USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1911 > Part 16
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Belknap Street and Marion Road - These streets were brought to grade with gravel filling from the Boston Elevated conduit trenches on Massachusetts Avenue, then covered with a thin layer of crushed stone well watered and rolled, thus forming a covering over the road about two (2) inches thick. After the roadway had thoroughly dried out, so that it presented a hard, smooth surface, it was covered with a coating of Tarvia "B" and well sanded. This coating will keep the road in good condition and with another coating in the spring will complete the construction work on these streets.
Harvard Street - This street was brought to grade with screened gravel for the entire length, and paved gutters were put in for about half the length of the road on both sides. The sidewalks, where practicable, were brought to grade and in other places were left high, as the abutters objected to their being cut down to grade at that time. The entire length is now approximately to grade and when rolled in the spring, will present a good gravel road.
Norfolk Road - A storm drain was laid up the middle of the roadway with four catch-basins, two at the end of the present accepted street, and two about half way up the hill. A paved gutter was laid from the top of the hill to the end on both sides, and curbstone the entire length - that is, from Jason Street to a point about 250 feet from Pleasant Street, which point being the end of the present accepted street. Brick sidewalks were laid on both sides the entire length except a piece about 200 feet long on the southerly side from Jason Street to Kensington Park Exten- sion. This portion was covered with gravel. The roadway was covered with crushed stone thoroughly watered and rolled, making a hard macadam surface which should last some time.
Lombard Terrace - The roadway at the lower end of this street was greatly below grade and the banking on the Park side
222
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
was dangerous to the public. The iron fence which bounded the Park side of the street was extended for a distance of 100 feet and the roadway was brought to approximate grade with gravel. This material was obtained from the Boston Elevated Railway power station on Water Street, and was delivered upon the street with- out expense to the town. A man from this department however levelled off and graded the street properly. This work has brought the roadway to an approximate grade and improves the appear- ance of the street. A gravel sidewalk was also built on the west side to the end of the street.
PERMANENT SIDEWALKS.
Massachusetts Avenue - As the sum of $1000 had been appro- priated for the construction of the brick sidewalk on Massachu- setts Avenue, this sidewalk was built as far as Grove Street and later extended to a point opposite the westerly side line of Mt. Vernon Street.
Owing to decay, the large tree locally known as the Whittemore elm at the lower end of the town on Massachusetts Avenue had to be removed, and the sidewalk straightened. The hole in the road- way caused by the removal of the tree was filled with crushed stone and rolled. Fifty and eight-tenths (50.8) feet of edgestone was laid from a point about 50 feet north of Henderson Street, to a' point about 100 feet north. This change straightened the line of the edgestone and gave more width to the roadway, which in the past was quite narrow and made the traffic crowd over on to the rails.
Opposite the Town Hall and corner of Pleasant Street, the long crosswalk was removed and replaced opposite the entrance to the Post-Office. In order to make this change, it became necessary to make a change in the sidewalk on the church side of the avenue, and this was done by extending the edgestone 22.5 feet toward the east, and straightening part of the curve on Pleasant Street, mak- ing suitable returns with the edgestone to allow a proper driveway to the church. The space thus gained was bricked and now forms a suitable place for people using the new crosswalk in passing to and from the depot.
Owing to the change in the location of this crosswalk and also to the fact that the stopping place for the electric cars on the
223
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
easterly corner of Pleasant Street was a very dangerous one to the public, the white posts for both the inward and outward bound cars were changed to the poles at the new crossing. By this ar- rangement the people coming from town get off at a much more convenient place and where they are not obliged to cross the long open space to Pleasant Street, thus avoiding the danger of being struck by passing automobiles. The pole for the inward bound cars although in a much more open place is not only more conven- ient to the general public, but safer.
A brick walk was built on the southerly side of the avenue from the railroad crossing to Swan Place. The entrance to Swan Place was paved from the line of the back edge of the sidewalk to three feet beyond the gutter line.
At Grafton Street corner of Massachusetts Avenue the edge- stone was extended for a distance of 14 feet and then 20 feet of curve stone was laid so as to form a suitable return into Grafton Street. The sidewalk was repaired with crushed stone.
Robbins Road - A brick sidewalk was laid upon this street from Massachusetts Avenue to the southerly property line of the Cutter School.
Mystic Street corner of Davis Avenue - A curve corner was put in leading into Davis Avenue, and the sidewalk was built of brick.
