USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1915 > Part 7
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The building is large and old and the repairs needed are many.
The Board is of the opinion that the Town would be better off by disposing of the building than to continue to pay each year for repairs more money than is collected for rents.
To put the building in proper shape, an appropriation of about $500 will be necessary. An article will be inserted in the Warrant calling the March meeting, calling the attention of the Town to these conditions.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
TOWN INSURANCE.
In the estimate prepared by the Board for the appropriation for insurance in 1915, provision was made for insurance on the new High School building and contents, the Board being of the opinion that the building would be turned over to the Town before the close of the year.
The appropriation made for 1915 was $5500, as recommended. This amount was made to cover the new High School and contents in the sum of $175,000 for a period of five years. The building was not turned over to the Town, however, and provision must be made for this insurance the coming year.
Of the amount appropriated ($5500), $3596.89 was expended, leaving a balance available for reappropriation of $1903.11.
The Board, in examining the insurance expirations, finds that in 1919 there is a comparatively small amount expiring. In order that the amounts expiring each year may, as far as possible, be equalized and that the appropriation of the coming year be as small as possible, the Board recommends the placing of the insurance on this building for a term of three years, thus making the expira- tions in 1919 uniform with other years.
In the latter part of the year the Board requested and obtained from all departments a schedule of all Town property, both real and personal, coming under the care of these departments. This schedule is now in classified form in the office of the Board. On examination of this schedule and a comparison of the values on which our insurance is based (90 per cent) the Board finds that, in order to comply with the requirements of the Insurance Ex- change in determining the rate at which our insurance is carried, an additional $40,000 must be placed during the coming year.
The appropriation needed in 1916 will be, despite the above precaution, larger than it has been for many years and is classified as follows:
Renewals of policies expiring in 1916 ($250,000) $3,000.00
Liability Insurance (employees) based on pay roll 1,490.00
Liability Insurance (public) 110.00
Liability Insurance (automobiles) 35.00
New Insurance to bring to schedule $40,000, three years 300.00
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New High School and contents ($160,000), three years $1,200.00 Premiums for bonding officials (separate in 1915) 160.00
Boiler Insurance in New High School 90.00
Total
$6,385.00
The insurance the Town carries at the present time and the additional amount necessary for the New High School is approxi- mately $1,000,000, which at the present rate for five-year period will mean annual appropriation (if properly apportioned by years) of $2400. For three-year period the annual appropriation will be $2500. This is exclusive of liability or boiler insurance.
ROBBINS MEMORIAL TOWN HALL.
During the year the use of our beautiful Memorial Town Hall has in a great measure, if not fully, realized the ideas of the gener- ous donor and the equally generous ideas of his legatees. It has provided ample and commodious quarters for all Town officers, boards and committees. Within its walls and in its spacious auditorium all our citizens, so desiring, have had opportunities of enjoyment, whether social, intellectual, political or charitable.
From these entertainments the Town derives a two-fold benefit: first, by the pleasure and educational opportunities afforded our citizens; and second, by the income derived from the rental of the building. This revenue during the past year amounted to $1780. In a previous report, and at the request of the legatees, the Board recommended that a fund be established from the income of the building for the upkeep of the scenery, piano, etc.
The matter was referred to the Committee of Twenty-one and they recommended and the Town voted substantially as follows:
(a) That the building is a magnificent gift.
(b) That the building and grounds at all times should be kept in a proper and fitting manner.
(c) That the Selectmen should not be hampered, when, in their judgment, additions, repairs and replacements should be made.
(d) That the income of the building each year be appropriated, in addition to the appropriation for maintenance, for the upkeep and the unusual additions and repairs of piano, scenery and stage fitting, and such other repairs and renewals in or connected with the auditorium or building as are deemed necessary.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
These recommendations and votes meet with the approval of the Board.
REDUCTION IN PRICE OF GAS.
