USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1904-1906 > Part 72
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110
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
will allow the shortening of the present routes, which are all too long to give a really satisfactory service. The watering of streets is a matter in which the whole Town should be much interested .. The benefits are not confined to residents of the streets which are watered, but are indirectly shared by all citizens. Therefore, if the service was divided into six routes, and the time for watering extended from April 15 to November 15, much additional comfort and convenience to all would result. It would seem if the charge to abutters on streets watered was made two cents per lineal foot of frontage, and the balance amounting to one-half cent per lineal foot of street watered was paid by direct appropriation, the assessment would be equitable, and more consistent to the benefit received.
The possible use of calcium chloride in connection with street sprinkling will result, we hope, in a less expensive and more efficient service.
SEWER DIVISION. The only sewer construction in 1906, was a short extension on Appleton Street, south from Park Avenue, and in a private way from Massachusetts Avenue, opposite Highland Avenue.
It would appear that not much construction of sewers will be required in 1907; short extensions only now being considered. Sewers in the Dudley Street and Grove Street district, will, how- ever, soon have to receive serious attention.
Connections with sewers have been made by the same method as in former years.
The equipment remains the same as formerly, but the horse belonging to the Division, having been used continuously since 1898 will have to be replaced.
COLLECTION OF OFFAL AND ASHES. The collection of offal and ashes is increasing each year, due to increase in population, and also because many people who did not formerly take advantage of the service are now doing so.
The collection of offal is now made by two old horses and two men. From experience, I have found that better service can be given with one good horse and two men, and I recommend that provision be made to purchase a new horse and wagon adapted to the purpose, which will handle the work through most of the year. At times when this service is inadequate, the old two-horse wagons can be used, operated by Highway Division horses. As the Town grows and necessity requires, additional single-horse wagons can satisfactorily do the work at least expense.
TOWN HOUSE SITE. The Town House site lot, corner Massa- chusetts Avenue and Academy Street, has been graded. It is probable that some additional filling in places will be required, due to settlement where cellars formerly existed. Effort was made, so
111
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
far as the appropriation would allow, to remove the slope adjoining the High School building. All the excavation possible without. removing ledge was made, and I would recommend that additional appropriation be allowed to remove about three feet at the extreme. top of the slope so that the High School building may be given the elevation required to present the best appearance.
I would suggest also that beds of shrubs, which can be spared from the grounds of the Robbins Library, be placed at the corners of the lot.
SUCKER BROOK. An appropriation of $250.00 was made for low- ering of bed of Sucker Brook at Park Avenue. Of this amount $240.80 have been expended in excavating ledge and gravel in the channels of the culvert, and in widening the brook from the Boston and Maine R. R. bridge to Schwamb's pond. All the work that it is practical to do at the old culvert, has been done. Eventually,. the present culvert will have to be rebuilt, and should be replaced with a concrete bridge of single span, sufficient to afford a wide and unobstructed channel for the water. There is a large area to be drained above Park Avenue and the volume of water will increase as the land is developed by building. By keeping the present cul- vert free from debris, with additional straightening and excavating of lateral channels yet remaining to be done, fairly satisfactory results should be obtained for sometime to come.
Realizing that the work done in 1906, was only temporary relief of conditions then prevailing, owing to the character of the present culvert, no expense was permitted, except along the line of what, in the future, will be permanent improvement. The large storm drain. from the district to the South of Massachusetts Avenue is dis- charged directly into the South channel of the culvert, as is also. the sewer under-drain from the same district. More or less gravel is being deposited by these drains which will have to be removed by the Highway Division each year, while the old culvert remains in existence. All work done on the brook to the West of Park Avenue is, by vote of the Town, to be paid for by owners of the private land adjoining the brook.
BOARD OF SURVEY. Nine plans have been examined on which hearings for approval of location and grade were held by the Board .. Surveys and plans were made for location of new streets between Kensington Road and Gray Street. Final disposition of this matter has not yet been made.
SIGNS. By direction of the Board of Selectmen, signs giving warning to automobile drivers located at dangerous turns in our highways have been placed in position.
