USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1921 > Part 16
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Services, care and repair
4,533.59
Meters, care, repair and reading
4,531.87
Hydrants and gates, care and repair
823.37
Turning water services off and on
75.65
Tools and equipment
1,532.24
Reservoir and Great Meadows
107.37
Renewal of 4" cement-lined main in
Dudley Street with 6" iron main
2,694.88
*General Expense
6,639.65
Total maintenance
$22,361.03
SERVICES
Services, extension of
$ 3,094.31
Meters, extension of
1,160.74
Total services
4,255.05
Water debt
$15,000.00
Interest account
10,900.00
Sinking fund
2,000.00
Metropolitan water tax
24,635.28
Total
52,535.28
*Office $2,071.51, Automobile $300.00, Engineering $447.60, Miscellaneous $79.54, Salaries $1,670, Holidays $513.65, Lost time $1,060,12, Vacations $493.73, Refunds $3.50.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Work outside of division
$ I53.09
Material purchased during year but not used
125.28
Total
278.37
Grand total
$79,429.73
Material on hand January 1, 192I
$8,070.19
Material purchased during year but not used
125.28
Material on hand January 1, 1922 available for new work
$8,195.47
WATER RATES FROM CONSUMER
Year
Fixture
Meter
Total
1912
$9,607.89
$35,885.36
$45,493.25
1913
All metered
49,121.04
1914
All metered
50,872.83
1915
All metered
54,337.64
1916
All metered
59,043.77
1917
All metered
61,633.38
1918
All metered
68,059.78
1919
All metered
65,067.36
1920
All metered
66,694.89
1921
All metered
72,163.97
ARLINGTON WATER WORKS Arlington, Middlesex County, Mass.
Population by census of 1920, 18,646. Date of construction, low service, 1872 ; high service, 1894. By whom owned, Town of Arlington.
Source of supply, Metropolitan Water System. CONSUMPTION
I. Estimated total population at date, 19,200.
2. Estimated population on lines of pipe, 18,850.
3. Estimated population supplied, 18,700.
4. Total consumption for the year, 401,595,000 gallons.
5. Percentage of consumption metered, 100 per cent.
6. Average daily consumption, 1,100,300 gallons.
7. Gallons per day to each inhabitant, 57.
8. Gallons per day to each consumer, 57.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
DISTRIBUTION (Including auxiliary supply from old reservoir) MAINS
I. Kind of pipe, cast iron and cement.
2. Sizes, from 4-inch to 12-inch.
3. Extended feet during year, 5,846.
4. Discontinued, 1,120.
5. Total now in use, 52.07 miles.
6. Cost of repairs per mile, $9.19, estimated.
7. Length of pipe less than four inches in diameter, 2,955 feet.
8. Number of hydrants added during year (public), 10.
9. Number of hydrants (public and private) now in use, 529.
IO. Number of stop gates added during year, 8.
II. Number of stop gates now in use, 528.
I2. Average pressure on mains at center of Town, 100 high system, 40 low system.
SERVICES
I6. Kind of pipe, cement-lined, galvanized, cast iron.
I7. Sizes, I-inch to 6-inch.
21. Number of service taps added during year, 106.
22. Number of services now in use, 3,424.
25. Number of meters added, 106.
26. Number now in use, 3,424.
27. Percentage of services metered, 100 per cent.
28. Percentage of receipts from metered water, 100 per cent.
30. Number of motors in use, 2.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT MAINTENANCE Receipts
Stock on hand January I, 192I $8,070.19
Cash on hand January 1, 192I 2,330.54 $10,400.73
A Water Rates ( for building purposes) $271.04
B Water Rates (meters) 71,892.93
C Total for water and meter rents From Public Funds
$72,163.97 7,000.00
K Gross from all sources
$89,564.70
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REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Expenditures
Stock on hand January 1, 1922 $8,195.47
Cash on hand January 1, 1922 2,064.78
$10,260.25
AA Metropolitan Water Assessment $24,635.28
Management, repairs, renewals, etc. 22,514.12
BB Interest on bonds and notes 10,900.00
CC Total maintenance 58,049.40
$15,000.00
DD Paid on Public Debt Sinking Fund
2,000.00
Transfer to Water Extensions
4,255.05
21,255.05
KK Gross expenditures $89,564.70
CONSTRUCTION Receipts
R From Notes issued
$15,000.00
From Public Funds
5,000.00
Cash on hand January 1, 192I
8,383.86
From Water Maintenance
4,255.05
Stock on hand January 1, 192I
4,994.00
V Total $37,632.91
Expenditures
FF Extension of mains $16,134.64
Extension of services
3,094.31
Extension of meters 1,160.74
· General expense 1,026.05
Stock on hand January 1, 1922
1,160.42
Balance, cash on hand January I, 1922 15,056.75
Total
$37,632.91
Respectfully submitted, CLARENCE A. MOORE, THOMAS D. KENNEDY, LOREN W. MARSH, Board of Public Works.
