Town of Arlington annual report 1907-1908, Part 10

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1907-1908
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 888

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1907-1908 > Part 10

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HORSES. We have eleven horses, ten of which are in first class condition, one pair of blacks having been purchased the past year and placed on the Ladder Truck, and the pair formerly on Ladder Truck placed in Hose 1 house, the pair from Hose 1, one was put where all good fire horses go, and the other has been used by the department for a spare horse, and also by the Police department, barring accident, the horses are good for a number of years to come. The horses have consumed 1123 bushels of grain ; 53351 lbs. of Hay ; 4457 lbs. straw, making a total cost of feed $1332.07 ; cost per horse $2.56 per week.

The coal for the department cost $204.95.

APPARATUS. The apparatus are all in first class shape, having been thoroughly overhauled the past year, rubber tires been put on each piece ; paint and varnish have done the rest to make the outfit second to none in this vicinity.

BUILDING. The buildings are in same condition as last year with the exception of Hose 2 house in which a steam heater has been placed, the old furnace having given out, and past repair. The build- ing at the Heights, Hose 1 house, needs a coat of paint badly ; think it would be economy to paint it this year.

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CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPT.

FIRE ALARM. This is in the hands of the superintendent of Fire Alarm, who will report on same.

HOSE. We have at present about 5,800 feet of hose. Through an accident we lost about 500 feet the last year by the breaking of a vitriol bottle, and the contents being spilled on hose. We also have a number of feet which are not fit for the high water pressure and are not safe to put on the wagons. I recommend the purchase of 1,000 feet of first class hose the coming season.

The vacancy on the Board of Engineers, caused by the death of Chief Gott, was filled by the appointment of Mr. F. P. Winn, cap- tain of Hose Company No. 3, who was formerly a member of the Engineers and well able to fill the position.

APPROPRIATION. The appropriation last year was $11,000 for maintenance; $1,150 special for repairs on apparatus, and at the Nov. meeting an additional appropriation of $350 for maintenance, and $370 for heater in Hose 2 House, making a total of $12,870.

I recommend the sum of $11,000 for running expenses and $750 special for the purchase of hose.

This amount is necessary to run the department, based on last year's figures. In the sum asked for maintenance I have included the cost of painting Hose 1 House.

CONCLUSION. In closing my report, I respectfully thank your honorable board for the courteous manner in which they have always received me in my official capacity. In omitting suggestions from my report, owing to our late loss of Chief Gott, and my appoint- ment of about one month, I am not ready to offer any new sugges- tions beyond those which already have been offered by our late Chief. I wish to extend my thanks to Chief of Police for favors received. To my assistants, my thanks for manner in which they have assisted me in my duties, especially at the time of our late loss. To the permanent and call men, my sincere thanks for the manner in which they have answered all demands that they have been called upon to fulfil, thereby making the work of others so much lighter and reducing the fire loss. I cannot but help speak of the manner in which the members of department con- ducted themselves in the time of our late bereavement, it only shows the respect which they had for their late chief and a fitting finish of his long and successful career as a fire fighter.

Respectfully submitted,

WALTER H. PEIRCE, Chief.

REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.

ARLINGTON, MASS., December, 31, 1907.

To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Town of Arlington, Mass :--

GENTLEMEN : - I herewith submit report of the Inspection of Buildings for the year 1907. Sixty-four permits were issued, classi- fied as follows -

NEW BUILDINGS

Estimated Cost.

Dwellings, one family.

$72,000.00

two families

48,000.00

three families

35,000.00

Factories (additions to existing plants)

3,500.00

Stables

3,500.00

Temporary

4,500.00

Additions and alterations

14,500.00

$181,000.00

I wish to again call attention to the need of amending the present Building By-Laws to conform with the standard maintained in ad- joining towns and cities, also to meet the requirements of the growth of this Town, and I would earnestly request that the matter be given attention by the Committee on Town By-Laws as soon as practicable.

Respectfully submitted,

ROBERT W. POND,

Inspector of Buildings.

REPORT OF TOWN PHYSICIAN.

ARLINGTON, January 1, 1908.