Paul Revere Road - A brick walk was built from the easterly end of Locke School and extending to Park Avenue.
Old Mystic Street - Edgestone was set on Old Mystic Street from the northerly line of Mr. Young's and extending to and join- ing the edgestone on Mystic Street.
Gray Street - Edgestone was laid from the corner of Revine Street and extending for a distance of 79.9 feet easterly towards Pleasant Street, this being in front of the property of Mr. Smith.
Lewis Avenue - There was 96 feet of edgestone set in front of Mr. Cronin's place on Lewis Avenue, and the gravel sidewalk re- paired.
Appleton Street - On the southwesterly corner of Appleton Street and Claremont Avenue, the edgestone was extended for a distance of 5.5. feet along Appleton Street and a distance of 4.15 feet in a curve along Claremont Avenue. The sidewalk was re- paired with crushed stone.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The following list shows the number of feet of edgestone set on the following streets :
Feet straight
Feet curve
Davis Avenue
4.0
10.0
Lewis Avenue (Mr. Cronin)
96.0
Grafton Street
17.2
20.0
Swan Place
16.0
. . .
Gray Street
79.9
..
Old Mystic Street
311.6
21.4
Appleton Street
5.47
4.15
Massachusetts Avenue (Henderson Street)
50.8
. . .
Massachusetts Avenue
(Locke dump
westerly)
46.2
.. .
Massachusetts Avenue (corner Pleasant Street)
71.9
5.2
Total edgestone set
699.07
60.75
The following is a list of streets upon which brick sidewalks were built during the past year, also the number of square yards of brickwork done upon them.
Square
Paul Revere Road
245.12
Robbins Road
184.00
Davis Avenue
5.40
Massachusetts Avenue (between Swan Place and the railroad)
100.50
Massachusetts Avenue (Locke dump to Green's store)
986.69
Massachusetts Avenue (corner of Pleasant Street)
47.50
The total number of square yards laid
1569.21
The following repairs were made upon the tarcrete walks about town which needed repairing.
Square Yards
Tanager Street
58
Wollaston Avenue
95
Park Avenue
13
Locke School (Paul Revere Road)
13
Yards
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
Square Yards
Pleasant Street
84
Jason Street
21
Gray Street
17
Webster Street
15
Massachusetts Avenue and Broadway
306
Massachusetts Avenue and Medford Street
290
Bartlett Avenue
8
Robbins Road (Cutter School)
3
Total square yards repaired
923
STORM DRAINS.
In the construction of Norfolk Road it became necessary to build an outlet to the storm drain which was laid in that street. Accordingly an eighteen-inch clay pipe was laid from Chapman Street along Pleasant Street, crossing and intersecting Norfolk Road storm drain and extending to Kensington Park, where the main line from that road was diverted from the line running south- erly down Pleasant Street, and connected to the main line running northerly. This eighteen-inch main line was then extended down Chapman Street to the pond, where an outlet was made for what is now called Kensington Park and Norfolk Road district.
Owing to the damage done to the property abutting Pleasant Street in past years in time of excess rain, and to the fact that the storm drain system was not sufficiently large enough to take care of the tremendous amount of water falling in that district, the Kensington Park system of storm drain was disconnected, and connected with the Chapman Street storm drain. Two new catch- basins were also built, one about one hundred feet south and the other about one hundred feet north of the old catch-basin which is situated about opposite No. 216 Pleasant Street. The con- struction of these two basins, together with discontinuing the Kensington Park line, seems to have overcome the flood question as no trouble has resulted since the change.
On Wellington Street a large catch-basin was built at the foot of the street with an outlet into the pond.
On Hutchinson Road the ten-inch pipe system was extended to the top of the hill, where a large-size catch-basin with inlet was
226
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
built. This catch-basin takes the wash from the driveway leading into the Walsh estate, which seems to be a natural water course.
Bow Street - Owing to the construction of the sidewalk on this street, it became necessary to construct a catch-basin at the lowest part of the street with an outlet into the main eighteen-inch pipe already laid there. This catch-basin was necessary in order to take care of the flow of water on the southerly side of the roadway and where there was no place into which it could run, thus pre- venting flooding after every storm.
At the corner of Robbins Road and Massachusetts Avenue there were two small catch-basins built between the tracks, with an out- let into the eighteen-inch main pipe line which takes the storm water from Robbins Road. These catch-basins take the water that comes down the avenue from Appleton Street out of the track.
