USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1904-1906 > Part 70
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I again congratulate the Town on its immunity from fires during the past year. Our fire loss has been very small, and the fires have decreased in number from former years.
FIRES AND ALARMS. The department has answered 22 bell and 18 still alarıns, 10 of which were received by telephone, and the alarm given from the central fire station. The alarms were as fol- lows :-
Jan. 1. Box 16, 10.01 A. M. At 25 Linwood Street. Wooden dwelling house owned by Mrs. J. H. Fermoyle. Value of building, $4,000 ; insurance on building, $3,000; loss, $106. Value of contents, $2,200 ; insurance of contents, $800; loss on contents, $106.
Jan. 6. S. A., 4.04 P. M. House at 56 Dudley Street, owned by Thos. Mead.
Jan. 8. S. A., 12.40 P. M. Woodpile on Linwood Street owned by Mrs.
Gibbons.
Jan. 14. Box 45, 2.20 A. M. Barn at 60 Mt. Vernon Street, owned by Timothy Ryan. Value of building, $600; insurance on building, $500; loss, total. Value of contents, $1,000; insurance on contents, $800; loss on contents, $700.
Jan. 23. Box 61, 1.31 P. M. 274 Park Avenue ; house owned by Lucy Whit- ney. No damage.
Jan. 25. S. A., 3.28 A. M. Brush rear of 707 Massachusetts Avenue.
Feb. 1.
S. A., 2.17 P.M. Rubbish rear Chas. Gott's blacksmith shop.
Feb. 17. S. A., 10.30 A.M. At 19 Wellington Street. No Damage.
Mar. 3.
S. A., 9.25 P. M. Dwelling at 11 Wollaston Avenue. No damage.
Mar. 16. Box 28, 9 A. M. Dwelling house at 441 Mystic Street, owned by
E. F. Cronin. Value of building, $7,500; insurance on building, $6,000; loss, $4,000. Value of contents, $5,000; insurance on contents, $4,000; loss, $1,800.
Mar. 24. Box 54, 6.04 P. M. Building owned by B. & M. R. R. Value of building, $200; insurance, $150; loss, $16.
Mar. 28. S. A., 8.20 P.M. Tree on Pond Lane.
Mar. 28. Box 14, 11.53 P. M. Fire in Cambridge.
Apr. 1. Box 14, 10.39 P. M. Dwelling on Thorndike Street, owned by Thos. Tolson. Value of building, $2,800; insurance, $2,500; loss, $1,300.
89
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPT.
Apr. 4. S. A., 6.16 P. M.
Grass on Robbins Road ..
Apr. 7. S. A., 3.30 P. M.
Grass on Appleton Street.
Apr. 9. S. A., 4.35 P. M. Grass at 1022 Massachusetts Avenue.
Apr. 13. S. A., 8.30 P. M. Grass on Robbins Road.
Apr. 14. S. A., 1.08 P. M. Grass on Robbins Road.
Apr. 18. S. A., 6.28 P. M.
Brush at 41 Jason Street.
Apr. 19. Box 52, 1.28 P. M. Lumber and cord wood on Westminster Avenue. Rubbish on Pond Lane.
Apr. 21. S. A., 4.70 P. M.
Apr. 26. Box 56, 6.00 P. M. Wood and rubbish at 29 Cliff Street.
Apr. 28. Box 47, 1.46 A. M.
Hay stack off Forest Street.
Apr. 28. Box 47, 10.09 A. M.
Hay stack off Forest Street.
Apr. 29.
S. A., 3.14 P. M. Brush on Appleton Street.
Apr. 29. S. A., 3.28 P. M. Brush on Robbins Road.
May
30. Box 37, 9.40 A. M. Dwelling at 12 Russell Terrace. No damage.
July 3.
Box 21, 11.50 P.M. Dwelling on Decatur Street, owned by Olive
McCarthy. Value on building, $5,500; insurance, $5,000. No damage.
July 4. Box 16, 8.50 P. M. Ice houses on Linwood Street. No damage.
July 28. Box 13, 7.00 P. M. Manure pile on Henderson Street.
Aug. 1. Box 46, 9.08 A. M. House at 51 Dudley Street, owned by estate of
Thomas Callahan. Value of building, $1,000; insurance $800; loss, 80.00.
Aug. 6. Box 24, 9.58 A. M. Dwelling at 17 Park Street, owned by Patrick Coyne. No damage.
Aug. 12. Box 15, 10.10 P. M. False alarm.
Aug. 23. Box 36, 3.00 P. M. Test for Insurance Company's benefit.
Sept. 15. S. A., 5.45 A. M. Call from Winchester, at H. L. Cox's. Respond by chemical.
