USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1930 > Part 22
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It might be well for me to say that there are virtually no plans or records in the office of the Superintendent of Public Works of any of the water pipes or surface drainage pipes that are in use in the town. The same condition prevails with regards to plans and records of the accepted streets in the town.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
It seems to me that this condition should not be allowed to continue. An engineering division, composed of at least two men should be provided for and efforts made to get information with regard to above plans and records so that they could be properly indexed for ready reference.
Highway Division
As above stated, this division of public work comes under the direction of the Superintendent of Public Works.
During the past year the appropriations for this division were as follows :
Maintenance .
$29,800 00
Sidewalks and Curbing . 15,000 00
Work under Chapter 90 of the Gen- eral Laws . 15,500 00
Snow and Ice 5,000 00 ·
Improvement of Cliftondale square, 2,500 00
The Maintenance account was made up as follows :
General Maintenance $20,000 00
Construction of Lawndale avenue ·
1,800 00
Semi-Permanent Work . .
8,000 00
Under the item of General Maintenance, the expenditures made, were for, cleaning streets, bituminous treatment of road surfaces, maintenance of roadways, fences, culverts, care of gravel sidewalk, and making minor repairs too numerous to mention.
The appropriation of $1,800 for Lawndale avenue provided for grading and constructing the roadway, and constructing necessary surface drains and catch basins, intending to do so much of the work as could be accomplished with the appropria- tion. With this appropriation, the surface drain was extended from the end of the existing drain in Lawndale avenue to Clay- ton avenue, a distance of 475 feet, and five new catch basins were built and connected to this drain. Two catch basins were rebuilt and also connected to this new drain. The roadway was built to subgrade from Lincoln avenue to a point near Addison avenue, and a permanent surface was laid for a distance of 300 feet from Lincoln avenue.
This street is the travelled route for those who live on the
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PUBLIC WORKS REPORT.
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many streets located on the hill and in my opinion ought to be completed in 1931.
The appropriation of $8,000 for semi-permanent work carried with it a condition to do work upon the nine streets in following schedule :
Myrtle street, Mount Vernon street, School street, all in Cliftondale.
Richard street, Wendell street, Vincent street, all in East Saugus.
Pleasant street, Appleton street, East Denver street, all in Saugus Center.
Myrtle street from Lincoln avenue to Mount Vernon street, Mount Vernon street from Myrtle street, to Whitney street, and School street from the B. & M. R. R. to Third street, were re- built.
Wendell street from Chestnut street to Newhall street, Vincent street from Chestnut street to Lincoln avenue, were re- built, and a surface drain with two catch basins was built in Richard street from Dudley street to a point 300 feet towards Ballard street. The roadway in Richard street, between these two points was also constructed.
East Denver street from Winter street to Central street was rebuilt. In Pleasant street and in Appleton street, no road work was undertaken. The appropriation for these two streets was expended in constructing surface drains, it being deemed more necessary to provide facilities to care for the surface water that accumulates on the surface of these two streets.
A departure was made in the manner of expending the appropriation for $15,000.00 for edgestones and sidewalks. For the first time in the history of the town the construction of edgestones and sidewalks was done under the law authorizing assessments.
Sidewalks were constructed in the streets shown in the follow- ing schedule :
Central street, easterly side, from the High School to Lincoln avenue.
Winter street, easterly side from Stocker street to the Com- munity Church.
Denver street, corner Central street, westerly side.
Denver street, southerly side from Pinehurst road towards Dow street.
Denver street, northerly side, opposite No. 43-45.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
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Lincoln avenue, westerly side from No. 375 to No. 345 Lincoln avenue, easterly side at both corners of Lincoln court.
Walnut street at the North Saugus School.
This work was done under a contract with Murphy Bros. 5772 feet of curbing was constructed and 4533 square feet of driveway and 26,669 square feet of walk were built at a total cost of $14,988.57.
Assessments were computed by this department against the benefited estates, and schedules of same prepared for the Board of Selectmen, which schedules were committed to the Collector for collection. The total amount of assessments committed was $6,933.94. No assessments were made against town property.
