USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1919 > Part 17
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mobile without running into a Fire Alarm post set inside of street lines.
I would say at this time, if it had not been that the Wire Department was equipped with an Emergency Truck, fully prepared to handle accidents of this kind, much delay would have taken place in restoring the signal wires to service.
On the night of October 31 eight false alarms for fire were sounded. These false alarms followed each other so quickly that it was almost impossible to keep the bell strikers, whistle- blowing machine, and Central Office apparatus wound up and in commission. Fire Box Number 64 was injured at this time and had to have machinery removed that night and repaired before same could again be put into service. The Repeater at the Fire Alarm Headquarters was also temporarily put out of commission by the breaking of one of the operating levers. As the Repeater is the "Heart of the Fire Alarm System" through which all alarms are received and retransmitted, the Wire Superintendent was kept on the jump on this particular night in making repairs and keeping all machinery working to the end that the Fire Department should receive notification of alarms being sounded, this Department being continually on the move to all sections of the town.
Something should be done to put a stop to the "false alarm fiend," as the unlawful sounding of fire alarms is a dan- gerous and expensive pastime, which will certainly cause loss of property, or perhaps life, if allowed to continue under con- ditions that have been experienced in this town and other municipalities during the past few years.
On June 28, at 6.45 P.M., twenty-one blows were sounded on the Fire Alarm, calling attention to the signing of the Armistice.
On September 10, at 6 P.M., the Military Call, 7-7-7, was sounded for the first time in this town, calling the militia to service in Boston on account of the Police strike.
POLICE SIGNAL
This important branch of the town's signal service has been in commission for fourteen years, and since date of installation has transmitted thousands of duty and telephone calls yearly. In the period since date of installation, 1906, very little has been
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done for repairs on this system, and cost of maintenance has been small. The time has now come when some of the appara- tus of this system should be thoroughly overhauled on account of wear. Furthermore, defective insulation of old underground wires has impaired the working of parts of system at times owing to leakage of electric currents, more especially during the past year, as the underground conduits were very damp owing to rainy conditions existing. Few of our citizens have any knowledge of, or can appreciate the large amount of "police business" transmitted over the Police Signal System, and the added protection this system gives the community as a whole.
STREET LIGHTING
During the year three 60 candle power and two 600 candle power Incandescent Lights were installed, and four 60 candle power lights were removed, making a net addition of only one new light added to the Street Lighting System during the year. The location of new lights installed and old lights discontinued are recorded by schedule filed with the Town Clerk, and also are on record at Wire Department office. The installation of six 60 candle power lights was authorized during the year for Forest Street to complete street lighting on this thoroughfare to the Winchester town line. Owing to labor conditions existing, the Edison Company was unable to complete this year construc- tion which required the setting of several poles for these new lights, but it is expected that the work will be completed early this coming year.
As per your authorization, the street lights were lighted between 5 and 6 o'clock A.M. during the months of November and December, and I think this early morning lighting is appreciated by our citizens who have to start early in their daily occupations.
SCHEDULE OF STREET LIGHTS IN SERVICE DECEMBER 31, 1919
60 Candle Power, Type "C" Incandescent 437
80 Candle Power, Type "C" Incandescent. 21
100 Candle Power, Type "C" Incandescent. 1
600 Candle Power, Type "C" Incandescent 87
Total . 546
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ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING SYSTEM
50 Watt Mazda Lamps (Multiple) 44
100 Watt Mazda Lamps (Multiple) 5
Total 49
POLES AND WIRES
Very few poles were set on the highways during the past year. The replacement of old poles was small in number, al- though an inspection of poles existing was made by the various corporations owning same. Labor conditions and the high cost of materials have prevented much new construction that should be done if times were normal.
On Medford Street, between Massachusetts Avenue and Chestnut Street, six wood poles owned by the Telephone Com- pany were removed and six iron poles were set in place of these wood poles to support span wires of the Boston Elevated Rail- way trolley system. Underground conduits were installed by the Telephone Company for house services, and electric light wires were changed as made necessary by the substitution of iron poles. A very great improvement has been made on this street by the changing of the wood poles to iron, and the lessen- ing of number of aerial wires made possible by underground construction. Similar changes should be made on Massachu- setts Avenue where the wood poles now are used only for the support of railway wires.