Sept. 17. S. A., 3.00 P. M. Corner Lake and Massachusetts Avenue.
Oct. 10. Box 36, 2.59 A. M. Charles Gott's Blacksmith shop. No damage.
Dec. 6. Box 36, 10.40 A. M. Store at 618 Massachusetts Avenue, owned by H. D. Dodge. Value of building $2,000; insurance, $3,000; Joss $62.10.
Dec. 17. Box 4, 11.12 A. M. Apartment house, owned by Vail Brothers. No damage.
The value on buildings was. .
$23,600 00
The insurance on buildings was 20,950 00
Loss on buildings was. 7,014 10
The value on contents was 12,200 00
The insurance on contents was 9,100 00
Loss on contents was 2,606 00
The several companies have answered the alarms as follows :-
Hose 1 answered 8 bell and 6 still alarms ; covered in 14 times at Hose 2 house; laid 1,850 feet of hose, used 8 pony chemicals and travelled 50 miles.
Hose 2 and chemical answered 22 bell and 5 still alarms; laid 3,150 feet of hose, used 75 feet of ladders, 6 pony chemicals, 11 large tanks of chemical, and travelled 47 miles.
The Chemical engine was called once for aid out of Town.
Hose 3 answered 14 bell and 7 still alarms; laid 4,250 feet of hose, used 25 pony chemicals and travelled 28 miles.
Hook and Ladder Truck answered 22 bell alarms; used 280 feet of ladders and travelled - miles.
The Chemical and Hose 2 companies consolidated during the sea- son and the Chemical Company is now under Hose 2 officers. By this consolidation we dispense with two call men.
90
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPT.
MANUAL FORCE. The manual force now consists of a total of 46 members, divided as follows :- One chief, two assistant chiefs, six permanent men, and thirty-seven .call men.
HORSES. We have ten horses, eight of which are in first-class condition, one pair being purchased this year and placed on Hose 2. The horses at Hose 1 must be changed immediately as one of them is practically of no use to the department. I would suggest that a pair of large horses be purchased and placed on the truck, and the truck horses be placed at Hose 1 for this reason : The truck needs a heavier and stronger pair of horses than they have at present, and it would be folly to place a green pair of horses at Hose 1 with only one man to handle and break them in. With a good pair of horses at Hose 1, we should be equipped with ten good horses, and barring accident, the town ought not to be called upon for any ex- pense in this line for some little time. The horses have consumed 1,072 bushels of grain ; 45,349 lbs. hay ; 4,051 lbs. straw, making a total of $961.23 ; cost per horse $1.85 per week.
The coal for the department cost $278.75.
APPARATUS. By vote of the Town the several pieces of apparatus are being thoroughly repaired. They have been painted and var- nished, and new rubber tires applied. When finished, our appara- tus will compare favorably with other surrounding towns and cities.
BUILDINGS. The buildings are in the same condition as last year, with the exception of a few minor repairs which our permanent men have accomplished.
FIRE ALARM. The fire alarm in the hands of the superintend- ent has proved satisfactory. The details of the same will be found in his report.
HOSE. We have at present about 6,500 feet of hose, some of which would not stand high water pressure.
RELIEF ASSOCIATION. The relief association has not been for- tunate enough to receive any donations during the past year. We have paid out $230 for sick benefits and $100 for death benefits. I am sorry to say the association has lost one member by death the past year. I refer to Assistant Chief George W. W. Sears, who passed away on August 15th. Mr. Sears became a member of the department in 1891 as a call member of Hose 3. He was later appointed on the Board of Engineers. He served the Town faith- fully, had the interest of the department at heart, and always per- formed his duties willingly and cheerfully. "He has gone to that bourne from which no traveller has e'er returned." A set of resolu- tions to his memory was adopted and placed on record, and a copy of the same sent to his family.
91
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPT.
The vacancy as assistant chief, caused by Mr. Sears' death, was filled by Mr. Walter H. Pierce, a man well versed in fire matters.
SUGGESTIONS. I would renew my old suggestion that the high water service be extended down Massachusetts Avenue and Bedford Street, and over Pleasant Street, for better fire protection.
We have quite a number of dangerous localities for fires in Town, some of which have very little water protection. I refer principally to the Chrome Works on Grove Street, and the Clifford-Wood Ice Tool Factory. I also suggest that the citizens having tele- phones in their homes would remember the universal box at the central fire station, No. 64-3, from which all box numbers can be sounded. I would suggest that a permanent man be placed at Hose 2 house, to cover in Hose 1 house during meal hours.
