Report of the city of Somerville 1954, Part 14

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1954
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 366


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1954 > Part 14


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4 kennel at $10.00


40.00


$4,870.00


For hunting and fishing licenses issued in 1954:


1111 fishing at $3.25


3,610.75


451 hunting at $3.25


1,465.75


232 sporting at $5.25


1,218.00


117 minor fishing at $1.25


146.25


119 female fishing at $2.25


267.75


2 resident alien and


3 non-resident citizens fishing at $7.75


38.75


4 non-resident military or naval sport- ing at $2.00


8.00


12 duplicate licenses at $.50


6.00


Recording mortgages, assignments, etc.


7,212.21


Certificates of marriage intentions includ- ing postage


2,462.53


Furnishing copies of records


1,054.50


Licenses:


Auctioneers, 12 at $2.00 24.00


Billiard, pool tables and bowling alleys 109 licenses for 6 billiard tables, 44 pool tables and 59 bowling alleys at $3.00 and for 38 licenses for Sunday bowling alleys at $2.00 403.00


Cut meat and sausage, 5 at $50.00


250.00


Drain layers, 7 at $1.00 7.00


6,761.25


227


CITY CLERK


Drivers, 235 at $1.00


235.00


Boilers, 5 at $1.00


5.00


Electric motors, 23 at $1.00


23.00


Garages:


7 at $5.00


2 at $10.00


55.00


Garage renewals


772.50


Hackney carriages, 119 at $1.00


119.00


Intelligence offices, 5 at $2.00


10.00


Junk and secondhand licenses:


Collect junk, 18 at $10.00


180.00


Junk shops, 15 at $25.00


375.00


Lodging house licenses, 9 at $2.00


18.00


Outdoor parking, 6 at $10.00


60.00


Sale of firearms, 2 at $10.00


20.00


Secondhand auto dealers:


46 at $25.00


3 at $50.00


1,300.00


Slaughtering, 3 at $1.00


3.00


Street musicians, 13 at $.50


6.50


Merry-go-round on premises, 1 at $2.00


2.00


Storage of explosives:


1 at $1.00


1 at $10.00


4 at $20.00


1 at $40.00


2 at $50.00


1 at $100.00


331.00


Storage of explosives renewals


4,907.00


Storage of waste paper, 2 at $25.00


50.00


Wagon licenses, 5 at $1.00


5.00


Wagon stand licenses, 90 at $1.00


90.00


Permits for projections over the sidewalk:


3 awnings at $1.00


1 awning at $2.00


3 electric signs


2 fluorescent signs


25 neon signs


8 illuminated signs


5 metal signs


8 wooden signs


5 signs


2 marquees


58 at $5.00


295.00


Badges


1.00


Registration of physicians, optometrists and chiropodists


3.00


Copies of ordinances and charter


8.80


Fees for registered mail notices


24.00


Advertising fees


99.00


Duplicate of dog license tags


5.50


Pole locations


116.10


Reporting congenital births


6.50


Blank forms


3.25


Books for sale of firearms


.60


$20,542.99


228


ANNUAL REPORTS


PAYMENTS


To the City Treasurer for dog licenses in 1954:


1354 males at $2.00


$2,708.00


150 females at $5.00


750.00


686 spayed at $2.00


1,372.00


4 kennel at $10.00


40.00


4,870.00


Less City Clerk's fees, 2194 at $.20


438.80


$4,431.20


To the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game for hunting licenses, etc., in 1954:


1111 fishing at $3.25


3,610.75


451 hunting at $3.25


1,465.75


232 sporting at $5.25


1,218.00


117 minor fishing at $1.25


146.25


119 female fishing at $2.25


267.75


3 non-resident citizens fishing and


2 resident aliens fishing at $7.75


38.75


4 non-resident military or navel sport- ing at $2.00


8.00


12 duplicates


6.00


6,761.25


Less City Clerk's fees, 2039 at $.25


509.75


$6,251.50


To City Treasurer monthly:


All the receipts above specified except for hunting licenses and dog licenses


20,542.99


$31,225.69


LICENSES AND PERMITS


Besides the licenses mentioned in the foregoing list of re- ceipts, licenses and permits have been granted by the Board of Aldermen, without charge, as follows:


Junk shop, operated for charitable purposes 1


Newspaper license 1


Parade with music in streets 5


Sound trucks 3


BIRTHS 1954


Number of births reported by physicians and midwives for 1954.