REMOVAL OF ICE AND SNOW. The problem of the removal of snow and ice is of interest to all citizens. Arrangements have been:
112
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.
made to begin the plowing of sidewalks in times of storm at an early hour, so as little inconvenience to the public as possible may be caused. The routes are long and require from three to four hours to cover with eleven plows. It is absolutely impossible to maintain sidewalks in a smooth condition at all times when covered with ice or snow, unless they are entirely shovelled by hand, which, of course, cannot be considered because of the expense involved. Effort is made to sand all sidewalks promptly whenever necessary.
In the case of side walks of artificial construction, some abutters remove the snow and ice while others do not. It is the custom in nearly all towns and cities to make abutters on all permanent side- walks responsible for the removal of snow or ice, so it would seem to me advisable to consider the adoption of a by-law in Arlington requiring owners of estates fronting only on walks of artificial con- struction to remove ice and snow within a reasonable time after a storm, and in case of failure to do so that the same shall be removed by the Street Department, the expense to be charged to the abutters.
NEW MAPS. A quantity of new maps of the Town have been published for use of Departments and for distribution to the Public generally. These maps show the existing layout of the streets and ways of the Town.
ROBERT A. POND,
Town Engineer and Superintendent of Streets.
ANNUAL REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES AND SUPERINTENDENT FIRE AND POLICE SIGNAL TELEGRAPH.
ARLINGTON, MASS., January 2, 1907.
To the Honorable Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works :-
ยท GENTLEMEN :- I respectfully submit the seventh annual report of the Inspector of Wires and Superintendent of Fire and Police Tele- graph for the year ending December 31, 1906.
INSPECTION OF WIRES IN BUILDINGS. The work of inspecting of electrical wiring in buildings is increasing so rapidly that some arrangement should be made for the appointment of an Assistant Inspector and Superintendent of Wires. The responsibility and care of the various electrical systems owned by the Town should not involve on one man as in case of sickness, injury or other cause, there should be some one familiar with the duties of these Depart- ments to know wherein the various wires and appliances of the Fire and Police Signal Systems are 'and how to make repairs without delay, also to be familiar and competent to enforce the requirements of the Inspection Department. The inspection of wiring in build- ings is of primary importance and proper inspections conduce largely to the safety of the individual buildings involved and also to the Town as a whole. Three hundred and three (303) inspections have been made during the year of new wiring, fixtures and other appliances installed in buildings. This does not include visits made by your Inspector for the purpose of giving advice about work or to suggest changes to be made in old installations. Number of unfinished inspections, nineteen (19). One hundred and forty-seven (147) notices were received by this Department for the installation in buildings of wiring, motors, etc., as follows :
Number of incandescent lights wired for. 1907
Number of motors installed.
9
Horse power of motors. 39 5-6
Generators installed . 1. Capacity 8 K. W.
Electric irons installed .5. .Total. 1,700 Watts.
One hundred and ninety-four (194) permits were granted the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, of Boston, to supply service as follows :
2474 16 C. P. incandescent lamps.
9 motors with a total of 39 5-6 horse power.
8 G. E. M. high efficiency incandescent lamps, total 1350 watts. 3 electric irons, total, 1550 watts.
1 15 ampere service for experimental purposes.
114
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
On August 1st, printed rules were issued by this Department governing the installation of overhead, underground, interior wires and apparatus. These rules and regulations are based on the National Electrical Code, with several additions governing local conditions, and were issued by the various Electrical Inspection Departments who are members of the Massachusetts Association of Municipal Electrical Inspectors, it being one of the objects of this association to bring about greater uniformity in the rules governing electrical wiring throughout the state. The reinspection of old installations has been followed as time would permit and many changes have been made during the year, especially in the installa- tion of plug cutouts in place of the open link fuse cutouts installed severals years ago. All owners of property wherein electric lights, etc., are used should see that the electrical systems in their buildings are properly protected by approved cutouts as now specified in the National Electric Code, as a cutout block with its fuses is the safety valve of any electrical circuit, the most approved appliances of this kind should be used, as with such devices the danger of an electrical fire is reduced to a minimum. With the use of the old condemned type of link fuse cutout many things can be substituted for a fuse, such as a piece of copper wire, nails, hairpins, etc., these various types of articles being found by your inspector in his visits. This condition of affairs will sooner or later, wherein such practice is followed, require a visit of the fire Department in a hurry and when an account of stock is taken later, if anything remains to make an inventory of, may convince some of the owners of property that it would have been better to follow the recommendations of the electrical inspector.