A new transformer sub-station was erected by the Edison Company on Mystic Street, near Russell Street, to provide additional service to the rapidly growing light and power systems in the town, and it is understood that the Edison Company at a future date will erect a larger and more substan- tial station for their requirements.
INSPECTION OF WIRES IN BUILDINGS
Applications for new electrical construction increased over 150 per cent during the past year from the year 1918, which indicated that conditions were improving in as far as new busi-
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ness being done. Five hundred and sixty-three (563) applica- tions were made for electrical construction, and four hundred and fifteen (415) inspections were made, covering principally new construction. One electrical fire occurred during the year, caused by leaving current turned on a flatiron. This fire re- quired the services of the Fire Department on a still alarm, and damage was fortunately small. An electric flatiron is a very useful article, but a very dangerous one from a fire standpoint if left with current turned on, and all citizens should use due care when using any of these electrical heating devices to be sure that same are disconnected when not in use. By making a practice of detaching cord of iron from socket or wall fixture when not using may save a burned home. The use of other electrical devices is greatly on the increase, and some of these devices are dangerous both from a life and fire standpoint if not properly attached to wires or other fittings of required capacity. Consult the Inspector of Wires or a competent electrician when in doubt on matters of this kind, which may save serious results.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I would further recommend at this time, as in past reports, that as large an appropriation be made as consistent with financial conditions existing for the extension and renewal of the underground wire systems of the Fire Alarm and Police Signal. This new construction must be advanced as fast as possible to insure reliable service of these systems. Substantial appropri- ations for this class of construction will be necessary for the next four years coming before replacement of old underground wires now in use will be completed, and also to meet increased addi- tions to the above specified systems that will be necessary by new streets and buildings being built.
Respectfully submitted,
REUBEN W. LEBARON, Superintendent of Wires.
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD 1919
ORGANIZATION
At the annual Town Meeting held last March, Mr. H. B. S. Prescott was elected a member of the Planning Board to fill the vacancy caused by the declination of Judge James P. Parmenter to run again for this office. Subsequently Mr. Prescott was elected Vice-Chairman.
The other members of the Board are Henry W. Hayes, Chair- man; Harry G. Porter, Cyrus E. Dallin, Robert W. Pond.
Jacob Bitzer was again appointed to serve as Secretary.
ROLL OF HONOR
The most important and interesting problem considered by the Board this year was the question of the location of a Roll of Honor to contain the names of the Arlington boys who served our country in the war with Germany.
Early in the year, Mr. Cyrus E. Dallin submitted a model of a Roll of Honor which was approved by the Board.
At the last annual Town Meeting it was voted that the Plan- ning Board be appointed a Committee with full authority to erect a Roll of Honor on the green adjacent to the easterly side of the Town Hall. the money to be raised by popular subscrip- tion.
Shortly after this Town Meeting, the Board received sharp criticisms of the location decided upon, from many interested citizens. After a careful investigation and discussion of the criticisms, the Board decided that it would be wise to again sub- mit this question to the Town for further consideration.
With this end in view the Board made a progressive report to the special Town Meeting held December 11, 1919. In that report the Board suggested that the erection of a Roll of Honor
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be deferred until such time as the local post of the Legion has acquired a home. This home in the opinion of the Board would be the logical location for a Roll of Honor.
The Board also suggested that a memorial to the soldiers who died in the service be placed in the vestibule of the Town Hall. It is the intention of the Board to present the whole subject for further consideration to the next annual Town Meeting.
BUILDING LINES ON MAIN THOROUGHFARES
Since the year 1915, the Planning Board has annually urged the Town to establish building lines on through streets, as this is the only method by which the Town can secure the possibility of future widening in these thoroughfares without prohibitive expense and can prevent the encroachment on existing open spaces.
