVILLE WATER WORKS SOMERVILLE, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
GENERAL STATISTICS
Population, State Census 1945-105,883
Date of Construction: Commenced in 1868
By Whom owned: City of Somerville
Source of Supply: Water is delivered into City's mains, both high and low pressure, by the Metropolitan Water Works.
STATISTICS OF CONSUMPTION OF WATER
Population Supplies, December 31, 1949, est. 107,580
Average daily consumption-11,121,900
Gallons per day to each inhabitant-103 gal.
Total consumption for the year 1949:
High service 838,506,000 gals.
Low service 3,220,979,000 gals.
Total city 4,059,485,000 gals.
STATISTICS RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION
Mains
Kind of Pipe-Cast Iron
Size-from 4" to 20"
Total now in use-114.15 miles
Number of hydrants (public and private)-1,450
Number of Gates added during year-0
Number of Gates now in use-3,026
Number of blow-offs-237
Range of pressure-40 to 100 lbs.
Services
Kind of Pipe-Lead, Lead Lined, cement lined, galvanized iron, cast iron, brass, copper tubing and tubeloy Sizes-5/8" to 8"
Services in use-14,018
Number of private fire supplies (sprinkler system)-130
Number of meters now in use-est. 13,902
Percentage of services metered-100 %
Public services not metered.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH L. GARRETT, Water Commissioner
244
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
June 26, 1950
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the
City of Somerville
Gentlemen:
I herewith respectfully submit the Annual Report of the Department for the year ending December 31, 1949:
INSPECTION OF WIRING IN BUILDINGS
Due, at least in part, to the tremendous influx of new and improved electrical appliances on the market, there has been a noted increase in the number of illegal extensions and alterations to wiring systems. Much of this amateur work is a life and fire hazard and we must be ever alert by re-inspec- tions to have same corrected. We are aided in this work by the Fire Department's prompt reporting to us any defective or improper electrical wiring or equipment in accordance with Chapter 710 of the Acts of 1945.
Number of permits issued for electrical installations 2068 Permits issued to Boston Edison Company 1159
Total fees collected for permits and deposited with City
Treasurer $2,733.50
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
This system is in good condition and giving excellent service despite its age. The original system and present Fire Alarm Operating room equipment, were installed in 1915. All boxes are inspected and tested monthly and so recorded at Central Office. We have in service 205 Fire Boxes with an estimated 300 demanded by the National Board of Fire
245
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
Underwriters. For this reason I would recommend the addition of 10 Fire Alarm boxes yearly, in order to satisfy this demand as soon as possible.
ALARMS RECEIVED AND TRANSMITTED
First Alarms 732
Second Alarms 9
Third Alarms 2
A.D.T. Alarms
14
Still Alarms
1146
Emergency, other than fire
700
TOTAL
2603
The Central Office equipment consists of the following:
2-
6 circuit Box Alarm boards
1- 5 circuit tapper board
1- 5 circuit gong board
2-16 circuit storage battery charging boards
1-32 circuit protective board
1- 4 circuit punching register and take up reel
2 5 circuit punching registers and take up reels
13 -
1 circuit punching registers and take up reels Automatic time and date stamps
1- 4 dial manual transmitter
masterclock
1 1 local telephone used on still alarm system cells storage battery
486
3-10 ft. 4 shelf battery racks
32 low rate rectifiers
5 metropolitan tappers
1 high rate rectifier
Equipment outside Central office:
64 Gardner Type Fire Alarm Boxes
78 Ideal Type Fire Alarm Boxes
30 Peerless Type Fire Alarm Boxes
2 Ideal Master Boxes with remote control
31 Peerless Master Boxes with remote control and equipped with
auxiliary stations located in various private and public buildings.
4 Tower strikers (only 3 in service)
25
cable terminal boxes
8 punching registers
28 closed circuit tappers and 5 open circuit tappers
8 closed circuit tappers (secondary)
13 still alarm bells-local house system
7 local telephones used as a company service system
2 private interior telephones consisting of 12 stations
4 traffic sirens
11 house call bells
2
246
ANNUAL REPORTS
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
The Police Signal System is in good operable condition. By a systematic maintenance check, ordinary troubles are kept to the minimum. However, in order to keep the system oper- ating under all possible conditions, I again recommend the purchase of a standby power unit.
The system consists of the following:
96 Street Signal Boxes 2 1 Bank Alarm Signal Boxes Type "C" Police Signal Desk
3-
5 circuit Registers
35 1
2
Secondary batteries Charging panel-3 Rectifiers Automatic time and date stamps
2 Takeup reels
5 Official phones connected with police desk.
The Police Radio System consists of the following:
1 Central Station Transmitter and Receiver
3 Remote Central Stations
1 Vertical Antenna
1 Lampkin frequency monitor
1 Tuning meter
17 F.M. 2-way mobile radio telephone units.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM
A weekly inspection system is maintained as regards check- ing all traffic light installations, in order to maintain timing in accordance with Massachusetts Department of Public Works permits, as well as general inspection of all working parts, thereby eliminating many night and week-end trouble calls. Some of our controllers are 17 to 18 years old, and are now obsolete as regards obtaining new parts. I recommend a gradual replacement of same. One new installation on Powder House Boulevard and North Street was placed in operation during the year.