On Old Mystic Street there are two catch-basins which emptied on to the land of Mr. Bridge's, and upon his offering to pay for the change, the outlet pipe was lowered and a catch-basin was built to catch the water. A ten-inch clay pipe was laid from this basin across his land to the culvert on Mystic Street. By this arrange- ยท ment the water was thus able to reach an outlet without damaging the adjacent property.
STREET WATERING.
The following is a list of streets which were watered or oiled during 1911, showing the width, number of applications, distance in feet, and with what covered.
Street Name
Width Covered
No. of Applications
Lin. Ft.
Remarks
Academy Street
Whole
One
1520
Oiled
Addison Street
Whole
Two
420
Oiled
Appleton Street
Whole
One
2061
Oiled
Bacon Street
Whole
One
345
Oiled
Bacon Street
Whole
One
345
Tarvia "A"
Bartlett Avenue
Whole
One
2132
Oiled
Broadway
Half
One
2753
Tarvia "A"
Broadway
Half
One
2647
Tarvia "B"
Broadway
Half
One
5400
Tarvia "B"
Chestnut Street
Whole
One
500
Oiled
Cleveland Street
Whole
Two
1608
Oiled
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
Street Name
Width No. of Covered Applications
Lin. Ft.
Remarks
Central Street
Whole
One
523
Oiled
Court Street
One
One
334
Oiled
Court Street Place
Whole
One
220
Oiled
Forest Street
Whole
One
1170
Oiled
Henderson Street
Whole
Two
1000
Oiled
Irving Street
Whole
One
1270
Oiled
Jason Street
Whole
One
2474
Oiled
Linwood Street
Whole
Two
427
Oiled
Lake Street
Whole
Two
1293
Oiled
Lowell Street
Whole
One
3876
Tarvia "B"
Mystic Street
Whole
One
2800
Tarvia "A"
Mystic Street
Whole
One
5350
Tarvia "B"
Medford Street
Half
One
713
Tarvia "A"
Medford Street
Half
One
713
Tarvia "B"
Medford Street
Whole
One
2467
Tarvia "B"
Maple Street
Whole
One
670
Oiled
Marathon Street
Whole
Two
1730
Oiled
Massachusetts Avenue Whole
Three
18,310
Oiled and
Watered
Pleasant Street
Whole
Two
3669
Oiled and
Watered
Pleasant Street
Whole
One
1151
Tarvia "B"
Pelham Terrace
Whole
Two
345
Oiled
Palmer Street
Whole
One
965
Tarvia "B"
Park Avenue
Whole
Two
900
Oiled
Russell Street
Whole
One
791
Oiled
Sawin Street
Whole
Two
215
Oiled
Teel Street
Whole
Two
970
Oiled
Warren Street
Whole
Two
2680
Oiled
Wyman Street
Whole
One
1050
Tarvia "B"
Windermere Avenue
Whole
Two
350
Oiled
Wellington Street
Whole
Two
448
Oiled
Winter Street
Whole
Two
1540
Oiled
Water Street
Whole
One
680
Oiled
NEW STREETS TARRED.
It is my policy to save the streets that have been built, and to keep and protect them. This year the following list of streets
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
was deemed in good condition, therefore they were covered with a coating of Tarvia "B" and sanded, thus giving them a smooth surface and protecting them from wearing out.
Palmer and Wyman Streets were covered from Warren Street to Massachusetts Avenue with a good coating of tarvia and well sanded.
Chestnut Street from Mystic to Medford Street also Lowell Street from the Lexington line to Massachusetts Avenue was covered with Tarvia "B."
Bacon Street from Mill Street to Central Street was covered with Tarvia "A." This was applied hot and thoroughly rolled with the steam roller after first covering the tar with a good coating of screened gravel.
Mystic Street, Medford Street, Broadway, and the further end of Pleasant Street were also covered with a coating of Tarvia "B." These last named streets will in all probability not have to be touched this year, so that the money thus saved may be spent upon other streets, thus extending the use of tar throughout the town.
SIDEWALK PERMITS.
During the past year there were six (6) applications for grano- lithic walks, three (3) for brick sidewalks, and four (4) for edgestone. From these applications there were five (5) granolithic and three (3) brick sidewalks built, also three (3) of the applications for edge- stone were granted and set. The balance were either withdrawn or not granted.