The Board has called to the attention of the Joint Board the necessity of establishing building lines on Massachusetts Avenue and also on Medford Street. The persistency of real estate promoters to erect one-story stores and garages close to the sidewalk line ought to be checked at once. Therefore, the Board again urges immediate action by the Town.
Cities and towns that have established building lines have found them to be of great value in promoting proper develop- ment and the much dreaded civil suits for damages as many prophesied would be the case have not been filed in the courts. Building lines when established have proved to be a betterment rather than a damage.
The Board quotes from the 1916 report the following section :
"We believe that this Act provides a means for making neces- sary widenings with the least expense to the Town and the least hardship to the owners of property. It will be observed that the imposing of a building line does not take away the right to use one's land except for building purposes. Lawns, shrubbery, walks and fences may be kept irrespective of the building line. It is hardly more than a notice to the owners that some time in the near or distant future a front strip of his land, varying from a few feet to forty feet (limited by the Act to twenty-five feet), depending upon the necessity, may be taken for highway pur- poses, and until that time the strip is to be kept clear of sub-
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stantial structures which would be costly to remove. There is nothing new in the principle of the Act. A set-back restriction is very commonly found in residential property of good class. In many of the streets of Winchester there are such set-backs. The only difference is that, instead of being a private restriction and enforceable only by the owners of lots which are affected thereby, it becomes a public regulation enforceable by the Town. The Act has been adopted in the cities of Boston, Cam- bridge, Lynn, Medford, Newton, Quincy, Revere, Springfield, Woburn, and towns of Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Norwood, Watertown, Winchendon.
"It has been used in the metropolitan district by the Town of Watertown, which during the last two years has placed a building line on several of its streets, and by the City of Quincy, which has established a fifteen-foot set-back for one thousand feet on School Street, one of the important thoroughfares of the town. In both Watertown and Quincy no damages have been claimed by property owners, who are evidently content to wait until their land is actually taken for a physical widening of the street."
SUCKER BROOK IMPROVEMENT
The improvement of Sucker Brook has been brought forward by the Board with the idea of doing the work in connection with the construction of the Metropolitan Sewer. Owing to present- day conditions the construction of this sewer will probably be postponed for some years, meanwhile the Town might gradually improve the banks of the brook.
The Town deposits an ever increasing amount of material washed from the streets and carried through storm drains to the bed of the brook. This deposit causes the water to overflow the lands of abutting owners and creates unhealthful and unsightly conditions. A gradual improvement of these conditions would not be burdensome. A start should be made this year on that section of the brook lying between Grove and Mill Streets. The banks of the brook in this section are largely owned by the Town and the draining of the land would result in giving an extended area for playground purposes on the High School grounds, and a possibility would be created of building a swimming pool and skating rink.
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CROSS STREET FROM CENTRAL TO MYSTIC STREETS
Plans for this cross street are now on file at the office of the Town Engineer and have been approved by the Planning Board. The Town has authorized the Selectmen to petition the Superior Court for the appointment of a special commission for the elimination of grade crossings. As the elimination of the grade crossing and the building of the street are so closely allied, the whole matter is deferred until the Commission is appointed
PLAYGROUND AT THE HEIGHTS
The need of a playground at the Heights is becoming more apparent as the population increases.
The Town three years ago made an appropriation of $800 for the purchase of land for this purpose, but no suitable location was found available and the matter has been allowed to drop.
According to the program of the School Committee, a Gram- mar School will be erected on Forest Street and a Junior High School on the Crusher lot. If this is done, a playground in the vicinity of these two schools becomes a public necessity. There are three locations which might well be considered in solving this problem.
First: A playground could be developed on the lower level "of the Crusher lot which is owned by the Town, without inter- fering with the use of the rest of the lot for school purposes, es- sentially as reported by the Committee on Junior High School building.
Second: A tract of land owned by Charles S. Peirce and located at the corner of the State Highway and Forest Street. This is a level lot and would not cost a great amount of money to develop.