During the early part of the year the Board again requested the Arlington Gas Light Company to reduce the price of gas to the Arlington consumers. This request was based not only on the statement made by the Company that they would reduce the price of gas when their new works were completed, but also in view of the fact that in Cambridge the price of gas was 80 cents, in Read- ing 90 cents, and in Somerville 85 cents, while Arlington was required to pay $1.15. Numerous conferences were held with the officials of the Company, but they appeared to be unwilling to make any reduction. The Board, then deeming it a duty they owed the citizens of the Town, took the matter to the Gas and Electric Light Commissioners. Public hearings were given by the Commissioners during May and June, at which the Company was represented by its attorney, and the Board by the Town Counsel. After considering all the facts in the case, the Commissioners issued the following order, December 31, 1915, ordering the price of gas reduced from $1.15 per thousand cubic feet to $1.10, the same to take effect January 1, 1916.
The following is the order of the Commissioners:
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS IN BOARD OF GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMISSIONERS.
BOSTON, December 30, 1915.
ARLINGTON PETITION.
This is a complaint in writing, under Section 162 of Chapter 742 of the Acts of the year 1914, by the Selectmen of the Town of Arlington, of the price of gas sold and delivered by the Arlington Gas Light Company.
After due notice, public hearings, as required by law, were held at which Selectmen were represented by the Town Solicitor, and the Company by its counsel.
The Company is supplying gas in the towns of Arlington, Belmont and Winchester from works located in Arlington. It
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
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has also furnished since 1910 to the Lexington Gas Company the gas distributed by that Company. Both are under common con- trol. Its maximum net price is $1.15 a thousand cubic feet, and has been in force for two years. Since 1904, when the present owners acquired control of the Company, the price has been gradually reduced from $1.80 net to that now prevailing.
The Company originally made and distributed coal gas. In 1908 it installed a water gas set at its old works, and since that time, save during the period of dear oil, has made and sold water gas only. In 1913 the inadequacy of the old works for the rapidly increasing needs of the Company's business led to the purchase of another site and the erection thereon of new water gas works of standard type and ample capacity to take care of the Company's present output and with suitable provision for future growth. The present complaint is due, in some measure at least, to the expectation created at the time when the new works were started that their greater efficiency and economy would result in a sub- stantial reduction in price. This expectation has doubtless been emphasized by the lower prices of gas prevailing in all of the adjacent cities and towns lying between the territory supplied and Boston.
The new works have been operated for more than a year, and the prediction of a substantial saving in the cost of producing gas has been realized - the present cost already comparing favorably with such costs in other well-equipped and well-located plants. But in spite of this improvement the Company is not yet receiv- ing the full benefit of the new conditions, since its investment, due to the rapid growth in the population served, has grown more rapidly than its earning power. Since 1904 the number of cus- tomers has increased from nine hundred and twenty-three to over forty-seven hundred, the miles of mains from twenty-four to over seventy-five and the output from fourteen to over eighty-eight million cubic feet. These facts are of themselves sufficient indi- cation that any present inadequacy in earning power must in all ยท probability be temporary.
The essential and difficult questions relate to depreciation and the return upon capital investment. On June 30, 1915, it had a plant with a book value of $694,759 and other assets valued at $49,542, against which there were outstanding capital stock of
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
$450,000, bonds of $100,000, notes of $162,700 and other debts of $29,623. Included in its plant accounts, however, are its old works, no longer actively employed, and certain mains which, because inadequate, have been virtually abandoned. In fact, during the past twelve years the company has built practically a new plant, in the course of which the value of much of the prop- erty still in existence and in use at its beginning has disappeared, and a valuation by the Board discloses a substantial impairment. During the same period no dividends were paid in three of the years, and averaged less than six per cent for the remaining nine. Moreover, little or no provision has been made for depreciation prior to the past year, and, in consequence, it can hardly be said upon the face of the returns that the dividends actually paid were in fact earned.
The situation has been further complicated by the ownership throughout this period of the Company's stock by the Massa- chusetts Lighting Companies. All of the major expenditures upon the plant during the period have been made by another corporation under the same ownership at a substantial profit, which has been divided among the security holders of the Massa- chusetts Lighting Companies, but is still represented in the Arlington Company's floating debt. A similar arrangement has existed with respect to the management of the latter Company, likewise at a substantial profit to the security holders of the Massachusetts Lighting Companies. It can hardly be said under such circumstances that the dividends actually paid fairly repre- sent the return which the stockholders of the Arlington Company have in fact received, or that the entire outstanding stock and debt is free from challenge.
