Town of Arlington annual report 1907-1908, Part 12

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 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Arlington should appreciate this gift, for efforts made to beautify our streets certainly enhance the natural attractiveness of the Town.

At the Town House site lot a new iron fence has been erected, adjoining the Olney Robbins estate, of which the Town paid one- half the cost. Large beds of shrubbery were planted at the corners of the lot, on both Massachusetts Avenue and Academy Street, and at intervals along the southerly side. With top dressing this plot of ground will be in good condition next season. Effort was made to keep the grass cut and the lot in good order.

On Russell Park, permanent crosswalks of artificial stone or con- crete should be laid, and small gutters for the flow of storm water formed. There is a large drainage of surface water across these walks, during severe rain storms, causing a considerable amount of damage, and resulting in a condition very unsightly, and oftentimes really dangerous to travel.

The permanent construction of these walks will greatly add to the appearance of the park.

BOARD OF SURVEY. Plans have been examined on which hear- ings for approval of locations and grade were held by the Board. Owing to the amount of other work on hand at the close of 1907, not all the surveys and investigation of new territory ordered by the Board were made. This work will be completed early in 1908.

127

TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.

All the highway bridges have been examined. Some repairs are needed on the southerly side of the culvert over Alewife Brook, at Massachusetts Avenue, especially repairs to fencing.

River Street Bridge cannot remain in its present condition more than one year. The wooden girders should be replaced by steel, and the whole structure renewed. It is to be hoped that the Metro- politan Park Commission will bear part of the expense of reconstruction.

Respectfully submitted,

ROBERT W. POND, Town Engineer and Superintendent of Streets.

REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF WIRES AND SUPERINTENDENT FIRE AND POLICE TELEGRAPH.

ARLINGTON, MASS., Jan. 1, 1908.

To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works :-

GENTLEMEN, - I respectfully submit my eighth annual report as Inspector of Wires and Superintendent of Fire and Police Telegraph for the year ending Dec. 31, 1907.

INSPECTION OF WIRES. This important branch of the Public Service has received careful attention during the past year and all new wiring and electrical fittings installed for electric lighting or power have been inspected. Many defects were found in new work installed not in accordance with the requirements of the " National Electrical Code," and changes were ordered before work would be accepted. A reinspection of all business places in the Town was made early.in the summer in conjunction with an inspector of the New England Insurance Exchange. This inspection covered all electrical wiring and appliances in stores, factories and other busi- ness places throughout the Town. Many changes in old work were ordered to bring the electrical equipment up to present requirements. One of the most important requirements being the replacing of all cutouts of the open link fuse pattern, with approved cutouts of the plug or cartridge fuse type. As the cutout is the safety valve of an electrical system, the most up-to-date appliance is none too good, and all owners of buildings where the old class of cutouts are now in use should have the same replaced by approved fittings. The reinspection of old electrical installations in residences has been followed as fast as practicable, and I respectfully recommend that the Honorable Com- mittee of Twenty-One provide this department with sufficient appro- priation to make a thorough inspection of all old systems used for electric lighting in the buildings of this town. Such an inspection is necessary to determine the exact condition, of each particular installation, and will greatly add to the safety of occupants of these buildings from a fire standpoint, besides enabling this department to compile records as to exact condition, capacity, etc., of every wire and appliance in use in these buildings. The installation of certain electrical apparatus in one of our school buildings during the past

129

INSPECTOR OF WIRES.

summer does not meet the approval of your inspector from a work- manship standpoint although passed as electrically safe. The work- manship displayed in this particular installation is not in keeping with the work of this class heretofore installed in our public build- ings, and careful consideration should be given all estimates sub- mitted before awarding contracts, especially when no specifications are furnished contractors to figure from. The lowest bid for work is not always the cheapest, and is in the end in most cases far from satisfactory from many standpoints. Your inspector wishes it had been within his power to condemn this particular piece of work, as the poor workmanship displayed will be an eyesore to all who are possessed of a knowledge of how work of this kind could have been done. Two Hundred Sixty-Three (263) inspections have been made of wiring and fittings installed for electric lighting, electric power, etc., in buildings. The total new work installed as per application blanks filed by contractors covered the installation of wiring two thousand eleven (2011) lights, thirteen (13) motors of a total of thirty and one half (30}) horse power, and one thirty (30) Ampere Mercury Arc Rectifier. Two hundred forty-four (244) permits were issued by this department to the Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of Boston to supply service to three thousand eighteen (3018) lights of an equivalent of 16 Candle Power each, thirteen (13) motors of a total of thirty and one-half (30}) Horse power, one thirty (30) Ampere Mercury Arc Rectifier, and one thirty (30) Ampere Stere- optican Arc Light.

