USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1914 > Part 12
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STATE AID. Administered by the Selectmen. State Aid is payable to soldiers and sailors who served in the wars, either army or navy, and to their wives, widowed mothers or dependent children. Army nurses and one or two other classes are entitled to this aid. All the applicants must meet certain conditions, and applications made to the Selectmen must be approved by the Commissioner of State Aid at the State House. The maximum amount that can be paid each person is six dollars per month.
Money paid out in this manner is reimbursed the following year by the Commonwealth. State Aid in Swampscott is paid to quite a few dif- ferent persons, and this year amounted to $2,720.
SOLDIERS' RELIEF. The work done under this department is very similar to that done by the Overseers of the Poor, but, according to law, is administered by the Board of Selectmen. It is delegated to them by Section 18, of Chapter 79, Revised Laws, and all applications by ben- eficiaries are made direct to them. Money paid out in this manner is not reimbursed by the State, but the entire expense is borne by the town. The amount expended this year was $3,017.49.
V. Pine Street Land.
Situate on Pine Street, between Huron Street and New Ocean Street, there is about 50,000 square feet of vacant land owned by the Water Department and lying idle, from which the town receives no income from taxes or otherwise.
We do not know of any purpose for which the town could use this land at present or in the future, and if it was put upon the market and sold, it would in all probability be built upon and thereby become taxable property.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
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We recommend that this land be surveyed, plotted into house lots, and put upon the market for sale : said lots not to be sold for a sum less than twenty-five cents per square foot unless so authorized by the town.
VI. New Streets.
Application to lay out Walker Road from a point previously accepted by the town to the State Highway having been made, we viewed the prem- ises and gave notice of our intention to lay out said road. No awards will be made, and the street will be reported for acceptance at the February meeting.
WALKER ROAD TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT OFFICE OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
January 1, 1915.
The Selectmen of the Town of Swampscott in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby give notice that they intend to lay out in said Swampscott, a portion of a private way known as Walker road, as shown on plan drawn by W. W. Pratt, Town Engineer, dated January, 1915, and on file in the office of the Town Clerk of said Town.
Beginning at a point on the southerly line of the Boston & Maine Railroad, said point 8.36 feet distant from a stone monument at the intersection of the westerly line of Walker road with the southerly line of the Boston & Maine Railroad land; thence running North 43 degrees 23 minutes o seconds East for a distance of 80.81 feet; thence running North 70 degrees 14 minutes 50 seconds West for a distance of 7.64 feet; thence running North 43 degrees 23 minutes o seconds East for a distance of 17.50 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 1,001.90 feet for a distance of 278.03 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 61.66 feet for a distance of 48.09 feet; thence curving to the right with a radius of 289.34 feet for a distance of 227.52 feet; thence curving to the right with a radius of 444.53 feet for a distance of 232.76 feet; thence running North 55 degrees 51 minutes o seconds East for a distance of 70.00 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 18.70 feet for a distance of 56.06 feet to the Southerly line of Paradise road; thence running North 64 degrees 05 minutes 30 seconds East by said Southerly line of Paradise road for a distance of 111.28 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 60.00 feet for a distance of 72.93 feet; thence curving to the right with a radius of 58.70 feet; thence running South 55 degrees 51 minutes o seconds West for a distance of 70.00 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 404.53 feet for a distance of 211.82 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 249.34 feet for a distance of 109.45 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 30.92 feet for a distance of 64.68 feet to the Northerly side of Mountwood road; thence running South 29 degrees 09 minutes o seconds East across said road for a distance of 40.00 feet; thence curving to the left with a radius of 40.17 feet for a distance of 24.80 feet; thence running South 25 degrees 29 minutes o seconds West for a distance of 90.97 feet; thence curving to the right with a radius of 1,041.90 feet for a distance of 289.13 feet; thence running North 70 degrees 14 minutes 50 seconds West for a distance of 7.64 feet; thence running South 43 degrees 23 minutes o seconds West for a distance of 75.20 feet; thence running North 79 degrees 47 minutes 30 seconds West for a distance of 31.07 feet to the point of beginning.
