USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1884-1888 > Part 13
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$47 98
61 87
Received for wood sold at meadows, Received of F. Alderman for pas- turing at meadows, 100 00
$18 00
118 00
Received of town, appropriation for interest on water scrip,
10,000 00
Amount carried forward, $20,472 60
112
WATER WORKS .- TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward,
$20,472 60
Received of town, appropriations as follows, viz :
Jason Street Pipe,
$600 00
Main Pipe,
800 00
Gray Street Pipe,
172 75
-
1,572 75
Received of town, amount loaned
Feb. 25, 1885, $1,000 00
Borrowed, Dec. 31, 1885, of the town,
on demand, 600 00
1,600 00
$23,645 35
EXPENDITURES.
Running Expenses.
Paid Highway Department, labor on repairs, and putting in ser-
vice boxes, January to April, $270 88
2 loads gravel, 1 50
repairing concrete, 23 00
$295 38
Geo. W. Austin, services as Superintendent for three months,
25 00
also, for brush chisels,
3 00
Amount carried forward,
$323 38
WATER WORKS. - TREASURER'S REPORT. 113
Amount brought forward, $323 38
Paid Sylvester Stickney, for labor of self and men, repairing leaks in pipes and hydrants, and other work for water works, and supplies, 777 31
Sylvester Stickney, salary as Supt. for nine months, 187 50
R. W. Shattuck, for labor and stock, 36 32
Medford Water Board, labor
and repairs, $11 45
42 ft. 4-inch cement-
lined pipe, 12 60
24 05
Braman, Dow & Co., for pipe and fittings, 69 18
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co.,
for service and gate boxes, 145 28
Summers & Hunt, for three way corporations, etc., 29 25
Sumner & Goodwin, for fit- tings, 84 43
Scrannage Bros. & Cook,
screws for service boxes, 22 77
Dalton & Ingersoll, for fit- tings, 66 05
Conant Rubber Co., rubber gauntlets, 3 25
The Coffin Valve Co., repairs on hydrant, 17 31
Amount carried forward,
$1,786 08
8
114
WATER WORKS. - TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward, $1,786 08
Paid Boston Machine Mfg. Co., rubber valves and gaskets, 18 00
City of Somerville, for clamps, 10 98
Warren A. Peirce, for cement and labor, 21 00
D. Richards, for 6 casks of cement, 9 55
Farrar, Simpson & Co., for solder and galv. iron, 13 90
Waldo Bros., one bbl. cement, 3 15
W. T. Wood & Co., for tools, 9 60
Chas. Gott, sharpening and repairing tools,
30 90
W. L. Clark & Co., enamel cloth, 2 65
Thos. Higgins, for tools and sharpening, 14 95
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co., for five hydrants, gates, etc., 155 19
Boston & Lowell Railroad
Co., freight on hydrants, 2 60
Sundry men, for labor, 56 87
Town of Lexington, tax for 1885, 9 58
D. F. Jones & Co., printing, 7 00
C. S. Parker, printing and advertising, 14 75
A. Needham, expressing, 12 80
E. J. Sweeney, expressing, 50
Amount carried forward, $2,180 05
115
WATER WORKS. - TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward, $2,180 05
Paid Hardy, Elder & Proctor, legal services in Kenison case, etc. 20 00
$2,200 05
Deduct, amount transferred to account " Service Pipes," $516 60
amount transferred to account "Stock Materials," 108 36
624 96
-- - $1,575 09
Service Pipes.
Amount of cost of 42 street services, laid in 1885, at $12.30 aver- age. for each, 516 60
Stock Materials.
Amount of tools and materials added to this account in 1885,
108 36
Pipe on Gray Street.
Paid Estate of Geo. H. Gray, cost of pipe laid in said street,
172 75
Jason Street Pipe.
Paid Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., for 4-inch iron pipe, $264 73
Amounts carried forward, $264 73
$2,372 80
116
WATER WORKS. - TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward, $264 73 $2,372 80
Paid Sylvester Stickney, for labor and stock used, 87 23
sundry men, for labor, excavat- ing trench, 199 07
Matthew Rowe, 2d., contract
for rock excavation, 125 00
Highway Department, for haul- ing gravel for filling, 8 75
T. H. King, sharpening tools, 1 80
Charles Gott, sharpening tools, 12 35
W. A. Peirce, for teaming, 20 00
718 93
Main Pipe.