Granolithic Walks - Among the five (5) granolithic sidewalks that were built, two (2) were not granted permits and received no reimbursement for the work done.
Brick Sidewalks - The three (3) applications for permits for brick sidewalks were withheld as this work was done under the construction of Norfolk Road.
Edgestone - These permits covered the work done for Mr. Cronin on Lewis Avenue, and Mr. Young on Old Mystic Street, also that of Mr. Smith on Gray Street.
COLLECTION OF OFFAL AND ASHES.
The work of this department has increased considerably during the past year and is now equal to the work of four men and two
229
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
teams. During 1912 it will be necessary to divide the town into three districts, each district to have a horse and cart with driver assigned to it, whose duty it will be to keep that district clean re-, gardless of the number of collections. By this arrangement there will be more collections and provision will be made for future, growth of the town, which, as the past year has shown, is increas- ing very rapidly.
The increase this year in the number of houses has been some- thing remarkable and indications point that next year will see even a greater increase. A new district which will open up and which must be provided for, in the collection of both offal and ashes, is the Wilbur Land Company's district at the Heights. There have al- ready been built three new houses and plans are under way for the erection of many more in the spring as soon as the weather permits.
The total amount of offal collected during the year has amounted to about three hundred cords.
The method of handling the ashes is the same as in former years, the Highway Department supplying the teams and horses. As in the case of the offal collection, the cost of collecting ashes and paper has increased considerably over that of last year, the cost being not wholly due to the increase in the number of houses, but to the amount of rubbish that was collected, and the want of con- venient dumping places. The unusual amount of tree limbs, old bicycle frames, vines, mattresses, etc., made the collecting cost a great deal more, and made it impossible to carry much on a load, thereby not covering as much ground as would be covered other- wise.
. During the past year the ash dump at Muller's was abandoned, also that at Frost's on Mill Street. The abandoning of these dumps has made the handling of the ashes an item to be considered, as the length of time to haul the loads from Henderson Street and vicinity to Moore's dump on Broadway takes too long to make many trips in a day.
The question of dumping places is getting to be a serious prob- lem, and provision should be made by the development of certain portions of the town which would give this department places for the dumping of rubbish for a few years to come. This winter will complete the dump at Lloids Coal Company at the Heights, and a new place will have to be found.
230
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Last spring two new paper cans were bought, and one placed opposite the Town Hall at the Centre, and the other at the waiting room at the Heights. These cans have fully repaid the department for their cost. The paper after once being placed in the cans cannot get out and be blown about the streets as is the case with other cans that are opened at the top. A general adoption of these cans should be made by the Town, thereby avoiding the un- sightly condition of paper blowing about the streets and which is impossible to collect, as they blow out of the barrel almost as soon as they are placed in them. The total number of loads of ashes collected during the year amounted to 3719 loads.
OFFAL HOUSE.
The building erected two years ago at the Town Yard for the transfer of offal from the teams in which it is collected, to the teams of the contractors, has been of great advantage in allowing the rapid unloading of the collecting teams.
During the summer it became necessary to construct a series of depressions in the floor of the offal house, each leading into a trap located beneath the floor in one corner of the house, which in turn was connected by a four-inch pipe to a catch-basin located about fifteen feet away from the building and completely buried. These depressions were made so that the floor may be washed thoroughly and the water would then be able to run out and not remain upon the floor, causing a terrible stench on the hot summer days.
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE.
The general maintenance of the streets about town has been kept up to their regular standard with the exception of Massachu- setts Avenue. The avenue was covered with a coating of heavy black oil two years ago. This oil did not prove a success, so had to be removed before anything else could be put upon the surface, as the oil would prevent any bonding of other material to the sur- face of the road. It required most of the year to remove this oil and at the present time the greater part has been removed, so that in the spring work may be done upon the avenue with the idea of improving the condition of the surface.
On Massachusetts Avenue from Appleton Street to Fessenden Road on the left, and opposite Forest Street on the right, there was
231
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
constructed a piece of tar macadam at a fairly reasonable cost. The avenue was repeatedly patched, but the surface being so soft the result was not satisfactory.