Males 651


Females 630


1281


.....


229


CITY CLERK


1953


The following is a stament in full of the births for 1953. Number of births (exclusive of stillbirths) in Somerville in 1953.


REGISTERED - 1299


Males


711


Females 588


1299


Born of American parents


1111


Born of Foreign parents


27


Born of American father and Foreign mother 69


Born of Foreign father and American mother


72


Born of American mother and father unknown


19


Born of Foreign mother and father unknown


1


1299


Number of Still-births in Somerville in 1953 registered


23


Number of births in other places in 1953 registered 1431


Number of cases twins


15


MARRIAGES 1954


Number of intentions issued in 1954


1205


Less than previous year


71


Number of marriages registered in 1954


1245


Less than last year


75


Both parties American


1084


Both parties Foreign


39


American groom and Foreign bride


61


Foreign groom and American bride


61


Total


1245


1 st marriage


2188


2nd marriage


274


3rd marriage


26


4th marriage


1


5th marriage


1


Total


2490


Total marriages for the year 1954 1245


DEATHS 1954


Number of deaths in Somerville in 1954


1135


Died in City


750


Died outside of City


385


1135


Stillbirths


52


Males


577


Females


558


1135


230


ANNUAL REPORTS


Under 10 years


72


10 and under 20 years of age


5


20 and under 30 years of age


19


30 and under 40 years of age


19


40 and under 50 years of age


63


50 and under 60 years of age


138


60 and under 70 years of age


231


70 and under 80 years of age


318


80 and under 90 years of age


212


90 and over


58


1135


Born in Somerville


119


Born in other places in U. S.


509


Of Foreign Birth


503


Of Unknown Nationality


4


1135


Age of Oldest Person who died in Somerville


105 years


23)


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


January 1, 1955.


To the Honorable, The Mayor and the Board of Aldermen:


Gentlemen:


The following report is respectfully submitted as the Annual Report of the Board of Assessors for the year ending December 31, 1954.


CITY OF SOMERVILLE - 1954 RECAPITULATION


A-CITY: All appropriations since 1953 tax rate was fixed


1. Total to be raised by taxation


$10,588,423.48


2. Total appropriations to be taken from Available Funds:


(a) in 1954 $32,958.99


(b) in 1953 603,499.95 (Since 1953 rate was fixed)


$636,458.94


636,458.94


$11,224,882.42


3. Deficits due to abate- ments in excess of over- lay of prior years: (a) in 1953 23,571.55 (b) in 1952 1,614.84


Revenue Deficit 1953


25,186.39 36,699.83


61,886.22


B-STATE:


1954 Estimates


1953 Underestimates


1. State Audit Municipal Accts. .


$12,093.24


2. State Examination Retire- ment System


535.89


3. Smoke Inspection Service 1,749.53


4. Add'l State Assessments 1,051,096.20


$14,333.17


$1,065,474.86


$14,333.17


1,079,808.03


232


ANNUAL REPORTS


C-COUNTY:


1. County Tax $306,806.47


2. Tuberculosis Hospital As- sessment 144,935.89


23,055.41


$451,742.36 $23,055.41 474,797.77


200,843.13


D-OVERLAY of current year


GROSS AMOUNT TO BE RAISED


$13,042,217.57


F-ESTIMATED RECEIPTS & AVAILABLE FUNDS:


1. Income Tax $746,150.97


2. Corporation Taxes 517,588.95


3. Old Age Tax, Meals 40,865.25


4. Motor Vehicle & Trailer Excise 589,992.38


5. Licenses


142,421.90


6. Fines


8,153.20


7. Disability Assistance


103,533.13


8. General Government ..


14,882.60


9. Protection of Persons & Property 3,906.02


10. Health & Sanitation


24,011.16


11. Highways


5,957.40


12. Charities


192,487.52


13. Old Age Assistance


802,693.12


14. Veterans' Services


47,048.29


15. Schools


91,954.77


16. Libraries


4,252.86 402.70


17. Recreation


18. Public Service Enter- prises (Water)


666,000.00


19. Interest on Taxes & Ass'ts


13,424.22


20. Grants & Gifts


27,369.87


21. Electrolysis 250.00


22. City Property Rentals ..


250.00


Total Estimated Receipts Additional Over-Estimates & Available Funds .... 16,893.88 Amounts voted to be taken from Available Funds .. 636,458.94


Total Estimated Receipts & Available Funds .... .


$4,696,949.13


G-NET AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXATION ON


POLLS AND PROPERTY


$8,345,268.44


H-NUMBER OF POLLS:


30,966 @ $2.00 ea.


Taxes 61,932.00


J-TOTAL VALUATION:


Personal property $7,805,650.00 493,317.08


Real Estate 123,259,800.00


7,790,019.36


$131,065,450.00 $8,345,268.44


Total taxes levied on polls & property .... Tax Rate: $63.20


$8,345,268.44


$4,043,596.31


233


BOARD OF ASSESSORS


The Board of Assessors wishes to thank the other depart- ments for the co-operation extended during the year, particu- larly the Legal Department.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN B. CARR, Chairman WILLIAM J. MORAN GORDON FAULKNER TIMOTHY J. CRONIN EDWARD T. BRADY


Board of Assessors


234


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE VETERANS GRAVES REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT


March 16, 1955.


To the Honorable, The Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of The City of Somerville


Gentlemen:


The annual report of the Veteran's Graves Registration Department for the year 1954 is as follows:


There were three repatriated servicemen's remains re- turned to their native City of Somerville in 1954 from Korea. These repatriated heroes who made the Supreme Sacrifice, were rendered full Military Honors by honor guard details from Veteran's Organizations of Somerville.


Each body was also escorted by His Honor, Mayor William J. Donovan, members of the Board of Aldermen and the Graves Registration Officer, from the South Station, Boston to Som- erville and to their final resting place in the Somerville Vet- eran's Memorial Cemetery at Clarendon Hill.


In submitting this report, I wish to state that this Depart- ment rendered every service possible in expediting the return of the Honored Dead to this country and after arrival, to the next of Kin until interment in the Veteran's Memorial Cem- etery.


Also during 1954, this Department posted in its files, a record of every veteran from Somerville of all wars, who passed away, whenever it was possible to obtain the necessary in- formation.


The Cemetery at Clarendon Hill and on Somerville Avenue and the individual graves of the veteran's were suitably dec- orated on both "Memorial Day" and "Veteran's Day" with wreaths and flags.


SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS MADE BY .THE VETERANS' SERVICES DEPARTMENT - 1954


War Allowance


Somerville Veterans' Benefits


State Veterans' Benefits


Soldlers' Burials


Total Relief


Cash


Medical


Fuel


Groceries


Cases


Persons


January


$2,299.24


$2,374.25


..


$4,673.49


$1,812.93


$195.81


$213.00


$77.50


98


191


February


2,235.16


2,285.17


$68.30


4,588.63


1,808.00


134.66


230.00


62.50


91


158


March


2,385.40


2,435.41


4,820.81


1,839.43


211.47


224.50


110.00


104


200


April


2,816.52


2,906.54


5,723.06


2,119.58


424.94


202.00


70.00


103


192


May


2,683.34


2,783.34


300.00


5,766.68


2,045.45


495.39


142.50


109


203


June


2,151.71


2,211.72


4,363.43


1,745.32


326.39


...


80.00


94


162


July


37.00


2,189.92


2,249.92


4,476.84


1,755.50


369.42


..


