Town of Arlington annual report 1907-1908, Part 48

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 48


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40


1,400


inchides Washington


+Broadway


Mass. av. to Somerville line.


64


5,400


Old Town Way named Elm st. Nov. 9, 1846.


Brooks av


Lake st. to Barnes lane


40


765


*Cedar av


Summer st. ext. westerly


40


200


*Cedar av


Oakland av. to Park av


50


2,500


Cemetery st.


Chestuut st. northerly


40


450


Mar. 15, 1894.


Central st


Mass. av. to B. & M. R. R


30


564


Mar. 7, 1870.


Chapman st.


Pleasant st. to Devereaux st.


40


268


Dec. 7, 1896.


tChestnut st


Medford st. to Mystic st.


50


500


Old Town Way named Mystic st. Nov, 9, 1846.


*Chestnut st.


Wollaston av. southerly


50


3,400


Church st.


Mass. av. to Bacon st


25


150


*Circuit av


Sachem av. to Fowle av


40


350


Claremont av


Wollaston av. to Oakland av


60


2,171


Sept. 23, 1878.


Clark st.


Mass. av. north of Pierce st


40


457


Cleveland st.


Mass. av. to Broadway


45


1,608


Apr. 15, 1898.


Cliff st


Florence av. to Oakland av


50


1,441


Nov. 8, 1897.


*Brantwood rd


Kensington pk. to Jason st


40


2,265


av. (so-called).


Apr. 2, 1866 ; Sep. 20, 1875 Nov. 2, 1886. Mar. 9, 1891.


163


TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.


TABLE SHOWING THE LOCATION, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF ACCEPTED AND PRIVATE STREETS.


§ LENGTH.


NAME.


LOCATION.


Width.


Date of Acceptance.


Accepted Private


Coral st


Park st. to Beacon st


40 30


250


Mar. 4, 1872.


Cottage av


Henderson st. easterly.


370


Court st


Mass. av. to Water st.


20 & 35


620


Nov. 5, 1867. Dec. 1, 1902.


Crescent Hill av


Park pl. north of Montague st.


40


1,144


Crescent Hill av


200 ft. N. Montague to Lexington line Teel st. to Henderson st.


40


215


Davis av


Mystic st. to Orient av.


40


900


*Day st.


George st. westerly


40


350


Decatur st.


River st. to No. Union st.


35 & 40


988


Mar. 6, 1871.


Decatur st


No. Union st. easterly


35


560


Devereaux st.


Chapman st. southerly


40


293


Dec. 7, 1896.


Dow rd


Appleton st. southeasterly


50


500


*Dover pl


George st. easterly


25


200


*Dover st.


George st. westerly


40


250


Draper av


Mystic st. to Orient av


40


730


Dudley st.


Grove st. to Brattle st.


40


1,370


Dudley st. pl.


Dudley st. southerly


20


150


Dundee rd.


Mass. av. to Selkirk rd


40


1,100


Eastern av


Park Circle to Highland av


50


2,040


Nov. 27, 1875.


Elder terrace


Lowell st. easterly.


25 & 40


330


Elmore st.


Ashland st. to Oakland av


40


500


Apr. 14, 1896.


*Everett pl.


Summer st. northerly


36


300


Fairmont st


Mass. av. to B. & M. R. R


40


1,650


Fairview av


Mystic st. to Mystic Lake


40


900


*First st.


Peck av. to Inverness rd.


40


200


Florence av


Appleton st. to Claremont av


50


1,900


+Forest st


Mass. av. to Winchester line


40


4,980


Mar. 12, 1883. Old Town Way named Forest st. Nov. 9, 1846.


+ Forest st. pl


Forest st. westerly


33


640


Decree of Superior Court, June 30, 1899.


*Fowle av


Circuit av. to Meadow Brook pk.


40


350


Franklin st.


Mass. av. to Lewis av.


40


1,570


May 1, 1876.


Franklin st.


Lewis av. to Mystic river


40


990


Franklin av


Madison av. easterly


40


150


*Fremont st


No. Union st. easterly


30


1,000


*Gardner st


Broadway to Decatur st.


35


2,150


*George st


Appleton st. southeasterly


50


900


Glen av


Mystic st. to Walnut st.


40


585


*Gloucester st.


Mt. Vernon st. to Highland av.


40


688


Grandview rd.


