USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1912 > Part 7
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
85
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
STREET CAR TRAFFIC AT ARLINGTON CENTER.
While the conditions existing at the center of the Town, due to the switching and shifting of cars, have been materially bettered during the year, there is much yet to be desired. As this matter more properly comes under the control of the Joint Board, a full report of what that Board has endeavored to accomplish will be found in their report.
OUTSIDE POOR.
The number of persons aided by the Town has increased slightly during the year, showing only the natural increase to be expected as the population increases. While the appropriation made for the care of the poor has remained the same for the past four years, the expense in caring for the poor has increased and the increase has been paid from the income of the Poor Widows' Fund. This has reduced the income of this fund to a point where a larger appropriation should be made for the poor. The Board examines each individual case and renders aid only where it is deemed abso- lutely necessary. The policy of the Board is not to foster or encourage pauperism, but to render aid to all persons in our midst who, through no fault of their own, are in circumstances which warrant such aid.
That the funds of the Town should not be wasted or misapplied through lack of knowledge of aid received from other sources, a meeting of all the charitable societies of the Town was called and the whole subject of the relief of the poor discussed.
It is hoped that through a thorough understanding with the various aid societies the relief work will be placed on a much more intelligent basis than ever before, and that through the generous effort of our many societies the cost to the Town may not be greatly increased.
During the year three families have been dropped from the list, two because the children had, in the opinion of the Board, reached an age where they were not only self-supporting, but should sup- port the mother. In the other case, the mother (although her youngest child is but five years old) informed the Board that owing to the ability of her other children to work and earn she would no longer require aid from the Town. This action the Board deems most praiseworthy, and it demonstrates that spirit of inde-
1
86
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
pendence which the Board desires to instill in the minds of all recipients.
The Town is now caring for about one hundred and fifty persons, the large majority of whom are small children.
The Board is pleased to report that for the first time since the establishment of an almshouse, there are no persons at the present time in any almshouse at the expense of the Town.
The almshouse property continues to draw a revenue for the Town.
For details of expenses, see Auditor's Report.
INSURANCE.
On July 1 last, the Workmen's Compensation Act became operative in Massachusetts, and while the Police and Fire Depart- ments of Municipalities are exempt under this law, still it was expedient to protect our other departments where it was found necessary, and the Liability Insurance was re-adjusted and by a special ruling from the Home Office of the Company, they per- mitted our insurance to be written so as to include principally the maintenance of highways and laying of water mains and sewer pipes, excavations and similar work, and the Board felt that it was safeguarding the Town in not insuring under this Act the less hazardous departments and clerical help of same, and by so doing we were enabled to make a saving of nearly $500 per annum over what the premium would have been if we had not been able to make an exemption.
Regarding the Town's Fire Insurance, the Board felt it neces- sary to increase the amount of insurance under the schedule form to provide for the additional fire equipment purchased and the additions to the Crosby School and increased values in some of the other buildings, so that the Town is now carrying a total of $600,000 under a blanket schedule form covering all the Town's property and in consideration of the Town's reduction of rate from $1.35 to $1.05, five years, it has cost the Town Treasury no more money to carry this additional insurance than we formerly paid at the higher rate.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
During the year this department has been called upon to do extra service, first, in the quarantine maintained for the prevention
87
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
of the spread of small pox cases, discovered at 11 Lowell Street, on January 29, 1912. This required the constant service of about six weeks in order to maintain a quarantine. Second, during June, a strike was instituted by the employees of the Boston Elevated Railway Company and continued during about three weeks, re- quiring the services of all the regular men and all the specials available.
During the year Officer Barry has been, through illness, unable to perform his duties for a long period. This has crippled the force, and the Board would recommend that three new officers be appointed to meet the requirements of the department.
The Board also favors the installation of two additional police signal boxes and the purchase of a motor cycle for the use of the department.
The force consists at the present time of a Chief, a Lieutenant, a Sergeant and five patrolmen. '
Owing to the increase in the population of the Town, the number of new streets laid out and the demand of citizens in various parts of the Town for more efficient police protection, the recommenda- tion herein contained should be adopted.
For further details your attention is called to the Report of the Chief of Police.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
During the past year the Fire Department has continued to do efficient work. Numerous changes have been made during the past year, as recommended in the report of last year. These changes have been found to give satisfactory results. While the Town has appropriated $8,000.00 for the purchase and installation of a triple combination auto pump, chemical and hose wagon, to be installed at the Broadway house, and the changes necessary in said house, no money has, as yet, been expended for this purpose. It is expected, however, that the new apparatus will be placed in commission within a very short time, when the repairs and changes will be made. By this change two pairs of horses will be disposed of, making a direct saving to the Town of the cost of maintenance of these horses of about $500 per year.