65.00


98


173


August


50.00


2,670.12


2,730.12


5,450.24


1,929.50


673.12


67.50


101


181


September


50.00


2,256.93


2,357.68


4,664.61


1,772.00


402.43


82.50


96


159


October


2,920.24


3,001.75


5,921.99


1,933.25


746.99


172.50


67.50


97


177


November


270.00


3,082.08


3,163.73


150.00


6,665.81


1,911.00


833.58


210.00


127.50


107


209


December


...


3,199.60


3,279.61


150.00


6,629.21


2,041.75


790.35


227.50


140.00


106


202


$407.00


$30,890.26


$31,779.24


$668.30


$63,744.80


$22,713.71


$5,604.55


$1,479.50


$1,092.50


1204


2207


...


...


......


RECAPITULATION OF VETERANS' BENEFITS - SOMERVILLE


-


סוכות


2


-


235


VETERANS GRAVES


The total number of bodies interred at the Veteran's Mem- orial Cemetery up to December 31st, 1954 is fifty-six, which includes both World War II and Korean servicemen.


More repatriated bodies are expected in the year 1955.


Respectfully submitted,


ROBERT R. BRADLEY, Graves Registration Officer


EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1954


Personal Services $562.50


Ordinary Maintenance 291.25


236


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE SOMERVILLE CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT SYSTEM


The Somerville Contributory Retirement System under the provisions of Chapter 32 of the General Laws, Sections 1 to 28 inclusive, became operative in the City of Somerville on July 1, 1946. Employees entering or re-entering the service of the city after that date are subject to the provisions of said Chapter 32, Sections 1 to 28 inclusive. Employee's contributions under this law are at the rate of 5% .


The Somerville Contributory Retirement System was pre- viously governed by Chapter 184 of the Acts of 1930, as amended by Chapter 222 of the Acts of 1933. Members of this system contribute 4% of their salaries.


The following table shows the membership as of December 31, 1954:


Group


5% System


4% System


Total Both Systems


General Employees:


Men


476


9


485


Women


241


....


241


Firemen and Policemen


349


....


349


1066


9


1075


The following table shows the number of beneficiaries on the roll of the 4% system as of December 31, 1954, together with the amount of their annual retirement allowances:


Employee Beneficiaries in Receipt of Service Retirement Allowances


Group


No.


Annuities


Pension Accumulation Fund


Pension Reserve Fund


Total Retirement Allowances


General Employees:


Men .


5


$469.80


$4,325.81


$19.56


$4,815.17


Women


7


693.36


7,282.52


759.16


8,735.04


Total


12


$1,163.16 $11,608.33


$778.72 $13,550.21


-


237


RETIREMENT BOARD


Dependent Beneficiaries of Deceased Employees and Employee Beneficiaries


Group


No.


Annuities


Pension Accumulation Fund


Pension Reserve Fund


Total Retirement Allowances


Men


..


Women


5


$43.56


$2,284.67


$2,673.13


$5,001.36


Total


5


$43.56


$2,284.67


$2,673.13


$5,001.36


GRAND TOTAL


17


$1,206.72 $13,893.00


$3,451.85 $18,551.57


The following tables show the number of beneficiaries on the roll of the 5% system as of December 31, 1954, together with the amount of their annual retirement allowances:


Employee Beneficiaries in Receipt of Service Retirement Allowances


Group


No.


Annuities


Pension


Total Retirement Allowances


General Employees:


Men


14


$2,564.04


$13,850.04


$16,414.08


Women


25


3,085.08


24,639.96


27,725.04


Firemen and Policemen


1


259.56


2,542.20


2,801.76


Total


40


$5,908.68


$41,032.20


$46,940.88


Employee Beneficiaries in Receipt of Disability Retirement Allowances


Group


No.


Annuities


Pension


Total Retirement Allowances


General Employees:


Men


8


$874.80


$13,663.71


$14,538.51


Women


3


244.56


2,115.24


2,359.80


Firemen and Policemen ..


7


1,314.00


17,680.92


18,994.92


Total


18


$2,433.36


$33,459.87


$35,893.23


Dependent Beneficiaries of Deceased Employees and Employee Beneficiaries


Group


No.