The retaining wall for the sidewalk on Summer Street above Mill Street was relaid, also the wall of Mr. Partridge on Claremont Avenue was repaired for a distance of twenty feet, owing to it having fallen during a heavy storm. On Dudley Street from Grove Street westerly, also on Forest Street opposite Bow Street, the stone walls were repaired with cement and a cement top con- structed.
Upon a petition signed by the people on Bow Street and vicinity a gravel sidewalk was constructed on the southerly side of Bow Street from a point about fifty feet west of P. T. Lennon's barn, and extended to the junction of Bow and Lowell Streets. This walk after being allowed to settle was covered with a layer of cinders which has packed down and formed a good walk on that side of the street.
EQUIPMENT.
The equipment of the Highway Division is in good condition. The addition of two new horses to partly replace the three lost the past year by glanders, has kept the department up to its standard, but during the coming year three more horses will be needed to carry on the work of the department. The Health Department will require a horse for the third offal wagon. The Sewer De- partment requires a horse, and one is needed to replace one that was shot.
At the Town barn on Summer Street a drying platform was con- structed to dry the straw bedding. By this arrangement the straw may be used over again several times, thus reducing the amount of waste.
No extensive repairs were needed at the crusher this year, and the plant seems to be in good condition with the exception of the smoke stack which has rusted through and a new one is needed as it is liable to fall any time. The crusher should be thoroughly overhauled in the spring to see that there are none of its parts broken or cracked.
The crushed stone used this year was mostly received upon the cars from the surrounding towns, together with that which was stored and crushed this year. The total number of tons received
232
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
upon the cars during the past year were 730.6 tons. The total amount crushed at the crusher for the year was 1410.75 tons. The total amount of stone stacked was 172 tons, making the total num- ber of tons of stone used during the year 1911 to be 2313.35 tons.
TOWN YARD.
The need of storage facilities in this yard is very great. The want of places to unload sand and crushed stone makes the cost of unloading considerable and there are no places to store material. Under the new freight law, a car must be unloaded in forty-eight hours, and should those days be stormy or for any reason that they are unable to be unloaded in the specified time, they go on demur- rage. This has happened several times the past year, and has caused a useless expense which could have been avoided had there been a place at the Town Yard where materials could have been unloaded and stored.
The excavation for the concrete storage bins has been made. The bins could be built without much trouble and the tracks laid so that the cars could be unloaded directly into them. A tempo- rary wooden bin could be built for the storage of sand, for more sand will be used each year as the use of the tar is extended. The necessity of having a supply of several hundred tons of stone dust is very important, and by the construction of the bins at the Town Yard a supply could always be on hand for emergency repairs.
As the Town has bought this yard with the intention of building it over for the convenience of unloading materials for the use of this and other departments, the immediate development of this property is urgent. During the past year the American Chrome Company sold their property on Grove Street, and by another year it is doubtful if the Town will be able to use this siding for the unloading of the oil or tar cars. As there is no other place in Town suitable for the unloading of the oil, this department will be greatly handicapped for want of same.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
With the winter nearly half over comes the question of what work is required to be done in the spring, and the best method of doing the same. During the past year my attention has been drawn to the need of a few very important improvements and
233
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
should they meet with your approval I earnestly recommend that the following be made.
The extension of the storm drain on Park Avenue to Florence Avenue, also on Appleton Street from Park Avenue to Claremont Avenue, and on Wollaston Avenue to Claremont Avenue. These are three very important drains and by their construction a great deal of money may be saved in the repair of washouts after every heavy storm.
The construction of a catch-basin, corner of Palmer Street and Warren Street, is very much needed, also two catch-basins at least should be constructed on the lower end of Massachusetts Avenue between Lake Street and Magnolia Street, to take the surface water which lodges there. These basins could be made leach basins for the present and could be connected with the storm drain system later.
The re-surfacing of North Union Street with gravel should be done in the spring.
Park Avenue from the water tower to Paul Revere Road should be added to the list of streets watered or oiled, also Lombard Ter- race and Road.
The extension of the permanent sidewalks on all the main streets of the town cannot be too strongly recommended, and the adoption of granolithic sidewalks by the Town as the standard sidewalk I wish to recommend, especially on all of the level streets, using brick for hilly streets only. By using granolithic, the Town obtains a smooth, hard walk, which gives the street a clean, well- kept appearance. A street with a good granolithic walk on both sides and with the surface of the street covered with tarvia, you have a street of which the Town may well be proud. Such streets I am endeavoring to obtain.
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