USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1913 > Part 24
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 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
T Transferred from Maintenance
V Total $21,390.50
$3,080.71
$64,444.31
396
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Expenditures.
FF Extension of mains
$15,546.31
GG Extension of services
1,386.23
HH Extension of meters
4,457.96
VV Total construction for year
$21,390.50
X Bonded debt at date
$277,000.00
Y Amount paid to Sinking Fund and notes from income of water works $115,000.00
Z Average rate of interest, 4 per cent
The total value of the property controlled by the Water Division, January 1, 1914, amounts to $6,125.87, of which $2860 is invested in equipment and tools, and $3265.87 in material available for new work.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY W. HAYES,
H. S. ADAMS, . P. EBERHARDT, Board of Public Works.
REPORT OF THE JOINT BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The following report of the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works is presented to the citizens of the Town, as the tenth annual report of the Board for the year ending December 31, 1913.
The first meeting of the Board was held on March 5, 1913, and all the members having been re-elected were sworn to the faithful performance of their duties by the Town Clerk.
The Board organized as follows:
Chairman, Frank V. Noyes; Clerk, Thomas J. Robinson.
Regular meetings of the Board are held on Monday evenings at eight o'clock.
The Board consists of the three members of the Board of Selectmen and the three members of the Board of Public Works, sitting jointly.
A summary of the duties of the Board is indicated by Section 5 of Chapter 3 of the Acts of 1914, creating the Board, which reads as follows:
"Section 5. Upon the election of said Board of Public Works all the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Selectmen in said Town, now existing or hereafter created by law, relating to highways, Town ways, the laying out and discontinuance of ways, bridges, sidewalks, guide posts, monuments at the termini and angles of roads, public squares, playgrounds, shade trees, sewers, drains, street watering, street lighting, the assessment of damages and betterments, water pipes, gas pipes, conduits, poles, wires, street railways, the granting of locations, rights or licenses for structures upon, under or over highways or other ways, shall be exercised, enjoyed, performed and incurred by a Board consisting of the Selectmen and the Board of Public Works created by this .Act, sitting jointly as the Board of Survey."
The Act establishing this Board was accepted by the Town February 8, 1904, and the operation of the Board appears to have given general satisfaction.
397
398
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
APPOINTMENTS.
The following appointments, for the year ending April 1, 1914, were made by the Board:
Town Counsel, Philip A. Hendrick; Superintendent of Board of Public Works, Robert W. Pond; Town Engineer, George E. Ahern; Superintendent of Wires, Reuben W. LeBaron.
POLICY OF THE BOARD.
The following votes indicating the policy of the Board have been passed:
(a) Width of Streets. At a meeting held October 14, 1907, it was
Voted, That it was the sense of the Board of Survey not to approve of plans for the laying out or construction of streets less than forty feet wide.
(b) Crosswalks. At a meeting held October 28, 1907, it was Voted, That whenever a sidewalk is changed by the con- struction of a new street the sidewalk, including the new crosswalk, must be relaid in as good and permanent a form as before the change, the cost to be a charge against the party constructing the street. In case the Town desires a higher cost walk than existed before the change was made the ad- ditional cost must be made by the Town in case of permanent sidewalks only.
(c) Rough Grading of Private Streets. At a meeting held December 9, 1907, it was
Voted, That after January 1, 1908, no water or sewer pipes shall be laid in streets approved by the Board of Survey until such streets, including sidewalks, have been brought to subgrade satisfactory to the Town Engineer.
STREET WATERING.
Under Chapter 289, Acts of 1909, which reads as follows:
"Section 1. Any city or town may sprinkle or spread on its public ways, or parts thereof, water or any liquid or material suitable for laying or preventing dust and preserving the sur- face thereof, and for sanitary purposes, and all statutes pro-
399
REPORT OF JOINT BOARD
viding for watering such public ways shall apply to the use of such liquids and materials, including the appropriation of money, the expenditure thereof at the expense of the city or of the abutters, the assessment upon abutting estates, and the collection of such assessments and proceedings therefor."
This branch of the work is under the control of the Board of Public Works, and it is in their discretion to use water or other means of preventing dust and preserving the surface of the streets.
The policy of the Board has been to make no contracts, as was done in former years, for street watering, as the use of tar and other dust preventives made this procedure unnecessary.