Gray st. to Eastern av


40


1,832


Gray st


Ravine st. to Locke's Farm


40


1,000


Nov. 8, 1897. Mar. 10, 1885.


Gray st.


Mt. Vernon st. to Robbins rd.


50


1,470


*Gray st.


Robbins rd. to Oakland av


50


960


*Gray st


Locke's Farm to Mt. Vernon st.


50


2,165


Grove st.


Mass. av. to Summer st.


30


1,460


Grove st. pl.


Grove st. westerly


40


490


Harvard st.


Appleton st. southerly


50


780


Hawthorne av


Pine Ridge rd. to Park av


40


1,099


Henderson st


Mass. av. to Cottage av


40


700


Nov. 2, 1886. Mar. 9, 1891.


Henderson st


Cottage av. to Cross st


40


300


Hibbert st ..


Lexington line to Rublee st


40


635


Highland av


Mass. av. to Eastern av


50


3,180


May 7, 1872.


Hillside av.


Wollaston av. to Prospect av


50


2,704


Aug. 4, 1884.


Hutchinson rd ..


Old Mystic st. to Winchester line


2,995


Old Town Way named Oak st. Nov. 9, 1846.


Inverness rd.


Aberdeen rd. to First st.


40


350


Irving st


Academy st. to Jason st.


40


400


Sept. 20, 1875.


Irving st.


Jason st. to Bartlett av


40


320


Nov. 8, 1897.


Irving st


Pleasant st. to Academy st.


40


550


Nov.15,1898, Nov.18,1901


Gray st.


Pleasant st. to Ravine st ..


40


750


Mar. 2, 1840.


Hamlet st


Franklin st. to Medford st.


40


400


500 feet proposed. 1150 feet proposed.


Mar. 14, 1892. Apr. 20, 1874.


Cross st


40


255


164


TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.


TABLE SHOWING THE LOCATION, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF ACCEPTED AND PRIVATE STREETS.


$ LENGTH.


NAME.


LOCATION.


Width.


Date of Acceptance.


Accepted Private


Irving st


Bartlett av. westerly.


40 40 & 50


2,770


Nov. 4, 1884, Mar. 2, 1885, Mar. 13, 1893, July 1,1895.


Jason terrace ..


Jason st. westerly.


30


190


*Jefferson av ..


Franklin av. to Lexington line.


40


80


Kenilworth rd ..


Gray st. to Hawthorne av.


40


1,171


Kensington pk.


Pleasant st. to Kensington rd.


40 & 45


516


Nov. 8, 1897.


*Kensington pk


Kensington rd. to Jason st


40


926


Kensington rd.


Kensington pk. to Brantwood rd.


40


850


Nov. 8, 1897.


Kensington rd.


Kensington pk. easterly.


40


176


Kilsythe rd.


Selkirk rd. to Inverness rd.


40


640


Lafayette st.


Mass. av. to Park boulevard.


40


692


Lake av


Magnolia st. to Park boulevard.


40


709


Lake st.


Mass. av. to Cross st. Belmont


50


5,000


Lakeview


Pleasant st. southeasterly


40


498


*Lanack rd.


Kilsythe rd. to Second st


40


150


Lancaster rd


Mass. av. southerly


40


300


Lansdowne rd.


Summer st northerly


40


754


Laurel av


Brattle st. westerly


40


170


Laurel st


Marathon st. to Cleveland st


45


200


Apr. 15, 1898.


*Laurel st.


Marathon st. to Amsden st.


45


750


Lewis av


Medford st. to Franklin st.


40


720


May 1, 1876.


Lincoln st.


Gray st. near Woodland st


40


477


*Lincoln av


Eastern av. to Park av


50


1,200


Linden st.


Cliff st. to Park av


50


1,620 660


Nov. 8, 1897. Nov. 11, 1850; Apr. 20, 1874.


Locke st.


Mass. av. to north of Pierce st


40


418


Lombard rd.


Pleasant st. to Lombard terrace


40


449


Lombard terrace


Wellington st. to B. & M. R. R.


40


800


Lorne rd.


Sutherland rd. southeasterly


40


300


¡Lowell st.


Mass. av. to Lexington line.


50


3,876


old Town Way, named Lowell st., Nov. 9, 1846.


Lowell st. pl.


Lowell st. to B. & M. R. R.