A strict compliance of the rules and requirements governing the installation of electrical wires and appliances has been demanded in all cases, and it has been necessary for this Department to order many changes to be made and also several installations have been condemned, and no permit will be given for connection to street ser- vice until the work is properly done. More work has been done the past year which did not come up to requirements than in all the years past since the Inspection of Wires Department was organized, this condition of affairs being due in most cases to building contrac- tors who came from out of town and who sublet the electrical con- tracts to the cheapest man, regardless to the knowledge or ability of said electrician to properly perform the work. Your Inspector feels that some of these contractors will take time to look up what is required by the Town in the electrical line the next time they do work here. Careful tests have been made of all installations before issuing permits for meters, and in doing this work the Evershed Testing Ohmmeter has been used which was purchased by this Department last year and which has been found of invaluable assis- tance for quickly and correctly determining the conditions of wires in any building.
115
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
SUPERVISION OF POLES AND WIRES IN THE STREETS. The supervision of poles and wires in the streets is a part of the duties of the Inspector of Wires. With the rapidly increasing number of poles and wires this branch of work requires constant attention and in the past year more time has been given to this question than ever before. All locations, when permission is asked to set new poles, have to be visited and the conditions noted so that poles may be properly placed. The proper size of poles has to be considered in each particular case, to the end that wires shall not interfere with trees,.also that sufficient space is allowed for additional cross-arms and wires that may be installed later, and primary that the general appearance of the poles to be set shall be satisfactory and not cause objections to arise from owners of property near where the same are to be placed. A space of thirty inches is required at the top of all poles for the placing of the cross-arms and wires of the fire alarm, police signal and other wires owned by the town. All .new poles are painted and provided with pole steps ; the use of spurs or climb- ing irons not being permitted by this department. Early in the spring a careful inspection was made of poles throughout the town wherein in the judgment of your inspector the same needed attention. One hundred seventy-one (171) poles were condemned as unsafe or not suitable in size or general appearance. These poles were all replaced, new poles set being round and of chestnut, this class of timber being considered the most durable and satisfactory that can be used. This is the largest number of poles ever replaced in one year, and with what has been done in this line in the last few years the time is near at hand when it can be said that the pole and wire construction on our highways is the equal if not the superior to what is generally found in other municipalities. To accomplish these results has and will require much time and thought to be given to this question, and the results attained will be of general satisfaction to all citizens, as many unsightly and not properly located poles have existed in the past which, your inspector is pleased to say, are rapidly disappearing.
The following specified streets where poles were replaced are as follows :
Street.
Owner.
Poles Replaced.
Street.
Owner.
Poles Replaced.
Appleton
Edison Co.
1
Mass. Ave.
Edison Co. 2
Academy
Mill
6
Bartlett Ave.
66
66
13
Medford
N. E. T. & T. Co. 3
66
5
Broadway
N. E. T. & T. Co. 7
Pleasant
1
Brattle
66
66
1
Parallel
Edison Co. 3
Cleveland
Edison Co.
4
Park Ave.
1
Gray
N. E.T. & T.Co. 10
Russell Terrace
66
66
2
Grove
Ravine
N. E.T. & T. Co. 3
Hillside Ave.
66
66
8
Henderson
Edison Co.
1
Mass. Ave.
66
66
34
Kensington Park
66
1
66
4
Gray
66
2
Park Circle
Beacon
66
66
3
Mystic
66
66
66
1
66
3
116
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
Poles
Street. Owner. Replaced.
Street.
Owner. Replaced.
Kensington Road Edison Co.
1
Warren
N. E. T. & T. Co. 3
Lewis Ave.
2
Warren
Edison Co.
3
Lowell
66 66
8
Water
N.E. T. & T. Co. 1
Lowell
N. E. T. & T. Co. 5
Wellington
Edison Co. 66 66
8
Summer
66
8
Winter
13
Poles replaced, Edison Co. 81
N. E. T. & T. Co. 90
Total, 171
Sixty-two (62) permits were issued for the replacing of old poles also for setting new poles in locations as granted by your Honorable Board. Permission was granted the Edison Company to remove four (4) old poles on Summer Street, this company placing their wires on the poles of the Telephone Company. The New England Telephone & Telegraph Company were granted permission to remove one pole on Water Street, near Massachusetts Avenue, this change being necessary on account of new building of the Twenty-one Asso- ciates being built at that point. A permit was given the New Eng- land Telephone & Telegraph Company to attach one fifteen-pair cable to fifteen poles of the Edison Company on Bartlett Avenue. Two new poles were set by the Edison Company on Westmoreland Avenue between Lowell Street and Westminster Avenue, also five new poles were set on Sylvia Street by the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company, these streets being private ways, locations being given by abutters, poles being in accordance with requirements of the inspection department of the Town.