While the amount appropriated for the purpose of watering the streets or using other means of preventing dust does not meet the actual expenditures for this purpose, in the opinion of the Board a certain portion of this expense is a proper charge against the Highway Department, as by means of this treatment of oil or tar the surface of the streets is preserved, lessening the cost of maintenance on those streets.
The amount appropriated this year for this purpose was the same as last year, $5000, $3,000 to be assessed on abutters and $2000 to be raised by general tax.
Abutters are assessed on the basis of 2 4-10 cents per foot. The total amount expended during the year for sprinkling, or treating the streets for the prevention of dust, was $7,063.56, or $2,063.56 was paid from the Highway appropriation.
STREET CAR TRAFFIC.
Early in the year the Boston Elevated Railway Company changed the schedule of the Broadway Line of cars, whereby no Broadway cars were to run to the Heights. As this action had been taken by the Company without consultation with the Board, the Company was asked to explain its action. The Company explained that owing to the diverting of a large portion of the traffic formerly cared for by the Broadway Line to the Harvard Square Line the running of cars to the Heights was a losing proposition to the Company. This explanation did not seem to the Board to be sufficient to inconvenience
1
400
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
such a large proportion of the citizens of the Heights, and to cause a transfer station to be established at Water Street, a very dangerous point, owing to the width of the street. After further consultations with the officials of the Company the Board passed the following order:
In the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works:
Upon a hearing before this Board on February 3, 1913, as to the manner and extent of the use of tracks and the number and routes of cars running over the tracks of the Boston Elevated Railway Company in the Town of Arlington, at which hearing the Boston Elevated Railway Company was represented, this Board deemed it for the interest and convenience of the public to pass the following order:
Ordered: That all cars of the Boston Elevated Railway Company coming into Arlington, except the Medford Hillside Line, shall be run through to Arlington Heights.
That the transfer point for all inbound cars be established in Arlington Centre opposite the Post Office Building.
That the transfer point for all outbound cars be established at a point between Medford and Mystic Streets opposite the store of R. W. Shattuck & Co.
Permission is given the Boston Elevated Railway Company to use the siding on Massachusetts Avenue, opposite the First Parish Church, for Medford Hillside cars, while changing trolleys, provided that no car shall stand on said siding longer than five (5) minutes.
With a few changes the Company agreed to the order of the Board so that at the present time all Broadway cars are run to the Heights (except during the quiet hours in the middle of the day), all transfers are given, both inbound and outbound, at Medford Street, the Medford Hillside Line is shifted on Massachusetts Avenue below the railroad crossing, returning immediately, the layoff, if any, being at the other end. By this method the long discussed congestion at Water Street and Massachusetts Avenue has been entirely relieved and the Avenue is at all times clear. The plan seems to give satisfaction as the Board has received no complaints.
401
REPORT OF JOINT BOARD
.
STREET LIGHTING.
During the year, acting in conjunction with the laying out and beautifying of the grounds adjoining the new Robbins Memorial Town Hall, a great improvement has been made in the lighting system on Massachusetts Avenue, from Pleasant Street to Academy Street, and from Massachusetts Avenue to Maple Street on Academy Street.
The Board desires to record its appreciation of the services rendered in connection with this change to Superintendent LeBaron of the Wire Department and Superintendent Pond of the Public Works Department. By this change eleven wooden and unsightly poles with the accompanying overhead wires were removed from the Avenue and replaced with eleven ornamental iron posts used as combination lighting and trolley poles. Part of the expense of this change was borne by the Edison Company, part by the Boston Elevated Railway Com- pany, part by the Misses Robbins, and part by the Town. Two poles were also removed from Academy Street and one from Pleasant Street, and these also were replaced with the ornamental poles. It is to be hoped that with the removal of all wooden poles on the other side of Massachusetts Avenue, in the near future, a similar system may be installed.
During the year, fifteen 40 c. p. and one 80 c. p. incan- descent lights were installed on streets, as ordered by the Board. Three arc lights, nine 40 c. p., four 60 c. p., and one 120 c. p. incandescent lights were removed.
All applications for lights on streets, received by the Board, are referred to the Superintendent, who investigates and reports to the Board.