To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Arlington :-

GENTLEMEN,-I herewith respectfully submit report as Town Physician from April 1, 1907 to January 1, 1908.

As is shown by the record given below, the health of those receiving Town aid has been excellent. With the exception of one fracture and three operations no serious cases have been brought to my attention.

Number of office calls. 34 Number of visits made. 24

Emergency calls at police station 15

Of the emergency cases six were sent to hospitals for further treatment, two fractures were reduced and three wounds requiring stitches were properly dressed.

I would recommend that a small sterilizing apparatus for boiling instruments be installed at the police station.

Respectfully submitted,

G. E. SANGER, Town Physician.

REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK.

To the Board of Selectmen :

GENTLEMEN :- I submit the following report as Inspector of Milk in the Town of Arlington :

I have issued forty-six registration certificates and twenty-six licenses for selling milk and cream.

I have at different times collected fifty samples of milk, which I have tested and found them up to the State standard.

I would recommend that an Inspector of Milk be paid enough so he could give more time to look after the milk sold in Arlington, so that it would be as good as any milk sold in the State. It is something that should be looked after a great deal more than it has been in the past.

Respectfully submitted,

FRANK P. WINN, Inspector of Milk.

REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

To the Honorable Board of Selentmen: -

GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor to submit to you the following report for the year ending December 31, 1907.

I have inspected, tested and sealed one hundred and ten scales, ninety-one dry measures, seventy-two liquid measures, and three hundred and one weights. The incorrect scales were adjusted and made to register properly. The Town scales, with slight ad- justing, were made to register properly.

Whole number of scales tested, outside of the Town scales .. 110

" dry measures tested .. 91

66 " liquid measures tested. 72

66 " weights tested. . 301

" milk jars tested . 3,221

" milk jars condemned 22

Respectfully submitted, CHARLES F. DONAHUE

December 31, 1907.

Sealer of Weights and Measures.

REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS.

ARLINGTON, MASS., Jan. 7, 1908.

To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Arlington : -

GENTLEMEN : - I have the honor to submit my annual report as the Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1907.

For the first time in a long period of years there has not been a single case of glanders or farcy within the Town limits.

Rabies has become exceedingly prevalent in Eastern Massachusetts during the last two years and there have been eight (8) cases, seven (7) in dogs and one (1) in a cat in Arlington this year.

There have been four (4) cases of tuberculosis in cows which I have had destroyed by the State Authorities.

In making the regular fall inspection, I have inspected one hun- dred and fifty-seven (157) cows, five hundred and ninety-six (596) hogs, five (5) goats and sixty-eight (68) stables in which these animals were stabled. In all cases the proper papers were given to the owners.

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 respectfully present their fourth annual report for the year 1907.

ORGANIZATION. The Board met March 11, 1907 and elected S. Frederick Hicks, 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-six meetings have been held during the year.

APPOINTMENTS. For appointments made by the Board see the list of appointive officers.

STREET WATERING. In answer to invitations, bids were received for watering the streets for the season from April 15th to Nov. 15th, a period of seven months. Contracts were awarded as follows :

Route 1. James Wilson Route 2. A. W. Ganong Route 3. P. J. Lennon

Route 4. Timothy Ryan

Route 5. William A. McDonald Route 6. John Kelly

for $80. per month each.

The extension of street watering necessitated an additional route, making six instead of five as formerly.

The cost for the year has been $3,720.23, the same being met by an appropriation by the Town of $1000, a contribution of $200, a reimbursement $21.25, and the balance $2,498.98 assessed on abutters, the assessment being 2.7 cents per front foot. Last year it was 2.5 cents per front foot.

A standpipe has been installed on Marathon Street and one on Lowell Street.

STREET LIGHTING. The contract under which the streets of the Town have been lighted for five years expired May 1, 1907. At the March Meeting the Town appointed a special committee to report to the Town a form for a new contract. This report was made and accepted by the Town July 1, 1907, and the Selectmen

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JOINT BOARD.

authorized to execute the form of contract recommended. This duty was performed by the Selectmen and the new contract went into effect July 1, 1907. The contract is with the Edison Company for a term of twenty years. For detail of the above committee's report see the Town Records printed in this volume and for a copy of the contract see the report of the Selectmen.