Whereas a portion of said Walker road as constructed in accord- ance with the plan and profile accompanying this laying out is to be built in embankment; the Selectmen take the right to support said embankment by means of side slopes upon the adjoining land, the upper surface of the said side slopes having a rate of one and one-half (11/2) feet measured horizontally to one (1) foot measured vertically, measuring down to the level of said adjoining land, from the grade of
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the side lines of the street as shown on said plan and profile, but the said Selectmen expressly reserve to the owners of land taken for said slopes, and their heirs and assigns, the right to use said slopes and the land taken therefor up to the side lines of said way, as hereinbefore defined and shown on said plan and profile for building, or for any other purpose or use whatsoever incident to the ownership of the fee in the land taken for said slopes which will not impair the security of the roadbed of said way.
Notice is herehy given that the Selectmen will meet at the junction of said private way and Paradise road to view the premises on Satur- day, January 23, 1915 at 3.30 P. M., and will hear all persons interested at their office in the Town Hall on Friday, January 29, 1915, at 8 P. M.
CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY, Chairman, ELIAS G. HODGKINS, TAMES F. CATON,
Selectmen of Swampscott.
The Board has been petitioned to lay out Forest avenue from Redington street to Humphrey street, but on such short notice have not done any- thing.
This is, or will be, an important thoroughfare, and will require some study. We therefore await the Town action upon the article in the War- rant in regard to it.
VII. By-Laws.
The Town by-laws were last revised in 1906, since which time we have adopted several Acts of the General Court whereby several of the existing sections have become obsolete, and changes in policy demand that others be modified.
We recommend that a committee be appointed to revise and amend the present by-laws, they to report to the Town on or before the next annual Town Meeting.
VIII. Bay State Street Company's Tracks on Humphrey Street.
The petition and accompanying plans had first asked for a double-track location from the Lynn line to Commonwealth avenue, including turn- out or crossover at Redington street. After the advertised hearing of September 8, the people present and the Board of Selectmen taking excep- tions to the location of the turn-out, took the matter up with the Bay State Street Railway Company and had the plans modified so that as finally filed and locations granted, they show a double-track location from the Lynn line to Commonwealth avenue with the necessary turn-outs and crossovers at or very near the railway stables near the Lynn line.
The notice of hearing, grant of location to the Bay State Street Railway Company, the same having been approved by the Public Service Com mission of the Commonwealth, are printed herewith.
NOTICE
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN Town Hall, Swampscott, Mass., August 22, 1914.
There will be a public hearing at the above office, on Tuesday September S, at 8 o'clock P. M., on the following petition :
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
To the Honorable the Board of Selectmen of Swampscott:
Respectfully represents the Bay State Street Railway Company : That it owns and operates street railway tracks in said Swampscott, and desires an extension, alteration and relocation thereof in Humph- rey street in said Swampscott :
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
WHEREOF, your petitioner, as such Street Railway Company, prays for an extension, alteration and relocation of its tracks in Humphrey street from the Lynn-Swampscott line to near Commonwealth avenue in said Swampscott, to wit, a location for an additional track and an alteration and relocation of its existing tracks, constituting a double track location, together with such switches, curves and cross connec- tions as may be necessary or convenient for the operation of the cars of said Company, substantially as shown on its Maintenance of Way Department plans marked L-4935, dated August 12, 1914, filed with this petition; and to make all necessary additions to and change in poles, wires and other appliances connected therewith, and that it be granted the right to operate said tracks with electricity as the motive power.
BAY STATE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY, By P. F. Sullivan, President For the Selectmen, C. G. ROWELL, Clerk.
IN BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASS.
September 18, 1914.
Upon petition of the Bay State Street Railway Company, dated August 12, 1914, for an extension, alteration and relocation of its tracks in Humphrey street, from the Lynn-Swampscott line to near Common- wealth avenue, in said Swampscott, to wit, a location for an additional track and an alteration and relocation of its existing tracks, consti- tuting a double track location, with necessary poles therefor as therein petitioned, due notice having been given and hearing held as required by law, it is
ORDERED, that the petition be granted, subject to all the conditions of the original grant of location, subject to general provisions of law applicable thereto and subject to the express provisions and conditions hereinafter set forth.
