USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1904-1906 > Part 46
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Seventy-five particular sewer connections have been made dur- ing the year at a cost of $2,357.09, an average of 58 cents per lineal foot.
The total number of buildings connected with the sewers is now 943, or 70 per cent. of those on the lines of the sewers.
189
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
The customary flushing and cleaning, where necessary, has been maintained on the entire system.
Board of Survey .- Three plans have been examined, on which hearings for approval of location and grade were held by the Board; also surveys and plans were made for locations of new streets between Highland Ave. and Mt. Vernon St., and the ex- tension of Wellington St. to Addison St.
No new streets were accepted by the Town during 1905.
Town House Site .- Plans showing proposed grades for the preliminary grading of the lot have been prepared. The work can probably be completed with the unexpended balance and a small addition.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBT. W. POND, Town Engineer.
1
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
ARLINGTON, MASS., Jan. 15, 1906.
To the Honorable Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works: -
GENTLEMEN : - I respectfully submit my Sixth Annual Report as Inspector of Wires and Superintendent of Fire Alarms for the year ending Dec. 31, 1905.
Inspection of Wires in Buildings .- During the year ending Dec. 31, 1905, one hundred and twenty-three (123) notices were received by this department for the installation in buildings of wiring for 1,424 sixteen candle power incandescent lights; two (2) arc lights and seven (7) power motors.
During the period covered by this report one hundred and sixty-seven (167) permits were issued by this department to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, of Boston, to supply cur- rent to an equivalent of twenty-three hundred and sixty-six (2366) sixteen (16) candle power incandescent lights, two (2) arc lights, with energy of 900 watts and seven (7) motors with a total of 6,833 horse power.
Two hundred and forty-eight (248) inspections have been made covering the installation of new wiring, old installations, fixtures and meters in the following class of buildings, etc.
68 Single Houses,
1 Sanitorium,
11 Apartment Houses,
5 Farm Buildings,
10 Stables,
1 Hotel,
30 Double Houses,
1 Paint Shop,
7 Factories,
4 Halls,
1 R. R. Station,
3 Churches,
2 Blacksmiths' Shops,
3 Schools,
1 Water Works Shop,
1 Club House,
1 Bakery,
1 Fire Station,
2 Club Rooms,
Stores,
3 Banks,
1 Restaurant,
1 Boiler House,
4 Automobile Houses,
1 Boat House.
Total Buildings, etc., visited 174.
The wiring and installation of fixtures, also other electrical appliances in buildings has been given careful consideration from an inspection standpoint during the past year. More trouble has been experienced this year than any in the past in compelling
4 Offices,
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INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
changes to be made in work which was not done in accordance with the underwriters' requirements and no work was passed that did not in every respect conform to the "National Electrical Code." The reinspection of old installations has been continued and many changes have been made on this class of construction in buildings such as installing service switches, approved cut-outs and lamp sockets. It is the aim of this department that all build- ings in which the old pattern of open link cut-outs exist shall be equipped with the Edison Plug Type or enclosed cartridge fuse cut-outs. Also it is required that all lights in basements, cellars and where exposed to dampness shall be equipped with porcelain sockets and switches.
The importance of periodical reinspection of all inside wiring and electrical appliances can hardly be overestimated, as the ex- perience of each succeeding year discovers new conditions which materially affect the formal standards of construction. The use of electricity for lighting and furnishing motive power is com- paratively recent and while under proper conditions and with standard fittings an electrical installation carries far less risk than any other method of lighting, it must be remembered that an electrical outfit once installed is at the mercy of an uninformed owner or irresponsible employee. It often happens, therefore, that an effort to save a few dollars will result in an addition or extension of the service, put in by amateur electricians so install- ed as to endanger the safety of the entire premises. The amount of time and labor to keep proper watch over old installations in- creases, therefore, in equal ratio with the growth of the town.