40


300


*Madison av


Park pl. to Lexington line


40


1,600


Magnolia st.


Mass. av. to B. & M. R. R.


40


1,700


Maple st


Pleasant st. to Academy st


40


670


Apr. 20, 1874.


*Maple st.


Oakland av. westerly.


50


2,000


Marathon st


Mass. av. to Broadway


45


1,730


Apr. 15, 1898. Old Town Way, named Main st., Nov. 9, 1846.


+Medford st.


Mass. av. to Medford line


3,180


Old Town Way, named Medford st., Nov. 9, 1846.


*Menotomy rd .. Mill st.


Mass. av. to Gray st.


40


1,361


Mass. av. to Summer st.


50


860


Also Old Town Way. June 11, 1872.


*Millett st


Lansdowne rd. easterly


40


Montague st.


Westminster av. to Crescent Hill av.


40


390


Nov. 2, 1886.


Moore pl.


Mass. av. to B. & M. R. R.


25


350


Monument pl.


Mass. av. easterly.


20


400


Mt. Vernon st ...


Mass. av. to Gray st.


40


1,360


Apr. 7, 1873.


+Mystic st.


Mass. av. to Winchester line.


50-60


8,150


June 4, 1856, Sept. 3, 1873, also Old Town


"


Way, named Mystic st. Nov. 9, 1846.


Nortlı Cross st. No. Union st. to Gardner st.


30


770


' ¡Mass. av.


Cambridge line to Lexington line.


93-98


18,310


66-60


*Lennon rd.


Bow st. northerly.


40


500


Linwood st


Mass. av. to Spy Pond.


40


Old Town Way named Pond st., Nov. 9, 1846. Nov. 15, 1898.


320


Jason st


Mass. av. to Brantwood rd.


254


165


TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.


TABLE SHOWING THE LOCATION, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF ACCEPTED AND PRIVATE STREETS.


§ LENGTH.


NAME.


LOCATION.


Width.


Date of Acceptance.


Accepted Private


No. Union st.


Broadway to Decatur st


40


1,920


Oakland av


Appleton st. to Park av


50


2,120


Oakland av


Park av. to Claremont av


50


640


Mar. 6, 1871. Apr. 14, 1896. Sept. 23, 1878.


Oakledge st.


Bow st. to Park av. ext


40


311


1Old Mystic st ..


Mystic st. to Mystic st


40


2,200


Old Town Way, named Mystic st., Nov. 9, 1846


Orchard pl.


Mass. av. soutlierly


25


500


Orchard terrace


Medford st. westerly


40


344


Orient av


Davis av. to Fairview av


40


560


*Orient av


Lexington line to Park pl.


40


2,000


Palmer st


Mass. av. to Broadway


40


470


Mar. 14, 1892.


Palmer st.


Broadway to Warren st


40


495


Nov. 22, 1906.


Parallel st


Franklin st. to Medford st


40


410


*Park av ..


Lowell st. to Belmont line.


80


5,920


June 29, 1875.


Park av. ext ....


Lowell st. easterly ..


40


1,032


*Park pl


Madison av. to Crescent Hill av


40


300


"Park boulevard


Mass. av. to B. & M. R. R


40


1,680


Park circle


Park av. to Park av.


40


1,050


Park st.


Warren st. to Coral st.


40


1,518


Park st. pl.


Park st. westerly


30


125


tPaul Revere rd


Appleton st. to Mass. av


50


2,050


Nov. 10, 1877; also Old Town Way (formerly Vine st.) named Paul Revere rd., Nov. 7, 1901.


Pearl av


Mystic st. easterly


40


668


*Peck av


Wollaston av. westerly


40


600


Peirce st.


Forest st. to Locke st


40


680


Pelham terrace. Pleasant st. westerly


40


345


Old Town Way, named Somerset pl., Nov. 9, 1846.


*Perth rd.


Appleton st. to George st


40


200


Pine Ridge rd ..


Gray st. to Hawthorne av


40


1,171


Pine st.


Summer st. northerly.


40


750


1875.


+Pleasant st.


Mass. av. to Belmont line


4,820


Old Town Way, named Pleasant st., Nov. 9, 1846.


Pond Lane ..


Mass. av. to Spy Pond.


30


750


Nov. 11, 1850.


Prescott st ..


Russell st. to Winslow st


40


591


Prospect av.