APPROPRIATION. I recommend the sum of $10,000 to meet the expenses for the current year. We require this amount to cover the expenses based on last year's expenditures. The principal items were as follows :- Permanent men, $4,875.82; call men and en- gineers, $2,472.91; hay and grain, $961.23; coal, $278.75; black- smithing, $301.00; veterinary services, $109.85; laundry, $35.71; sundries, $360.22; lighting, $74.81; pair of horses, $475.00; rent, $30.00. This calls for no extras whatever, and is simply for the running expenses.
CONCLUSION. In closing my report, I respectfully thank your honorable board for the courteous manner in which they have al- ways received me in my official capacity. I wish to extend my thanks to the Chief of Police for many favors rendered at fires ; to my assistants, my thanks and appreciation for the willing manner in which they have assisted me in my duties. I would commend the officers and members for their faithful performance of duty at all times. To my permanent men, my hearty appreciation and sin- cere thanks for their co-operation in furthering the efficiency of the department, thereby reducing the fire loss.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES GOTT, Chief.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
ARLINGTON, MASS., December 31, 1906. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : -
GENTLEMEN : - I herewith submit report of the Inspection of Buildings for the year 1906, the number and value of new buildings built, including also alterations and additions, is greater than in any previous year.
For the most part hearty co-operation of builders with the By- Laws has been evidenced.
There are some changes in the existing laws which it would seem advisable to make to maintain a standard in keeping with the growth of the Town, and corresponding with those in force in other cities and towns in this vicinity. I would respectfully request that the Committee on By-Laws consider this matter early in 1907.
The number of permits granted was eighty-six (86), classified as follows : -
NEW BUILDINGS.
Estimated cost.
Dwellings, one family
28
$116,500 00
two families
6
24,300 00
three families
9
54,000 00
four families
1
10,500 00
six families.
2
25,000 00
Factories (additions to existing plants, .
8
8,050 00
Churches .
1
6,000 00.
Office Buildings
2
9,750 00:
Temporary
5
600 00
Stables
3
700 00
.
$255,400 00
Additions and alterations
21
23,675 00
$279,075 00
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT W. POND, Inspector of Buildings.
REPORT OF TOWN PHYSICIAN.
ARLINGTON, Mass., December 31, 1906.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : -
I herewith submit my report as Town Physician for the year 1906.
Number of visits made 266
" office calls. 94
66 emergency calls at Police station. 15
The health of those receiving town aid has been very good during the past year and few cases of serious illness have occurred. Only one patient at the Almshouse has required medical attention.
As Town Physician, I report three (3) births and one (1) death.
The equipment at the Police Station continues to furnish valuable aid in emergency work and I have nothing but praise for the Chief and his Officers, for their promptness and assistance to me in the treatment of accidental injury or sudden illness on the street.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. ATWOOD, M. D., Town Physician.
-
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK.
To the Board of Selectmen : -
I submit the following report as Inspector of Milk.
I have issued seventy-one milk and cream licenses the past year. Have taken thirty-five dollars and fifty cents in fees, which has been paid to the Town Treasurer.
I have taken at different times fifty-five samples of milk, which I have tested and found them up to the State standard.
I would recommend that the Town increases the pay of the Inspector of Milk, so that he could put in more time in testing milk and enforcing the new law on milk cans and bottles.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK P. WINN, Inspector.
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : -
GENTLEMEN : - I have the honor to submit to you the following report for the year ending December 31, 1906.
I have inspected, tested and sealed one hundred and thirty scales,. ninety-nine dry measures, sixty-five liquid measures and three hun- dred and ninety-one weights. The incorrect scales were adjusted and made to register properly. The Town scales, with slight adjust- ing, were made to register properly.
Whole number of scales tested, outside of the Town scales. . 130
66
66
dry measures tested . 99
66
" liquid measures tested. 65
66
66 weights tested . 395
66
66
66 milk jars tested .. 2,855
milk jars condemned. 7
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES E. WHITTEN, Sealer of Weights and Measures ..
December 31, 1906.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
GENTLEMEN : - I have the honor to submit my annual report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1906.
During the year there have been but five (5) cases of glanders within the town limits, which is by far the smallest number of cases in the town for some years.
I have had one stable quarantined against its use for horses as being thoroughly infected with glanders; this stable has since been cleaned by the owner and disinfected by the State and the quarantine removed.
In my regular fall inspection, I have inspected one hundred and ninety-seven (197) cows, seven hundred and three (703) hogs, one (1) sheep, seven (7) goats, and seventy-seven (77) stables in which these animals were stabled. In all cases proper papers were given to the owners.