The Board has already discussed the problem raised by this method of control in other decisions, and the discussion need not be repeated here. It is but fair to say that the present manage- ment is eliminating some of the most objectionable features of the system with a view to placing this and other properties owned on a sounder and more conservative basis. But, even so, the Com- pany can hardly ask the consumers to assume the burden of a return upon a profit already taken, or to provide more than once directly or indirectly for a return upon the capital properly invested
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for their service. After a careful consideration of the Company's affairs and of the factors described, the Board is satisfied that with prudent management the price hereinafter recommended will yield the Company a sufficient revenue to cover all proper operat- ing costs, a fair return upon the property which it is actively and necessarily employing for the public convenience, and a liberal provision for the depreciation which the facts of this case so greatly emphasize. There is also good cause to believe that this price can be bettered as soon as the Company has realized the full earning power of its recent investment in its distribution system.
Some other questions were raised in behalf of the Town respect- ing the Company's operating costs which it seems to the Board unnecessary to discuss. During the construction of the new works conditions were such as to make the costs of production abnormal and of little value as a measure of what may be reason- ably expected in the operation of the new works. Considerable criticism was also directed to the price of eighty cents charged for gas furnished the Lexington Gas Company for distribution to its customers. This Company is under the same ownership as the Arlington Company. It has merely a distribution system and the gas supplied by the Arlington to the Lexington Company is con- veyed by a main which is used also for Arlington consumers, and is measured at the meters of the Lexington Company's customers with an additional and arbitrary allowance for leakage. It is doubtless in the interests of both groups of consumers that a com- mon source of supply shall be utilized and, to the extent to which the cost of producing the gas affects the price to the consumer, it is difficult for the Board to find any greater or different obligation on the part of the Lexington as compared with the Arlington consumer. Eighty cents not only covers the cost of producing the gas furnished to the Lexington Company and other costs directly attributable to this service, but is, in fact, more than suffi- cient to cover all of the Arlington Company's operating costs. Without passing upon the question as to whether or not this price is too high, the Board is satisfied that it imposes no undue burden upon the Arlington consumers.
In view of the foregoing facts and considerations, the Board recommends that on and after the first day of January, 1916, the
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
maximum net price of gas sold and delivered by the Arlington Gas Light Company shall not exceed one dollar and ten cents ($1.10) a thousand cubic feet.
By order of the Board, (Signed) ALONZO R. WEED, Chairman.
PHILIP A. HENDRICK, for Town,
GUY W. COX, for Company.
From the above order it will be seen that, while the present reduction is five (5) cents per one thousand cubic feet, the Board feels that a further reduction will be made in the near future.
PRINTING TOWN REPORT.
As recommended in the Report of the Board last year, the size of the Town Report for 1914 was materially reduced. The cost for printing this report for the year 1914 was $425 less than the book for 1913, when the cost was $1700. Following the custom of previous years the Board issued invitations for bids for printing the Town Report of 1915. From eleven invitations sent out, four bids were received. These were carefully examined and the con- tract awarded to Walter J. Taplin of Arlington, he being the lowest bidder. It will be seen that the size of this report could not be materially decreased from the size of the 1914 book.
BIDS FOR COAL FOR TOWN DEPARTMENTS.
Following the custom of many years, the Board issued invita- tions to seven firms for bids to furnish coal to the departments of the Town, including the school department. Replies were re- ceived from five firms and the bids were opened by the Board in company with a committee from the School Board. After a careful examination of the bids, the contract was awarded to the Peirce & Winn Company of Arlington, they being the lowest bidders. The prices on the various kinds of coal used were as follows:
Delaware & Hudson, furnace, egg and stove $6.55
Georges Creek Cumberland 4.50
Delaware & Hudson, stove for outside poor (this to be delivered in one-half-ton lots) 7.50
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH WORK.