Paid Sylvester Stickney, labor, etc., laying pipe in Arlington Av- enue, in front of "Arlington House," $101 23
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., for pipe for Ar- lington avenue, 274 71
W. A. Peirce, teaming Arlington avenue pipe, 8 00
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co., gate for Arling- ton avenue pipe, 49 20
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., for pipe for Chestnut street, $121 44
$433 14
Amounts carried forward, $121 44
$433 14
$3,091 73
117
WATER WORKS .- TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward, $121 44 $433 14 $3,091 73
Paid Sylvester Stickney, la- bor,etc., laying pipe in Chestnut street, 80 63 Chapman Valve Mfg. Co., gate for Chest- nut street pipe, 11 40
W. A. Peirce, 48 ft. 4-inch pipe, and teaming, 21 75
235 22
$668 36
Paid Sylvester Stickney, labor, etc., laying pipe in Mt. Vernon street, $79 53
Highway Department,
labor, excavating trench, Mt. Vernon street, 42 00
Gravel for Mt. Vernon street, 4 00
Sumner & Goodwin, for fittings for Mt. Ver- non street, 9 00
Braman, Dow & Co.,
404 ft. of 12-inch pipe and fittings, for Mt. Vernon street, 36 09
$170 62
1
Amounts carried forward, $170 62
$668 36
$3,091 73
118
WATER WORKS .- TREASURER'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward, $170 62 $668 36 $3,091 73
Less, amount received of H. C. Paul, on account of Mt. Vernon street pipe, 20 00
150 62
818 98
Interest on Water Scrip.
Paid 1 year's interest on $220,000, at 6 per cent., $13,200 00 1 year's interest on $80,000, at 5 per cent., 4,000 00
17,200 00
Paid the town, amount borrowed, Dec. 31,1884, 1,400 00
Amount loaned to town, Feb. 25, 1885, 1,000 00
Balance of cash on hand, Dec. 31, 1885, 134 64
$23,645 35
119
WATER WORKS. - TREASURER'S REPORT.
Trial Balance, Water Works Books, Dec. 31, 1885.
Dr. Cr.
Town of Arlington,
$306,535 23
Construction,
Cash,
$310,599 74 134 64 182,235 93
Loans,
600 00
Town appropriation for interest,
79,500 00
Water Rates, 1873,
8,035 83
1874,
7,913 66
1875,
7,600 52
1876,
8,463 59
66
1877,
8,947 58
1878,
8,857 89
1879,
9,415 60
1880,
9,590 22
66
1881,
9,568 78
66
1882,
10,291 76
66
1883,
10,361 49
66
1884,
9,832 09
1885,
10,187 30
Service Pipes,
1,173 00
Jason Street Pipe,
118 93
Main Pipe,
18 98
Filter,
12 89
Stock Materials,
481 24
Sundry Receipts,
7,779 51
Running Expenses,
18,731 48
$513,493 94
$513,493 94
B. DELMONT LOCKE, Treasurer.
ARLINGTON, Dec. 31, 1885.
Interest,
120
RULES OF WATER WORKS.
Extracts from Rules of Water Works.
SECT. 15. The following rates shall be charged annually for the use of water, namely :
DWELLING HOUSES.
Occupied by one family, for the first faucet, $6 00 For each additional faucet, to be used by the same family, 2 00
Where a house is occupied by more than one family, one faucet only being used for all, for each family, 4 00
Where a house is occupied by more than one family, the highest rates will be charged for each family having the water carried into their part of the house.
For the first bath-tub, . 5 00
For each additional bath-tub, 3 00
For the first water-closet, 5 00
For each additional water-closet,
3 00
For hopper water-closets,
8 00
Where bath-tubs or water-closets are used by more than one family, for each family,
4 00
.
Where two faucets are used, one for hot and one for cold water, and both emptying into one basin, but one charge will be made for both. Provided, that in no case shall the charge for the use of water by a private family, ex- clusive of hose and stable, be more than 25 00
BOARDING HOUSES.
For the first faucet, 10 00
RULES OF WATER WORKS. 121
Each additional faucet, $2 00 Water-closet or bath-tub, when used by board-
ers, 10 00
Each additional bath-tub or water-closet, 3 00
STORES, OCCUPIED AS OFFICE, SHOP, OR SIMILAR PURPOSE.
First faucet, $6 to $20 00
For each additional faucet, 2 50 1
For water-closet or urinal, 6 00
MARKETS, SALOONS, RESTAURANTS, WORKSHOPS.
For markets, saloons, restaurants, workshops, or for purposes not included in any other classification, and not requiring more than an ordinary supply of water, $6 to $25 00
HOTELS.
For each bed for boarders and lodgers, 3 00
For each bath-tub in a hotel, 10 00
For each water-closet in a hotel,
10 00
PUBLIC BATHS.