POLES AND UNDERGROUND CONDUITS. One hundred thirty (130) poles were replaced in the Town during the past year as unsafe or not of sufficient size or strength to carry additional wires. One hundred eighteen (118) of these poles were replaced by the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston and twelve (12) by the by the New England Tel. & Tel. Company of Massachusetts. The Edison Company have rebuilt their pole lines on Beacon Street, Tanager Street, Oakland Avenue, and on Mystic Street, from corner of Russell Street to Winchester Town line, also on Broadway from a point opposite Warren Street to the Somerville line. The Mystic Street and Broadway pole lines were rebuilt for the purpose of carrying the high tension transmission wires to be used to supply current to the Woburn Power Station of the Edison Company from their Main Power Station at South Boston. These wires being of large size and to carry a potential of 6900 Volts. The best class of construction is required for this class of wires and many conditions have to be thoroughly considered especially where wires of other systems are located on the same streets. The requirements of this department have been adhered to in doing this work and the con- struction installed up to December 31, has been satisfactory. Old and unsafe poles are replaced as soon as found in this condition, and many of the total poles replaced as specified above were in

130

INSPECTOR OF WIRES.

streets in all parts of the Town. Twenty-nine (29) new poles were set in new locations by the Edison Company as granted by your Honorable Board. Careful attention is given to the location of all new poles before approving these locations. The proper location of a new pole when first set saves much trouble in the future. The Edison Company installed underground conduits on Warren Street from Broadway to Medford Street, from this point on Medford Street to Chestnut Street, and through Chestnut Street to Mystic Street, and on Mystic Street from Chestnut Street to corner of Russell Street. These conduits to be used for the purpose of carry- ing high tension wires specified above. The feet of conduit installed will be found in the records of the Town Engineer.

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH. All alarms for fire have been transmit- ted on this system correctly during the past year. Careful supervi- sion has been given to keep system up to a high standard at all times. The usual amount of small trouble has been experienced in mainte- nance of system that is expected on an installation of this kind, bell strikers, gongs, etc., requiring occasional adjustment to meet weather conditions, etc. The most serious piece of trouble happening on Circuit No. 4, on the night of July 20th, at 9.40 p. m. A large limb breaking away from the old elm tree on Massachusetts Avenue, near Henderson Street, broke all the fire and police wires at this point, also all wires of the Edison and Boston Elevated Railway Company, and mixing up all wires in general. The cross arms were broken from poles for several hundred feet in this vicinity, owing to the great size and weight of this limb, also the piazza of one house and several fences were entirely demolished. The fire alarm wires became crossed with the live wires of the electric light circuits, burn- ing out magnet coils on Bell Striker No. 4. No other burn-outs were experienced, the protective devices at Fire Alarm Headquart- ers protecting all other instruments on system. The wires of the fire alarm system were repaired, and circuit put in operation inside of two hours. A general rebuilding of all wires and pole fixtures was required in this vicinity which was attended to as quickly as possible. On December 28th, a serious piece of trouble developed on Circuit No. 2, which was finally located in the underground cable on Massachusetts Avenue, near Jason Street, being caused by wires corroding off inside of cable, which developed a high resist- ance at times and also causing occasional blows to be sounded on system. Owing to the peculiar nature of this trouble considerable time had to be given in the locating of same, as accurate instrument tests could not be made to determine exact location. Signal Boxes Nos. 24, 47 and 56 were placed on new poles, the old poles being replaced as unsafe. Keyless doors were placed on Boxes Nos. 25, 45 and 46. Key guards were placed on Boxes Nos. 24, 25, 61 and 71, and the citizens' keys were withdrawn. The roof of Bell Striker No. 1, on Peirce & Winn Building at Arlington Heights, was re-

131

INSPECTOR OF WIRES.

tinned during the summer, as old tin was commencing to leak very badly.