Superintendent Daniel M. Daley has continued in charge of this work during the year, rendering efficient and satisfactory service.
The work of exterminating the gypsy and brown-tail moths has been performed so thoroughly in Arlington that the Town is very free from these insects. Other insects have, however, ap- peared, making it absolutely necessary that the work of extermi- nating all insects be continued. The Board would again call the attention of the citizens to the necessity of using every precaution against these insects, particularly the tent caterpillar, by cutting down worthless underbrush, burning the same, and by spraying, during the season when these pests appear. For the detail of the work done on the trees in the Town during the year, reference is made to the report of the Superintendent and the Tree Warden.
OLD TOWN HALL BUILDING.
No material change has been made in this building during the year. The upper hall is still occupied as a picture theatre, from which the Town derives a revenue of $1000 per year. Two rooms on the lower floor are occupied by S. K. Ames, the Town receiving $400 per year. In this building the Police Department and the Wire Department are amply provided for for years to come. The lower basement, formerly occupied by the Water Department for a meter-testing room, has been assigned to the Superintendent of Wires.
The Board would recommend the installation in this building of a public sanitary, the need of which is apparent not only to our own citizens, but to strangers having occasion to pass through the Town. The Board is of the opinion that such a sanitary can be provided at a cost not exceeding $1000.
LICENSES.
Garage and Gasoline Licenses. During the year new regulations have been made by the Fire Prevention Commissioner, regulating these licenses. Under these regulations citizens desiring a license to maintain a garage to accommodate one or two cars, need only to apply to the Building Inspector and the Chief of the Fire
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Department. For a license to keep and store gasoline to an amount not exceeding 120 gallons, application need only be made to the Chief of the Fire Department. Where licenses are applied for to keep more than two automobiles, or to keep and store gaso- line to an amount exceeding 120 gallons, the law requires that the Board shall give a hearing, after fourteen days' notice, to all interested abutters.
Common Victuallers. With the growth of the Town, the number of these licenses issued must naturally increase. The Board con- ' tinues to require that the premises where these licenses are granted be at all times kept in a clean and sanitary condition. All applica- tions are submitted to the Police Department for investigation as to the character of the applicant and the conditions of the premises.
Billiard, Pool and Bowling Alleys. During the year the Board has issued but one license to operate a pool room. This is the only license for this purpose existing in the Town. In October, an application was received from Mr. A. C. LaBreque for a license to maintain a bowling alley on his premises, No. 606 Massachusetts Avenue. Following the custom of the Board, a public hearing was given after notices had been sent to all interested abutters. No one appeared in opposition, and the license was granted. The alleys were opened to the public late in December.
Junk. During the year two licenses were issued for the collec- tion of junk and second-hand articles. The Town received $300 each. The Board is of the opinion that the fewer of these licenses issued, the easier it will be for the police to keep in close touch with the holders of the licenses, thus protecting our citizens in avoiding the disposal of stolen property.
PERAMBULATION OF TOWN LINES.
Under the Statutes, the Town lines shall be perambulated and run and the marks renewed once in every five years by two or more of the Selectmen of each Town.
During the past year it was the duty of the Selectmen to peram- bulate and run the line, and all three members performed this duty. The lines between all adjoining cities and towns were run and the marks found to be in proper condition.
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JURORS.
Owing to the law now in effect governing the selection of jurors, many complaints have been received on account of citizens being deprived of any knowledge that their names are on the jury list. The law requires that the Board of Selectmen shall prepare a list of jurors, a copy of which is filed with the Town Clerk and with the Clerk of the Superior Court. Formerly this list was published so that the citizens in Town Meeting could have their names stricken from the list and others substituted. This can no longer be done and the Board would advise all citizens desiring not to serve on the jury to write a letter to that effect during the month of January each year. The list of jurors as revised by the Board will be found under that heading.