During the year there have been sixty-nine bell alarms and sixty-four still alarms, making a total of one hundred and thirty- four alarms, as against one hundred and nineteen in 1911.
١
88
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The work of the department has been very efficient, and with the installation of the new apparatus the Board feels that the Town is well protected against fire hazards.
For detail of expenses connected with the department, see the Auditor's Report.
COAL FOR TOWN DEPARTMENTS.
As has been the custom in past years the Board issued invita- tions to ten different firms for furnishing coal to the various de- partments of the Town except the School Department, this depart- ment furnishing its own coal. Four bids were received. The bid of the Peirce & Winn Coal Company being the lowest received, they were awarded the contract. The prices for the various kinds and grades of coal are as follows:
Delaware & Hudson, furnace, egg and stove. $6.48
William Penn and Reading, furnace, egg and stove 6.73
Honey Brook, furnace, egg and stove. . 7.10
Delaware & Hudson, stove (outside poor) 7.40
The departments furnished with coal are Town Hall, Library, Fire, Water and Highway Departments, and Outside Poor.
GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS.
The work of this department has been done during the past year under the direction of the Superintendent, William H. Bradley.
The Board desire to record their appreciation of the efficient manner in which Mr. Bradley has performed this work.
A weekly report of the work of the department is made to the Board, and they are thus enabled to keep in close touch with the work being done.
The following is Superintendent Bradley's report of the condi- tion in the Town.
"The Town as a whole is in fairly good condition, in so far as the above pests are concerned. The usual spraying, burlapping, cleaning up of neglected property, etc., have been attended to in their seasons. While the gypsy moths have been checked to a great extent, it would be a serious mistake to retard the work at this time by insufficient appropriation. The policy of the Board has been rigidly carried out in keeping the cost of the work to both property owner and Town at the minimum. During the spraying
89
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
season, which lasts from four to six weeks, six horses and from twelve to fifteen men are employed. This, with from eight to nine tons of arsenate of lead which is used, forms the principal item of expense, amounting to about $2500 each year. At all other times the force has rarely exceeded six men.
"Taking the cost and character of last year's work, which should be a fair 'criterion for the coming year, I would recommend an appropriation of $8000, $5000 of this amount to be expended in suppressing the moths on Town trees and private estates where the cost of work exceeds the liability; $2000 for financing the work on private property and $1000 to cover the cost of a new power spraying machine, which was voted at the November meeting. This is in excess of last year's appropriation and will perhaps need some explanation. From the $5000 appropriated for the care of Town trees and private estates where the cost of labor exceeds the liability the Town receives no reimbursement from the State. Of the $2000 asked to cover the cost of the work on private prop- erty where the liability exceeds the cost of work the Town is reim- bursed in full from the several estates where work is performed. By appropriating and expending the above amounts, together with $1000 for a new spraying machine, the Town would be entitled to reimbursement from the State to the extent of $500, making a total expenditure to the Town of $5500, including a new spraying machine valued at $1250.
"Rather than continue repairing, it was deemed advisable to dispose of at least one of our old machines and replace it with one of modern type. Advices from various sources led to the purchase of a machine from the Fitzhenry Guptill Company of Cambridge at a cost of $1250. This machine has been used in several towns in this vicinity and has given good satisfaction.
"It should be understood that where the Town makes an appropriation of $2000 to finance the work on private estates, all of which amount is returned to the Town, no part of such reimbursement can be used by the department, but is carried into the Treasury receipts, to be used for any purpose to which the Town votes to apply it.
"Respectfully submitted, "WILLIAM H. BRADLEY, " Superintendent."
.
90
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
TOWN YARD PROPERTY.
The Board would call the attention of the citizens to the pur- poses for which this property was purchased. At the Town Meet- ing of March, 1909, the sum of $3500 was appropriated for the purchase of this property, to be used as a Town Yard, meaning and intending that the uses to which the property should be devoted would be the storage of material used in the Highway Department, the Sewer Department, the Water and Health De- partments. While the Town has since that time erected on the property a building used as a garbage house for the Health Depart- ment, no other improvements have been made. It is the opinion of this Board that this property should be developed on the plan for which it was purchased, and that immediate steps should be taken to make provision for the Highway, Water and Sewer Departments in the care and storage of material used by them. By the improvement of this property for these purposes the Board is convinced that a large saving can be made in the handling of these materials.
