USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1914 > Part 14
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- 35
1300
March 26, 1914. April 2, 1866.
205
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT
Russell Terrace.
Russell Street to Winslow Street
40
390
600
Sawin Street .
Henderson Street to Teel Street ..
40
Teel Street.
Massachusetts Avenue to Cross Street.
40
1900
TABLE SHOWING THE LOCATION, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF ACCEPTED AND PRIVATE STREETS-Continued
Length
Name
Location
Width
Date of Acceptance
Accept. | Private
. tUnnamed Street. .
Sylvia Street, westerly .
40
170
tUnnamed Street. .
Gray Street to Gloucester Street.
40
587
+Unnamed Street ..
Gray Street to Gloucester Street.
40
544
+Unnamed Street ..
965 Massachusetts Avenue, northeasterly . .
40
450
tUnnamed Street. .
Massachusetts Avenue to Paul Revere Road
40
400
tUnnamed Street. .
Brattle Street, southerly ..
500
tUnnamed Street. .
Norfolk Road, southwesterly .
40
200
+Unnamed Street. .
Park Place, southerly .
40
340
Upland Road.
Falmouth Road, westerly .
40
627
tValentine Road.
Appleton Street to George Street.
50
900
Varnum Street.
Massachusetts Avenue, southerly
40
403
March 26, 1914. November 13, 1894.
Wachusett Avenue .
Wollaston Avenue to Appleton Street.
50
650
1800
Waldo Road.
Marathon Street to Cleveland Street.
45
200
April 15, 1898, formerly Laurel Street.
Waldo Road.
Marathon Street to Amsden Street .
45
750
+Walnut Avenue
Glen Avenue, easterly .
40
400
Walnut Court.
Walnut Street, easterly . .
25
275
Walnut Street ..
Massachusetts Avenue to Gray Street .. .
33
1360
*Warren Street.
Medford Street to Broadway.
50
2680
March 7, 1870. May 27, 1873, Old Town Way, No- vember 9, 1846.
+Warren Street. .
Appleton Street, southerly
30
350
Warwick Street. .
Marathon Street to Trowbridge Street. . .
45
200
Washington Street. .
Brattle Street to Brattle Lane ..
40
700
Washington Street Extn.
Overlook Road to Ronald Road
40
680
Washington Avenue. ..
Madison Avenue to Orient Avenue.
40
250
Water Street .
Massachusetts Avenue to Russell Street. .
40
680
March 15, 1894.
tWater Street Extension. Mystic Street to Russell Street.
50
1300
Waverly Street.
Florence Avenue to Cedar Avenue
40
2180
tWebcowet Road
Medford Street, northerly . .
40
1135
Webster Street. .
Broadway to Warren Street.
40
680 737
tWellington Street Ex
. Wellington Street to Addison Street.
40
191
West Street.
Wollaston Avenue to Appleton Street.
50
450
Westminster Avenue ..
Lowell Street to Lexington Line.
50
2310
Lowell Street to Orient Avenue .
40
985
+Wilbur Avenue.
Chestnut Street, northwesterly . .
40
900
Wildwood Avenue. . .
Bartlett Avenue, westerly .
40
300
+Wildwood Avenue.
Massachusetts Avenue, southerly .
40
630
. .
May 27, 1873 November 8, 1897; March 6, 1911.
Wellington Street ..
Pleasant Street, easterly ..
40
130 feet proposed. August 4, 1884; March 17, 1881. .
Westmoreland Avenue . . Whittemore Street.
Massachusetts Avenue to B. & L. R.R.
40
466
November 23, 1909.
206
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Wachusett Avenue.
Florence Avenue to Park Avenue.
50
Williams Street ..
Arnold Street, southerly . .
40
500
Willow Place ..
Massachusetts Avenue, northerly .
30
169
Wilson Avenue.
Lake Street, southerly .
300
Windermere Avenue
Bartlett Avenue, northwesterly ..
40
350
March 27, 1906.
Windermere Park.