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, 406 Massa- chusetts Avenue; Napoleon J. Hardy, 657 Massachusetts Avenue; Christie Anifantis, 1309 Massachusetts Avenue; Louis C. Taylor, shore of Spy Pond; E. M. Parkhurst, 450 Massachusetts Avenue; Panis and Saxeny, 1360 Massachusetts Avenue; John W. Eckman, 1400 Massachusetts Avenue; Selma C. Crane, 1113 Massachusetts Avenue; Arlington Food Shop, 637 Massachusetts Avenue; John B. Meaney, 64 Henderson Street; Thomas A. Mahan, 1269 Massa- chusetts Avenue; Katherine A. Dempsey, 81 Warren Street; E. Elbridge Snow, 447 Massachusetts Avenue; Ruth Anderson, 945 Massachusetts Avenue; George L. Swain, 194 Massachusetts Avenue; Thomas K. Millett, 48 Pond Lane.
Junk. Samuel Wax, 10 Minot Street, Boston; Max Rosen- feldt, 220 Prospect Street, Cambridge.
Pool Table. Sylvester Di Donato, 444 Massachusetts Avenue. Bowling Alley. A. C. LaBreque, 606 Massachusetts Avenue.
Auctioneers. Arthur J. Hendrick, 17 Court Street; Frank Y. Wellington, 15 Wellington Street; James H. Shedd, 28 Draper Avenue; Albert H. Goodwin, 8 Water Street; George D. Moore, 133 Broadway; Willard G. Rolfe, Irving Street; Frank V. Noyes, 11 Gray Street; James M. Mead, 46 Mt. Vernon Street; Daniel
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
P. Sweeney, 29 Cleveland Street; Winthrop Pattee. Jason Street; F. Alfred Patterson, 70 Appleton Street.
Transportation of Liquors (under Chapter 421, Acts of 1906). George W. McClellan, 15 Webster Street; James F. Teehan, 7 Moore Place; Arthur M. Curtin, 963 Massachusetts Avenue; Wood Bros., Massachusetts Avenue; American Express Co., Railroad Station; Manuel Lopez, 21 Swain Street.
No sixth-class licenses were issued. For all detail of expendi- tures made under all departments under control of the Board, reference is made to the Report of the Auditor.
WILLIS P. HOWARD, THOMAS J. DONNELLY, HORATIO A. PHINNEY, Selectmen of Arlington.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1915, TO- GETHER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR.
ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1, 1916.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit my eleventh annual report of the doings of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1915.
During the year there have been 543 arrests, an increase of 80 over last year; 532 of these were males, 11 females and 59 juveniles.
Three hundred were non-residents. Fines to the amount of $1,954.60 and forty-four months' imprisonment were imposed by the court.
Eighty-nine arrests were for crimes against property, 27 against the person and 427 against public order; 98 were arrested for police of other places; property valued at $2,454 was reported stolen and property to the value of $1,980 was recovered.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
Accidents reported
90
Ambulance calls
28
Buildings reported vacant and specially protected
93
Cases investigated
767
Dead bodies cared for
10
Defective hydrants reported
1
Defective electric lights
153
Defective electric wires
26
Defects in water pipes
12
Defects in gas pipes
3
Details for public assemblages
9
Dogs killed
7
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Disturbances suppressed without arrest
7
Fires extinguished without alarm
2
Fire alarms given
3
Glass in fire boxes reported broken
135
Injured persons assisted home
13
Injured persons assisted to hospitals
13
Lanterns put in dangerous places
50
Lost children cared for
29
Messages delivered
75
Notices served for the Board of Health
2 140
Officers at fires
72
Obstructions in streets removed
49
Runaway teams secured
2
Sick persons assisted home
7
Sick persons assisted to hospitals
5
Stores found unlocked at night and secured
512
Stray teams cared for
3
Search warrants for liquor served
1
Search warrants for abortion instruments
1
Search warrants for violation of game laws
2
Search warrants gaming implements
1
Search warrants for stolen property
6
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM.
The police signal system still continues to give the same splendid results as when first installed, thanks to the watchful care of Superintendent of Wires LeBaron.
There were 36,898 duty calls and 1,346 telephone calls received at the station from the patrolmen during the year. There should be one new box installed in the Lake Street district and I so recommend.
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