The total number of lights in service on December 31, 1913, is as follows:
Incandescent lights, 40 c. p. 305
Incandescent lights, 60 c. p. 14
Incandescent lights, 80 c. p. 4
1
Incandescent lights, 100 c. p.
Incandescent lights, 120 c. p., all night
7
Arc lights, 425 watts 78
Total lights in use 409
402
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ORNAMENTAL SYSTEM.
Incandescent lights, 60 watt 34
Incandescent lights, 60 watt, all night
4
38
The total cost of maintaining the lighting system of the Town for the past year was $10,732.92. The appropriation was $10,750. With the necessary additions (approximately) twenty 40 c. p., incandescent lights.
The appropriation necessary in 1914 will be $11,000. For further details of the work done and location of lights reference is made to the report of the Superintendent of Wires.
HENDERSON STREET EXTENSION.
This matter of extending Henderson Street and connecting said street in Arlington to Woodstock Street, in Somerville, was one that had come not only before this, but previous Boards. This connection was a direct benefit to many of our citizens residing in the east end of the Town and could only be construed as of more benefit to our citizens than to the City of Somerville. After many meetings, covering some three or four years, the City of Somerville, through its Mayor, Hon. Charles Burns, signified a desire to co-operate with Arlington in bringing about this improvement.
Numerous conferences- were held, the Engineers of both places were called in consultation and plans were drawn. The difficulties feared from the State Park Commission were over- come and finally a contract to build the bridge was awarded the Hanscom Construction Company for the sum of $6,500, one-half of said sum to be paid by the City of Somerville and one-half by the Town of Arlington. Work was immediately started and on October 16, 1913, the work was completed and the bridge dedicated.
POLE LOCATIONS.
Thirty-one petitions for pole locations have been received. from the Edison Company, all of which were granted, after hearings given as required by law.
403
REPORT OF JOINT BOARD
Joint pole locations were granted the Edison Company and the Boston Elevated Railway Company on Massachusetts Avenue, between Pleasant Street and Academy Street. 'On all of these petitions hearings were given as required by law. Thirty-three permits were granted the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company to attach wires and fixtures to poles of other companies. On these petitions no hearings were required.
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TERRITORY.
The policy of this Board in the development of new territory for residential purposes is the same as that of previous Boards, namely, to approve the laying out of new streets and the development of property as will best conserve the interests of all the Town and particularly the sections contiguous to the proposed development, rather than to approve such plans as will meet the approval and desires of individuals or com- panies whose interests in the matter are purely pecuniary.
All petitions for approval of layouts are submitted to the Board and by them submitted to the Engineering Department, for a study of the whole territory with a view to so adapt the present application to needs of the future.
The remaining undeveloped land in our Town is small in extent and the Board is of the opinion that extreme care should be exercised in the approval of new layouts. On the other hand the Board is of the opinion that when a develop- ment is started tending to enhance the valuation of all sur- rounding property the Town should not be too niggardly in dealing with the project.
ACCEPTANCE OF NEW STREETS.
The acceptance of new streets is one of the serious problems confronting us today. The acceptance of a street means that the Town takes that street forever and must maintain it in a safe and passable manner. This means building the street, sidewalks, water, sewer, lights, police and fire protection,- all of which cost the Town money, in some cases more than the revenue derived.
404
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
It is the policy of the Board to recommend for acceptance by the Town only such streets as have been built upon to such an extent that the street, after being built, will not be dis- turbed by building operations, laying of water, sewer or gas mains for some time. If all our citizens living on unaccepted streets would appreciate this fact the work of the Board would be made much easier and pleasanter.
During the year the plans of the following streets were approved by the Board: Varnum Street, Millett Street from present terminus to grounds of Symmes Arlington Hospital, Gray Street from Mt. Vernon Street to Oakland Avenue, Gray Street relocation connecting with Cliff Street, abandon- ment of Gray Street layout between Robbins Road and Oak- land Avenue, relocation of Grove Street.
GRAY STREET EXTENSION RELOCATION.