Thirty-two new Type B Storage Batteries were added to office equipment to replace old batteries which were installed in 1900. Three Gamewell Indicators were purchased and placed in Fire Sta- tions Nos. 1, 2 and 3. These instruments are a valuable addition to the fire alarm system and of great assistance to the drivers in verify- ing alarms received from gongs. Indicators were equipped with electric lights to properly illuminate the same at night. A stop clock was placed on switch board at Central Fire Station, which in- dicates the exact time an alarm is received.

All wire and pole fixtures have been inspected and repairs made as required. All fire alarm boxes were painted early in the summer.

The fire alarm wires on Beacon Street were replaced with covered wires and the entire line rebuilt on new poles. The electric air compressor has given more trouble this year from breakdowns than ever before, and your Superintendent begs to state that the cost of repairs on this compressor since the November Town meeting would have paid the interest on several new machines of this kind since that time. The present compressor is worn out; it is uureliable, and the continued policy of paying out on a patched-up machine is not in my judgment a good business policy for the Town to pursue any longer.

There has been considerable trouble experienced from the break- age of glasses in the key guards on fire alarm boxes, also several false alarms sounded by small boys. It is my opinion that most of the trouble in breaking of glasses can be stopped if proper measures are taken to suppress this nuisance.

Your superintendent was called upon to sound two important special signals on the Fire Alarm System this year, one of which was looked for with the greatest pleasure by all citizens, and the other which caused the greatest sorrow in the whole town. On June 1st., at 10 30 A. M., three blows were sounded, starting that splendid parade on Arlington's one hundredth anniversary. This signal indicated that the parade has started "On Time." On Nov- . ember 26, at 11.16 P. M, two blows were souuded " All out," telling the citizens that Arlington's honored fire chief, Charles Gott, had passed away. Never was there a signal sounded on the Fire Alarm that caused greater sorrow throughout the whole community. In the death of Chief Gott, Arlington's Fire Department lost a leader who was a peer in his profession. A born fire fighter of remarkable skill and endurance, and one who was a father to all members of his department. Never was there a head of a department who loved his calling more than Chief Gott, and his sole aim was to advance and keep the public service in his charge up to the highest efficiency .. possible. It will be a pleasure for all citizens who knew Chief Gott to look back on his memory as one who was the highest type of a man, one who was respected by all, a splendid citizen, a true friend

132

INSPECTOR OF WIRES.

and a public official, capable, honest, and doing his duty to the best of his ability. To his associates his loss is most keenly felt, and to no one more so than your superintendent.

POLICE SIGNAL. The Police Signal System has given good ser- vice during the past year. This system has cost but a small sum to maintain. The batteries installed with system July 1st, 1906, are at present in use, and have not been recharged since the system was put in commission, which gives eighteen months of service to December 31, 1907. Minor repairs have been made on signal boxes and receiving apparatus as required, and no serious trouble has been experienced to system. The Town has a valuable system in its Police Signal, and one that has been the greatest assistance to the Police Department, the system adding increasd efficiency to the department, and also giving additional protection to the citizens as a whole. A few more signal boxes should be added to the sys- tem and properly cover some sections of the Town not at present so equipped, and I most heartily endorse any such additions that may be recommended by the Chief of Police. All wires of system have been carefully inspected and repaired as necessary. The sig- nal lines passing through Gray street from Jason to Pleasant streets were rebuilt on new poles on this street. Box No. 44 was placed on a new pole which was replaced. All signal boxes were painted early in the summer which should be done once a year.

RECOMMENDATIONS. I respectfully recommend that an appropri- ation be made for the purchase of a new air compressor for the fire alarm whistle, as such a machine is very much needed, and if some action is not soon taken on this matter the town will be without its fire whistle. As stated before in past reports it is the opinion of your superintendent that the town has spent already too much money on the present machine as it is worn out and it would be better to purchase a new compressor and hold the old one in reserve before it reaches a point that it will have to be sold for old junk. I fur- thermore recommend that ample appropriation be made to replace all bare wire now in use on poles with covered wire, also to continue the installation of underground wires both for fire and police signals on all streets where conduits exist as fast as practicable. I again recommend that an assistant be appointed to the Superintendent of Wires, as the duties of the wire department should not be entrusted wholly to one man. The very nature of this department with com- plicated electrical machinery, miles of wires underground and on poles, makes it imperative that the responsibilities of supervisor should be so guarded that the service should never be without some- one who is thoroughly familiar with all details. Sickness, accidents, or other causes may at any time place this department without a supervisory head under the present arrangement, which should not be in a town like ours.