LICENSES.
The Board has continued the policy established a year ago of requiring a license from the Board for all public entertainments. This policy has worked no hardship, as no fee is charged, and it has enabled the Board to grant or refuse licenses as conditions required.
COMMON VICTUALLERS. During the year the usual number of applications have been received for licenses as Common Victuallers. The Board has very carefully considered each application, and three of these applications have been refused. The policy of the Board is that in the granting of a license, which gives the licensee the privilege of keeping his place of business open on Sunday, the premises should in all respects comply with the requirements of the law governing such licenses and not be used as a subterfuge for keeping such places of business open on Sunday for the sale of any wares which they might have. As the law giving the Board authority to issue licenses for the sale of cigars, soda and confectionery on Sundays has not been accepted by the Town no licenses of this nature have been issued, although numerous appli- cations have been made.
. 91
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
BILLIARDS AND POOL. During the year the Board has received numerous applications for licenses to conduct billiard and pool rooms in various sections of the Town. Only three of these licenses have been granted. The policy of the Board is that in granting these licenses the desires of the citizens residing in the locality where the license is asked for should be consulted and their wishes respected.
JUNK. During the year four licenses have been issued for the collection of junk and second-hand articles, at $100 each. By reducing the number of licenses granted and fixing a fair price for the privilege the Board feel that they are better able to place these licenses in the hands of responsible parties and that the police are in a better position to guard and protect the public from the larceny of property, than was and would be the case where a larger number of licenses are granted at a nominal fee.
LICENSES GRANTED.
The following licenses were granted during the year:
COMMON VICTUALLERS. A. C. LaBreque, 606 Massachusetts Avenue; Isabella M. MacDonald, 1406 Massachusetts Avenue; A. O. Sprague, 5 Mystic Street; Louis C. McKenna, 460 Massa- chusetts Avenue; Napoleon J. Hardy, 657 Massachusetts Avenue; Christie Anafantis, 1399 Massachusetts Avenue; Louis C. Taylor, shore of Spy Pond; * John J. Dale, 616 Massachusetts Avenue; Joseph Swan, 1410 Massachusetts Avenue; E. M. Parkhurst, 450 Massachusetts Avenue.
JUNK. Max Rosenfeldt, 1306 Cambridge Street, Cambridge; Benny Klaymer, 479 Columbia Street, Somerville; Dennis O'Keefe, 30 Huntington Street, Cambridge; Joseph Berkman, 134 Pine Street, Cambridge.
POOL TABLE. *Joseph W. Ronco, Post Office Building; *Raphael D. Guarente, 612 Massachusetts Avenue; * Harvey E. Giles, 444 Massachusetts Avenue; Protto and Manetta, 464 Massachusetts Avenue.
AUCTIONEERS. Arthur J. Hendrick, 99 Medford Street; Frank Y. Wellington, 15 Wellington Street; James H. Shedd, 28 Draper Avenue; Frank V. Noyes, 11 Gray Street; George D. Moore, 133 Broadway; F. Alfred Patterson, Arlington Heights; Winthrop
*Transferred.
92
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Pattee, Jason Street; James M. Mead, Mt. Vernon Street; Albert H. Goodwin, Water Street.
INTELLIGENCE OFFICE. Ellen M. Dow, Wyman Street.
To TRANSPORT LIQUORS UNDER CHAPTER 421, ACTS OF 1906. George H. McClellan, Webster Street; Wood Brothers Express, Water Street; Arthur M. Curtin, 963 Massachusetts Avenue; American Express Company, Railroad Station, Arlington; John J. Devlin, Moore Court.
No sixth-class licenses were issued. For further details . of expenditures made, see Auditor's Report.
JACOB BITZER, HERBERT W. RAWSON, FRANK V. NOYES,
Selectmen.
GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT.
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES AS TO CHARACTER OF WORK. JANUARY, 1912, TO JANUARY, 1913.
Labor
Material
Sundries
Burlapping
$59.38
Cutting brown-tails
424.79
$0.45
Cutting, pruning and burning
381.67
Planting wilt disease
3.10
Removing burlap
24.50
Turning burlap
374.64
Spraying
872.20
846.64
Treating nests
1,044.73
51.95
Trimming trees
344.59
Inspection
19.70
Storehouse labor
76.41
Superintendent and clerk, salaries
$1,018.00
Team hire
560.25
Tools, repairs and supplies
170.64
Office supplies and expenses
182.11
Storehouse rent
106.00
$3,625.71
$899.04
$2,037.00
Labor
$3,625.71
Materials
899.04
Sundries
2,037.00
Total
$6,561.75
93
94
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES AS TO LOCATION OF WORK. JANUARY, 1912, TO JANUARY, 1913.