Third: The old Hobbs Pond property, together with the land owned by Howard S. Russell, could be developed into an ideal playground, with a swimming pool for the summer and a skating rink for the winter. This location has been a playground for the children of the neighborhood for a generation and could be pre- served as such at a moderate expense.
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OTHER PROJECTS
Numerous projects for the development of the Town are con- stantly brought to the attention of the Board, many of which have had to be laid aside owing to the fact that the money ne- cessary to carry them out cannot yet be made available. The suggestions made by the Board in this report are for projects that are necessary and not overburdensome.
SCHOOLS
The problem of housing the school children of the Town is receiving the careful consideration of the School Committee as their report to the Town Meeting of December 11th has indicated. The Board is of the opinion that the locations proposed are well considered and will probably meet the present and future needs of the Town.
CONCLUSION
While building operations are still checked by abnormal con- ditions and the growth of the Town somewhat retarded, it is a favorable time to plan for future growth so as to be prepared when conditions again become normal to develop the Town in a manner that will reflect credit upon her citizens of today and receive the approval and appreciation of future generations
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY W. HAYES, Chairman. H. B. S. PRESCOTT, Vice-Chairman. HARRY G. PORTER, CYRUS E. DALLIN, ROBERT W. POND.
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
To the Honorable, the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works:
Herewith I hand you my report for the year ending December 31, 1919.
The following cases were disposed of :
JAMES H. GORDON: Petition for abatement of betterment assessments on Summer Street Extension. Tried before a jury with the Hill and Johnson cases. The jury found in favor of the Town.
SUBURBAN LAND Co .: Petition in the Land Court by the Suburban Land Co. to register land in which the title of the Town in Great Meadows was involved. Final decree entered establishing and defining the rights of way of the Town to Mas- ' sachusetts Avenue.
JEREMIAH MALONEY: Petition by the Town to require rela- tives of a pauper to reimburse the Town for his support. The Court found that the relatives were not of sufficient ability to make such contribution.
ALEXANDER SISKIND: Suit to recover taxes claimed to be illegally assessed. Case disposed of in favor of the Town without trial.
NORA DUGGAN: Petition for assessment of land damages. Case ready for trial. Settled on the payment of $300 by the Town.
ELLEN HICKEY: Suit brought to recover damages alleged to have been sustained by falling into a sewer trench. Plaintiff was nonsuited.
GEORGE H. JOHNSON: Petition for abatement of betterment assessments on Summer Street Extension. Tried with the Gordon and Hill cases. Jury found in favor of the Town.
GEORGE H. HILL: Petition for abatement of betterment
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assessments on Summer Street Extension. Tried with the Gordon and Hill cases. Jury found in favor of the Town
SUSAN A. MORRILL: Street accident caused by a defect in Marion Road. Settled by payment of $150 to the injured person.
CENTRAL BUILDING Co .: Claim for $234 for refinishing floor in new Town Hall. Suit was brought against the Town and the case was settled upon the payment of $100.
McHUGH ET AL: Suit brought against the Town for damage to a greenhouse and crop alleged to have been due to an improper aqueduct in Dudley Street. Plaintiff claimed $800 damage. Case was disposed of by an agreement for "Neither Party, " the Town paying nothing.
BINNIG: Petition for abatement of betterment assessment. Disposed of by settlement, the petitioner paying a sum approved by the Joint Board.
SIMPSON: Petition for abatement of betterment assessment. Disposed of by settlement, the petitioner paying a sum approved by the Joint Board.
CATHERINE SULLIVAN: Suit brought for injuries alleged to have been sustained while leaving the new Town Hall, caused by slipping on the piazza. Case was settled by the payment of $150.
BY-LAWS: At the request of the Police Department, the Town Counsel prosecuted a case involving several persons for viola- tion of Section 7 of the By-Laws. The various parties were found guilty.
BOSTON ELEVATED RAILWAY Co .: Damage to auto of Fire Department. Settled on the payment of $100 by the Elevated to the Town.
AMERICAN TAR Co .: Claim for damage to edgestones and trees on Medford Street caused by fire. Settled on the pay- ment of $1,750 to the Town.