Grounding Low Potential Circuits .- Early in the past year it was decided by the Edison Electrical Illuminating Company, of Boston, to cause the grounding of all low potential circuits on their system where supplied from transformers. The question of the best methods of doing this work was thoroughly considered by the New England Insurance Exchange, the Boston Wire De- partment and The Massachusetts Electrical Inspectors' Associa- tion. The object of causing the grounding of service wires for lighting and power is for the purpose of preventing accidents to persons using electrical appliances in case of a cross between the high and low potential systems which might cause death or serious injury as has happened in several places in the past. The work of grounding all low potential circuits in this town has not as yet been completed but expect this work to be finished at an early date. Before a ground wire can be connected to any service wire to a building, the interior wiring in the building has to be
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INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
tested to show certain specified insulating resistance between the interior system and the earth, according to the capacity of ser- vice supplied as per Rule 66 of the National Electrical Code of Rules and Requirements on Installation of Electric Wiring and Apparatus. As this department did not possess the necessary in- struments for making tests of this nature an appropriation of $150.00 was asked for this purpose at the Annual Town Meeting, which was granted. A Direct Reading Evershed Testing Set, made by Queen & Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., was purchased, which consists of a hand dynamo giving 200 volts and an Ohm Meter reading from 1,000 Ohms to 10 Megohms. This testing set has proven to be one of the most valuable instruments owned by this department, as a very quick and accurate test can be made of any electrical installation. Your Inspector has not been able to in- spect all buildings in which ground wires have been installed, as the extra work required for this particular class of inspection would require more time than could be given, considering other work to be done.
Poles and Wires .- Twenty-nine permits have been issued for the setting of poles in new locations, also for the replacement of old poles condemned as unsafe or not suitable to support wires attached. Sixteen petitions were granted by your Honorable Board for new pole locations as follows. All plans submitted for new pole locations being carefully considered by your Inspector before recommending the granting of the same :
Petitions.
Streets.
Poles.
Date of Plan.
Granted.
Ed. E. Ill. Co.
Walnut
To set 5
May 1,'05.
June 26, '05.
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Mt. Vernon
. To set 9 May 1,'05.
June 26, '05.
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Jason
To set .. 1
May 15,'05. May 22, '05.
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Central
To set 1 Remove . 1
June 15, '05. June 24, '05.
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Bartlett Ave.
near Irving To set 2
Aug. 14,'05. Sept. 25, '05.
Remove . . 2
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Bartlett Ave.
and Irving
To set .1
Aug. 14,'05.
Sept. 25, '05.
Remove . .0
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Paul Revere
Road
To set 1
Aug. 21,'05.
Sept. 25, '05.
Remove . 1
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Gray
To set 4
Oct. 16, '05.
Nov. 6, '05.
Remove . 3
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Henderson To set 2
Nov. 6, '05.
Nov. 13, '05.
Remove . .0
Remove . 4
Remove . .. 6
Remove . 1
193
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
Petitions. Streets.
Poles.
Date of Plan. Granted.
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Corner Mass. Avenue and Water To set 1 Oct. 27, '05. Nov. 13, '05.
Remove . .1
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Irving and
Academy To set 1 Dec. 4,'05.
Dec. 26, '05.
Remove .0
Ed. E. Ill. Co. Academy and
Irving . . To set . .0
Dec. 4, '05. Dec. 26, '05.
Remove . .. 1
Ed. E. Ill. Co.
Warren be-
. tween Web-
ster and
Beacon
To set .3
Nov. 25, '05. Dec. 26, '05.
Remove. ... 2
N. E. T. & T. Co. Crescent
Hill Ave. To set .2 Jan. 6,'05.
Jan. 28,'05.
N. E. T. & T. Co. Pine
To set .6 Dec. 4,'05. Dec. 26, '05.
N. E. T. & T. Co. Linwood . To relocate 1
Dec. 8,'05. Dec. 26, '05.
The following poles have been set on private ways in accord- ance with street lines established ; said poles being approved by this department.
Company.
Street.
Poles.
Edison Elec. Ill. Co., Bartlett Ave. between Gray and Woodland .
1
Edison Elec. Ill. Co., Cor. Bartlett Ave. and Woodland. . 1
Edison Elec. Ill. Co., Woodland between Lincoln and Bartlett Ave .. 1
Edison Elec. Ill. Co., Lincoln Cor. Woodland.