Labor
Material
Sundries
Almshouse
$0.50
Crosby School yard
5.34
$ 070
Hospital lot
33.94
30.00
Hose No. 2, Fire Department
.56
.30
Meadow Brook Park
140.59
18.05
Menotomy Rocks Park
465.83
66.05
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
64.10
6.15
New Town Yard
.56
.30
Private work
1,412.69
444.62
Reservoir woods
183.31
.75
Robbins Library
10.13
Spy Pond field
.50
.05
Stone crusher lot
14.16
9.65
Street trees
1,102.71
283.03
Town pit, Mystic Street
1.69
.90
Town pit, Grove Street
.57
.36
Waste land
92.42
38.13
Inspection
19.70
Storehouse labor
76.41
Superintendent and clerk, salaries
$1,018.00
Team hire
560.25
Tools, repairs and supplies
170.64
Office supplies and expense
182.11
Storehouse rent
106.00
$3,625.71
$899.04
$2,037.00
Labor
$3,625.71
Materials
899.04
Sundries
2,037.00
Total
$6,561.75
COMPARATIVE TABLES. TABLE I.
APRIL 1
1912
1911
1910
1909
1908
Valuation of Real Estate.
Valuation of Personal Property .
$12,231,799 00 1,748,750 00
$11,437,608 00 1,672,875 00
$10,380,486 00 1,506,781 00
$10,046,304 00 1,433,610 00
$9,742,883 00 1,362,163 00
Totals .
$13,980,549 00
$13,110,483 00 .$11,887,267 00
$11,479,914 00
$11,105,046 00
Number of Property Tax Payers.
2,813
2,645
2,504
2,391
2,348
Number of Polls.
3,215
3,123
2,774
2,787
2,754
Number Paying Poll Tax only
2,378
2,244
2,040
2,068
2,073
Population .
12,000*
11,187
11,187
9,678
9,678
Number of Dwelling Houses .
2,016
1,902
1,821
1,749
1,692
Valuation of Buildings, exclusive of Land . Valuation of Land, exclusive of Buildings . .
$7,326,450 00 4,905,349 00
$6,709,970 00 4,727,638 00
$6,249,956 00 4,130,536 00
$5,997,854 00 4,048,450 00
$5,691,029 00 4,051,854 00
Number of Acres of Land Assessed.
2,668
2,711
2,650
2,681
2,698
.
* Estimated.
95
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
.
96
TABLE II .- STATE TAXES.
1912
1911
1910
1909
1908
State Tax
$18,875 00
$16,610 00
$16,610 00
$13,635 00
$16,665 00
County Tax
10,388 47
10,605 00
11,519 57
11,682 45
10,508 38
Metropolitan Sewer Tax .
11,166 80
10,948 34
10,319.02
9,169 53
9,507 38
Metropolitan Water Tax.
18,996 13
18,249 50
16,241 07
17,442 46
16,552 50
Metropolitan Park Tax.
6,914 95
9,226 69
5,537 80
5,253 27
5,129 49
Charles River Basin Tax .
934 79
Alewife Brook Tax.
2,497 50
Totals.
$69,773 64
$65,639 33
$60,227 46
$57,182 71
$58,362 75
Assessors' commitment to Collector of
Taxes . . .
Town Grant.
$297,224 20 256,703 08 20 80
$273,700 36 231,040 04 20 40
$238,934 47 210,119 29 20 10
$217,954 82 192,023 44 18 50
$219,836 91 190,557 55
Tax Rate.
19 30
·
.
.
.
.
.
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
TABLE III .- TOWN DEBT.
1912
1911
1910
1909
1908
Water Loans .
$275,000 00
$361,000 00
$367,000 00
$355,000 00
$348,000 00
Sewer Loans.
126,500 00
130,500 00
134,500 00
121,000 00
119,000 00
Town House Site Loans
52,000 00
52,000 00
52,000 00
52,000 00
52,000 00
Park Loans. .
15,000 00
15,000 00
15,000 00
15,000 00
15,000 00
School Loans.
170,750 00
182,200 00
193,650 00
146,798 64
157,248 64
New Streets . .
3,000 00
4,000 00
7,000 00
8,500100
7,000 00
Town Yard. .
1,500 00
2,000 00
3,500 00 1
3,000_00
High School Lot.
12,000 00
Totals .