THOMAS M. HUTCHINSON: Claim for injuries sustained on Forest Street due to an alleged defect in a guard rail. Settled by the payment of $100.
AUTO OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPT .: Claim against one Robinson for injury to automobile. Settled upon the payment by the Travelers' Insurance Co. of $180.80.
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GRISWOLD LAND Co .: To remove from the records at the Registry of Deeds a plan of real estate illegally recorded. Plan removed.
MATTER OF GREAT MEADOWS: The contract for the use of the Great Meadows was cancelled and by summary process the title of the Great Meadows was revested in the Town free of any contract. Thereupon a new contract was entered into with W. W. Coe. The Town Counsel attended the various con- ferences leading up to the contract, drafted the contract and attended to securing the first year's rent.
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION: Claim of JOHN O'KEEFE for injuries was settled by payment to him of $20.
THOMAS KEATING: This man sustained a broken leg while in the employ of the Town and engaged in his duties in July, and has been receiving compensation since that time at the rate of $14 per week.
In addition to the above compensation cases the Town Counsel has handled or investigated nine others.
SPRING STREET LAYOUT: The Town Counsel attended two different hearings before the County Commissioners and the matter of the final adjudication by the Commissioners is still pending.
ELEVATED DEFICIT: At the Direction of the Board of Select- men the Town Counsel attended a conference with the Trustees of the 'Boston Elevated Railway Co. and also appeared and argued before the Street Railway Committee relative to this matter.
FRED M. BENSON: Claim for injuries to an automobile by reason of running into an unguarded trench. No settlement has been made.
HEARING ON THE COST OF ICE: At the direction of the Board of Selectmen the Town Counsel appeared at a hearing in the State House on this matter. No argument was made.
MAINTENANCE OF CAMBRIDGE BRIDGES: At the direction of the Board of Selectmen the Town Counsel appeared in opposing this Bill before the Committee on Metropolitan Affairs.
GAS COMPANY HEARING: At the direction of the Board of Selectmen the Town Counsel attended a hearing before the Gas & Electric Light Commission relative to the maintaining of
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war rates by the Gas Company pending a return to normal conditions. The present rate was to be maintained.
TRAVELERS' INSURANCE Co .: This is a matter of adjustment of premium charged by the Travelers' Insurance Co. for work- men's compensation for the period ending July 1, 1918. Under the direction of the Town Counsel an audit was made which resulted in reducing the premium $480. There are still further questions relative to the policy affecting the amount of premium which are still pending.
MATTHEWS CASE: This matter was brought to my attention by the Inspector of Plumbing to enforce his orders. After a conference with the parties the orders of the Plumbing Inspector were complied with.
H. J. GREEN: Investigation of claim of Mr. Green for money claimed to have been due. After a conference with the Treas- urer and Auditor the same was found to have been paid.
RAWSON MATTER: This was a matter growing out of failure on the part of owners of property to comply with the orders of the Board of Health to instal proper sanitary appurtenances. Numerous conferences were had that resulted in the property owners complying with the Board of Health order.
LEAHY CASE: This is a claim for damages to land on Orient Avenue caused by the laying of a main sewer. Suit has not been brought and numerous conferences have resulted in no adjust- ment. The matter is still pending.
JAMES DENHAM: This is a suit brought to recover street betterment assessments on Park Avenue Extension claimed to have been illegally assessed or to be void. Preparation pre- paratory to trial has been made. The matter is still pending.
In addition to the above services the Town Counsel has at- tended the meetings of the Selectmen and the Joint Board, has prepared and filed twenty-one written opinions and has advised the various departments, when called upon to do so.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP H. HENDRICK, Town Counsel.
1
REPORT OF BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen: Inasmuch as the Town budget showed such heavy demands all round only a nominal amount was appropriated for the Park Commission. This has sufficed to maintain the policing of Menotomy Rocks Park and the usual care. Owing to the carelessness of the representatives of the Department of Agriculture fire spread and destroyed numerous shrubs that had been set out in the Park in previous years. Through the efforts of the Commission these shrubs have been replanted without cost to the Town.
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