Hillside av. to Park av


50


300


Aug. 4, 1884.


Ramsdell court.


Mass. av. northerly


17


200


*Rangeley rd.


Mystic st. to Glen av


40


602


Ravine st.


Irving st. to Gray st


40


368


Mar. 6, 1893.


*Revere st.


Walnut st. to Menotomy rd


40


370


+River st ..


Warren st. to Medford line


40


1,800 1,370


Apr. 14, 1896.


Robbins rd


Gray st. to Hawthorne av


40


1,200


Rockland av


Millett st. north and south


40


551


*Rosslin rd.


Aberdeen rd. to Kilsythe rd.


40


150


*Rublee sť.


Hibbert st. westerly


40


500


Russell st.


Mystic st. to Water st.


40


791


Russell terrace.


Russell st. to Winslow st


40


390


*Sachem av


Mystic st. to Meadow Brook pk.


40


600


Sawin st


Henderson st. to Teel st


40


215


Mar. 16, 1908.


Sawin st


Teel st. westerly


30


200


*School st.


Mass. av. to Gray st.


40


1,363


*Shawmut pl.


Summer st. northerly


36


400


Schouler court.


Mass. av. northerly.


30


340


*Second st ..


Peck av. to Lanark rd.


40


150


.


Mar. 14, 1892.


Mar. 2, 1857.


Robbins rd


Mass. av. to Gray st.


45


Mar. 4, 1872. Mar. 14, 1892.


40


Mar. 30, 1903. Mar. 4, 1872.


166


TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.


TABLE SHOWING THE LOCATION, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF ACCEPTED AND PRIVATE STREETS.


§ LENGTH.


NAME.


LOCATION.


Width.


Date of Acceptance.


Accepted Prviate


*Selkirk rd


Aberdeen rd. to Pertlı rd.


40


400


*Shore rd ..


Chapman st. southerly.


40


400


*Short st


Chestnut st. easterly.


40


200


Spring Lane


Pleasant st. to Highland av


3,450


Old Town Way, named Spring pl. Nov. 9, 1846.


*Smith st


Arnold st. to Lancaster rd.


40


600


Spring Valley


Pleasant st. to Spy Pond.


25


520


Nov. 11, 1850; Apr. 15, 1867.


*Spring rd


Sutherland rd. southerly


40


300


Summer st


Mystic st. to Grove st


3,320


Apr. 7, 1873, also Old Town Way, Nov. 9, 1846.


Summer st.


Grove st. to Pine st.


50


920


Mar. 16, 1908.


Summer st


Pine st. northerly.


1,900


Sunnyside av


Broadway easterly


40


445


Sutherland rd.


Paul Revere rd. to Aberdeen rd.


40


750


Swan pl


Mass. av. southerly.


30


600


Swan st


Pleasant st. to Swan pl.


40


250


Mar. 14, 1877.


Sylvia st.


Lexington line to Rublee st.


40


800


Tanager st


Wollaston av. to Wollaston av


40


1,150


Nov. 22, 1906.


Teel st


Mass. av. to Sawin st


40


560


Mar. 10, 1884.


Teel st.


Sawin st. to Cross st


40


410


Mar. 9, 1891.


Teel st. pl


Teel st. westerly


30


206


*Third st.


Peck av. to Perth rd


40


100


*Thorndike st


Mass. av. to B. & M. R. R.


40


1,700


Trowbridge st


Mass. av. to Laurel st.


45


1,050


Tufts st.


Mass. av. to Warren st


35


1,300


Apr. 2, 1866.


*Unnamed st.


Sylvia st. westerly


40


170


*Unnamed st.


Gray st. to Gloucester st


40


587


*Unnamed st.


Gray st. to Gloucester st


40


544


*Unnamed st.


Brantwood rd ex to Kensington pk ex Brattle st. easterly


500


*Valentine rd.


Appleton st. to George st


50


900


Wachusett av ..


Wollaston av. to Appleton st


50


650


Nov. 13, 1894.


*Walnut av


Glen av. easterly


40


400


Walnut court.


Walnut st. easterly.


25


275


Walnut st


Mass. av. to Gray st.


33


1,360


Mar. 7, 1870.


+ Warren st.


Medford st. to Broadway


50


2,680


May 27, 1873, also Old Town Way, Nov. 9, 1846.


*Warwick st ..