$655,750 00
$746,700 00
$772,650 00
. $701,298 64
$698,248 64
TABLE IV .- CORPORATION RECEIPTS.
1912
1911
1910
1909
1908
Corporation Tax
$6,781 94
$5,787 32
$5,316 93
$6,641 06
$8,785 61
Bank Tax.
7,124 50
7,216 99
5,063 94
3,852 63
5,711 96
Street Railway Tax.
15,310 50
16,816 33
15,552 43
14,417 50
13,120 14
Boston Elevated Railway Tax.
2,898 09
2,949 17
2,860 14
2,719 10
2,668 42
Boston & Northern Street Railway Tax. .
349 89
226 93
340 03
329 93
323 14
Lexington & Boston Street Railway Tax. ..
96 29
68 04
66 40
63 30
64 40
.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
97
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1912, TO- GETHER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR.
ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1, 1913.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen: In submitting to you my eighth annual report of the doings of the police department for the year 1912, I would also call your attention to some very important matters as to why a larger expenditure of money for better police protection for the year 1913 is necessary.
A fact that should not be lost sight of in dealing with this problem is that the police department, besides enforcing the laws of the Commonwealth within the confines of the town, in caring for life and property of the citizens, assists practically every other department in the town.
It assists the fire department by keeping a sharp lookout for fires, day and night, and rendering them assistance at fires; the highway department, in reporting to them obstructions and dangerous places in the streets and sidewalks, carefully guarding them that no person shall receive injury; the wire department, by reporting defective wires found broken or burning trees; the electric light department, by reporting to them all lights found unlit at night, and the board of health by seeing that the rules and regulations made by them in certain cases are complied with.
This department in size is of the same number (chief and eight men) that it was in 1900. Then the population of the town was 8600 with 1438 residences on 95 streets which totalled some 32 miles in length.
Today, 12 years later, with the same number of men, in fact, with practically one less, as will be shown, we are trying to care for a population of about 12,000, together with about 2000 resi- dences on over 167 streets which now total some 67 miles in length. One illustration of the increased demands made can' be done] in
98
99
CHIEF OF POLICE
no better way than by stating that in 1912, 553 complaints were received and investigated against 59 in 1900.
Route number 1 is at Arlington Heights, all territory west and north of the junction of Massachusetts Avenue and Forest Street, and is about twelve and one-half miles long.
Route number 2 is all territory between Mill and Academy Streets and Forest Street, and is about eight and one-half miles long.
Route number 3 is all territory from monument to Mill Street, including Pleasant and Mystic Streets, and is about eight and one- fourth miles long.
Route number 4 extends from the monument to Medford line and Broadway to the Somerville line, and is about six miles long.
Route number 5 is from the monument to the Belmont line, including Massachusetts Avenue to the Cambridge line, and is about six miles long.
There are two officers doing patrol duty during the day. One has all territory north and west of the Town Hall to the Lexington line, and the other has all territory to the east and south of the Town Hall bounded by the Belmont, Cambridge, Medford, and Somerville town lines.
To properly patrol a route eight to twelve miles long and to attend promptly to every complaint made by an impatient pub- lic is beyond the possibilities of any one man, but nevertheless we are required to do this very thing.
I have frankly stated to your honorable board and to the finance committee in previous reports, that the growth of the town and the ever increasing duties imposed upon this department make it imperative that the number of patrolmen should be increased.
The members of this department are required to labor seven days a week, each day of at least nine hours, or practically 124 days a year per man more than is expected or required of other town employees.
Outside of the regular tour of duty, officers have performed about 1500 hours extra duty during the past year. It should be thoroughly understood that the regular, men receive NO extra compensation for this work, other than that which is given to every police department in the State, namely a two weeks vaca- tion, one day off in thirty with full pay each year, and full pay for sickness, not exceeding ten days in any one year.]
100
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
I have asked that provision be made to meet the vacancies caused by vacations, the one day off in thirty, and sickness, but owing to the lack of an appropriation for this purpose, when an officer is absent from his route, it is taken care of by the officer on the adjoining route. This has been, as you will admit, an un- satisfactory method, leaving us, as it does, short-handed practi- cally all the time.
During the past year this department has lost the services of an officer from his regular tour of duty 370 days for causes as follows:
Eight men, fourteen days' vacation each 112 days
Eight men, one day off in thirty 96 days
Absent on account of sickness 140 days
Absent for other reasons 22 days
In view of the facts herein presented, I would recommend that the various routes be rearranged and shortened, that four addi- tional men be added to this department and that the sum of $2740 be appropriated for this specific purpose.
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.