On the recommendation of this Board, the Town voted at the Town Meeting on November 18, 1913, under article of the warrant and by a two-thirds vote, to discontinue and abandon that part of Gray Street Extension from Robbins Road to Oakland Avenue, as accepted by the Town on Novem- ber 20, 1911. At this meeting, November 18, 1913, the Town voted to relocate said portion of Gray Street Extension as recommended by this Board. Accordingly on December 22, 1913, the Joint Board, exercising the right thus given and all other power them enabling, voted to discontinue and abandon that part of Gray Street Extension as shown on plan filed in the office of the Town Clerk and described in said vote of authorization, and to relocate said portion of Gray Street Extension as voted by the Town. By this change of location the Town is greatly benefited, both from the standpoint of building the street at a reduced cost and enhancing the value of the property now owned by the Town on the easterly side of said street, as well as the improvement in the line and grade of the street.
TRACKS ON MYSTIC STREET.
As reported last year so many complaints had been received by the Board from residents of Mystic Street and streets ad- jacent, of the noise occasioned by the uneven condition of the
405
REPORT OF JOINT BOARD
tracks of the Bay State Street Railway Company, that the Board had ordered the Company to relay the entire track from the Winchester Line to Arlington Centre, said work to be done in the early spring of 1913. To this order the Company took exceptions claiming that the cost would be more than the financial condition of the Company could stand.
The Company took the matter up to the Public Service Commission and was there represented by counsel. The Town was represented by members of this Board, the Town Counsel and residents along Mystic Street. After a hearing and a view of the tracks by engineers of the Commission, the Com- pany and the officers of the Town, the Commission ordered the Company to relay its tracks from the Winchester Line to old Mystic Street, to raise and level the remaining portion, putting in new joints where needed and to put the tracks in a condition satisfactory to the Public Service Commission. This was done and appears to be satisfactory, as no complaints have been received since the work was done.
PERMANENT SIDEWALKS.
For the past few years the appropriation for permanent sidewalks has been $3500. Of this sum $1500 has been appropriated for extensions carried out under the Sidewalk Act, Section 43 of Chapter 49 of the Revised Laws.
Last year (1912) the appropriation was $3500, $1000 of said sum to be used for the construction of the extension of the brick sidewalk on the north side of Massachusetts. Avenue, toward the Heights.
This year (1913), the sum of $4000 was appropriated for permanent sidewalks, the extension of the sidewalk on Massa- chusetts Avenue and for extensions carried out under the Sidewalk Act. The credits or reimbursements from assess- ments under this law were $1684.75, making a total of $5684.75. Of this amount $5625.10 was expended, leaving a balance of $59.65. Sidewalks (brick) have been laid on Massachusetts. Avenue north to the car barns and on Park Avenue from Massachusetts Avenue to Paul Revere Road.
The policy of the Board is to install permanent sidewalks whenever petitioned for, when the appropriation made for the purpose will allow.
1
406
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Brick or granolithic walks are laid whenever possible, the opinion of the Board being that walks of this construction are more permanent and economical.
In view of the many new streets in the Town it would seem that a somewhat larger appropriation should be made for this purpose.
IMPROVEMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE.
The Board is of the opinion that, in view of beautifying Massachusetts Avenue from Pleasant Street to Academy Street, by the building of our new Town Hall, the laying out of the grounds and the installation of the new lighting system, steps should be taken at once to make a like improvement on the northerly side of the Avenue, from Water Street to Central Street, by lowering the sidewalk to a grade in accord- ance with the grade of the street. This should be done, or provision made, before this property is changed from resi- dential to commercial purposes, as seems to be inevitable. With the lowering of the Avenue between these points the removal of all wooden poles, the placing of all wires under- ground and the installation of ornamental lights on the other side of the Avenue, Arlington would have a main thoroughfare of which all our citizens could and would be proud.
MAINTENANCE OF MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE AND SUMMER STREET EXTENSION.
For some time it has been the opinion of the Board that the State should, in some measure, contribute to the care and maintenance of Massachusetts Avenue. This avenue is a main artery, connecting Boston, Cambridge and Somerville with Lexington and the cities and towns beyond. It is used ex- tensively by automobiles, pleasure parties, sight-seeing auto- mobiles going over historic ground, as well as by all kinds of mercantile traffic, heavy and light. It has seemed to the Board that it is unfair to ask the Town of Arlington to bear all this expense. A request was made last year to the State Highway Commission for an allotment for the care of this avenue.