The appropriation of $15,500.00 for work under Chapter 90 of the General Laws was divided, eight thousand dollars was appropriated for work on Woodbury avenue, and Hesper street, and seven thousand five hundred dollars on Main and Howard streets. No work was done on either of these projects. On Woodbury avenue and Hesper street, the State Department of Public Works and the County Commissioners recommended changes in the line and grade of the road. As a result of the suggested changes, there were introduced into this subject, the question of land damages and other adjustments and problems which have required a large amount of time to straighten out.
It will require another allotment of $8,000.00 on the part of the town to complete the construction of this project. It will also require an additional appropriation for the payment of land damages, consequent to the adoption of new lines. I have gone over the matter very carefully and am of the opinion that an appropriation of $12,000.00 will be required for this purpose.
The Main street and Howard street project was delayed in part, on account of the reconstruction of the water pipe in that part of Main street from the Newburyport Turnpike to the Circumferential Highway, and also because it was thought best to delay construction until a further appropriation of $7,500.00 could be made by the town for the completion of the work. The State engineers felt that if all of the work could be under- taken at the same time, a saving of several thousand dollars could be effected. With regard to the replacement of water mains above referred to, I wish to report that the money avail- able for replacement of cement mains in the 1930 budget of the Water Department, namely $5,000.00, was expended for this purpose, and about 1500 feet of pipe were laid. There is yet
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PUBLIC WORKS REPORT.
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to be laid about 1700 feet of pipe which will require an appropriation of $6,000.00. In my opinion this improvement ought to be started at once, and therefore recommend that an appropriation be made to cover the cost of the work as above described.
The appropriation for removal of snow and ice was $5,000.00. This amount proved insufficient and a transfer for an additional sum was made by the Finance Committee, so that all obligations were met. The amount thus transferred was about $1,200.00. I would recommend that a larger appropriation be made for 1931.
Surface Drainage
Under this caption, I want to say that the manner heretofore employed in expending money to carry on this class of work ought to be changed, and that no further expenditures should be made in any section of the town for surface drains, until such time as a complete survey and necessary plans are prepared for each section where expenditures are contemplated. It is very evident from an examination of what work has been done in the town with reference to this class of work that no surveys, studies, or plans have ever been developed and that much of the work that has been done has been very poorly executed and can not be utilized for further extensions.
During the last part of the year an appropriation of $2,500.00 was made for the improvement of Cliftondale square. Plans of the changes contemplated were prepared by this Department, which called for very material changes. The size of the park was reduced, the street railway tracks placed in a new location, with the result that traffic conditions have been greatly im- proved. The work has been completed except that portion, re- lating to the reconstruction of the road surfaces. To recon- struct the area of the road surface in the square and of the streets leading out of the square will require an appropriation of $6,500.00, which I have incorporated in the requirement of the budget.
WATER DIVISION
The Water Division in the Department of Public Works has the care and management of the water system of the town, and the Superintendent of Public Works is charged with the respon- sibility of its maintenance and operation. During the past year, appropriations for this division were made as follows :
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
General Maintenance $23,500 00
Extension of Water Mains · 6,000 00
Replacement of Cement Mains 5,000 00 Installation of Meters on old services,
3,000 00
Purchase of Water
19,000 00
Extensions, under Special Articles .
The expenditures made under the appropriation for General Maintenance, are for the up-keep of the plant, installing and repair services, meters, and hydrants, in short, the operating expenses of the department. No new work has been paid for, from this appropriation. e
The appropriation of $6,000 for General Extension of water mains was expended under the direction of the Board of Select- men in the locations shown in the following schedule. The size and length of pipe is also herewith shown.
Bradford terrace
175'
6""
Madeira street
.
160'
6"
Oak Point road .
240'
6"
Hemingway road
I20'
6"
Dudley street
I20'
6""
Broadway .
400'
6"
Oriole avenue
600'
6"
Holland street
600'
8"
Oakwood avenue
30'
6""
The appropriation for $5,000 for replacing cement mains was expended in replacing, in part, the cement mains in Main street between the Newburyport turnpike and the Circumferen- tial highway. This work was undertaken in order that the work of reconstructing Main street might be advanced, 1,500 feet of 12" pipe was laid. There still is 1,700 feet of old cement pipe in this part of Main street that will have to be replaced in conjunction with the reconstruction of the road. It will require an appropriation of $6,000 for this work, and I have included this in the estimate for the Water Division.
