USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1904-1906 > Part 14
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DETAIL EXPENDITURES .- For detail expenses in Street Watering, Street Lighting, Sidewalks, Board of Survey, etc., reference is made to the report of the Auditor.
WARREN W. RAWSON, GEORGE I. DOE, JAMES A. BAILEY, JR., PETER SCHWAMB, WILLIAM N. WINN, SAMUEL E. KIMBALL,
Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
REPORT OF THE TOWN COUNSEL.
ARLINGTON, MASS., Dec. 31, 1904.
To the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works :--
No suits against the Town have been brought the current year.
The action of the Town of Weston vs. Arlington for care of a smallpox patient has been settled, - amount paid $569.50.
Two actions are pending : -
Partridge vs. Arlington, for damages for altering grade of Claremont avenue.
Locke vs. Arlington, for damages for bicycle accident, Massa- chusetts avenue.
The Arlington Gas Light Company has been allowed, against the protest of the Town, to increase its capitalization by thirty thousand dollars.
The Town has been represented before legislative commit- tees in the matter of seven different bills relating to sewer and water supply matters in connection with the Metropolitan Dis- trict. It has also been represented in the gypsy moth matter.
The ordinary work relating to the transaction of the Town's business has been attended to. The amount of this work, like that of the different departments of the Town, is constantly in- creasing.
WM. H. H. TUTTLE,
Town Counsel.
REPORT OF THE TOWN ENGINEER.
ARLINGTON, Jan. 17, 1905.
To the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works : -
GENTLEMEN : - Herewith I respectfully present the fifth annual report of the Engineering Department for the year ending December 31, 1904.
In a general way the work of the Engineer's office consists in furnishing the several departments of the Town's service with such information, plans, designs, estimates and data of an engineering nature as they may require on work under their charge and in contemplation ; also keeping careful notes, measurements and locations of new work, additions, changes and extensions as they occur and properly recording same for future reference by maps, plans or profiles.
The Engineering Department office is called upon to furnish general information on nearly all subjects relating to municipal structures and systems, and it has been the aim to so arrange and compile all data (so far as available space will allow) that information may be readily and accurately given.
Only a small amount of special work has been in progress this year, consequently less assistants were required. The cost of the work is charged each week to the Department or Board, for which service has been rendered. The summary for the year is as follows : -
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS .- At the Annual Meeting in March the Town under authority of Chapter 3, of the Acts of 1904, established a Board of Public Works. The Board or-
240
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
ganized and took formal charge of the Highway, Sewer and Water Departments, March 12, 1904. The work reported under the Divisional headings is, however, for the entire year. Highway Division : For all the marking of lines and grades ; making plans, profiles, estimates, locations and records of work done and in con- templation by the Division, including Super- intendence on Storm Drain Construction, $314 87
Sewer Division : For all surveys, plans, profiles, lines, grades, records and Superintendence on Cleaning and Flushing of Sewers, 158 23 Superintendence and Inspection on Sewer Con- struction, 159 69
Superintendence and Inspection on Particular Sewer Construction, 187 48
Water Division : For all lines for new mains and locations and records of gates, hydrants, specials, service boxes and work on registra- tion data, 264 57
Superintendence on new mains - Summer street, Pine street and Kensington road, 113 04
Sidewalks : For all lines, grades and measurements of edgestone, concrete, brick and artificial stone walks, 38 56
Board of Survey : For all surveys, plans and pro- files of streets laid out by the Board including the setting of boundary stones, 67 16
Street Numbering : Locating buildings and assign- ing numbers in accordance with the Town By- Laws, 21 83
Plans : Copying plans and deeds from Registry of Deeds at East Cambridge, also revising Town Plans to secure more room for filing same, 98 19
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TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Setting Street Line Monuments,
$13 62
Cemetery Department : Plans, Superintendence,
lines and grades, etc., 112 74
Parmenter School Lot : Plans, Superintendence,
lines and grades for grading lot, 26 97
Robbins Library Grounds : Plans, lines and grades
for grading the lot, 7 44
Total,
$1,584 39
Descriptions of real estate for tax titles paid by Tax Collector, $23 19
Draughting materials, expressing, printing and supplies, 43 28
Repairs to Instruments,
5 90
Carfares, 6.46
HIGHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS. - The work on highways this year has been principally the repair and maintenance of the streets, consisting in resurfacing with gravel or macadam as the case required. No new streets were laid out or accepted.