The street lighting for the year has been satisfactory and the current is reported by Inspector LeBaron as having been always up to the required standard.

Few outs have been reported and the question has arisen whether all outs are reported. While it is the special duty of the police to observe the lamps nightly and report those not burning, the Board would thank any and all citizens to report to the police department either by telephone or otherwise any lamp noticed by them unlighted. The Town is reimbursed for all unlighted lamps one cent per hour for incandescents and five cents per hour for arcs. With full reports there will be better service by the company and less waste to the Town.

The number of lights in commission December 31, 1907, is shown by the following table : -

1907

1906

Arcs

Incandescents

233

229

On the basis of 81 arcs and 229 incandescents and burned every night until one o'clock A. M., or 2,408 hours, our lights will cost $8,872.87, or an average of $68.38 for arcs, and $14.56 for incan- descents. Every light in addition to the above will cost about $64.83 for arcs and $12.99 for incandescents.

Readjustment in the location of some of the lights has been made, resulting in a net increase of four incandescents. Further re- adjustments will be made and further additions will be necessary the ensuing year.

The Town of Belmont continues to pay for half the cost of the arc at the corner of Lake and Pleasant Streets, and the Arlington Boat Club for one-half the cost of arc at the foot of Whittemore Street. As heretofore, the lights are turned on in the early morning when needed by the Highway Department for snow ploughing. .

PERMANENT SIDEWALKS. For permanent sidewalks installed during the year, and details of the same, attention is called to the reports of the Town Engineer and Board of Public Works. Assess- ments under Chapter 49 of the Revised Laws for sidewalk construc- tion on Teele, Tanager and Medford Streets, Bartlett and Massachu- setts Avenues, to the amount of $500.48, were committed to the Collector of Taxes.

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JOINT BOARD.

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 Engineer.

March 25th the Board voted to make the following allowance to abutters relative to the cost of constructing permanent sidewalks :

For tar concrete, one-half the cost. For brick, one-half the cost. For granolithic, 55 cents per square yard.

· The total amount expended for sidewalks was $3,139.61, being $2,027.81 for extensions and $1,111.80 for renewals.

POLE LOCATIONS. Thirteen petitions for pole locations have been granted to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, mostly for reconstruction purposes, and one petition has been granted to the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company.

There has been some complaint as to the manner in which the work of setting poles is done by the various companies. These complaints are to the effect that the unfinished work is not properly lighted and not lighted early enough, thus being a menace to travel. The Board finds the complaints well grounded, and action will be taken to insure better care on the part of the companies.

PLANS APPROVED : Plans contemplating the laying out or con- structing of streets are required 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 Lombard Road, Washington, Norcross, Sylvia, and Harvard Streets. These plans were approved. Petitions rela- tive to Windemere Park, Wildwood Avenue, Brattle Hill Terrace were considered and it was deemed inadvisible to approve plans of ' the same. Plans were drawn up by the Board of Survey relative to Sawin Street and the extension of Wollaston Avenue were approved in accordance with the requirements of Section 3 of the Board of Survey Act of 1897.

The Town Engineer has been instructed to make a special study of desirable street lay out relative to the Bacon premises on Pleasant Street and adjacent territory, and also of the Locke Farm on Massa- chusetts Avenue and territory adjacent thereto and report on the same.

There can be no proper lay out of streets that does not take into consideration territory adjacent to the land immediately concerned. The relocation of Laurel Street, so-called, on the premises of Vail Bros. on Brattle Street is under consideration.

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JOINT BOARD.

NEW STREETS LAID OUT OR CONSTRUCTED : Summer Street from a certain point east of Grove Street to Pine Street was laid under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments.

The following streets have been constructed under the Betterment Act, as authorized by the Town, and appropriation made for that purpose, namely, Tanager, Palmer, Wyman Streets and Avon Place. The matter of betterments and assessments will be taken up early in 1908.