For the purpose of installing meters on old services, an appro- priation of $3,000 was made. This amount was expended in the purchase of meters, and the installation of same. The appropriation for this class of work for 1931 can be materially reduced. I would suggest that only $2,000 be appropriated. With this appropriation it is my opinion that all services in the
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PUBLIC WORKS REPORT.
1930]
town will be metered in 1931, and that thereafter no appropria- tion for meters will be required.
The appropriation for the purchase of water was $19,000.00. The actual amount expended was $21,560.00. A larger appropriation should be made for 1931. I would suggest that it be at least $21,000.00.
Provision was made in the annual town meeting by special articles, for extending the water mains in various locations in the town. All of the extensions authorized were constructed, and a sizable balance remained unexpended.
I would like to call your special attention to the construction of the main in Holland street, from Elm street to Clark street. For several years this line has been under discussion, but on ac- count of passing over private property was never undertaken. This year it was possible to make satisfactory arrangements with the owners, and the line was constructed. By the con- struction of this line the territory on the east side of the Saugus River can now be assured of a proper supply of water all of the time.
I desire to call your attention to several specific defects in the water system, which I am sure are known to all of the citizens of the town.
There are still in use, in the town, about 12 miles of cement lined water pipes, that have been in use for over 40 years. Several bad breaks have occurred in these pipes during the past year. They serve as a reminder that some measure ought to be adopted, looking to the replacement of this old pipe. Larger appropriations ought to be made annually, or the work should be undertaken under a bond issue.
Under present conditions it is impossible to operate the pump- ing station in order to keep the water in the stand pipe at its proper elevation for fire protection, except during the night time, and then only for a short period of time. The cause of this condition is due to the small pipe in Lincoln avenue which supplies the water that has to be pumped. There have been occasions during the past year when the stand pipe has been used for fire purposes, that pumping had to be carried on for six nights in order to restore the water to its normal elevation. This is a serious condition, and steps should be taken at once to make the necessary changes, which would make it possible to operate the pumps at any time when necessary within the twenty-four hours.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Many complaints were received during the past year from property owners in the higher area bounded by Lincoln avenue, Central street, East Denver street, and Winter street, due to a poor supply of water. Under existing conditions it is im- possible to properly supply water to this area without resorting to the use of the stand pipe. The complaints from this section are justified. This condition can be corrected by the construc- tion of line from the high service area on Bakers Hill. By so doing, the pressure of the stand pipe could be used in the area above refered to, and a proper supply and pressure be made available at all times.
In this report I have refrained from going into details or in making the many schedules usually submitted with reports of this character. I have also refrained from making the numerous recommendations for additional appropriations for public improvements. I am thoroughly cognizant of the financial conditions which confront the town and the consequent impossibility of attempting to project many of the public improvements that ought to be undertaken.
I therefore want to impress the Board of Selectmen with the thought that, from time to time, as occasion may require, I shall be very glad to furnish any special report upon any project that may be contemplated or undertaken, basing such report upon actual surveys and prepared plans.
In conclusion, I want to avail myself of this opportunity to . express my appreciation of the loyal support I have received from the Board of Selectmen in the work undertaken by me during the past year. I also want to say that I have at all times received the hearty cooperation of the other town offices in all matters where the Public Works Department was concerned. I believe that I would fail in my duty if I did not say a word of approval and commendation for the efforts that have been made by all of the employees in the department, to the end that the department might function more efficiently.
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED L. MAGGI, Superintendent of Public Works.
365
CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.
1930]
Report of Chief of Police
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
It now becomes my privilege to present to you my tenth annual report of the Police Department, together with the doings thereof, during the year nineteen hundred and thirty.
The department consists of one chief, one captain, nine per- manent patrolmen and forty-four special officers, fifteen of whom are uniformed and prepared to do police duty whenever necessary. The roster is as follows :
CHIEF Roland L. Mansfield
CAPTAIN John T. Stuart
REGULAR PATROLMEN
Frank W. Joy, James P. Sullivan, Clarence H. Berrett, Henry P. Wheaton, Roland E. Mansfield, Peter A. Flaherty, William MacDougall, Ralph New, Joseph A. Lambert, Jr.