March 4th, an Irish Terrier, owner unknown, suffering from rabies passed through the town. He was known to have bitten one child in Arlington and a number of other dogs. In consequence of this, a three months muzzling order was delivered to the police by your board. From that date up to the end of this year there have been five (5) cases of rabies, which have resulted in another three months muzzling order from January 1, 1907.
Respectfully submitted,
LAURENCE L. PEIRCE, M. D. V. Inspector of Animals.
REPORT OF THE JOINT BOARD OF SELECT- MEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The Joint Board of. Selectmen and Board of Public Works respect- fully present the third annual report for the year 1906.
ORGANIZATION. The Board met March 12, 1906, and elected James A. Bailey, Jr., Chairman, and Horace A. Freeman, Clerk. There are no standing committees. Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, and special meetings whenever called by the Chairman. Twenty-five meetings have been held during the year.
APPOINTMENTS. For appointments made by the Board see the list of appointive officers on page 8.
STREET WATERING. After duly advertising for bids, the contracts for watering the streets from May 1st to November 1st were awarded to John Kelley, Henry J. Green, Frederick W. Schumacher, and Timothy Ryan for $480 each. The fifth route was taken by the Highway Division.
A new watering-cart has been purchased. Probably an additional route will be necessary the coming year to cover street watering territory.
The cost of street watering for the year has been $3,000, the same being met by Town appropriation of $700, a contribution of $200, and the balance $2,100 assessed on abutters, the assessment being 2 1-2 cents per front foot. In addition to this cost the Highway Department has paid out for street watering about $156.
STREET LIGHTING. The street lighting during the year appears to have been satisfactory. Few outs have been reported. The Inspec- tor reports the current always up to contract requirements. One arc and one incandescent have been added during the year. We are not getting full benefit from present lamps because of intervening branches of shade trees and improper location of some of the lamps. The Inspector of Wires is giving this matter special attention.
The number of street lights in commission December 31, 1906, is as follows :-
81 enclosed arcs of 1,200 (nominal) candle power. 229 incandescent of 32 candle power.
These lights are lighted every night until one o'clock A. M. at a cost of $73 for arcs and $23.50 for incandescent per year. For
98
JOINT BOARD.
every hour an arc or incandescent light remains unlighted during schedule time three cents and one cent respectively are deducted from the monthly bill. The Town of Belmont pays one-half the cost of the arc at the corner of Pleasant and Lake Streets, and the . Arlington Boat Club one-half the cost of the arc at the foot of Whittemore Street.
The present contract for street lighting ends May 1, 1907. Anticipating this the Board has been in communication with the Edison Electric Illuminating Company and the Arlington Gas-Light Company, relative to propositions for a new contract. This action was taken by the Board in order to facilitate action when the ques- tion comes before the Town in March. It is believed the Welsbach gas light, a demonstration of which was given on Pleasant, Maple and Academy Streets from September 20th to December 5th by the Welsbach Street Lighting Company of America, will be a strong competitor for lighting some of our streets.
The Superintendent of Streets has been authorized to arrange with the Edison Company to turn on the street lights for an hour or so to aid in the cleaning of our sidewalks of snow on very dark mornings. It is believed this will prevent accident and secure earlier ploughing.
PERMANENT SIDEWALKS. For permanent sidewalks installed during the year, and details of the same, reference is made to the report of the Town Engineer and Board of Public Works. Assess- ments under Chapter 49, Revised Laws, for sidewalk construction on Windemere Avenue, Ravine, Gray and Teel Streets and Massachu- setts Avenue to an amount of $975.35 were committed to the Collector of Taxes ; also a reassessment on Henderson Street to an amount of $70.
Sidewalk assessments are a lien on abutting property and may be collected in the same manner as taxes on real estate. The lien is good for two years after the assessment is committed to the Collector.
All permanent sidewalk construction must be done in accordance with Town specifications and to the satisfaction of the Town Treasurer. In the cost of permanent walks the Town allows one- half the cost of coal tar walks, being usually about 37 1-2 cents per square yard. The amount expended for sidewalks was $3,644.19, about $2,940.00 being for extensions and the balance for renewals.
POLE LOCATIONS. Eight petitions for pole locations have been granted to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, most of which were for reconstruction work, replacing decayed poles, straightening and strengthening lines.
Four petitions for pole locations have been received from the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company; of these two were granted, one given leave to withdraw, and one laid on the table.
It is the policy of the Board, as far as possible, to have only one set of poles on a street, the same poles being used by different com- panies when practicable.
99
JOINT BOARD.