1
Forty-four old poles were replaced. Twenty-three of the above 44 poles replaced were of the square, hard pine class of timber being located on Mass. Avenue, Mystic and Water Streets, also on Pleasant Street. These poles were replaced by round chestnut poles which were painted and stepped according to requirements. The Edison Company have rebuilt the entire pole lines owned by them on Mt. Vernon, Walnut and Central Streets which is a decided improvement, and have also replaced poles in other sec- tions of the town. The New England Telegraph & Telephone Co. have replaced many unsafe poles and are renewing all poles as fast as required. Particular attention has been given to service and other wires in the centre of the town to have these wires so installed as not to impede the working of the Fire Department in case of fire in any of the business blocks. Quite a few changes have been made, especially in front of the Bank Block and in the rear of the Finance Club Buildings.
Electrical Fires .- On Oct. 3, Box 36 was sounded at 5.55 A. M., for a fire in the Central Railroad Station, caused by the tele-
Remove .... 0
Remove .... 0
. 194
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
graph wires entering, same being crossed with a high potential electric light wire at East Cambridge. The wires entering this building were immediately cut. The damage by fire being con- fined to the telegraph switch-board in the ticket office which was very slight. As there have been several fires of this kind in the past in this station, the most modern fittings have been used, this department requiring that all fuses and the pin switch-board be mounted on slate. The slate backboard prevented a serious fire at this time, confining the fire to the instruments and wires on the telegraph desk. Further changes have been required to pre- vent a repetition of this trouble if possible. An additional set of fuses have been placed in cable box on pole, also the lightning arresters in station were removed from building and placed in cable box on pole.
Street Lights .- The street lighting service as furnished by the Edison Company has been satisfactory throughout the year. Cur- rent readings taken at the Inspector of Wires' Office in Town Hall have shown that contract requirements have been fulfilled, 6.6 amperes having been maintained on all circuits.
Eight (8) additional incandescent street lights of 32 candle power have been installed as follows : ---
Location.
Lights.
Date Lighted.
Pearl Avenue
1
.Oct. 28, 1905.
Windemere Avenue
1
.Oct. 28, 1905.
Kensington Road
1 . Oct. 28, 1905.
Cor. Appleton and Harvard Streets
1 Oct. 28, 1905.
Park Avenue near R. R. Station.
1 Oct. 28, 1905.
Bartlett Avenue and Woodland Street.
1 Nov. 17, 1905.
Woodland and Lincoln Streets
1 Nov. 17, 1905.
Henderson and Cross Streets
1
Nov. 18, 1905.
The town is now lighted by eighty (80) arc lights and two hundred and twenty-eight (228) incandescent lights of 32 candle - power, same burning every night in the year till 1.00 o'clock A. M.
Fire Alarm System .- This important branch of the public ser- vice has given good results during the past year. All alarms have been transmitted correctly. On March 4, at 8 P. M., trouble oc- curred on circuits Nos. 3 and 4, which on investigation was found in the laterial conduit pipe of the fire alarm system at the corner of Mass. Avenue and Palmer Street. Water had got into this pipe and frozen which broke the fire alarm cable at this point. As the conduit was frozen the entire distance from man hole to pole it became necessary to dig the same up and it being extremely cold weather this was an exceedingly hard piece of work. It was
195
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
found that the conduit pipe was broken near pole which in all probability happened when the pole at this point was replaced late in the fall of 1904. The fire alarm circuits broken were tem- porarily connected and placed in service at about 12 P. M., and permanently connected two days later. On March 18, at about 11.30 P. M., Box 23 was pulled for a fire caused by an exploded lamp at dwelling No. 138 Broadway. This box failed to respond and as the fire was extinguished by occupants of the house the fire department was not summoned. A report was not made to the Fire Alarm Department until the following morning of failure of box to respond. On investigation it was found that the box was electrically correct, but owing to the failure of the main spring of box movement to relax, it being an exceedingly cold night, the spring had contracted to such an extent as to not unfold when re- leased by the pull on hook. On April 2, an exceedingly high re- sistance developed on circuit No. 4 and after'considerable testing was finally located in a corroded splice on one of the underground wires of this circuit. This was quickly repaired. There have been but few other troubles of a minor nature which received immedi- ate attention. On May 25, the outside box door was broken on Box No. 14, at corner of Teel Street and Mass. Avenue. This is the third door broken on this box within the last two years and it is hoped that the Police Department may be able to locate the guilty party if this is repeated again and if apprehended the full penalty of the law should be imposed. Twenty storage batteries of the B. T. Type have been added to the equipment at Fire Alarm Headquarters. There are now 148 storage