SPY POND BROOK. Complaints were made early in the year to the effect that Spy Pond Brook overflowed at certain seasons of the year, filling cellars and causing other damage to adjacent property. The matter was referred to Town Engineer Pond, who made a care- ful study of the situation and reported with recommendations to the Board.

In accordance with his recommendations an appropriation em- bodied in the appropriation for highways was made by the Town for improving said Brook, and preventing further damages. These improvements have been carried out in a satisfactory manner.

TREE ON MEDFORD STRET. The beautiful tree on Medford Street at the corner of Chestnut Street was in the highway and was a menace to public travel, thus rendering the Town liable to con- siderable damage in case of accident.

The matter was taken up, and after a hearing given by the Tree Warden as to removing the same, it was deemed advisable to extend the curbstone of the adjacent park, so as to surround the tree. The danger seems to have been eliminated.

About this time the falling of a large limb from the Whittemore Elm near Henderson Street, brought up the question as to the removal of that tree, being in the travelway on the sidewalk. The matter is in the hands of the Tree Warden and others as to strengthening the tree in such a way as to be entirely safe.

SHRUBBERY ON SIDEWALKS. Permit was granted William A. Muller to plant ornamental shrubbery on the border of the sidewalk in front of his premises on Massachusetts Avenue, the width of the sidewalk allowing this to be done.

The Board think the idea a good one and worthy of emulation.

EXTENSION OF HENDERSON STREET. The citizens of the eastern part of the Town feel the urgent necessity of easy and direct access to street cars at Clarendon Hill, Somerville. To do this it was necessary to make use of a temporary foot-bridge across Alewife Brook at the foot of Henderson Street. The possible discontinuance of this passage way brought the matter before this Board and it was deemed advisable to petition the County Commissioners for the lay out and construction of Henderson Street Extension to connect with

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JOINT BOARD.

a proposed new street in Somerville. The County Commissioners will give in the near future a hearing on the matter.

TRANSPORTATION. The Joint Board have continued their efforts in behalf of better car service for Arlington people in transit from Boston to Arlington, but no material improvement is yet apparent. The Arlington cars are still overcrowded, with consequent discom- fort and menace to health, as existed a year ago, and the need of more rapid transit is as urgent now as then.

The Boston Elevated claim that they are giving the best service that their facilities will allow, and that no great relief from present conditions can be expected until the proposed changes and exten- sions of the company now in process of construction are completed.

The Board feel, however, that the best service obtainable from present facilities are far from being reached. The tabulations taken at Harvard Square by authority of this Board, and now on file, show this fact very conclusively.

At the close of 1906, as indicated by the report of the Joint Board for that year, a petition for free transfers at North Cambridge Car Station, Clarendon Hill and Medford Street, was sent to the Railroad Commissioners. A hearing was given on this petition by said Commissioners, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1907. At this hearing the testimony was strong in evidence of the extreme overcrowding of Arlington cars in transit from Boston to Arlington by way of Har- vard Square, while cars whose terminal was North Cambridge had abundant vacant seats. The hearing also showed that the over- crowding of Arlington cars from Sullivan Square could be relieved by transfers at Clarendon Hill.

After the hearing the Railroad Commissioners took this matter under advisement and soon after rendered the following decision :

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

IN BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.

March 16, 1907.

Petition of the selectmen and board of public works of Arlington relative to transfers on the Boston Elevated railway.

While other matters were touched upon at the hearing the prin- cipal grievance was that of passengers who ride upon the elevated system between Boston and Arlington Heights and who claim that they are discommoded by the rule which limits their transfer at Harvard Square to Arlington cars. They ask the right of transfer at that point to cars for North Cambridge, and at North Cambridge

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JOINT BOARD.

to cars for Arlington Heights. It is claimed, that at busy hours the cars to which they are now obliged to transfer at Harvard Square are apt to be crowded, while cars running to North Cambridge have room to spare. The company answers that it is furnishing extra cars for the benefit of those who ride between Harvard Square and Arlington Heights.

It seems unnecessary to say more than that proper accommodation ought to be furnished either in one way or the other, either by granting the transfer which is desired or by providing at Harvard Square a sufficient number of extra cars, and that the company ought to be allowed its option as to which method it adopts.