133

INSPECTOR OF WIRES.

CONCLUSION. I wish to tender my thanks to your Honorable Board for the many courtesies received, also the members of the Po- lice Department and the permanent drivers of the Fire Department for assistance rendered me in the discharge of my duties.

Respectfully Submitted, R. W. LEBARON, Inspector of Wires. 1

Superintendent Fire and Police Telegraph.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

The Board of Health respectfully submits the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1907 :

ORGANIZATION. The Board, consisting of John S. Lamson, Dr. Charles F. Atwood and Dr. Laurence L. Peirce, the new member, met March 6th and organized, with John S. Lamson, Chairman, and Horace A. Freeman, Clerk.

The appointments for the year appear in the list of Town Officers.

SANITARY CONDITION. The Board considers the general sanitary condition of the Town to be of good standing. Many nuisances have been investigated during the year and abatement of the same have been required.

Charles T. Hartwell was appointed Sanitary Inspector and the detail of his work for the Board appears in his report.

The Board desires that all complaints be addressed to the Clerk in writing, who will see that they are given prompt attention.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. During the past year a comparatively small number of contagious diseases have been reported. The only large outbreak was of scarlet fever, which was epidemic at the east- ern end of the Town in January and later in April and May. Iso- lated cases of typhoid fever occurred during the autumn, but they had no common origin.

ASHES AND OFFAL. The Board has endeavored, through the assistance of Mr. Pond, Superintendent of Streets, to give the citi- zens efficient service in the collection of ashes and offal, and the very few complaints received show that the work has been satis- factory.

The work of the collection of ashes, waste paper, and rubbish has been exceptionally heavy this year. The late spring, the in- crease in the number of families, and the disuse by some of the people of the waste for filling upon private premises have all been factors of the increase.

It was considered advisable to discontinue the use of an old offal wagon as beyond repair and purchase a new one to use with a single horse. One was built by Charles Gott and has so far proved very satisfactory. There has been a large increase in the demand on the collection of offal service, which resulted from the increase of families, from the call from parties living near the borders of the

135

BOARD OF HEALTH.

. town, who were outside of the former routes, from the fact that some private collectors had given up their work, and also that waste at the preserving season was heavier.

At the Annual Town Meeting the Board requested an appropria- tion, which it considered would be sufficient to carry on the work of collection of the ashes and offal for the year.

In addition to the increased demands by the citizens upon both the ashes and offal department, the Board had to meet the increase of wages of teamsters and were also obliged to shorten the length of day of labor to eight hours as required by statute. In view of these facts it was found in the early fall that an increased appro- priation would be needed, and at the November Meeting an amount of $800 was asked and voted for the work.

At some of the dumps it is necessary to do levelling and covering of paper and rubbish to prevent the scattering of such by children and a man is employed part of the time for this work.

The cost for the past two years is as follows :

1906.

1907.

Labor.

Horses.

Total.

Labor.

Horses.

Total.

Offal.

$1,548 29

$549 45

$2,097 74

Ashes

$1,335 99 1,769 73

$633 85 572 51

$1,969 84 2,342 24 73 87

2,186 36

689 31

2,875 67

Incidentals .

*333 39

$5,306 80

Unexpended

1 20

$5,308 00

* This includes $220 paid for a new offal cart.

Appropriation in Mar.

$4,000 00

Appropriation in Mar. Appropriation in Nov. Receipts

$4,500 00

Appropriation in Nov. by transfer Receipts

250 00 35 00

800 00

8 00

$4,285 00

$5,308 00

Overdraft

100 95

$4,385 95

SLAUGHTERING ESTABLISHMENTS. These places meet the require- ments of the Board, and there have been no reports of annoyance.

NEW PLUMBING REGULATIONS. As far as has been brought to the attention of the Board these are satisfactory to the towns people. Applications for copies have been made by parties out of Town.