A considerable amount of work was done in regrading and surfacing Claremont avenue from Florence avenue to Oakland avenue, and a portion of Park Circle on the southerly side of the Standpipe from Eastern avenue to Park avenue.
Edgestone was placed on both sides of Henderson street from Massachusetts avenue to Sawin street, and Cottage avenue, in accordance with the provisions of the Sidewalk Act. The street was substantially surfaced with macadam as were also portions of Pleasant street, Addison, Wellington and Winter streets.
Permanent sidewalks of artificial stone were laid on both Massachusetts avenue and Broadway between Cleveland and Marathon streets under contract with Mr. George H. Lowe of
1
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TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Arlington. The John P. Squire estate paid the difference be- tween one-half the cost of a tar concrete walk and the net cost of the artificial stone, - or $1.125 per square yard, - toward the cost of the work.
A brick sidewalk was laid on the northerly side of Massachu- setts avenue from Tufts street to the estate of John F. Allen, one-half the cost being assessed on the abutting estates.
General repairs and resurfacing of sidewalks unless paved with brick, tar concrete or artificial stone, are included in high- way expenditures.
The tracks of the Boston Elevated Railway Company on Massachusetts avenue between Mystic street and Linwood street were much worn and badly out of repair so that it was necessary to relay them before the winter season. After con- siderable discussion the Company was allowed to use a girder rail of the tee pattern, with granite block pavement supported by a foundation of concrete. The surface of the pavement was laid flush with the rails and spaces between the granite blocks filled with pebbles and coal tar. The blocks laid next the rails were notched out to allow passage for the car wheel flanges. The whole construction is a smooth, solid and continuous pave- ment and although a new form of construction in this vicinity, will, I believe, prove very satisfactory both to the public and the Company. Very little vibration is felt in driving across the pavement even in a light carriage and heavy teams are pre- vented from following the rails, thereby saving much delay in the operation of the cars.
Grates for the removal of the surface water have been placed in the railway tracks on Broadway at four different points where changes of grade occur, also on Mystic street at Mill Brook to prevent the unsightly and annoying collection of water during times of storm.
There are now 5.83 miles of storm drains in use in the Town
243
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
and new extensions should be added each year, as they are the first and most important factors in saving expense in the repair and maintenance of the streets.
There are many streets in Arlington on which steep grades of ten per cent. or over exist, and in such cases water bars or mounds should be made in the street surface, at suitable inter- vals, extending diagonally to the gutters to prevent serious washouts and consequent expense of repairs caused by severe rain storms. The sidewalks on such streets also should be pro- tected from injury, until such time as a permanent pavement can be provided, by paving narrow gutters across the walks at intervals to divert the surface water before serious damage can occur.
I beg to again refer to the need of making provision soon for paving Massachusetts avenue in the centre of the Town. If a portion could be done each year, in a short time the more con- gested sections would be completed and much expense now re- quired for maintenance might be saved.
The settlement of the separation of grade problem at the Boston & Maine Railroad crossing, Massachusetts avenue, must be adjusted before any permanent alteration in the street or development of private property in the immediate vicinity can be attempted. I respectfully bring the matter again to your attention to the end that some definite plan may be agreed upon to which future improvements can conform.
The question of needed repairs to River street Bridge, re- ferred to last year, will undoubtedly come up for adjustment this year in conjunction with the building of the Boulevard and Improvement of the Mystic River by the Metropolitan Park Commissioners.
Medford street Bridge has been painted and the masonry re- paired, the cost being shared with the City of Medford. All the other highway bridges are in good condition.
244
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
The practice was begun this year of making the travelways on streets, - not main thoroughfares, -of a somewhat less width than has been the custom heretofore, with a correspond- ing increase in width of the loam or grass strip areas. This method admits a saving in the cost of construction in surfacing the street and a saving in maintenance and repairs, especially on streets of steep grade, from the fact that after the grass becomes well rooted there is much less damage from washouts, and the decreased width in the travelway must necessarily re- duce the cost of maintenance.