For one tub in public bath-house, 10 00
For each additional bath-tub, 5 00
For one water-closet in public bath-house,
10 00
For each additional water-closet,
3 00
STABLES.
Private Stables. For the first horse, 5 00
66
For each additional horse, 3 00
122
RULES OF WATER WORKS.
Private Stables. For one cow, $2 00
66 For each additional cow, 1 00
Livery, Club and Boarding Stables. For each horse, 3 00
Car and Omnibus Stables. For each horse,
2 00
Truck and Cart Stables. For each horse,
2 00
Provided, that in no case shall any stable be charged less than 5 00
The rates for stables include water for washing carriages without hose ; when hose is used, $3.00 additional.
HOSE.
For hose of not over three-eighths inch orifice, used for washing windows, sprinkling streets, and watering gardens (and the use of the same shall be limited to two hours per day ), not less than $3 00
STEAM BOILERS.
For each boiler in use not over twelve hours a day, for each horse-power, 6 00
BUILDING PURPOSES.
For each cask of lime or cement, 6 cents
ORNAMENTAL FOUNTAINS.
Ordinarily used three hours a day for a period of not more than 4 months a year :
123
RULES OF WATER WORKS.
For a jet of 1-16 of an inch, $3 00
... . 1-8 5 00
‹‹ 1-4 8 00
To be cut off at discretion of the Superintendent.
SECT. 16. When water is required for purposes which are not specified in the foregoing tariff, the rates shall be fixed by the Board of Water Commissioners, and the rates fixed in the foregoing tariff may be varied by the Water Commissioners, whenever in particular cases in their judg- ment the interests of the town shall require.
124
AUDITORS' REPORT.
AUDITORS' REPORT.
The undersigned hereby certify that they have audited the books and accounts of B. DELMONT LOCKE, as Treasurer and Collector of the Town of Arlington, also as Treasurer for the Arlington Water Works, for the year 1885, and find the same correct, with vouchers for all payments, and the balances of cash as stated by him.
DAVID P. GREEN, Auditors. A. WILLARD DAMON, S
ARLINGTON, Jan. 21, 1886.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE ARLINGTON FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
To the Board of Selectmen of Arlington :
GENTLEMEN- I herewith submit my Annual Report of the Fire Department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1885 :
FIRES.
The department has been called out for fires but three times during the year, and the loss of property from the above fires aggregates less than three hundred dollars, which is a very pleasing showing, while adjoining cities and towns have suffered severe losses. But we must not lose sight of the importance of being fully prepared and equipped for large conflagrations, to which we are alike subject with other towns.
The hose of the department is in good condition, and none has been purchased this year. If apparatus should be placed at the lower part of the town, hose would have to be pur- chased for that station.
126
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER.
INCREASED FACILITIES.
I would call your attention to the fact, that the horse now used by the Wm. Penn Hose Co. is liable at any time to become unfit for service, and that the Hook and Ladder Co. is also without a horse, and depending upon Mr. Needham for one for their use, which is hired of him for five dollars a fire, he assuming all liability from damage to the horse, with no guarantee to have one at hand for all calls. As we are now situated this branch of the department is very uncertain, and subject to failures in responding promptly to alarms of fire. At the same time we do not feel justified in recom- mending the purchase of a horse and assuming his mainten- ance, with no prospect of its being able to earn more than sixty or seventy dollars a year in labor, as is the case of the one now belonging to the department.
The buildings are in the same condition as represented in my report of last year, and there have been no expenditures of money, either on buildings or apparatus this year, and there have been no extra expenses to meet. In this respect it has been an exceptional year, and we cannot reasonably expect a repetition of the same in the year to follow.
I would recommend an appropriation of $2500 to meet the expenses of the department for the ensuing year.
In conclusion, I desire to express my thanks to your Hon- orable Board, and my assistants, for yours and their generous support, and to the members of the department for their promptness in responding to all calls.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES GOTT,
Chief Engineer.
REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The business of the Public Library, since it became com- fortably established in its new quarters, has gone on so pleasantly and harmoniously, that a report of it for the past year might almost be summed up in two words-uniform prosperity. In light, space, and agreeable surroundings, the present situation is all that could be desired ; while, con- trary to the usual experience in such cases, the necessary additional expense has been less than was anticipated. By sub-letting ante-rooms, we have now reduced our nominal rent of $400 to an actual expenditure by the town of $270 ; and the introduction of a stove, as a substitute for the fur- nace, in the fall and spring months, has reduced the ex- penses of fuel and janitorship, while adding greatly to the comfort and cheer of the Library and Reading Room.