407
REPORT OF JOINT BOARD
The Commission could at that time make no allotment as the appropriation allowed them had already been apportioned. The Board has made a study of the number of vehicles (of all kinds) entering the Town, and is now in a position to present to the Commission facts and figures bearing out their contention.
It has been the policy of the Highway Commission to make no contribution for the maintenance of highways through the settled portions of towns, through the centers of which double track street railways are constructed. In view of this the Board proposes to present to the Commission the plan of making a state highway of Summer Street and Summer Street Extension, which, in connection with Lowell Street, Maple Street, Lexington, the Boulevard along Mystic River, and the proposed Boulevard along Mystic River and Alewife , Brook to Fresh Pond will give a continuous State automobile road from Concord to Boston, thereby relieving Massachusetts Avenue of much of the present motor traffic.
It is the intention of the Board to again apply in the early spring for relief from the State for the maintenance of this - our main avenue and likewise our main bill of expense in highway maintenance.
CONDITIONS AS TO CONGESTION OF CARS AT ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
On June 23, 1913, the attention of the Board was called to the conditions existing at Arlington Heights, occasioned by the congested condition due to the interchange of passengers by the Boston Elevated and Lexington and Boston Railways in the street. The matter was immediately taken up and representatives of both Companies appeared before the Board. Numerous conferences were held and, as the season had ad- vanced and the congestions had thereby been lessened, the Board granted the Companies an opportunity to come together and devise a means to meet the requirements of the Board. The agreement of both Companies is that in the spring of 1914 other and better arrangements will be made satisfactory to the Board.
FRANK V. NOYES, HENRY W. HAYES,
HERBERT W. RAWSON, HENRY S. ADAMS,
JACOB BITZER, PHILIP EBERHARDT,
Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
1
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF CEMETERIES, ROBBINS FUND, SOLDIERS' MONUMENT FUND AND SAMUEL C. BUCKNAM FUND.
ARLINGTON, February 1, 1914.
The Commissioners of Cemeteries, Soldiers' Monument Fund, Robbins Fund and Samuel C. Bucknam Fund herewith submit their report for the year ending December 31, 1913.
The balance available January, 1, 1913, from the special appropriation for laying out and grading the two new sections was $946.44. During the year $905.87 has been expended from this balance, leaving $40.57 still available.
During the year an addition has been made to the building in the Cemetery used as an office and tool house. When com- pleted the building will not only serve for these purposes, but will also be provided with sanitary and toilet arrangements. This is an improvement which many visitors to the Cemetery will appreciate. This work has been done without an addi- tional appropriation.
Number of lots sold in 1913 21
Number of single graves sold in 1913 30
Interments:
Whole number of interments made
120
Interments made in private lots 69
Interments made in single graves 33
Interments made in private tomb 3
Interments made in public burial lot 15
- 120
Expenses.
Amount paid for labor $4,073.52
Amount paid for all other expenses
1,388.01
$5,461.53
408
409
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF CEMETERIES
Receipts.
Appropriation for 1913
$1,800.00
From Perpetual Care Fund
700.00
From S. C. Bucknam Fund
80.00
From Robbins Fund
215.00
From Soldiers' Monument Fund
73.73
Care of lots, opening graves, etc.
2,602.30
$5,471.03
SALE OF LOTS.
Amount received from sale of lots $1,960.00
This amount of $1960 has been turned into the Town Treasury, showing a surplus over the amount appropriated for Cemeteries, Soldiers' Monument and grounds of $160, the amount of the appropriation being $1800.
ROBBINS FUND.
Amount of Fund January 1, 1913
$5,000.00
Accumulated income January 1, 1913
$290.69
Interest on Locke School Addition Loan
200.00
Interest on Savings Bank Deposit
15.70
$506.39
Expenditures.
Paid Town of Arlington $215.00
Balance of Income Account $291.39
Total Fund and accumulated income
$5,291.39
Investments.
Two Locke School Addition Loan Notes dated December 31, 1908, due, one December 31, 1922, and one December 31, 1923; $2500 each 4% $5,000.00
Deposit in Arlington Five Cents Savings Bank 291.39
$5,291.39
410
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
PERPETUAL CARE FUND.
Amount of Fund January 1, 1913 $26,600.00
Receipts for the year 1913 Account Per- petual Care Fund 2,900.00
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.