$4,385 95

136

BOARD OF HEALTH.

SWINE. Owing to numerous complaints in regard to the keeping of swine and feeling that it was the desire of the citizens of the Town that action should be taken that such occupation should be restricted, the Board early in the year took up the matter, and after careful investigation passed the following order :

Ordered : That the exercise of the trade or employment of keeping swine, which is a nuisance dangerous to the public health, attended by noisome and injurious odors and is otherwise injurious to the estates of the inhabitants of Arlington, be and the same hereby is forbidden within the limits of the Town of Arlington, except in the places herein assigned, without a permit in writ- ing first obtained from the Board of Health ; in case any such permit shall be granted, the same may be revoked at any time when the keeping of swine shall in the opinion of the Board be prejudicial to the public safety and health ; the following places are liereby assigned for the exercise of the aforesaid trade or employment of keeping swine : -

Beginning at the northwesterly corner of the Arlington boundary line adjoining Lexington and Winchester ; thence, by the boundary line between Arlington and Winchester in an easterly direction to a point 1000 feet westerly from the westerly line of Mystic Street; thence, in a southerly direction on a line parallel with and distant 1000 feet from the said westerly line of Mystic Street to a line distant 1000 feet from and parallel to the base line of location of the Boston and Lowell Railroad; thence, in a westerly direction on a line parallel with and distant 1000 feet from said base line of the Boston and Lowell Railroad location to a line distant 1000 feet and parallel with the east- erly line of Westminster Avenue; thence, in a northwesterly direction on the line parallel with and distant 1000 feet from the said easterly line of Westminster Avenue to the boundary line between Arlington and Lexington ; thence by the said boundary line between Arlington and Lexington to the point of beginning.

Containing about 520 acres, more or less.

Also, beginning at the southwest corner of the boundary line of Belmont and Arlington and Lexington; thence, by the boundary line between Arlington and Lexington 3000 feet ; thence, by straight line in a southeasterly direction to the boundary line of Belmont and Arlington on the westerly side of Park Avenue ; thence, by the boundary line between Arlington and Belmont in a westerly direction to a point of beginning. Containing about 186 acres. more or less.

Section forty-five of the Regulations of this Board concerning swine is hereby rescinded.

It will be seen that this prohibited the keeping of swine in the settled portion of the Town without a permit. Permits were asked for by several and, with one exception, were granted.

The premises of all parties were visited previous to the granting of the permits. In August the Board visited the premises of W. W. Rawson and found that where permission had been granted for the keeping of six swine about five hundred were being kept. ' On August 9th Mr. Rawson's permit was revoked and the order of pro- hibition served upon him. From this order Mr. Rawson appealed. That no inconvenience to Mr. Rawson would result, and that no suit for damages could be brought against the Town, the Board specially authorized Mr. Rawson to exercise his keeping of swine pending the proceedings in the Supreme Court. The following letter was published that the citizens might understand the result of the trial :

137

BOARD OF HEALTH.

To the Citizens of the Town of Arlington : -

On May 13, 1907, the Board of Health passed an order prohibit- ing the keeping of swine within the thickly-settled portions of the Town without a permit first obtained from the Board. This order declared such keeping of swine a nuisance, dangerous to public health, attended by noisome and injurious odors and injurious to the estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington. On June 28th Warren W. Rawson was granted a permit by the Board to keep six swine on the premises at the corner of Warren and River Streets. On August 9th, on examination of the premises, it was found that Mr. Rawson was keeping about five hundred swine. The permit was revoked, and on August 17th the order of the Board was duly served on him. From this order Mr. Rawson appealed and claimed a trial by jury. A trial was had before a jury of the Superior Court at East Cambridge, and evidence was presented by both sides. The Court instructed the jury that if they found the keep- ing of swine was either a nuisance or dangerous to public health, or attended by noisome or injurious odors, or injurious to the estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington, it must affirm the order; that if they found it to be none of the aforesaid it must annul the order. The jury annulled the order, thereby finding as a fact that the keeping of swine without a permit was not a nuisance, not dangerous to public health, not attended by noisome and injuri- ous odors and not injurious to the estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Arlington.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Town of Arlington annual report 1907-1908, Part 12

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

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