Annuities


Pension


Total Retirement Allowances


Men


1


$133.20


$386.16


Women


16


1,524.60


9,751.57


$519.36 11,276.17


Total


17


$1,657.80


$10,137.73


$11,795.53


GRAND TOTAL


75


$9,999.84


$84,629.80


$94,629.64


SOMERVILLE RETIREMENT SYSTEM Balance Sheet, December 31, 1954 Assets


Investments


$1,834,462.47


Deposits in Banks


33,000.00


Cash


27,767.77


Accrued Interest


11,764.47


$1,906,994.71


r


238


ANNUAL REPORTS


Liabilities


Annuity Savings Fund, 5 %


$1,279,098.19


Annuity Reserve Fund, 5 %


114,168.63


Pension Fund, 5 %


304,018.29


Special Fund for Military Service Credit, 5 %


25,981.24


Annuity Savings Fund, 4 %


20,155.26


Annuity Reserve Fund, 4 %


9,200.29


Pension Accumulation Fund, 4 %


122,450.85


Pension Reserve Fund, 4 %


29,516.50


Special Fund for Military Service Credit, 4 %


198.85


Suspense Account, 4 %


598.47


Expense Fund


1,280.54


Withholding Tax


327.60


$1,906,994.71


RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR YEAR 1954


Receipts


Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1954 ..


$31,837.74


Contributions by Members: 4 %


$1,235.19


5 %


166,705.95


Redeposits


669.68


Transfers from other sys-


1,863.49


170,474.31


Contributions by City:


4 %


$7,843.81


5 %


33,628.15


41,471.96


Reimbursement from other systems


36.80


Income from Investments ....


52,460.04


Redemption of Securities ...


115,893.75


Profit from Redemption of


Securities


418.75


Withholding Tax


1,229.00


$413,822.35


Expenditures


Purchase of Securities ..


$224,249.54


Accrued Interest on Securities Purchased


799.62


Pension Payments:


4 %


22,077.04


5 %


76,788.65


98,865.69


Annuity Payments:


4 %


1,592.55


5 %


9,977.23


11,569.78


tems


239


RETIREMENT BOARD


Refunds:


5 %


34,366.37


Transfers to other systems ...


5,780.21


Pension Reimbursement paid


to other systems


4.23


Administration Expenses


9,275.04


Withholding Tax


1,144.10


Cash on hand 12/31/54


27,767.77


$413,822.35


Respectfully submitted,


SOMERVILLE RETIREMENT BOARD


WILLIAM E. HOGAN, Chairman GEORGE L. DOHERTY, JR., Vice Chairman FRANCIS E. WALSH, City Auditor


240


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the


Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.


Gentlemen:


The following factual information is respectfully sub- mitted as the Annual Report of the Licensing Commission for the year ending December 31, 1954.


Jerome McCarthy was elected as Chairman of the Licens- ing Commission for the year of 1954.


John Korn was appointed by the Mayor, approved by the Board of Aldermen and sworn in on August 20, 1954, as a member of the Licensing Commission for a term of three years, to succeed G. Victor Murray whose term had expired.


Thomas J. Hagerty, Board of Health Inspector, was as- signed to the Licensing Commission for the year of 1954.


The following Police Inspectors were assigned to the licens- ing Commission for the year of 1954:


CAPTAIN THOMAS M. SHARRY INSPECTOR WILLIAM QUINLAN


The following table will show the number of licenses per- missable by law as compared with the number of licenses that have been granted and are now in effect.


All Forms Pkg.


Beer & Wine Pkg.


All Forms Beer & Wine Restaurants & Clubs


Druggist


Allowed by Law . ..


22


22


94


Issued by Commission ..