UNDERGROUND WIRES AND CONDUITS. Petitions to lay under- ground wires and conduits on Broadway from Massachusetts Avenue to Franklin Street, and on Medford Street from Massachusetts Ave- nue to Warren Street, have been granted to the New England Tele- phone and Telegraph Company.
Petition to lay underground wires and conduits from Broadway to the south corner of Russell Street, through Warren, Medford, Chest- nut and Mystic Streets, was granted the Edison Electric Illuminat- ing Company. This was for the location of a line for the transmis- sion of electricity of high potential current to Woburn. One of the conditions of this grant is that all aerial wires connected with said line are to be placed underground within ten years from date, and a bond to the amount of $5,000 guaranteeing the same was signed by the Company. It is the policy of this Board, as far as possible, to have all wires placed underground.
TAXATION OF FRANCHISES. There is little doubt that towns are not receiving from corporations in the way of taxes full compensa- tion for privileges granted in the use of public streets. Nothing, therefore, to which the Town is entitled by law from these corporations should be allowed to slip through the fingers of the Assessors.
We believe it would be well for our Board of Assessors to give the matter of such taxes special consideration.
The several corporations given locations in our streets by special grant are as follows :---
Boston Elevated Railway Company, tracks, poles and wires.
Boston & Northern Street Railway Company, tracks, poles and wires.
Lexington & Boston Street Railway Company, tracks, poles and wires. New England Telephone & Telegraph Company, poles, wires and conduits. Atlantic Telegraph Company, poles and wires.
Arlington Gas Light Company, pipes.
Edison Electric Illuminating Company, poles, wires and conduits.
PLANS APPROVED. Plans contemplating the laying out of streets are required by law to be approved by the Board of Survey before said streets can be laid out by the Joint Board. Petitions for the approval of plans of this character have been received relative to Water Street Extension, Palmer Street, Cross Street, Extension of Henderson Street, Wyman Street, Avon Place, Blossom Street, Florence Avenue, Warren Street, Barnstable and Bristol Roads. These plans were approved, with the exception of those referring to Cross and Henderson Streets, and to Warren, Barnstable and Bristol Roads. The uncertainty as to the grade required for Cross Street and Henderson Street Extension, because of prospective improve- ments by the Metropolitan Park Commission in Alewife Brook Territory, caused this matter to be laid over for the present. The plans referring to Warren, Barnstable and Bristol Roads were not approved because the layout was very unsatisfactory to the Board and not in harmony with the purposes of the Board of Survey Act.
100
JOINT BOARD. .
STREETS LAID OUT. The following streets have been laid out by the Joint Board, the usual notices having been served and hearings given, Palmer Street from Broadway to Warren Street; Wyman Street from Broadway to Warren Street; Tanager Street; Avon Place from Massachusetts Avenue, southerly about 428 feet; Water Street from Russell to Mystic Street.
All of these streets were laid out under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments, and all excepting Water Street Extension were accepted and established by the Town Novem- ber 22, 1906, as Town ways, and appropriations made for their construction.
BOSTON-LOWELL INTERURBAN STREET RAILWAY COMPANY. On March 26, 1906, a petition was received from "a majority of directors of the association for the formation of the Boston-Lowell Interurban Street Railway Company " " for a location of the tracks of the proposed railway in the Town of Arlington." This petition was laid on the table pending communication with the Town Counsel as to the authority of the Board in granting said petition. It was the opinion of the Town Counsel that the Board had no authority to grant such a petition. A duly advertised public hearing on the petition, however, was given by the Board in Town Hall on the evening of April 23d. A large number of citizens were present, and a long and free discussion of the questions involved was engaged in by persons favoring and opposing the granting of the petition. At the close of the hearing, the Board took the matter under advisement and on May 7th, being convinced that the Board had no legal right to grant said petition, voted unanimously that the petitioners have leave to withdraw. Soon after this date the so-called Interurban Railway Act became law, a new corporation was organized and a petition presented to the Railroad Commissioners for a certificate of necessity for the proposed road. A view of the route was taken by the Commissioners, but further action in the matter has been postponed. The Board believes that the sober sense and sound judgment of the community should determine the attitude of Arlington toward the proposed road; and that the facts should not be overlooked that there will be many houses destroyed, a considerable nuisance created and much damage done, for which there can be no recovery if the road is built as planned.
STREET CAR SERVICE. The service of the Boston Elevated Rail- way Company has continued to be unsatisfactory in a number of respects, and frequent complaints have been made to the Board. - A continuous effort has been made by letter and interview to persuade the officials of the company to issue free transfers from the North Cambridge car barn. As this request was denied, the Board pre- sented to the Railroad Commissioners a petition setting forth the fact that the service rendered is inadequate and unsatisfactory, that
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