For the Board,

(Signed) JAMES F. JACKSON, Chairman.

A True Copy.

Attest :

CHARLES E. MANN, Clerk.

A few days later the following letter was received : -

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.

BOSTON, March 20, 1907.

HON. JAMES A. BAILEY,

Arlington, Mass.

DEAR SIR :- Though the order of the Board in reference to the Arlington transfer matter is brief and general in character we expect good results from it. Should you or others fail to realize what you believe a reasonable service in the future I assume that you will call our attention to the fact.

Very truly yours, JAMES F. JACKSON, Chairman.

It will be seen by the above decision that the Railroad Commissioners recognize the necessity of relief and that this should be furnished by the Boston Elevated Railway Company, either by free transfers or by extra cars.

Recent count and tabulations taken at Harvard Square appear to show that conditions have not changed, namely, great over crowding

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JOINT BOARD.

of Arlington cars, while cars for North Cambridge invariably have room to spare.

Now, while North Cambridge people fill up Arlington cars to overcrowding, and while our people are permitted to take North Cambridge cars and transfer at Brookline Street and Harvard Square for Arlington, why not grant them permit to transfer also at North Cambridge for Arlington. It is believed this will greatly relieve the situation without necessitating extra cars or additional expense to the Elevated. The only reason thus far given by the Boston Elevated why this is not allowed, is "there are too many transfer stations already."

The attention of the Boston Elevated has again been called to the matter, and if relief is not forthcoming another appeal will doubtless be made to the Railroad Commissioners.

The congestion of Medford Street by standing cars referred to in our last report has received special attention. After further corres pondence and interview the very unsatisfactory situation has been relieved. Under the present arrangement the Medford Hillside cars come to the centre as far as Water Street and return imme- diately to Sullivan Square Station, as a terminal. By this plan no standing car is allowed on Medford Street, and only one standing car at the centre, namely, that of the Beacon Street line. The new arrangement appears thus far to work satisfactorily, and our streets are left free for public travel.

In regard to the matter of rapid transit, the Boston, Lowell and Lawrence Electric R. R. Co. (which is practically a reorganization of the Boston-Lowell Interurban Street Railway Company), under authority of the more recent legislation relative to interurban rail- roads, petitioned the Board of Railroad Commissioners for a cer- tificate of public necessity and convenience relative to said proposed road.

On this petition the Railroad Commissioners gave a public hear- ing May 13, 1907, and their report, made in September, was a very strong and emphatic refusal to grant said petition.

The Joint Board having previously voted to disapprove of the proposed location of tracks of this company in Arlington, appeared with many of our citizens at said hearing and earnestly remonstrated against granting said petition.

The report of the Railroad Commissioners appears to justify the action of the Joint Board, as the following taken from their report shows :

The Boston, Lowell and Lawrence electric railroad as planned would pass through Charlestown, Somerville, Medford and Arlington, connecting with the Boston Elevated System in Charlestown. Residents of these cities and towns earnestly remonstrate against the building of this railroad. Though these remonstrants cannot rightfully set up their local interests as an impas- sible barrier to all new facilities for travel between Boston and more distant cities and towns, they may reasonably ask that their interests shall not be heedlessly overridden.

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JOINT BOARD.

It cannot be gainsaid that the railroad which is proposed would interefere with important extensions of the Boston Elevated system which have long been awaited as a public blessing in these suburban towns. Are prospective benefits from the new enterprise such as to justify the sacrifice of these other public interests ?

New freight facilities and low fares were prominent features of the pro- spectus of the Boston, Lowell & Lawrence Electric Railroad. The suggestion of better freight accommodation was attractive in Lowell and would explain much of the interest in the enterprise at first aroused in that quarter; but all intention of carrying on a freight business has since been disavowed. A five-cent fare between any point in Arlington, Medford aud Somerville to all parts of Boston was attractive in those communities and explains certain support secured in each; but it has since become evident that this assurance had no substantial basis.

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Town of Arlington annual report 1907-1908, Part 10

Author: Arlington (Mass.) Publication date: 1907-1908 Publisher: Number of Pages: 888

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1907-1908
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 888