Windermere Avenue, southerly .
30
400
Windsor Street .
Massachusetts Avenue to Waldo Road.
45
1000
Winnick Place.
Medford St. to northwest of Sherborn St.
20
230
Winslow Street .
Mystic Street to Russell Terrace.
40
528
Winter Street.
Massachusetts Avenue to Broadway
40
1540
March 14, 1892. April 13, 1874; also Old Town Way, November 9, 1846.
Wollaston Avenue
Park Avenue to West Street.
60
1340
September 23, 1878; November 13, 1894; March 16, 1908. -
Wollaston Avenue.
West Street, westerly
60
620-
Woodbury Street.
Dundee Road to Hibbert Street.
40
750
Woodland Street.
Jason Street to Bartlett Avenue ..
40
282
March 22, 1909.
Woodland Street.
Bartlett Avenue to Lincoln Street .
40
240
tWright Street ..
Winchester Line, southwesterly .
40
1930
Wyman Street.
Massachusetts Avenue to Warren Street ..
40
1050
March 19, 1888; November 22, 1906.
Wyman Lane. .
Lake Street, northwesterly ..
600
Wyman Terrace
Mass. Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue. .
40
751
*Street laid out by the County Commissioners.
+Proposed Street not built.
Length of Accepted Streets and Town Ways, Length of Private Streets open for travel, Length of Proposed Private Streets,
36.79 Miles. 26.16 Miles. 8.27 Miles.
.
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT
207
208
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Arlington is situated six miles northwest of Boston, in latitude 42°, 25' north; longitude 71°, 09' west, at an elevation above mean tide of from 4 to 377 feet.
Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street, elevation, 48 feet.
Massachusetts Avenue at Park Avenue, elevation, 155 feet.
Park Circle at Eastern Avenue (base of standpipe), elevation, 377 feet.
Crescent Hill Avenue at Park Place, elevation, 281 feet.
The Town and a part of what is now Belmont were set off from Cambridge and incorporated as West Cambridge in 1807. The name was changed from West Cambridge to Arlington in 1867.
Population is estimated at 15,000.
Number of polls, 3626.
Number of voters: Men, 2631; women, 160. Total, 2791.
School enrollment: Public, 2800; parochial, 200. Total, 3000.
Area of Town, including that covered by water, 3520 acres, or 52 square miles; area covered by water, 237 acres.
Parks: Town, 69 acres; Metropolitan, 45.8 acres.
Total cemetery area, 41.2 acres; area taxed (tax rate $21.10), 2638.0 acres.
Valuation of real estate, $13,765,955.
Valuation of personal property, $2,046,858.
Public streets and town ways: Macadam, 14.89 miles; gravel, 21.80 miles; granite paving, To mile. Total miles, 36.79.
Private streets open for travel, 26.16 miles.
Permanent sidewalks: Concrete, 6.1 miles; brick, 3.3 miles; artificial stone, 1.17 miles. Total miles, 10.57.
Edgestone, 9.23 miles.
Paved gutters, 11.30 miles.
Storm drain system, 9.16 miles.
Catch basins, 403.
Sewerage system, 30.78 miles; local metropolitan sewer system, 3.47 miles. Total, 34.25 miles.
Particular sewer system (1752 connections), 18.80 miles.
Number of buildings connected, 1825.
Water mains: Low system 21.45 miles; high system, 22.52 miles.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES.
ARLINGTON, MASS., February 17, 1915. To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works:
Gentlemen: I respectfully submit my fifteenth annual report as Superintendent of Wires for the year ending December 31, . 1914, which includes the supervision of Fire Alarm and Police Signal Systems, Street Lighting and Inspection of Wires in build- ings and on the highways.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.