The System consists of 25 intersections, 17 of which are equipped with pedestrian push-buttons.
SUPERVISION OF POLES AND WIRES ON THE STREETS
Constant attention and inspection of the condition of poles and wires has been given in conjunction with the companies
247
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
owning or using same. During 1950 work will begin on Som- erville Avenue to place all utility owned overhead wires under- ground and poles removed.
STREET LIGHTING
The number of street lights December 31, 1949 are as follows:
1050 207
800
lumen
lamps 11
1,000
11
40 4
2,500 4,000
11
11
497 444
6,000
"
10,000
9 - 15,000
11
11
I wish to thank His Honor, the Mayor, and the members of the Board of Aldermen, and the several department heads for many courtesies received throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
MARTIN F. DENNING, Commissioner Electric Lines & Lights
248
ANNUAL REPORTS
In Memoriam
WILLIAM J. SULLIVAN Street Commissioner 1933 1936-1937
Commissioner of Public Buildings 1934-1935 1943
Works Progress Administration Co-ordinator 1938-1942
City Engineer 1944-1949
Comprising seventeen years service CITY OF SOMERVILLE 1933-1949
DIED NOVEMBER SEVENTEENTH 1949
His purpose was to do the greatest good for the greatest number along his way of life; he was truly "the good Samari- tan."
His mind, personality and long and broad experience su- perlatively fitted him for the many posts he held in the general construction world and in Public Works Construction and Ad- ministration.
WE REVERE THY MEMORY
249
CITY ENGINEER
REPORT OF THE CITY ENGINEER
Office of the City Engineer, City Hall, Somerville, January, 1950
Honorble 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 Seventy-seventh Annual Report of the En- gineering Department for the year ending December thirty- first, nineteen hundred and forty-nine.
This report summaries the work performed and the ex- penditures of the following divisions:
First-Engineering Division Second-Sewer Division Third-Park Division and Playground Division.
Respectfully submitted,
LAWRENCE A. BARUFFALDI,
City Engineer
250
ANNUAL REPORTS
GENERAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Account:
Appropriations And Credits
Expend- itures
Balances
City Engineer
$27,363.31
$26,210.35
$1,152.96
Sewers Maintenance
61,911.51
54,352.59
7,558.92
Sewers Construction
27,669.18
22,663.85
5,005.33
Parks and Playgrounds
Maintenance
192,270.13
146,019.77
46,250.36
Commemorating Persons in
World War II
651.48
438.51
212.97
New Cemetery for Veterans
World War II
1,125.00
1,049.43
75.57
New Playground Albion St.
18,500.00
15,495.83 .
3,004.17
Totals
$329,490.61
$266,230.33
$63,260.28
Eight assistants have been employed the greater part of the year on engineering work.
There are on file in this office, plans for acceptance of several streets that for various reasons have not been made public ways. There are approximately 724 Streets and Pass- ageways in the city.
LENGTH OF STREETS
Miles
* Public
90.646
Private
10.804
101.450
* Includes 1.406 Miles City Boulevard and Park Roadways
3.931 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
14.280
Ward Two
14.671
Ward Three
10.321
Ward Four
14.771
1
Ward Five
11.779
Ward Six
11.591
Ward Seven
13.213
Total length of public streets in the city ..
90.646
1
251
CITY ENGINEER
It is planned to purchase a reproducing machine to make copies of tracings and plans which will provide more efficient and economical operation of the department.
A study will be made during the coming year to provide relief from flooding during storms in the Miller's River Dis- trict. Reference to the need thereof is made in a detailed re- port of the City Engineer for the year 1940.
Many of the stone bounds in the City have been destroyed. No attempt has been made to replace them during and since the war. These bounds should be replaced immediately.
Most of the street lines are referenced to house founda- tions and wooden corner boards. Due to removal of buildings, additions and renovations, shingling and sidewall construction, approximately 60% of the references are destroyed. In many instances the street line can not be reproduced unless a major surveying project is done.
UNDERGROUND CONDUITS
(Public Service Corporations)
Miles laid in City Streets
M. T. A.
5.55
Edison Electric Illuminating Co.
17.52
New England Tel. & Tel. Company
37.22
Cambridge Gas Light Company
67.60
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
15.66
Total
175.82
All locations for sub-surface construction are assigned by this department.
All plans of estates in Somerville recorded at the Registry of Deeds, East Cambridge, including land court plans are on file in this department.