SPECIAL OFFICERS
Timothy J. Bannon, Oren O. Bentley, Thomas E. Canavan, John P. Chesley, Byron Day, Arthur J. Decareau, Charles C. DeFronzo, Norman D. Hatch, Samuel Johnston, Howard P. Kelley, Charles E. Light, Andrew C. Lynn, Howard P. McAdoo, Edgar H. MacDougall, Alfred Maggi, Walter F. Berrett, Ernest Merrithew, Samuel C. Maddox, James F. Maher, John E. Mansfield, Ernest M. Hatch, Walter F. Neal, Willie M. Penney, Charles B. Pugsley, Henry R. Robinson, Edward O. Roy, Percy R. Salsman, Frank H. Spencer, Charles E. Stillings, Frank M. Symonds, Everett Vickary, John G. Walton, Daniel B. Willis, Alfred H. Woodward, Frederick A. Leary, William S. Rockhill, Carleton L. Shorey, Charles N. Wormstead.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
SPECIAL OFFICERS FOR LYNN WATER SHEDS
Patrick Garrity, Dennis W. Mead, John F. Heath, Henry E. Newhall, William J. Kennedy, John H. Newhall.
During nineteen hundred thirty 693 males and 29 females were arrested, making a total of 722, of which number 28 were juveniles. The total number of arrests for the year decreased by 42 over those of the year previous, and were for the follow- ing crimes :-- violating town By-Laws or city ordinances, 102, violation of probation, I; escape, 2; assault, 21; alien with gun, 1; adultery 2; breaking and entering, 10; installing electric wires without permit, I ; deserter, I ; non-payment of wages, 3; cruelty to animals, 4; having gaming implements in possession, I ; false weight, 5 ; drunkenness, 148; disturbing the peace, 5 ; disorderly conduct, 5 ; default, 8; keeping unlicensed dogs, 15; unlawful use of milk cans, 1 ; violation of probation, I ; fornication, 1 ; impersonating a police office, I ; gaming on Lord's Day, 8; liquor nuisance; 1 ; illegal manufacturing liquor, 6; illegally transportating liquor, 2; illegal sale of liquor, 1 ; illegal keeping of liquor, 9: bastardy, 2 ; indecent language, 1 ; larceny, 36; lewdness, I; lewd co-habitation, 2 ; malicious mischief, 1; manslaughter, 1; murder, 4; non- support, 13; violating milk laws, I ; present at game, 7; sett- ing fire no permit, I ; peddling no license, 1; rape, 3; profan- ity, I ; robbery, 2; suspicion, 2; threat, I ; accessory before fact, I; trespass, 9; violating road laws, 6; vagrancy, I ; violating school laws, 4; violating game laws, 6; violating auto laws, 240; violating health laws, 5.
Disposition of the arrests were :- fined, 173; filed, 91 ; dis- charged, 23; default removed, 6; released, 39; probation, 53 ; state farm, 3; Salem Jail, 13; Lyman school, I; Lawrence training school, 3 ; held for grand jury, 16; arrested for other authorities, 274; continued 18; dismissed, 9.
The segregation of nativity of prisoners was :- Americans, 497; English, 34; French, 19; German, I ; Irish, 19; Greek, 3 ; Italian, 62 ; Swedish, 2; Jewish, 12; Polish, 52; Negro, 7 Armenian, 7; Norwegian, I; Portuguese, 3; Belgian, 2; Dutch, I.
Daily reports of officers show the following :- complaints received and investigated, 1,071; autos reported stolen, 231 : stolen autos recovered, 34; articles reported stolen, or lost, 82 ; articles found, 60; dogs reported lost, 60; dogs found, 61 ;
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CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT.
1930]
doors and windows found open and secured 99 ; alarms of fire responded to, 62 ; persons removed to hospitals, 72 ; persons re- ported missing, 41 ; lost persons found, 34; notified for hospitals and other departments, 100; all others, 229; making a total of 2,242.
The total amounts of fines collected in our court was $2,740.00, of which $685.00 was paid to the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, $1,965.00 paid to the town of Saugus, $65.00 paid to the County of Essex and $25.00 paid to to the M.S.P.C.A. As we are forced to prosecute all cases of operating motor vehicles while under the influence of liquor in the District Court of Southern Essex, at Lynn, it is impossible to say how much the fines on those cases would total, but it is safe to assume that it would be between $3,000.00 and $4,000.00, which would make a substantial increase to our returns.