This system has given good service as in the past and all alarms for fire have been transmitted correctly. Much work has had to be done during the year on the aerial and underground wire sys- tems, owing to new poles being set. Many new poles being ter- minals for underground conduits, in these cases considerable labor and materials are required to cut over between the aerial and underground systems. Several difficult cases of trouble on underground wires near the center of the Town have been experi- enced, owing to deteriorating insulation, etc., of these wires. On September 18, at 2.30 P.M., while employees of the Tele- phone Company were working in a manhole on Massachusetts Avenue near Medford Street, a break occurred in one of the fire alarm wires passing through this manhole. The fire alarm was sounded twenty-one times in succession before this particular circuit was cut out of commission. Trouble was located in this manhole by one wire being broken under insulation owing to corrosive condition of the wire, which broke by being moved by the workmen, although it being unknown at the time by these men. Other cases of underground wire have occurred, develop- ing high resistance on wires at times and being difficult to locate, owing to varying conditions. Thirty-six hundred and fifty- four (3654') feet of new insulated wire was installed on Lowell Street, between Park and Westmoreland Avenues, replacing old bare iron wire which had been in use about twenty years.
209
210
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
On June first a new signal box movement No. 25 was put in com- mission at the Central Fire Station, replacing connection to Transmitter Box inside this station which had been in use for several years. On June 2, Box No. 41 on Massachusetts Avenue near Schouler Court was changed to Box No. 42, this box being equipped with modern break-wheel and contact springs. On the same date Box No. 4, on Jason Street was changed to Box No. 41. With these changes the numbers (forty-ones) are all in the Jason Street district, which will enable the Fire Depart- ment, in case of failure of any of these boxes to transmit prop- erly, to assemble fire apparatus very near to the location of fire. A new gong was placed in the Chief Engineer's residence, also a gong was placed in the Theodore Schwamb Company's build- ing, as there are quite a number of men employed by this com- pany who are members of the Fire Department, and trouble has been experienced in the past by these firemen in hearing alarms. On August 17, a new (private) box No. 471 was placed in commission at the Theodore Schwamb Company, this box being paid for by this Company. A punching register was in- stalled at Fire Alarm Headquarters on June 30. This piece of fire alarm apparatus is one of the most important of the entire system as every blow sounded on system is recorded on a tape and a record can be kept of every alarm or blow transmitted over the system, besides the exact condition of street signal boxes can be observed in as far as operating time between blows and rounds as sent out by the boxes. Special Box No. 22 and a gong were placed in the new Police Station when the old station was abandoned, Fifty new storage battery plates were installed at headquarters replacing old plates. A new dust tight cabinet was built to be placed in the Central Fire Station to take all relays in service in this building operating the Medford and Somerville auxiliary fire alarm circuits and other local gongs. All connections were completed with the City of Medford and this new system will be put in service early this coming year.
On November 13, at 1.47 P.M., the Fire Alarm and Police Wires were broken at the corner of Broadway and Tufts Street, being caused by the falling of several poles on Broadway at that tme. A violent wind storm was raging at the time, being one of the most severe ever experienced in this section. By the
211
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES
falling of poles all fire alarm and police wires were broken where these lines cross Broadway from Tufts Street. Three (3) Fire Alarm and Police Signal Boxes were put out of commission for several hours before broken wires could be temporarily replaced. No damage was experienced to interior mechanism of boxes by contact with high power wires of the light and railways companies, although all wires were mixed up together for some time. This serious wire trouble again demonstrated the want by the Wire Department of a suitable wagon properly equipped to meet such emergencies.
One thousand (1000) fire alarm cards were issued by the Wire Department and given out to citizens, showing numbers of all signal boxes in use.
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM.
This system has given excellent service with very few inter- ruptions. One case of underground wire trouble was experi- enced, wires being corroded off, owing to water in conduits. Twenty-four hundred and thirty-eight feet (2438') of new insu- lated iron wire was run on Mystic Street between Glen and Fairview Avenues, replacing old twisted pair copper wire. Twenty- two hundred and ten (2210') feet of new insulated iron wire was installed on Gray Street between Jason and Pleasant Streets, replacing old twisted pair wires. On June 16, a new Police Sig- nal Box No. 24 was put in service on Warren Street near Beacon Street, three thousand and twenty (3020') feet of No. 10 insu- lated iron wire being used to connect same. On June 19, a new Police Signal Box No. 43 was placed in commission on Brattle Street, near railroad station, fourteen hundred and seventy (1470') feet of wire being used to connect same. This makes seventeen (17): Police Signal Boxes in service and the entire system is one of the best assets that the town owns, increasing the efficiency of the Police Department as well as being a valuable auxiliary to the Fire Alarm System.