I recommend this plan be continued and also the considera- tion of the use of bitulithic pavement on some streets where there is excessive wear.
SEWERS AND PARTICULAR SEWERS. - The contruction of sewers this year comprises a short extension to the Irving street sewer, to serve the new Parmenter School Building ; a new manhole at the end of the Belknap street sewer, to secure better facilities for flushing and maintenance purposes ; and a sewer in Sutherland road from Paul Revere road, to connect the two family house near the corner of Spring road.
This house stood in such a position on the lot, with reference to the street and surrounding land, that it was impossible to make the conditions sanitary except by a sewer connection.
Early in the season application for water pipe was received from the residents of Kensington road, which was granted by the Board after the applicants had made the necessary guar- : antees in accordance with the vote of the Town. The proposed construction would be almost entirely through ledge, and, as a sewer would soon become an absolute necessity on this street, it was decided to blast out one trench and include the sewer and also a storm drain pipe for the removal of the surface water in the work, thus making a large saving in the individual cost of each.
245
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
The character of the ledge was such that after the blasting and excavating required to lay the sewer pipe had been done, but little additional work would be necessary to widen out the trench to a sufficient width for the water and storm drain pipes. In accordance with this plan the Town, at a special meeting held May 26, 1904, voted $1,000 for the construction of the sewer portion of the work.
The steam drill and boiler belonging to the Highway Divi- sion were employed to good advantage in the excavation of the ledge which amounted to about 525 cubic yards. The labor was performed by the combined forces of the Sewer and Water Divisions.
The method adopted of uniting the laying of the three sys- tems of pipes at one time on new streets where ledge is to be encountered, has several advantages among which may be noted, - the saving of expense to the Town by excavating one trench instead of three, with the consequent additional saving of expense in replacing and maintaining the street surface when disturbed by the separate construction of the three systems at different periods ; also the residents of the vicinity are spared much inconvenience and annoyance by the reduction of the blasting required and consequent closing of the street to travel
It is probable that a demand will be made for the completion of the sewers in the Kensington Park District during 1905. There is very little drainage through the soil of this section, making the use of cesspools almost prohibitive. The number of new houses is increasing and I would recommend that pro- visions be made at the Annual Town Meeting for this purpose.
The work on Particular Sewer Construction has been done by the same method as formerly. There have been 44 con- nections made with the sewers at a cost of $1,418.88. This is the least number of connections made in any one year since the beginning of the Sewerage System and is due undoubtedly to
246
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT ..
the comparatively small amount of building operations in the Town during the year. The sewers have been cleaned, regu- larly flushed and examined and are in good condition.
WATER DIVISION. -- Lines and grades were given for new mains on Summer and Pine streets and Kensington road ; superintendence was also furnished on ledge excavation for a portion of the work.
All the changes and extensions of the system, service boxes, etc., were locatad and incorporated in the records of the Depart- ment. Old cement mains were abandoned and replaced with wrought iron pipe on Winter street, and Lake street from Pleasant street to Cross street.
Alterations were made in March at the Water Works stable to accomodate the horses and teams of the Sewer Division which were transferred from the Court street stable. This change, and the consolidation of men employed, has proved of advantage to both Divisions and a saving of expense to the Town. Reference to the tables published in the Board of Pub- lic Works report will give details of work and expenditures on the Highway, Sewer and Water Divisions.
BOARD OF SURVEY. - Hearings were given and a grade established on Gray street from near Lincoln street to Robbins road. The lines of the street were established by the Board June 16, 1900, but the grade was not determined at that time.
As this street will probably become a part of the connection with the proposed Lexington Boulevard, and therefore a thoroughfare for travel to and from Lexington and beyond, it was deemed advisable to establish the grade to which future improvements shall conform before the adjoining property becomes developed, and thus secure the most advantageous grade for the street without serious expense for land damages.
The part of Gray street from Robbins road to Oakland avenue as laid out by the Board in 1900, connected with Oak- land avenue at an angle that might prove positively dangerous
247
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
to travel, turning towards Park avenue, because of the steep grade of Oakland avenue at this point.