It would perhaps be well to describe the motor equipment of this department, and its present condition, and I now do so. We have one white combination ambulance and patrol wagon of the year 1922, which despite its age is in very good condition. However, due to the great amount of ambulance work done by the Police Department, the time is rapidly approaching when a modern ambulance will become a necessary requisite to this department, and I take this opportunity of calling this matter to your attention for future consideration. The Packard sedan, purchased last April, is in excellent condition and will undoubt- edly render us much satisfactory service. The Star sedan, bought in 1926, is completely worn out, and it is only by careful nursing and frequent and expensive repairs that it is kept in service, and I am therefore recommending that it be replaced by a new light sedan for general police work. The two Harley- Davidson motorcycles, one a 1927 and the other a 1928, should be replaced with new machines, as the two now in use are no longer safe for police usage.
During the first ten months of 1929, five children were killed and nineteen injured by automobiles. Feeling that this terrible slaughter could be cut down considerably, a patrolman was assigned to visit the several schools throughout the town and teach the element of highway safety to the students. Whether or not this has proven successful can best be shown by stating that since that time not one child has been killed by a motor vehicle. Sixteen were injured, only one of these being serious, the injuries being mostly of a very minor nature. In view of the
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31'
excellent results accomplished, I am, this year asking for a small sum of money to care for the expenses incurred in the continuance of this important work.
As no department can be expected to successfully compete with the modern criminal unless sufficiently manned and properly equipped, I am recommending the addition of four regular officers, in order that all parts of the town may be given more adequate police protection.
The Teletype, a recent invention, which is fast becoming a necessary adjunct to the modern Police Department, has so suc- cessfully proven its worth, not once, but numerous times, that I am again this year, asking that one be installed in our station, to link us with surrounding cities and towns, all' of which are so equipped, and to allow us to be so much better able to prevent the escape of the criminal, who with the automobile, is usually able to make good his escape, while the old system of using the telephone for spreading the alarm, is being used.
I again urge upon you the advisability of installing a modern system of police call boxes, but in the event of this not being considered practical at this time, I would suggest that two additional boxes be added to our present system. I also suggest that uniforms be furnished by the town for all regular offi cers.
As our present quarters are entirely unsatisfactory for our needs, and the space now occupied by us is badly needed by other departments for office space, I feel that now would be an opportune time to start on foot a movement to build a new police station.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Judge William E. Ludden, the several town officials and private citizens who have by their cooperation, aided me during the past year, and I hope that this good feeling will continue toward the Police Department.
Respectfully submitted,
ROLAND L. MANSFIELD,
Chief of Police.
369
FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT.
1930 ]
Report of Chief of Fire Department
SAUGUS, MASS., December 31, 1930. To the Citizens of the Town of Saugus :
I herewith submit the annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1930.
ROSTER
CHIEF Mellen R. Joy
CAPTAIN Edward J. McTague
LIEUTENANTS
Ralph E. Berrett
William R. Salsman, Jr.
PERMANEN'T FIREMEN
Henry Saxon
George B. Drew
Harold R. Atkinson
Alfred A. Bird
Joseph L. Maguire
Albert F. Jervis
CALL FIREMEN
Ernest M. Hatch
Robert E. Holbrook
George W. Nicholson
Ralph Quirk Ward Meeker
William A. Mathewson
Alexander S. McCarrier
Frank P. Garafano
During the year of 1930, the Fire Department responded to 412 alarms and calls for fire, an increase of 85 more than for 1929.
There were 103 box alarms, 309 telephone calls, 31 of which were followed by box alarms, many of them were unnecessary, 23 of the box alarms were false and needless.
24
Chester A. Tarbox John Mclaughlin
Arthur W. Randall
Lewis O. Gray
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Total mileage traveled by the apparatus in responding to all calls was 1,256 miles.
The assessed valuation, and insurance on buildings, auto- mobiles, trucks, etc., involved in fires are as follows :
Assessed value of buildings, autos, trucks, etc. . $285,500 00 Estimated loss on buildings, etc. 77,566 00 Insurance on buildings, etc. 392,013 00
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