22


22


88


Balance to Issue


0


0


6


unlimited 6 unlimited


During the year the Commission received the following applications :-


FOR A 1954 LICENSE:


9-Applications for a Beer and Wine Package Goods Store, Not To Be Drunk On The Premises, License. The Somerville Commission voted "LEAVE TO WITHDRAW" on four of these applications. Two applicants appealed


241


LICENSING COMMISSION


to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and said Commission after holding hearings on these appeals voted on one of these to sustain action taken by the Somerville Commission and on the other they voted to dis- approve the action of the Somerville Commission and remanded same to the Somerville Commission for further action. After reconsidering this application the Somerville Commission voted "LEAVE TO WITHDRAW". Two applicants withdrew their applications. The Somerville Commission voted "GRANTED" on three of these applications and the Alcoholic Commission "APPROVED" them. The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission held hearings at the request of voters on two of these appli- cations before approving them. Therefore, three Beer and Wine Package Goods Store, Not To Be Drunk On The Premises, Licenses were issued in 1954.


The Somerville Commission received four applications for transfer of location. They voted "GRANTED" on these ap- plications and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission "APPROVED" them.


The Somerville Commission received two applications for additional premises. They voted "GRANTED" on these ap- plications and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission "APPROVED" them.


The Somerville Commission received six applications for transfer of license which they "GRANTED" and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission "APPROVED" as follows :-


3-Transfers from one corporation to another corporation


2-Transfers from an individual to a corporation


1-Transfer from one partnership to another partnership


The Somerville Commission received four applications for change of business name. These were "APPROVED" by the Somerville Commission and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.


The Somerville Commission received ten applications for change of manager during 1954. These were "APPROVED" by the Somerville Commission and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.


The established policy of the Somerville Commission rela- tive to routine matters of office procedure has not materially changed. The Somerville Licensing Commission after inspec- tion and consideration decided to continue their policy of re- stricting so-called entertainment in all restaurants. Only the radio and music box was allowed for the year with two excep- tions :- Coyne's Sportsmen's Grill Inc .- d/b/a-"Memory Lane" which was issued a full entertainment and dance license for 1954 and the 318 Lounge Inc., which was issued a full en- tertainment license for 1954.


242


ANNUAL REPORTS


A general inspection of all restaurants brought out the fact that all establishments are now equipped with adequate toilet and washing facilities.


We acknowledge the splendid co-operation and wholeheart- ed support given our Commission by Police Inspectors, Captain Thomas Sharry and Inspector William Quinlan and Board of Health Inspector Thomas J. Hagerty assigned to our depart- ment. We also wish to acknowledge the efficient and faithful service of our Clerk, Mary I. Kenney.


An itemized report of the fees received during the year ending December 31, 1954 is as follows :-


REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1954


Licenses Granted and Fees Received:


69-Renewals (1955) All Forms Restaurant License 7-Day


$1,000.00


$69,000.00


1-Renewal (1955) All Forms Restaurant License 6-Day


800.00


800.00


3-Renewals (1955) Beer & Wine Restau- rant License 7-Day


400.00


1,200.00


15-Renewals (1955) All Forms Club Li- cense 7-Day


150.00


2,250.00


22-Renewals (1955) All Forms Pkg. Goods License


900.00


19,800.00


4-New Licenses (1954) Beer & Wine Pkg. Goods License


300.00


1,200.00


22-Renewals (1955) Beer & Wine Pkg. Pkg. Goods License


300.00


6,600.00


6-Renewals (1955) Druggist, Section 30-A License


300.00


1,800.00


72- Renewals (1955) Entertainment License


5.00


360.00


1-Renewal (1955) Entertainment License


1.00


1.00


1-Renewal (1955) Dance License


5.00


5.00


33-Special Alcoholic Licenses


5.00


165.00


228-Common Victualler's Licenses


5.00


1,140.00


189-Lord's Day Licenses


5.00


945.00


TOTAL RECEIPTS


$105,266.00


EXPENSES


7,342.98


NET TOTAL REVENUE OF THE DEPARTMENT - 1954


$97,923.02


Respectfully submitted,


LICENSING COMMISSION JEROME MCCARTHY, Chairman JOSEPH D. LONERGAN, Commissioner JOHN KORN, Commissioner


Attest MARY I. KENNEY Secretary


.