Trowbridge st. to Laurel st.


45


600


Washington st ..


Brattle st. northerly.


40


see Brattle st. pl.


*Washington av


Madison av. to Orient av


40


250


Water st.


Mass. av. to Russell st.


40


680


*Water st. ext.


Mystic st. to Russell st ..


50


1,300 550


*Webcowet rd.


Medford st. northerly


40


1,135


Webster st.


Broadway to Warren st.


40


680 650


May 27, 1873. Nov. 8, 1887.


Wellington st ..


Pleasant st. easterly


40


*Wellingt'nst ex


Wellington st. to Addison st.


40


191


West st.


Wollaston av. southerly


50


320


Westminster av Lowell st. to Lexington line


50


2,310


Aug. 4. 1884; Mar. 17, 1881.


Westmoreland


av


Lowell st. to Orient av


40


985


Whittemore st ..


Mass. av. to B. & M. R. R.


40


470


*Wilbur av ..


Wollaston av. east and west


40


900


Williams st.


Arnold st. southerly


40


500


Mar. 15, 1894.


*Waverly st. .


·


Wachusett av. to Chesnut st


50


40


787


*Unnamed st.


167


TOWN ENGINEERS REPORT.


TABLE SHOWING THE LOCATION, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF ACCEPTED AND PRIVATE STREETS.


§ LENGTH.


NAME.


LOCATION.


Width.


Date of Acceptance.


Accepted Private


Willow pl.


Mass. av. northerly


30


169


Windermere av.


Bartlett av. northwesterly


40


350


Mar. 27, 1906.


*Windsor st.


Mass. av. to Laurel st.


45


1,000 200


Windermere et.


Windermere av. westerly


30


Winnick pl


Medford st northwesterly.


20


350


Winslow st


Mystic st. to Russell terrace


40


528


Mar. 14, 1892.


Winter st


Mass. av. to Broadway


40


1,540


Apr. 13, 1874; also Old Town Way, Nov. 9, 1846.


Wollaston av ..


Park av. to Claremont av.


60


640


Sept. 23, 1878.


Wollaston av.


Claremont av. to Wachusett av


60


400


Wollaston av.


Wachusett av. to West st


60


300


*Woodbury st.


Dundee rd. to Hibbert st


40


750


Woodland st ..


Jason st. to Lincoln st.


40


522


Wyman. st.


Mass. av. to Broadway


40


630


Mar. 19, 1888.


Wyman st ..


Broadway to Warren st.


40


420


Nov. 22, 1906.


1 Streets laid out by County Commissioners.


§ Distances are by scale.


* Length proposed streets and ways 9.7 miles.


Total length of accepted streets and town ways 33 miles. Length private streets and ways open for travel 10.4 miles.


Nov. 13, 1894. Mar. 16, 1908.


168


TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.


GENERAL STATISTICS.


Arlington is situated six miles northwest of Boston in latitude 42 deg., 25 min., N., longitude 71 deg., og min., W., at an eleva- tion above mean tide of from 4 to 377 feet.


Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street, elevation, feet. ... 48 Massachusetts Avenue at Park Avenue, elevation, feet ...... 155 Park Circle at Eastern Avenue (base of standpipe), eleva- tion, feet 377


Crescent Hill Avenue at Park Place, elevation, feet. 28 I


The Town and a part of what is now Belmont was set off from Cambridge and incorporated as West Cambridge in 1807. The name was changed from West Cambridge to Arlington in 1867. Population, estimated. 10,500


Number of polls


2,755


Number of voters : Men, 1,884; women, 118; total. .. 2,002


School enrollment: Public, 2,090; Parochial, 181 ; total 2,27I


Area of Town, including that covered by water, 3,520 acres, or 5 1-2 square miles.


Area covered by water, 237 acres.


Parks : Town, 48.24 acres ; Mystic River Reservation, Metro-


politan, 17.7 acres. 65.94


Town Property, exclusive of Parks, acres 31.6


Total cemetery areas, acres. 41.2


Area taxed, tax rate, $19.30, acres


2,698


Valuation, real estate $9,742,883.


Valuation, personal property $1,337,163.


Public streets and Town ways: Macadam, 10.9 miles ;


gravel, 22 miles ; granite paving, I-10 mile; total miles 33.0


Private Streets open to travel, miles.