The Reading Room has proved a pleasant place of resort for young people, and many older persons make use of it, especially in the afternoon. Its advantages need only to become more generally known, to make it still more popu-
128
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
lar, and greatly to increase the list of evening visitors. Be- sides the Boston and New York dailies, there are always to be seen on its tables the latest magazines-Harper's, The Century, Nineteenth Century, North American Review, Atlantic, Popular Science, St. Nicholas, etc. ; the current weeklies-Harper's, the Nation, the London Illustrated News, and, among others, the Scientific American, from the pages of which, with their profuse illustrations, any person in- terested in practical improvements and mechanical arts, can always derive an hour's instruction and entertainment. The Congressional Record is now sent to us regularly, and though it cannot be recommended as very light reading, it will be found useful to those who care for the details of Congres- sional proceedings. Then there are the books of reference, and indeed a whole library, close at hand. Visits are cor- dially invited from those who are not already frequenters of these pleasant rooms.
J. T. TROWBRIDGE,
ARLINGTON, Jan., 1886.
For the Trustees.
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 129
LIBRARIAN'S STATEMENT,
Number of volumes in the Library, July, 1885 9,298
66 " publications taken, weekly and monthly . 17
66 " daily papers
4
" books added in 1885 348
66 " books loaned ·
25,971
" magazines loaned 536
Largest number of books and magazines delivered in one day . 239
Number not returned to the Library, from July, 1884, to July, 1885 0
Registration of book-borrowers during the year ·
251
Whole number of registered book-borrowers . 2,591 .
Fines paid to the Town Treasurer in 1885 . $78 50
LIZZIE J. NEWTON,
Librarian.
ARLINGTON, Dec. 31, 1885.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
The School Committee herewith respectfully submit their Annual Report :
Believing that our Town Treasurer's report contains, under the heading of "Schools," much and valuable information for tax-payers generally and for all persons who have at heart the prosperity and welfare of our public schools, we respect- fully suggest to such interested parties a careful perusal of the treasurer's figures as the best means of understanding clearly in all its details the exact manner in which we have expended our appropriation, and, moreover, because these figures clearly prove at least two things, viz. : that the appro- priation for 1885 has been looked after in a careful and business like manner, there being the unusually large unexpended bal- ance of more than $1200 ; and secondly, that a very large an- nual appropriation will always be required, varying of course from time to time as special expenditures become necessary.
In what follows we propose to refer in a general way, and as briefly as possible, to the work accomplished during the year 1885, and to the present condition of our schools, with possibly some reference to matters pertaining to the future.
A mere glance at the recommendations of previous reports,
131
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
and the appropriations asked for and made, would lead to the inference that our school property should now be in a good state of repair. The prudential committee report this to be the case, and add that our school grounds and build- ings taken as a whole are now in a condition of neatness and good repair which will compare most favorably with that of very many past years. Few repairs or improvements have been made and there are few to recommend.
At the time of writing the last report, the new heating apparatus in the High School building was far from being saisfactory ; it did not heat the rooms according to contract, and consequently the contract had not been accepted and paid. The contractors soon took the necessary steps how- ever, and made such changes and additions as were necessary, so that finally the building was fairly well heated, and the committee were satisfied and accepted the work. Early during the past fall, extra radiators were placed in the back entries as recommended.
But it was not thought to be practicable, at least for the present, to add radiators in the front entries as was also recommended, or rather suggested. The cold weather of the present winter has put the apparatus to a severe test, and we are far from being satisfied that its heating capacity warrants such a trial. For even with the aid of double win- dows, the furnace being carefully and properly watched day and night, on some of our coldest mornings, only the main room has been warm enough to be safely occupied by teachers and pupils at the opening of school session.
The main school-room at the High School has always re- quired more attention as regards ventilation than any other in the building, and, in fact, than any other in all our school buildings. And since the introduction of the heating ap- paratus referred to, and the large increase in number of pupils, the question of ventilation has become quite an im-
132
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
portant one. New and large ventilators of the most ap- proved pattern were introduced with the steam heat, but the complete failure of these leaves the question still in the hands of the sanitary committee, who are giving it proper atten- tion but hesitate to recommend changes involving much ex- pense, particularly when noting the large number of pupils already in attendance and the prospect of much larger classes n the near future.
We are glad to report that no similar difficulties in heat- ing or ventilating have been met with in any of our build- ings.
The blackboards in all the buildings were found to need repairing and recoating. This was thoroughly done, during the summer vacation, on a large scale and it may seem at considerable expense. But teachers and school officers gen- erally will agree with us that blackboards are a very impor- tant aid to instruction in most of the branches taught, espe- cially in the primary and grammar grades.