STREET LIGHTING.
The street lighting system has given satisfactory service dur- ing the past year. New additional lights were installed as follows: Twenty-seven (27) 40 c.p. and one (1) 100 c.p. incandescent,
212
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
also two (2) arc lights. Four (4) 40 c.p. incandescent and two (2) arc lights were removed. Making a net total of twenty- four (24) new lights placed in service for the year.
LOCATION OF NEW STREET LIGHTS.
Street
Location
Pole No.
Class of Lights 1-40 c.p.
Date Installed® May 29, 1914
Appleton St
250 ft. S. from Mass.Ave 8.03/3
Appleton St.
250 ft. S. from Wachusett Ave. 803/30
1-40 c.p.
Brattle St.
Near Summer St.
810/14
1-40 c.p.
May 29, 1914 July 20,1914
Cedar Ave.
cor. Park Ave.
961/8
1-40 c.p.
Dec. 3, 1914
Everett St.
between Mass. Ave. and Raleigh St. 926/7-10
2-40 c.p.
July 18, 1914
Forest St.
250 ft. S. Forest St. Pl. 829/6
1-40 c.p.
Feb. 14, 1914
Forest St.
Cor. Forest St. Pl.
829/8
1-40 c.p.
Feb. 14, 1914
Forest St.
50 ft.N.fromR.R.Bridge Special
1-40 c.p.
Feb. 14, 1914.
Forest St.
300 ft. N. of Bow St. 829/13
1-40 c.p.
Feb. 14, 1914.
Grove St.
between Mass. Ave and
833/2-5-9 3-40 c.p.
Oct. 12, 1914
Harlow St.
between Mass. Ave and Raleigh St. 932/2-5
2-40 c.p.
Oct. 21, 1914 .
Harvard St.
700 ft. E. from Apple- ton St.
834/6
1-40 c.p.
May 29, 1914
Highland Ave.
cor. Gloucester St.
836/8
1-40 c.p.
May 29, 1914
Magnolia St.
NW. cor. Lake Ave.
920/9
1-40 c.p.
June 1, 1914
Mass. Ave.
Four Poles from Schou- ler Ct. 847/89
1-40 c.p.
April 9, 1914
Mass. Ave.
opp. New Town Hall
847/75
1-100 c.p.
Dec. 15, 1914
Mass. Ave.
at cor. Everett St.
847/34
1-40 c.p.
Dec. 15, 1914
Mass. Ave.
opp. Marion Rd.
847/38
1-Arc
Dec. 15, 1914
Mass. Ave.
opp. Appleton St.
847/130
1-Arc
July 18, 1914
Trowbridge St. between Mass. Ave. and
Waldo Rd.
856/2-5-8 3-40 c.p.
Oct. 20, 1914
Varnum St.
950/1-3 2-40 c.p.
July 18, 1914
SUMMARY OF STREET LIGHTS, DECEMBER 31, 1914.
Incandescent lights, 40 candle power
328*
Incandescent lights, 60 candle power
14
Incandescent lights, 80 candle power
4
Incandescent lights, 100 candle power
2
Incandescent lights, 150 candle power (multiple burning all night) .
7
Arc lights, 425 watts.
78
Total lights in use. . 433
* Three (3) 40-candle power lights, paid for by abutters.
Grafton St.
between Mass. Ave. and
Raleigh St. 930/7-10
2-40 c.p.
July 20, 1914
Railroad Bridge
213
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES
ORNAMENTAL STREET LIGHTING SYSTEM.
