Report of the city of Somerville 1949, Part 15

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1949
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 412


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



0


0


1 1/2"


2


31 1/2



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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