Total number of plans on file in this office approximately eleven thousand five hundred.
For the immediate improvement of conditions in this city the highway bridges and approaches over the steam railroads
252
ANNUAL REPORTS
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.
A compiled table of areas showing a sub-division of city's acreage was published in the 1925 report.
I respectfully refer to some of the more important recom- mendations and suggestions made in reports of the City En- gineer for a number of years past, which are for the improve- ment of conditions in this city.
SEWER DIVISION
The design and construction of sewers, storm drains, catch basins, house drains, etc., maintenance of the drainage sys- tem and other items in this division are under the direction and control of the City Engineer.
The following table includes the work done during 1949.
Total length of city's drainage system
151.90 miles
Total length of Metropolitan sewerage system mains running through this city 4.545 miles
17 connections, in Somerville, with Metropolitan sew- age mains. Also 4 connections through Medford and 1 connection through Cambridge. Locations of City's mains connecting with state sewer in 1912 report, and details of construction in previous reports New catch basins constructed in city's highways 1949 10 Total catch basins maintained by city 2,657
Sump manholes on drainage system 139
The separate sewerage system should be extended each year to assist in the ultimate separation of sewerage and storm water which the Metropolitan District Commission is striving to accomplish.
During the year 1949 the 12-inch combined system sewer in Auburn Avenue was constructed. Six new catch basins were built in Auburn Avenue and adjacent to it on Cross Street. The street and a portion of sidewalk were resurfaced.
Seven new manholes and ten new catch basins were con- structed during the year.
253
CITY ENGINEER
During the coming year it is proposed to reconstruct the storm drain which empties into the Mystic River near Welling- ton Bridge. The tide gates in Mystic Avenue at Moreland Street will be repaired and some reconstruction will be done to try to eliminate sewage from entering the river at this point. A tide gate and storm drain outlet will be constructed to re- place the existing collapsed outlet from Shore Drive at Crest Hill Road to the Mystic River. The tide gates which serve the outlet from North Union Street to the Mystic River will also be repaired. It is planned to reconstruct short sections of the lines in this area, which have collapsed and are badly in need of repair. The tide gates on the Waverly Street overflow in- to Miller's River will be repaired. When this work is com- pleted, it is hoped to keep all the tidewater out of the City's system of sewers and drains. Further studies to alleviate the flooding of low areas in the City will then be made.
The W. P. A. constructed a 15-inch storm drain on Mt. Vernon Avenue to within approximately three hundred feet of Meacham Street. An existing 10-inch storm drain runs ap- proximately one hundred feet down Mt. Vernon Avenue and then emptied through Caesar Marchi Playground into the Som- erville Housing Project, formerly the Fiske Estate. The outlet through the playground has collapsed through settlement and the streets in the area are flooded during storms. It is planned to complete the 15-inch storm drain to Meacham Street and extend it to Ash Avenue to pick up the catch basins which now empty into a collapsed underdrain.
A blocked sewer in Mystic Avenue will be repaired. New work to stop flooding is planned on Washington Street near Lincoln Park, Ball Square, Kidder Avenue at Willow Avenue, and Albion Street.
The department does not have any mechanical equipment to clean sewers. If the money is made available, a set of two flexible power winches will be acquired to clean the lines.
254
ANNUAL REPORTS
SEWERS MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT 1949
Credit
Appropriation and Credits $61,911.51
Statement of Expenditures
Labor
$44,369.17
Maintenance of trucks
3,763.98
Equipment, supplies and repairing tools and property, etc.
6,219.44
Total
$54,352.59
BALANCE UNEXPENDED 7,558.92
A permanent force of eight men, together with city trucks, are kept continually at work, flushing, cleaning and repairing the city's drainage system, including catch basins, the expense necessarily increasing yearly as sewers, storm drains and catch basins are added to the system, and the distance increased to the dumping places.
There were received during the year 1949 a total of 1,071 complaints for drains clogged, cellars flooded, and catch ba- sins blocked. These were attended to as rapidly as possible.
The drainage system, built as required by the growth of the city, is composed of units of different type and age. Re- pairs, additions and alterations due to deterioration or chang- ing conditions are necessary very frequently.
Thirty-two permits have been issued for private drain con- nections from buildings to sewers or storm drains, seventeen of these being for repairs, alterations or extension. All work is done subject to inspection by this department.
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.
Data concerning each drain connection with the public sewer is on file in this office, and time and expense could be saved by the owner, by applying directly to this department for investigation and advice, where trouble exists.
A special ordinance should be enacted to enforce a better system of grease traps in the premises of some of the larger
255
CITY ENGINEER
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 18,717 private drain connections with the city's drainage system.
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS DIVISION
There are at the present time twenty-one 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 devel- oped in the more densely populated sections of our City.
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