Incandescent lights (multiple) 60 watt, burning until 12 P.M. 36
Incandescent lights (multiple) 100 watt, burning all night 4
Total 40
POLES AND WIRES.
Thirteen (13) poles were set in new locations as petitioned for in accordance with plans submitted. Locations were granted after hearing being held in accordance with the Public Statutes.
One hundred and seven (107) poles were replaced on the high- ways by the following companies:
New England Telephone and Telegraph Company 22
Edison Electric Illuminating Company . 81
Lexington and Boston Street Railway Company. 4
Total 107
On November 13, at about 1.47 P.M., one of the most serious accidents that has happened for several years took place on Broadway by the falling of poles between Wyman and Tufts Streets. During a wind storm of unusual severity, which was raging at that time, a pole broke somewhere on this line between the above specified streets. This pole in falling, under the ex- treme conditions existing and violent wind pressure exerted, caused the collapse of fourteen (14) poles owned jointly by the Edison and Boston Elevated Railway Companies, also two (2) poles on Tufts Street owned by the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company were broken and fell into the street, The pole line on Broadway carried the largest and heaviest num- ber of wires of any in town and being the main trunk line of the Edison Company for Arlington from the Somerville Station with heavy feed, span and trolley wires of the Boston Elevated Railway Company, the tangle of wires exceeded anything of the kind that has ever occurred in this community. Power was immediately shut off of the Edison wires, but the feed and trolley wires of the Elevated Railway Company made an electrical dis- play for some time that was beyond description. One heavy rail was electrically burned in halves by contact with the feed wires. Employees of this department finally cleared the feed
214
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
wires from contact with the street car rails and upon arrival of the emergency wagons of the railway company, all power was shut off. The Fire and Police Signal Wires were broken where crossing Broadway at Tufts Street, putting out of commission for several hours signal boxes in that vicinity. Examination of poles showed that several were badly decayed, although others were sound, the decayed poles breaking at the ground, while the new poles broke from two to five feet above the ground. This line of poles was inspected in 1913 and several poles were replaced as found bad at that time and it is evident that the inspection made at that time did not indicate other poles were unsafe, ow- ing to the fact that, being set in cement, the decay was at a point below where test was made. The inspection department of the companies owning these poles will, no doubt, in future make more careful tests of all poles standing in this and other communities, as to structural strength and the load which they carry, as an accident of this kind is exceedingly dangerous to the public besides being expensive to companies owning the same. The rapidity with which broken poles and wires were replaced and service restored can certainly be commended, this work practically being completed in one night, which never could have been done except by large and well organized companies having adequate supplies and men at hand to meet such an emer- gency. Two accidents occured when these poles fell which is to be regretted, although more serious results might have hap- pened if there had been electric cars or other vehicles on this street at the time. One express automobile was struck by a falling pole and one of the drivers injured, besides breaking the auto in several parts. Another falling pole hit a horse and wagon, injuring the driver quite seriously and so badly injuring the horse that same had to be killed. With the inspection and replace- ment of poles that is continually being made it is to be regretted that an accident of this nature should happen, although it is the opinion of this Department that all poles would have stood until replaced if same had not been subjected to severe conditions, and a repetition might occur again during a heavy snow fall, as has happened in the past, the very best class of pole construc- tion being destroyed. The only place for wires on a main thor- oughfare in a large community is to put same underground, and
215
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES
it is hoped that much of this class of construction will be installed in this Town at an early date.
INSPECTION OF WIRES IN' BUILDINGS.
The following schedule of inspections made and other data pertaining to this branch of the Wire Department is respect- fully submitted.
TABULATION OF INTERIOR WIRING.
INSPECTIONS AND ELECTRICAL APPARATUS INSTALLED.
Contractors' Applications received . 659
Number of electrical contractors doing work. 84
Number of inspections made. 751
Incandescent lights wired for 7498
Number of motors wired for
25
Total horse power of motors wired for 148
Electrical ranges wired for. 2
Service permits issued to Edison Electric Illuminating Co. 765
Service permits issued to Cambridge Electric Light Co ..