The purchase of twenty new desks and seats for the High School became necessary during the summer, to provide ac- commodations for the seventy pupils, who, we found, ex- pected to attend the school in September. Heretofore our maximum number had been not far from sixty, while we had not provided proper accommodations for more than fifty, this being above the average number of pupils in attendance. The twenty desks of a new and improved pattern were placed in the main room, and twenty old desks and seats were transferred to the first assistant's room, who now has twenty pupils under her immediate supervision, in addition to the class in recitation.
In the Crosby School, Miss Scanlan's room became so crowded toward the close of the year, that the addition of six desks and seats became necessary ; but we were able to transfer this number from other buildings.
/
133
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
In the Cutter School, all the rooms were thoroughly cleaned, painted and varnished.
Other changes and repairs in the buildings, generally, were simply such as the wear and tear of common usage will always render necessary.
Last year we reported the digging of a new well on the grounds of the Locke School, in reponse to many and re- peated requests of parents, whose children attend that school, for a supply of pure and cool water during the warmer months, all admitting that the cistern in the basement gave a good supply of filtered water of the best quality to be ob- tained, but suitable only for the cooler months.
The report adds that the well had been provided with a pump, and supplied abundant and wholesome water.
Before the end of a single year, the purchase of a new pump became necessary, abuse having placed the first be- yond the reach of repair. The water obtained really ap- peared so abundant and wholesome, that we put the whole matter aside as a piece of work most satisfactorily done. Imagine then our surprise and regret to find early during the present fall that the water from this well appeared to be far from wholesome, since it had a most disagreeable odor which seemed to forbid its use by school children, lest trou- ble result and sickness on a large scale appear in the school and be attributed only to this water. After careful search and thorough cleaning of the well had shown the source of suspected contamination to be beyond our reach, we adopted what seemed the only safe course and disabled the pump, so that scholars must now content themselves with cistern water, unless the committee see fit to supply as heretofore during the warmer months, a small water tank and ice.
Before closing our report in regard to prudential affairs, it seems proper to allude to the only matters which seem likely to require in the near future more than the ordinary
134
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
expenditure of money. It is hardly necessary to refer again to the High School ; its claims have been touched upon in many reports of late, and its present crowded condition has been mentioned already.
The spare room in the Locke School will soon be re- quired for actual service, when an appropriation for desks and seats will be the chief expense.
A similar expense must soon be incurred in fitting the twelfth room in the Russell School for occupancy ; - this. being the only vacant room. Blackboards must also be sup- plied here. For more than a year two teachers have had charge together of the scholars in the third primary grade, and now, when between eighty and ninety small children crowd into one room, the division into two classes cannot well be delayed much longer. Moreover, in other grades in this school the numbers are increasing in nearly a like proportion, so that the division into two classes of some other grade may soon be necessary, when the wisdom of retaining the Adams school-house and keeping it at the disposal of the committee must be apparent to all.
The lower section of the town, however, is the one which seems to be growing most rapidly at the present time ; at least so many new scholars are presenting themselves at the Crosby School, as to show us that prompt action may be required at no distant day. At present the capacity of the two rooms in this school is taxed to its utmost, -- for exam- ple, in Miss Scanlan's room, where there were fifty-five desks and seats, sixty-five scholars had to be accommodated. It seems none too soon for the town to provide for the in- evitable, by erecting at once, on the old grounds, a substan- tial school building, with at least four large rooms.
On the whole, the work accomplished in the school- rooms in all the buildings and in all grades seems to com- pare favorably with the work done in former years ; while
135
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
the interest taken by teachers, and by pupils as well, has advanced rather than lowered our standard. In some branches the most marked improvement has been clearly seen. For example, after criticising, unfavorably, in the annual report three years ago, the work accomplished in arithmetic in the grammar schools, it is only just and proper to say that the results obtained at the annual exam- inations last June, convinced us that arithmetic is now well taught in both grammar schools. Credit for this should be given mainly to the grammar masters.
No better proof could be given that we were fully satisfied with last year's work than the fact that at the annual elec- tion of teachers in June, the sub-committees without excep- tion were prepared to recommend for re-election all the teachers under their supervision. And thus the entire corps of teachers as given in the last report was re-elected, with the exception only of Miss Cora B. Ambrose, in charge of the third and fourth classes of the Cutter Grammar School. Her resignation alone stood in the way of re-election. She withdrew after two years of efficient service, the vacancy being filled by the choice of Miss Jennie Chaplin, of George- town, Mass., a teacher bringing training and experience to her position. Changes in our corps of teachers are detri- mental to the best interests of our schools as a rule, and your committee congratulated themselves that they could begin the new school year in September, with so few changes. It seemed to insure another year of school work even more successful than the last, and thus far our anticipations are being realized.
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