The location of tracks and poles to be as shown on plan of the Maintenance of Way Department of said Company, dated August 12th, 1914, numbered L-4,935, the first sheet of which, for identification and approval, is simultaneously herewith signed by this Board, and each subsequent sheet thereof by the Chairman of this Board, and is made a part of this order.
I. Said railway company shall pay for all the work in that part of Humphrey street lying between the outside rail of one track and the outside rail of the other track and for a space of eighteen inches extend- ing from and outside of each outside rail, including all excavating or subgrading, foundation and paving. All of said work shall be done under the direction and to the satisfaction of the Massachusetts High- way Commission.
2. The paving of that portion of Humphrey street lying between the outside rail of one track and the outside rail of the other track and extending from the Lynn-Swampscott line to its junction with Orient street, shall be of paving brick upon a concrete base with all joints well grouted. The paving of the eighteen inch space, extending from and out- side of each outside rail, of that portion of Humphrey street extending from said Lynn-Swampscott line to said junction with Orient street, shall be of the same material, upon the same base, and laid in the same manner as the paving to be laid in that portion of said Humphrey street continuous to said eighteen inch spaces. The paving of that portion of Humphrey street, extending easterly from its junction with Orient street, including both that part between the outside rail of one track and the outside rail of the other track and for a space of eighteen inches extending from and outside of each outside rail, shall be of new eight [inch granite blocks upon a suitable base, with all joints well grouted.
1914]
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
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3. Whenever said railway company during the making of any repairs, or renewals, of any of its rails, tracks, poles, wires, or other appliances, disturbs the surface material of that portion of Humphrey street or the sidewalks thereof from said Lynn and Swampscott line to the easterly end of its double track at or near Commonwealth avenue in said Swampscott, it shall, at its own cost, replace to the satisfaction of the Superintendent of streets said surface material with the same form of construction as that which was disturbed, or by first obtaining the approval thereof by said Superintendent, with a different material and form of construction, and shall restore said street and said side- walks to as good condition as existed at the time of such disturbance.
4. Said railway company shall immediately remove, whenever requested so to do by said Superintendent of Streets and to his satis- faction, all snow in said Humphrey street that results from the clearing of its tracks.
5. The laying of said tracks, the placing of all poles, wires, and other appliances, and all work specified herein, shall be done in such manner and within such time as will not hinder or delay the com- pletion of the laying out and construction of Humphrey street, and the approaches thereto, as provided by Chapter 778, of the Acts of 1913, and Chapter 398, of the Acts of 1914.
6. The acceptance of this grant of location or the laying of double tracks as shown upon said plan shall constitute an abandonment and waiver of all right or authority to lay out or maintain under any loca- tion heretofore granted any tracks, cross-overs, or switches on said Humphrey street from said Lynn-Swampscott line to safd Common- wealth avenue, not shown upon said plan.
7. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed or construed to be a release, modification, waiver or discharge of any of the conditions or obligations imposed upon said railway company by Chapter 778, of the Acts of 1913, and Chapter 398, of the Acts of 1914, or of any conditions or obligations imposed upon street railway companies by the laws of this Commonwealth, or by the original grant of location.
CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY, ELIAS G. HODGKINS, JAMES F. CATON, Board of Selectmen of Swampscott.
TO THE HONORABLE THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT :
The Bay State Street Railway Company hereby accepts, subject to and in accordance with all general laws thereto applicable, the location and relocation for its tracks in Humphrey street, from the Lynn boundary line to near Commonwealth avenue in the Town of Swamp- scott, established under an order of the Selectmen of said Town dated September 18, 1914, and certified by the Honorable the Public Service Commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to be consistent with the public interests in its order dated December 9, 1914.
BAY STATE STREET RAILWAY COMPANY,
By CHARLES WILLIAMS, Clerk.
BOSTON, MASS., December 30, 1914.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
1914]
IX. Paradise Road, a State Highway.
The following is a copy of a communication from the Massachusetts Highway Commission :
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS,
MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAY COMMISSION,
Boston
F. C. PILLSBURY. Division Engineer. 126 Massachusetts avenue.
NOVEMBER 11, 1914.
Swampscott. PROPOSED RESURFACING.
MR. CLARENCE B. HUMPHREY,
Chairman of Board of Selectmen,
SWAMPSCOTT, MASS.