To avoid accident and at the same time make a less per- centage of rise in the grade, hearings were given and a new plan was adopted by locating a long easy curve which brings the connection with Oakland avenue at the summit of the grade on that street about two hundred feet south of the original location.
The Board also gave hearings and established a grade on Henderson street from Massachusetts avenue to Cross street, so that the Highway Division could proceed with the setting of the edgestone and resurfacing of the street.
Granite boundary stones defining the lines of Gray and Summer' streets, as established by the Board of Survey, were- set this year, which completes this work on streets approved by the Board.
CEMETERIES .- The new receiving tomb, at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, begun in 1903, has been completed this year. Great care was taken in the construction to secure a solid and permanent structure. The cost is within the original estimate. Reference to the Board of Trustees' report will show details of construction.
Grades and Superintendence on this work, beside staking out lots and work on plans has constituted the service rendered by this Department.
ROBBINS LIBRARY AND PARMENTER SCHOOL GROUNDS .- Grades, lines and plans for grading at the Robbins Library lot and Parmenter School lot were furnished as well as much mis- cellaneous service to various departments and officials.
SYMNES HOSPITAL .- Plans, specifications and forms of con- tract were prepared for building a travelway from Summer street to the site of the proposed hospital buildings. The Trustees advertised for proposals to do the work by contract. Five bids were received but the Board decided to take them
248
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
under advisement and as yet have reached no final decision in the matter.
ASSESSORS' PLANS .- I wish to again refer to the need of beginning a set of Assessors' Plans, showing street frontages and areas of all real estate in the Town. Such plans would be of inestimable value in the accurate and equitable assessment of property, as well as to all Departments of the Town service.
If a moderate expenditure were made for this work each year the plans could be systematically completed in a short time.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION .- The Massachusetts Legislature by Chapter 327, of the Acts of 1903, authorized the Cities of Cam- bridge and Somerville and the Towns of Arlington and Belmont to improve the surface drainage conditions of Alewife Brook, - its tributaries and the adjacent lands.
This Act was supplemented by Chapter 445, Acts of 1904, authorizing the construction of a dam across the Mystic River at Craddock Bridge, Medford, and a report to be made by the State Board of Health on the purification of Mystic River, Alewife Brook and adjacent water courses and drainage areas.
In accordance with the foregoing the Metropolitan Paik Commissioners have employed the eminent Engineer, Mr. John R. Freeman, to prepare a report on these matters, which has just been published.
Mr. Freeman estimates the proposed improvements in Alewife Brook at $36,000. By the Act of 1903 Arlington would have to pay twenty-two per cent. of this amount, or $7,920.
It would seem especially desirable that immediate attention be now given this matter, to the end, that a definite plan for proceeding with the improvements may be formulated.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT W. POND,
Town Engineer.
249
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Arlington is situated six miles northwest of Boston in latitude 42 deg., 25 min., N., longitude 71 deg., 09 min., W., at an ele- vation above mean tide of from 4 to 377 feet.
Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street, elevation,
feet 48
Massachusetts Avenue at Park Avenue, elevation,
feet 155
Park Circle at Eastern Avenue (base of Standpipe),
elevation, feet 377
Crescent Hill Avenue at Park Place, elevation, feet 281
The Town and a part of what is now Belmont was set off from Cambridge and incorporated as West Cambridge in 1807. The name was changed from West Cambridge to Arlington in 1867.
Population, estimated . 9,700
Number of polls . 2,547
Number of voters : Men, 1,758, women, 119; total 1,877
School enrollment : Public, 1,681, parochial, 160 ; total 1,841
Area of Town, including that covered by water, 3,520 acres, or, square miles
Area covered by water, acres 237
Total park areas, acres 47.88 .
Total cemetery areas, acres . 41.2
Area taxed, tax rate, $18.70, acres 2,697
Valuation, real estate . $8,888,320
Valuation, personal property . · . $1,002,905 .
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TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Public streets and Town ways: Macadam, 10.5
miles, gravel, 21.7 miles, granite paving, 1-10 mile ; total miles . 32.3
Private streets open to travel, miles .
9.3
Permanent sidewalks : Concrete, 5.9 miles, brick, .4 miles, artificial stone, .26 miles ; total miles 6.56
Edgestone, miles 7.33
Paved gutters, miles .