batteries in use on the Fire Alarm System with a total potential of 296 volts. Seventy-four batteries are in use at one time and seventy-four are being charged and held ready for service at all times. These sets of batteries are used alternately, one set being used while the other is being charged. Charging of batteries is done every 48 hours with a current of one-half ampere for Ic hours. Batteries are discharged into the fire alarm circuits at 90 milli-amperes for 48 hours. Twenty-seven hundred (2700) feet of underground rubber covered wire were installed on circuit No. 4 from Palmer street to Tufts Street. All aerial wires and cross arms were re- moved from poles between thése points. Box No. 16, at corner of Mass. Avenue and Tufts Street, was placed on an iron lamp post and connected direct, with the underground system. Box 36, (Town Hall), was also placed on an iron lamp post and connected underground. This post is equipped with a red lantern, which is lighted at night, directions for giving an alarm being shown on
196
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
lantern. Box 36 was also equipped with a keyless door. As this is the most important fire signal box in town, protecting the business district, it is considered by your Superintendent that the most modern and up-to-date fittings should be used to enable the quick sounding of an alarm. All iron post boxes are used as testing points on the underground wires, each box being fitted with slate back board and terminal connections for wires in back of same. All underground wires have been examined in man holes. All fire alarm boxes have been painted, also the fence and woodwork at the top of bell tower in the Henderson Street district. The fire alarm boxes should be painted every year. New key guards have been placed on Boxes 16 and 162, and I consider the time has come that all boxes should be equipped with these key guards, as much valuable time is lost, especially in the night, in arousing people to get a key to sound an alarm. The first key guards were placed on several boxes six years ago and notwithstanding it was the opinion of certain people that false alarms would be given, there has never been such an alarm sounded. All boxes have had machinery thoroughly cleaned and oiled, also all tower striking machinery has been thoroughly inspected. The electric air com- pressor is still giving fair service, but I consider it would be economy to replace this machine by a new, modern type of com- pressor of greater capacity and hold the present compressor in reserve before it is entirely worn out.
The Fire Alarm Department purchased over 1,000 feet of 3 inch steel boiler tubes which were taken out of boiler at Cutter School, being considered as unsafe. These tubes are suitable to use for conduit pipes for underground wires and it was the opinion of your Superintendent that these tubes be purchased, which was approved by your Board, as they could only be sold for old junk at a value of about $7.50 or 25 cents per one hundred weight. To use for underground conduits they would represent a saving of over $175.00 to the town if the same amount of 3 inch pipe was to be purchased.
Hose No. 2 House has been equipped with a switch-board on which are mounted the gong and other electrical appliances for controlling the electric and gas lights, also the electric stall-door pulls for letting out the horses. The electric and gas lights, also the horse pulls are operated direct from the fire alarm. A button was placed on the board for sounding the tower bell for a still alarm signal. This switch-board was designed and wired for any additional fire alarm appliances that may be added in the future such as indicators or auxiliary gongs.
197
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
At the November Town Meeting an appropriation was made of $100.00 for the purchase of an automatic time clock for sound- ing the daily test signals on the fire alarm system. This clock will not be put in commission until early in the coming year, as the electrical connections will have to be especially made. This clock has been wired and fitted with the relays, etc., at the factory by your Superintendent and when installed should give a time ser- vice with but a few seconds' variation per month. Very few citi- zens can realize the inconvenience and responsibility of having to sound the test signals three times a day as now and has for the past six years been done by your Superintendent. It is en- tirely impossible, however painstaking a person may be, to main- tain accurate time in sounding a signal on a fire alarm system at a specified time and no human being can pretend to give with the same degree of accuracy a signal of this kind that a carefully con- structed mechanical appliance is capable of doing. If signals are to be sounded at certain specified times, then it should be so and . not seconds or minutes out of the way as a majority of the people in any community place a great deal of dependence on such a sig- nal.
Suggestions .- A communication has been received from the Board of Fire Engineers asking that the Fire Alarm Department recommend the placing of indicators in the various fire stations throughout the town. Your Superintendent believes that these indicators would be a valuable addition to the electrical equip- ment of the fire alarm system and that this question should be thoroughly considered.