1
Incandescent lights supplied with service, new and old installation, as per permits issued. 13,089
Horse power of motors installed. 123
Electric ranges installed, total watts 7020
The past year, while being considered poor from a business standpoint, shows an increase of twenty-four per cent in num- ber of inspections made over the year 1913, these inspections being principally made on new buildings or old buildings newly wired and not for minor additions which are taken as time per- mits. This would indicate that building is rapidly on the increase in the Town, even under the present business depression. Many new electrical contractors are each year doing work in this Town, some of these so-called electrical contractors require careful watching, being incompetent and of no business standing, their main object being to do work as cheaply as possible and get paid and never return. This class of contractors is brought up with a short turn and given to understand that no permits will be issued by this Department for service to any building until
216
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
the electrical installation is brought up to standard require- ments in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
I respectfully make the following recommendations, some of which I have called to the attention of the Town in past reports.
In view of the rapid growth of the Town, it is essential that the underground wire systems of the Fire Alarm and Police Signals be extended as fast as possible. A certain amount of the new construction should be done each year until all aerial wires are placed underground on streets where conduits exist. For the coming year new underground cables should be installed on Massachusetts Avenue from the Highland Hose House to the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Forest Street. With the con- stantly increasing number of Fire and Police Signal Boxes and Wires in the Heights section of our Town everything possible should be done to insure the proper working of these systems. This year provision must be made for renewing of parts of existing underground wires near the center of the Town. These wires were installed about fourteen (14) years ago and were of rubber cov- ered insulation much used at that time. New wires installed in later years have been lead covered. Rapid deterioration is taking place on this class of rubber covered wires, owing to dampness, gases, etc. Serious trouble has developed at times on existing wires, which has been difficult to locate quickly, owing to vary- ing conditions. New cables should be installed in 1916 in the center of the Town to replace the old wires now existing. These new proposed cables will be lead covered and will contain a suf- ficient number of wires to allow for more circuits being put in commission on the Fire and Police Signal Systems as demanded by the growth of the Town in the future. Tap conduits and terminal posts should be installed this year to allow for installa- tion of new wires in 1916. The renewal of all old wires of rub- ber insulation now existing will have to be done from year to year until all of this class of wires are replaced.
New battery racks will have to be installed at the Fire Alarm Headquarters this year as the present racks are overloaded and will not allow for more batteries which are constantly being added to as the fire alarm system is enlarged. The present wood bat-
217
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES
tery rack has been in use fifteen (15) years, and has answered for that time, but same must be replaced this year by a modern steel rack in accordance with Insurance Inspection Requirements. As a room has been reserved in Old Town Hall Building for en- largement of Fire Alarm Headquarters, I recommend that this room be taken this year and fitted up as a battery room. I also recommend that room in basement, now used as meter room by the Water Department be given to the Wire Department, as it is absolutely necessary that this Department be provided with suitable quarters for storage of ever-increasing amounts of mate- rials required by same, besides providing a place where repairs can be made and other work done that is necessary on the Town signal systems.
In accordance with the recommendations of the Fire and Police Chiefs, I recommend the installation of new fire and police sig- nal boxes in the following specified locations. These boxes should be installed this year to give protection to certain sections of the town where rapid building has taken place and where the resent signal boxes are too great a distance from same.
NEW FIRE ALARM BOXES RECOMMENDED.
Massachusetts Avenue, near Trowbridge Street.
Marathon Street, near Waldo Road.
Massachusetts Avenue, near Everett Street.
Everett Street, near Raleigh Street.
Jason Street, near Norfolk Road.
Highland Avenue, near Gloucester Street.
Gray Street, near Fountain Road.
Cedar Avenue, near Renfrew Street.
Massachusetts Avenue, near Hibbert Street.
. NEW POLICE BOX RECOMMENDED.
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