9.7


Permanent sidewalks: Concrete, 6.1 miles; brick, I.o mile ; artificial stone, 0.56 miles ; total miles.


7.66


Edgestone, miles.


8.39


Paved gutters, miles.


8.98


Storm drain system, miles


Catch basins 7.0


213.


Sewerage system, 23.81 miles; local Metropolitan sewer system, 3.47 miles ; total miles. 27.28


Particular sewer system (1,109 connections), miles ... Number of buildings connected. 1,138


I2.68


Water mains: Low system, 18.25 miles ; High system, 18.31 miles ; total miles


36.56


169


TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT.


Metropolitan system, miles. 2


Cement lined pipe in use, miles 3.84


Cast iron pipe in use, miles 32.72


Fire hydrants 380


Fire pressure at Massachusetts Avenue and Pleasant Street: Low system, 50 lbs .; High system, 90 lbs


Water services 1,979


Water meters 992


Fire alarm boxes (Gamewell) 35


Police signal boxes (Gamewell) .


I3


Gas mains, 10 miles, more or less.


Street lights : Arc, 83 ; incandescent, 242; total 325


Telephone and telegraph conduits, miles. 4.7I


Electric light conduits, miles. .76


Steam railroads : Double track, 3.59 miles ; single track, 0.24 mile ; total miles trackage. 7.42 Electric railways (double track counted twice), miles . II.74 Houses, 1,692; other buildings, 812; total. . 2,504


Schoolhouses, 6; churches, 10; post offices, 2 ; police station, I ; railroad stations, 3; hose houses, 3; chemical engine, I; hose wagons, 3 ; ladder truck, I.


REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES.


ARLINGTON, MASS., Jan. 20, 1909.


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


GENTLEMEN :- I have the honor to submit herewith my ninth annual report as Superintendent of Wires for the year ending December 31, 1908.


At the Annual Town Meeting the appropriations which have in the past been made separately for the Fire Alarm, Police Signal and Inspection of Wires Department were consolidated under one appropriation to be known as the Wire Department. This change was recommended to the Auditor by your Superintendent, to the end that the keeping of the accounts might be simplified, and also to make an expenditure of the appropriation made for the Town's electrical systems more advantageous in the purchasing of sup- plies direct for one department instead of for three as in the past. This recommendation received the approval of your Auditor, and the electrical appropriations called for were submitted by him to the Committee of Twenty-one as one appropriation for the Wire Department.


.


The work of the Wire Department may be classified under the following divisions :


I. Inspection of Electrical Wiring in Buildings.


2. Inspection of Electrical Wiring on the Streets.


3. Maintenance and operation of the Fire Alarm System.


4. Maintenance and operation of the Police Signal System.


5. Construction for Fire Alarm and Police Signal Systems.


6. Supervision of Poles and Wires on the Streets.


7. Supervision of Underground Conduits and Wires.


8. Supervision of Street Lighting.


INSPECTION OF ELECTRICAL WIRING IN BUILDINGS. The work of inspecting electrical wiring in buildings has been given care- ful attention as in the past. Each year shows a very marked im- provement in the class of wiring and fittings installed for electric lighting and power. This condition has been brought about by the united efforts of the various insurance, electrical, architectural


171


SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES.


and other allied interests, which have approved of the rules and requirements of the National Board of Fire Underwriters govern- ing the installation of electric wiring and apparatus as published in the "National Electrical Code."


The enforcement of these rules and requirements by the various electrical departments, the hearty co-operation given the inspec- tion departments by reliable electrical contractors, with the most excellent work done by the Underwriters' laboratories in the test- ing and standardizing of electrical wires and fittings manufac- tured, has brought about a more durable and safe class of con- struction, and it should be the aim of all property owners to see that proper notifications are given the electrical inspection depart- ments of any new work, or changes made in an electrical instal- lation, to the end that an unsafe installation, which has not been inspected, may mean an electrical fire or probably more serious results.


TABULATION OF INTERIOR WIRING INSPECTIONS. MADE IN 1908.


Number of applications received. 210


Number of inspections .. 2911


Number of incandescent lights wired for 2136


Number of motors installed 8


Horse power of motors installed ..


39 5-8


Number of unfinished inspections, Dec. 31st.


42


PERMITS ISSUED FOR INSTALLING OF METERS.