6.1
Storm drain system, miles ·
6.1
Catch basins 180
Sewerage system, 22.75 miles, local Metropolitan sewer system, 3.47 miles ; total miles 26.22
Particular sewer system (863 connections), miles 10.36
Number of buildings connected (51 per cent. ) 891
Water mains : Low system, 17.72 miles, high sys- tem, 17.76 miles ; total miles .
35.48
Cement lined pipe in use, miles
·
7.2.
Cast iron pipe in use, miles . .
28.28
Fire hydrants 357 ·
Fire pressure at Massachusetts Avenue and Pleas- ant Street : Low system, 50 lbs., high system, 90 lbs.
Fire alarm boxes 35
Gas mains, miles 7.5 .
Street lights : Arc 80, incandescent 218; total 298
Telephone and telegraph conduits, miles 4.52 ·
Steam railroads : Double track, 3.59 miles, single track, .24 mile ; total miles trackage 7.42
Electric railways ( double track counted twice ) , miles 11.74
Houses, 1,567, other buildings, 775; total 2,342
Schoolhouses, 6 ; churches, 8 ; post offices, 2 ; police station, 1; railroad stations, 3; hose houses, 3; chemical engine, 1; hose wagons, 4; ladder truck, 1.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES AND SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARMS.
ARLINGTON, MASS., December 31, 1904.
To the Honorable Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works: -
GENTLEMEN : - I herewith respectfully submit the fifth an- nual report of the Inspector of Wires and Superintendent of Fire Alarms for the year ending December 31, 1904.
POLES AND WIRES. - During the past year rapid progress has been made in the replacement of old poles and wires. This class of reconstruction is constantly being required by this de- partment, and with what has been accomplished in this line in the past five (5) years should bring the work up to a high standard throughout the Town before long.
Careful consideration is given as to the location of new poles, also to the kind of poles to be used both from the standpoint of structural strength and symmetry. The use of square hard pine poles as used heretofore on several of our streets has been dis- continued, it having been proved that this is an unsafe class of timber to use owing to the rapid decay of the wood at the street surface.
Round chestnut poles are now required for all new work, this class of timber being very durable and possessing the necessary strength for safely supporting the wires and pole fixtures.
Forty-five (45) permits were granted for the setting of twenty-nine (29) poles in new locations as granted by the Joint
252
INSPECTOR OF WIRES AND SUPT. OF FIRE ALARMS.
Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, for the replace- ment of eighty-nine (89) old poles and the removal of eight (8) poles from the highways.
No progress has been made during the past year in the instal- lation of high potential wires along the highways as desired by the Edison Electric Illuminating Co., of Boston, for the con- nection of their Power Station at Woburn, Mass., with the South Boston Station as spoken of in my report for the year 1903. The locations petitioned for by this Company not being granted by the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works, no locations should be granted until a thorough under- standing is reached in this matter as to what is the best route for these wires to follow and that the Edison Company agrees to the requirements of the Town at that time and in the future in respect to these wires.
STREET LIGHTS. - The Town having voted ten thousand ($10,000) dollars for Street Lighting for the ensuing year, which was two thousand one hundred and twenty-five ($2,125) dollars less than the year 1903, it became necessary that a re- adjustment would have to be made in the Street Light to keep within the appropriation.
Acting under the vote of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works passed May 28th, that the Edison Elec- tric Illuminating Co. be notified to discontinue the use of twenty-five (25) arc lights and to add one or more incandescent lights, not exceeding twenty-five (25), at points to be desig- nated by the Inspector of Wires, a careful survey was made of the street lighting system to determine which lights could best be changed or discontinued altogether, without serious detri- ment to the service.
Twenty-three (23) arc lights were discontinued and replaced by twenty-three (23) incandescents. Two (2) arc lights were discontinued altogether. The Town is now lighted by eighty
253
INSPECTOR OF WIRES AND SUPT. OF FIRE ALARMS.
(80) arc lights, twenty-five (25) less than last year, and two hundred and eighteen (218) incandescents, twenty-three (23) more than in use in 1903. The saving in cost of lighting under this system being one thousand two hundred and ninety-seven ($1,297) dollars per annum.
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