Recommendations .- As the installation of electric wiring in buildings for light and power is rapidly on the increase, also poles and wires on the highways, it is the opinion of your Inspector that if the town desires to maintain an efficient inspection system of this class of work it should, at an early date, consider the ap- pointment of a permanent Wire Superintendent and Inspector of Wires who can devote his entire time to this class of work, also to supervise the fire alarm system and all other signal sys- tems now or in the future owned by the town. The use of elec- tricity for lighting purposes is far greater in the Town of Arling- ton than is generally known by our citizens. Arlington being one of the largest lighted towns from this standpoint in New Eng- land, in consequence an Inspector of Wires for the municipality has a large amount of work to perform to maintain an efficient inspection service. I respectfully recommend that consideration
198
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
be given to the installing of additional fire alarm boxes in sections of the town which are not properly covered by the fire alarm sys- tems at the present time. The Heights section of our town should receive special consideration on this question. I would further recommend the continued extension of underground wires on the fire alarm system. I respectfully again call your attention to the question of installing a Police Signal System, as such a system is of equal value to the Police Department as the Fire Alarm is to the Fire Department. The present telephone system, used by the Police Department, is very unsatisfactory, and I think the town has spent enough money in the past for this class of service. A modern police signal system will add greatly to the efficiency of the police service and will also add to the efficiency of the fire de- partment service, as officers, while patrolling their beats can tele- phone an alarm of fire direct to headquarters when not in the near vicinity of a fire signal box. With a modern system, correct records can be kept of the duty calls of the officers and also these officers can be quickly reached by headquarters when needed.
Conclusion .- Thanking your Honorable Board for many cour- tesies shown, I remain,
Yours respectfully, REUBEN W. LEBARON, Inspector of Wires, Superintendent of Fire Alarms.
.
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS. :
The Board of Public Works herewith submit their annual re- port for the year ending December 31, 1905.
The first meeting of the Board elected at the annual Town Meeting was held on March 16, 1905, the organization resulted in the election of Peter Schwamb as Chairman, and Charles C. Lothrop, as Clerk. Forty-six regular meetings and two special meetings were held during the year.
The former policy of acting as a whole on all matters coming before the Board was continued, consequently no special com- mittees were appointed. The system of issuing written orders for materials, for the purpose of checking bills, successfully intro- duced last year, has been continued, as has also the method of dis- tributing the pay rolls.
Appointments .- At a meeting held April 1, 1905, Thomas Roden was appointed Superintendent of the Sewer and Water Divisions and Charles C. Lothrop was appointed Water Registrar, both appointments holding for one year.
Reports .- As formerly it was decided not to print the several reports of the Superintendents, but to embody such parts of them as was deemed best in this report.
HIGHWAY DIVISION.
The first work undertaken was the thorough cleaning and patching of all the streets and gutters, filling up depressions and smoothing up the street surfaces.
Much attention was given to keeping up the general appearance of the streets, one man with 'a collecting barrel was employed about the centre of the Town to keep paper and refuse collected, he also frequently went over the entire length of Massachusetts Avenue.
Very little stone was on hand at the beginning of the year, making it necessary to work the gravel pit ledge and buy some in addition to what was available from the excavation of sewer and water trenches. The grade of stone in this ledge is well suited for street work and although at the first of the season the
200
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ledge was not in a condition to work advantageously it is now getting into such shape that stone can be taken from it economi- cally.
Central Street .- A petition having been received for edgestone and the grade of the street having been fixed by the Joint Board the travelway was heavily macadamized from Massachusetts Ave- nue to Bacon Street, a lighter construction being used beyond. A circle to provide more space for the convenience of turning teams should be placed at the end of the street.
Massachusetts Avenue was much in need of repairs, especially on the southerly side from Avon Place to the Cambridge Line. 8,718 square yards of new macadamized surface was placed in on this section of the street besides many miscellaneous patches throughout the entire length.
Forest Street near the Winchester Line was regraded, and partially macadamized where the greatest fill occurred. This up- per portion of the street had received little attention for many years. The portion extending from Massachusetts Avenue to Bow Street was regraded to properly care for the storm water, and covered with crushed stone.
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