The following specified new locations were granted after hearings had been given in accordance with the Public Statutes :
Petition. Edison Company,
Streets. Lowell Street,
Poles. To set
Date of Plan. 3, Feb. 15th,
Granted. Mar. 12, 1906
Edison Company,
Lowell Street,
To set
1, June 27th, 2, Oct. 10th,
Oct. 22, 1906
Edison Company,
Bow Street,
To set
3, Aug. 1st,
Aug. 27, 1906
Edison Company,
*Mill Street,
To set
6, Dec. 12th,
Dec. 24, 1906
Edison Company, Edison Company,
Russell Ter., *Winter Street,
To set
14, Nov. 19th,
Dec. 24, 1906
Edison Company,
Cedar Street,
To set
6, Nov. 19th,
Dec. 24, 1906
Edison Company, *Lewis Avenue,
To set
1, Nov. 19th,
Dec. 24, 1906
N. E. T. & T. Co.,
Mystic Street,
To set
1, Mar. 17th,
Mar. 26, 1906
1,
July 23, 1906
Edison Company,
Bow Street,
To set
Remove 4, To set 1, Nov. 19th,
Dec. 24, 1906
Remove 13, To set 2, Nov. 19th,
Dec. 24, 1906
Edison Company,
*Park Circle
Remove 4,
Remove 1,
Remove 2,
Remove
* NOTE. - Poles removed included in schedule of old poles replaced, new locations being granted as specified above. Changes in locations being necessary for proper equali- zation of distance between poles as required.
Poles
117
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
In accordance with orders issued by this Department the Lexing- ton & Boston Street Railway Company have reset all poles owned by them between the Lexington town line and the car barns of the Boston Elevated Railway Company at the Heights. These poles were very much out of line and were straightened up and reset in cement. Trolley wires were tightened up and placed at a proper height over street, also additional span wires and hangers were installed for the support of trolley wires. The last section of trolley wire near the Lexington & Boston Waiting Room was supported by an extra number of hangers, the same being laced together in such a manner as to prevent trolley wire, in case of breakage, of coming in contact with people who might be standing under same. As there are a great many people, especially Sundays, in the summer time, standing in the street at this particular point, it was consid- ered that extra precaution should be taken to prevent any possibility of breakage in the trolley wires, this being the end of the line, which if same did occur might cause serious results. The New England Telephone & Telegraph Company replaced all poles between the Lexington town line and the Lexington & Boston Street Railway Waiting Room, these poles being used in part by the street rail- way for support of trolley span wires. These poles were reset in cement in accordance with requirements. The New England Tele- phone and Telegraph Company have installed underground conduits on Medford Street from Massachusetts Avenue to junction of Med- ford and Warren Streets. Lateral tap conduits were installed from main conduit system to Chestnut and Warren Streets. These con- duits were installed principally for connecting of new telephone building on this street. Plans showing number of feet of conduit installed on file with Town Engineer.
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH. The fire alarm system has given good results during the past year, all alarms having been transmitted correctly. Very little trouble has been experienced other than the occasional adjustment of a bell striker, gong, etc., which come in the ordinary run of repairs appertaining to this kind of a system. . Strict supervision and inspection is constantly maintained on the system to keep the same up to a high state of efficiency at all times. The electric air compressor has given more trouble this year by the breaking down of armature coils in the motor and also the stripping of the cogs of the pinion gear wheel on armature. A new gear was placed on motor by this Department, but the armature had to be sent to factory. As stated in several reports of this Department in the past it is recommended that a new air compressor of the latest type be purchased, as the present machine was put in commission December 15, 1897, being a second-hand machine at that time. This compressor has done good service, but its days of usefulness are about through and it should be put into reserve before being wholly worn out. This question should be attended to or one of
118
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
these days the Town will be temporarily without its fire whistle until repairs can be made or a new machine purchased. It is not economy to continue making repairs on this machine as has been done in the last three years.