To Edison Electric Illuminating Company, of Boston .... 288


To Lexington Gas & Electric Company, of Lexington. .. 3


Total


291


Incandescent lights installed on Edison service. 3683


Incandescent lights installed on Lex'n G. & E. Co., ser ... 35


Total


3718


Number of motors installed on Edison service. 8


Total horse power of motors installed on Edison service. 39 5-8 Arc lights installed on Edison service. I of 3990 watts


The Lexington Gas and Electric Company were given permis- sion to run wires and supply service for lighting and power in buildings on Sylvia and other streets near the Lexington Town


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SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES.


Line, in accordance with the requirements of this Department. Permission being given by the Edison Electric Illuminating Com- pany to the Lexington Gas and Electric Company to establish this service, the Edison Company not having wires in this vicinity.


INSPECTION OF ELECTRICAL WIRING AND SUPERVISION OF POLES, WIRES AND UNDERGROUND CONDUITS IN THE STREETS. Careful attention has been given to the condition of wires on the streets, and notification immediately given to the companies own- ing wires and poles when the same were found defective, all such notices receiving prompt attention from the various companies. Very little trouble has been experienced with the poles and wires on the streets other than on May 30, at 1:09 P. M., when two hard pine poles on Mystic Street, owned by the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company broke off, and fell into the street nearly opposite the residence of Mr. J. Howell Crosby. The breaking of these poles was in all probability caused by the tightening of the span wires of the street railway several days before. These poles were located on an angle of the street and the strain was very great at this point. As these poles had been inspected and passed as safe several months before, this is a very weighty demonstration of the unreliability of a hard pine pole as a support for wires. The use of hard pine timber for poles has not been permitted by this department for several years, these poles having been set for about eight years. In the breaking of these poles all wires were carried to the street, the poles fall- ing directly across the street, and narrowly missing an electric car that had just passed. The fire alarm wires, including Box 28, telephone wires and trolley wires were all broken, entirely blocking traffic. The breaking of the fire alarm wire gave imme- diate notification to this department of trouble, which was quickly located. The street was cleared by this department in a short time of all wires and broken poles and, with the assistance of the wire employees of other companies summoned, repairs were made in a very short time to the trolley, thus allowing the electric cars to proceed. Box 28 of the fire alarm system was placed in a new location and cut into commission inside of one hour after the break occurred.


The great value of the Police Signal was given at this time, as Box No. 23 of this system, which was in close proximity, was used to telephone to police headquarters orders to notify the various wire companies of the trouble and a quick response was made by all.


Forty-six (46) old poles were replaced on the highways by the following specified companies : Edison Company, 16 poles ; New


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SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES.


England Telephone & Telegraph Company, 25 poles; Atlantic Telegraph by Edison Company, 5 poles.


Seven new poles were set in locations granted as follows :


Petitioner Company. Street. Poles. Date Plan.


Date Granted.


Edison Company.


Paul Revere Road.


2 Jan. 7


Jan. 27, 1908.


Jason St. Cor.


Brantwood Road.


1 June 15


July 20, “


66


Cleveland St.


2


8


20,


N. E. T. & T. Co.


Brattle St.


2


May 8


May 25, “


Three (3) poles were removed by the Edison Company, and locations abandoned, these poles not being considered necessary by this department. Three (3) poles were changed to new loca- tions, one being too near to a fire hydrant, one for relocation of street light and one at the request of an abutter to allow building of a driveway. Twenty-four (24) permits were issued to the above companies to set, replace and remove poles as specified above. Complete records of pole construction are on file at Wire Department headquarters. The high tension system of wires built by the Edison Company on Broadway, from the Somerville line to Junction of Warren Street and on Mystic Street from Corner of Russell Street to the Winchester Town Line, is a very satisfactory piece of construction, the greatest care being shown in the building of these wires and poles.


All construction for electric lighting and power which has been buil+ during the past year has been very satisfactory, and in all cases care has been shown to do work in accordance with the town requirements. The pole construction as done by another company owning poles on our streets has not in many cases been satisfactory, very poor judgment having been shown in the selec- tion of poles to be set, and also in the manner the work was done, and it has been necessary on several occasions to order poles re- placed or reset, which has made much more work than was neces- sary if this work had been done properly in the first place. More attention will have to be given this question in the future by com- panies interested, or drastic measures will be recommended to compel a compliance of the requirements governing this class of work.




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