DEAR SIR,-I beg to inform you that we hope to be able to resurface the State Highway in Swampscott, from Burrill street to the foot of the hill on Paradise road, about 800 feet beyond the overhead railroad bridge.
This work will probably be started about the first of April and finished before the first of July, so that the street may be in good con- dition for the summer traffic.
As we intend to put an expensive bituminous surface on the road, which should not be disturbed for a period of at least five years after- ward, we respectfully request that all underground structures be put in first-class conditon and carried out to the curb line throughout. There is a large stone drain, which is a town drain, extending for 1,000 feet or more under the centre of this road. This should be thoroughly examined, and any necessary repairs made. There is a line of abandoned artesian wells which were formerly the source of water for the Town supply. These were never properly capped when this source of supply was abandoned and they should be removed entirely.
I am notifying the Telephone and Gas & Electric Companies to attend to their underground work, also, and would much appreciate any assistance which the Selectmen may give in this matter. I assume that the Selectmen have authority to take it up with the Sewerage and Water Board, or with any other Boards which may be connected with this work. If, not, kindly let me know immediately, because all the work should be done before we start in the spring, so that the trenches may have as much time as possible to settle, and our work must be done before the busy summer season.
I am enclosing herewith copies of letters written this day to the Lynn Gas & Electric Co., and the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, also to Mr. I. I. Edgerly.
Yours very truly,
F. C. PILLSBURY,
Division Engineer.
P. R. Copy to Mr. I. I. Edgerly.
Enc.
The work necessary to be done in consequence of the above commu- nication will be taken care of by the parties interested. That portion relating to sewer connections and the abandoning of the artesian wells will be done by the Sewer and Water Boards under their usual appropri- ation without any additional moneys being appropriated for this purpose.
In regard to the stone drain, this matter is taken up more fully under the next subject, to which you are referred.
In connection with the surfacing of this street, the matter of straight- ening it at its intersection with Burrill Street will be taken up at this
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
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time, and surveys are being made by the Highway Engineers for the pur- pose of relocation. The work is not finished so we cannot report at this time, but are in hopes of having a report ready to be read at the annual meeting. We recommend that in connection with this work the Town take such action as is necessary to eliminate this dangerous intersection of highways, and to extend New Ocean Street through into Paradise road and appropriate money therefor.
X. "Mudge Brook" or Paradise Road Drain.
At the last Town meeting it was voted, "That the Selectmen be instructed to have the Town Engineer prepare plans and specifications for an adequate culvert on Paradise road to care for the surface water in that locality, and report at the next annual Town meeting."
REPORT ON THE DRAINAGE OF THE MUDGE BROOK WATER SHED, 1914.
Board of Selectmen, Swampscott, Mass .:
GENTLEMEN,- I submit herewith an estimate to your Board, of the cost of diverting the Mudge Brook into a reinforced concrete con- duit, located in Paradise road.
No doubt the older inhabitants of the Town are able to recall the time when Mudge brook, the natural drainage for the water shed, was unobstructed in any way from discharging its water into the sea.
Today this same brook, the main intercepting drain for storm water, has been covered over in part, its course made more serpentine, instead of straightened, and in many places its channel has been narrowed to satisfy the abutter.
The above well known conditions result in the backing up of the water in time of a storm and the flooding of the immediate territory; or in a dry season the creation of a stagnate brook which is a menace to the health of the residents in that vicinity.
The amount of storm water reaching a given point depends upon the rainfall, the time during which this rate is continued, the propor- tion of the rainfall which flows off, and the time taken by a rain drop after falling to reach the point under consideration. This last depends upon the shape, extent, and nature of the surface over which it must flow.
Moreover open fields and unbuilt districts tend to retard the dis- charge of storm water to the outfall; but, at the present time these water sheds are developed with macadam streets and paved gutters, which discharges the storm water to the main intercepting drain in a mueh less time; therefore it is imperative that the intercepting drain should be constructed to discharge the cubic feet of water per second reaching the several points under consideration.
To provide for a relief of the existing conditions within the area of Mudge brook, would require a concrete reinforced conduit, of variable dimensions, with the discharge of 77 cubic feet per second, at the Stacey brook outfall.