Twenty street signal boxes were equipped with (Cole) key guards, this leaving but five boxes in the entire system which are not so equipped. These key guards are a decided improvement and add greatly to the efficiency of the fire alarm system, as an alarm can be quickly given without having to go to some one's house and get a key which causes much delay especially in the night. As the keys are locked in each box door all that is necessary in case of fire is to break the glass over key, turn same and open door. Pull hook down once on inside of box and let go. In collecting the keys distributed amongst the citizens it was found that fully 50 per cent. of these keys could not be found immediately and in several cases a second visit had to be made for the same to allow time to hunt up the key. Over 100 keys were returned and checked up with the records of the Department, each key being numbered. One six-inch gong was placed in the residence of the Second Assistant Chief of the Fire Department. A new main spring was placed in Box No. 17, the old one being found broken, similar to others reported heretofore.
Early in the year the new time clock was connected to the fire alarm system for sounding the daily test signal, the appropriation for this clock being made in November, 1905. This clock is of high grade workmanship and is one of the best class of regulators manufactured, being made by the Waltham Clock Company. This clock has maintained splendid time, and the citizens can safely set their time pieces from the test signal at 6.45 A. M., 12.00 o'clock noon, and 6.45 P. M., with the assurance that this signal is within a few seconds of standard time, as the variation in operation of clock is within five seconds per month. Much progress was made during the past summer in the replacing of old wires and cross-arms in various sections of the town. Three miles of No. 10 covered iron wire was purchased for this work and about fourteen thousand (14,000) feet of wire was replaced. This work being done as follows : Medford Street from Warren Street to Lewis Avenue ; Mystic Street from Massachusetts Avenue to Russell Street; Kensington Park from Pleasant Street to Box No. 31; Academy Street from Massa- chusetts Avenue to Box No. 38; Jason Street from Massachusetts Avenue to. Box No. 4 ; Park Avenue from Massachusetts Avenue to Lowell Street; Westmoreland Avenue from Lowell Street to West- minster Avenue; Wollaston Avenue from Box No. 54 to Hillside Avenue ; Hillside Avenue from Wollaston Avenue to Box No. 61, corner of Florence Avenue. One hundred and six (106) four-pin cross-arms and nine (9) six-pin cross-arms were used in the replacing of old arms and strengthening the lines. These cross-arms were installed on streets where old wires were replaced, also on Tufts
119
INSPECTOR OF WIRES.
Street, Broadway, Lowell Street, and Massachusetts Avenue, where changes had to be made in the fire alarm wires on account of new police signal wires which were installed. The installation of the police signal system made it necessary to make many changes both in the underground and aerial wires, also pole fixtures of the fire alarm system to allow this new work to be properly done. The replace- ment of the old bare iron wire with insulated wire is an additional safeguard toward adding to the proper operation and efficiency of the fire alarm system as there is less liability of these wires making electrical connection with other wires in case of breakage, also in becoming grounded where running through trees, etc. All under- ground wires were inspected at man holes in the streets. The splices and wire clips being painted ; also new metal tags were placed on all these wires designating each circuit.
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM. In the making of an appropriation for the installing of a police signal system, the Town made no mistake, as such a system is of inestimable assistance and tends greatly to increase the efficiency of the Police Department, beside being a val- uable auxiliary to the fire alarm system. With this system a com- plete record is kept automatically of the duty calls of the officers while patrolling, and enables the officer in charge at the station to be in constant touch with the various patrolmen on these routes, besides being a protection to each officer, as a quick means is always at hand to summon assistance if needed. The details of the working of this system will be found in the report of the Chief of Police. As stated in report of the Inspector of Wires, for the past two years the tele- phone system as rented by the Town from the Telephone Company for the use of the Police Department was of little value, and the money paid out, was, in the opinion of your Inspector of Wires, thrown away, considering the service given, and with the installation of a police signal system, owned by the Town, a step has been taken in the right direction. The contract for the installation of this system being awarded to the Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Company, of New York, who furnished the fire alarm system of our Town, was a proper award, as this company are the makers of the best class of electrical devices of this kind in the world. The entire installation was installed under the supervision and approval o this Department, and your Inspector is pleased to state that the Town has received the full equivalent according to contract and has a signal system strictly up to date in every respect.
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