1


243


FIRE DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable, The Mayor and Board of Aldermen:


February 18, 1955.


Gentlemen:


In compliance with the Revised Ordinances of the City of Somerville, I have the honor of submitting for your informa- tion, The Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1954.


ALARMS AND LOSSES


Number of First Alarms 650


Number of Second Alarms 11


Number of Third Alarms


2


Number of A. D. T. Alarms


9


Number of Still Alarms


990


First Aid, Accidents, Emergency Calls


1940


Number of Alarms for the year 1954


3602


Number of Alarms for the year 1953


3796


Decrease in the number of Alarms during the year 1954 ..


Value of Buildings at risk $4,599,016.00


Insurance on Buildings at risk 5,100,137.00


Insurance Damage on Buildings 407,561.98


Value of Contents at risk 1,195,900.00


Insurance on Contents at risk 1,181,300.00


Insurance Damage on Contents 407,402.26


Total Value at risk 5,794,916.00


Total Insurance Damage


814,964.24


Approximate Per Capita Loss


7.91


CLASSIFICATION OF ALARMS


Fires in Residence Buildings 281


Fires in Other Buildings 91


Chimney Fires 25


90


Fires in dumps, vacant lots


88


Grass Fires 57


Miscellaneous Fires - Out of doors 75 ...


194


Fires in rubbish, near buildings


244


ANNUAL REPORTS


Automobile Fires


110


False Alarms


163


Smoke scares


Needless alarms 83


Accidents, Inhalator calls


170


Miscellaneous Emergency calls


325


False Telephone calls


29


Out of City calls


174


Ambulance Calls


1841


Total


3602


MANUAL FORCE


The manual force consists of two hundred and forty-four (244) permanent men and one Senior Account Clerk and Ste- nographer. During the year, 3 District Chiefs, 3 Fire Captains and 8 Fire Fighters were appointed to the Department from the Eligible List of the Civil Service - 1 District Chief pensioned and three Fire Fighters pensioned - 1 District Chief died.


The Roster of the Department is as follows:


1 Chief Engineer


3 Deputy Chiefs


4 District Chiefs


1 Master Mechanic


4 Assistant Mechanics


7 Captains


24 Lieutenants 7 Ambulance


167 Fire Fighters 3rd Grade


18 Fire Fighters 2nd Grade


8 Fire Fighters 1 st Grade


1 Senior Account Clerk & Stenographer


245 Total


"IN MEMORIAM" District Chief EDWARD G. MURRAY


Appointed May 29, 1921 Died January 28, 1954


During the year, five pieces of apparatus have been pur- chased; four have been received and placed in service as fol- lows:


245


FIRE DEPARTMENT


1-1000-Gallon Pump 1-85-foot Aerial Ladder


1-Hose Wagon


1-Hose Wagon


Engine 5-Somerville Avenue & Lowell St. Ladder 4-265 Highland Avenue Engine 4-Highland Ave. & Grove St. Engine 7-265 Highland Avenue


One 1000-Gallon Pump for Engine 1-Central Station will be delivered in April, 1955.


I respectfully recommend the purchase of the following equipment:


An Aerial Ladder Truck for Ladder 1-Union Square. The present truck is 23 years old.


A Hose Wagon to replace Engine 1's Hose Wagon. Present wagon is 27 years old.


A Hose Wagon to replace Engine 3's Hose Wagon. Present wagon is 26 years old.


A combination Light and Rescue Wagon for Central Station. Present wagon is 23 years old.


Consideration should be given to purchasing a 1000-Gallon Pump for Engine 6 and a Hose Wagon for Engine 2. These pieces are both 23 years old. When replaced, these two pieces of apparatus would be placed in reserve. At present, we have no reserve equipment.


The problem of inspecting premises for Fire Prevention, the checking on complaints relative to fire hazards, the inspec- tion for the storage of inflammable fluids in dewllings and business establishments, and the issuing of approximately 16,000 renewal permits annually for the storage of fuel oil, is one requiring detailed supervision and direction by an officer.




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