The dimensions, grade, location, and cost of the proposed conduit are as follows :
Section No. 1. 3 feet 6 inches x 3 feet o inches Conduit.
Beginning at the present culvert in Farragut road, at the junction of Banks road; thence following said road to Paradise road, and continuing in same to Nor- folk avenue, a distance of 2,000 feet. Grade one and one-half foot per 1,000 feet. Cost .
$10,700 00
1914]
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
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Section No. 2.
4 feet o inches x 4 feet o inches Conduit.
Beginning at Norfolk avenue, thence following Para- dise road, to the west side of Burrill street, a dis- tance of 500 feet. Grade one and one-half foot per 1,000 feet. Cost
$3,500 00
Section No. 3.
Beginning at the west side of Burrill street; thence following the present location of the brook, to the west side of Pine street; thus discharging into Stacey Brook; a distance of 450 feet. Grade two feet per
1,000 feet. Cost 2,800 00
$17,000 00
Engineering and contingencies
3,000 00
$20,000 00
The proposed conduit to be constructed with the necessary man- holes for inspection and cleaning, and all existing storm water drains and catch basins to be a part of this surface water system.
Respectfully submitted,
WALLACE W. PRATT,
Town Engineer.
This brook begins near the railroad, runs down along the State road to Burrill street, across Burrill street and Pine street to Stacey's Brook, and thence to Humphrey street, across same to Lynn territory, and empties into the ocean on the Metropolitan Park Reservation All the facts are stated in the Engineer's Report and the Report of Committee on Brooks, contained on page 100 of the Report of 1912.
It was at first thought that by beginning at Farragut road and putting the water into a conduit under the sidewalk, that portions could be built each year and by special acts paid for by the Town and adjoining owners. A further study, however, shows that by putting it under the sidewalk, it would have a tendency to kill all trees on that side of the street, and inter- fere with the sewer connections that cross the sidewalk at about the same grade. It is therefore found that the proper place would be in the middle of the street, alongside of the sewer, and, being at about the same grade or higher, would not interfere with the sewer connections.
The Engineer reports that the cost of Stacey's brook will be about $20.000, or about $7.00 per running foot.
This report, coming at this time, in conjunction with the work about to be done by the Massachusetts Highway Commission, makes it necessary that the Town give the subject serious thought, as the street surfacing could not be excavated again for at least five years.
Although no recommendations were asked for, considering the amount of work to be done bv the State Highway Commissioners, and that the street cannot be molested for at least five years, we recommend that this drain be constructed the coming year by starting at Farragut road and continuing at least to Burrill street, and that the sum of $20,000 be appro- priated therefor.
We further recommend that a special act of the Legislature be obtained whereby the Town will have authority to levy an assessment upon the adjoining owners for their proportionate part of the cost thereof.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
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XI. Blaney Beach Wall.
In accordance with authority granted us at Town Meeting, we have had drawn the following agreement, which at present has been assented to by II of the 18 owners on the beach. The cost of this wall and back filling, as we have previously reported, will be about $6,550, or $6.67 per running foot.
With negotiations pending, we report progress and recommend that no action be taken until we have had opportunity to report results of our interviews with the balance of the adjoining owners.
The undersigned, being owners in fee simple of real estate situate on Orient street, in the Town of Swampscott, between said Orient street and Blaney beach, hereby agree to release, remise and forever quitclaim unto the Town of Swampscott any and all right which we have in or to that portion of Blaney beach lying between the location line so called (shown on a plan dated January, 1914 drawn by W. W. Pratt, C. E. for the Town of Swampscott) and the sea; provided nevertheless that the Town of Swampscott shall release, remise and forever quitclaim unto us respectively all its right, title and interest in or to that portion of said Blaney beach lying between our respective estates and said location line; that there shall be constructed along said location line a substantial retaining wall, but such wall shall be so constructed as not to obstruct the view from our several premises, that nothing shall be erected on said Beach south of said line which shall obstruct the view from our several premises; that that part of the Beach north of said retaining wall shall be filled to a substantial level of our respective estates at the time of the construction of said wall; that no special assessment or betterment tax shall be levied or asséssed against us or our property for the cost of any part of said work; that this agreement shall be void and of no effect unless said wall shall be constructed before January first, A. D. 1920.
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