REPORT OF THE JOINT BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
The eighteenth annual report of the Joint Board of Select- men and Board of Public Works is herewith submitted.
Mr. Charles H. Higgins who had been elected at the Annual Meeting a member of the Board of Selectmen became by virtue of that office a member of the Joint Board.
Mr. Loren W. Marsh had been elected at the annual meet- ing as a member of the Board of Public Works.
The Board organized on March 8, 1921, with Olvin H. Lufkin as Chairman and Thomas J. Robinson as Clerk.
The following appointments were made for the year end- ing April 1, 1922:
Town Counsel, Paul M. White ; Superintendent of Public Works and Town Engineer, George E. Ahern.
The appointment of a Superintendent of Wires was laid on the table, Superintendent LeBaron agreeing to perform the duties of the office until his successor was appointed.
William E. Mason was appointed Superintendent of Wires May 22, 1921, and Mr. LeBaron was appointed Super- visor until such time as Mr. Mason had become familiar with the work.
Mr. LeBaron retired from the Department on July I, 1921, and the Board at this time desires to record its appre- ciation of the many years of efficient service rendered by Mr. LeBaron.
During the past year, owing to the continued high cost of labor and materials but one street was recommended for ac- ceptance by the Town. This street, Bowdoin Street, was constructed during the past year under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of betterments.
The Board is in receipt of applications for the acceptance and construction of five streets for the coming year, and will recommend the acceptance of three of these streets.
RULES OF THE BOARD AFFECTING PROPOSED STREETS BEFORE ACCEPTANCE BY THE TOWN
The Town having accepted the provisions of Chapter 249 of the Acts of 1897, known as the Board of Survey Act, the Board has established the following rules and regulations
288
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REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
governing petitions for the laying out and the acceptance of new streets. The Board found this action necessary in order to avoid misunderstandings, and to enable petitioners to know approximately what the ultimate cost of the street would be, and the conditions under which the Board could recommend the acceptance of these streets to the Town. The rules, as adopted by the Board, are :
I. Approval of Plans. No plan will be approved which does not comply with the Board of Survey Act.
2. Petition for Estimate of Cost of Construction. After the approval of plans by the Board the interested parties may on application receive from the Clerk of the Board a blank form of petition requesting the Board to furnish an estimate of the cost of construction of the proposed street. This peti- tion should bear the names of all owners of land abutting on the street together with' the signatures of the parties petition- ing.
On receipt of this petition the Board will designate the type of construction and direct the Town Engineer to make an estimate of the cost of this construction.
3. Petition for the L aying Out of Streets. A blank form of petition for layout, stating the length, width, type of con- struction and estimated cost, will then be sent to the petitioner. This petition should also show names of all owners of land abutting and their addresses, together with the signatures of as many as possible of the parties desiring the layout. On receipt of this petition the Board will set a date for a hearing, and all interested parties will be notified.
4. Action by the Board at First Hearing. After this first hearing if, in the opinion of the Board, common convenience and necessity require that the street in question be laid out as a public highway, they so vote and further vote that it is the intention of the Board to so lay out. A hearing is then set on the intention of the Board, and all interested parties are notified by warrant served by a Constable of the date of said hearing.
5. Final Hearing on Intention of the Board to Lay Out. If after the second hearing the Board is still of the opinion that public convenience and necessity require that said street should be laid out as a public way, a vote is passed laying the street out in accordance with the plans approved by the Board and a record is made of the description of the street by metes and bounds.
6. Acceptance by the Town. After the vote by the Board to lay out it is then within the authority of the Board of Select-
290
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
men on petition to insert an article in the Town Warrant for the acceptance of the street. No street can be brought before the Town for acceptance until the foregoing rules have been complied with. The Board would remind all persons intending to petition for the laying out and acceptance of streets that appropriations for this purpose are only made at the March meeting of each year. The petitions should, therefore, be filed during the early fall months, in order to allow time for hearings before the drawing of the Warrant for the March meeting.
In addition to the foregoing rules the Board has estab- lished a rule by which persons desiring the laying out, construction and acceptance of new streets will be in- formed before final action by the Board of the estimated cost of the construction and the approximate assessment to be levied on the abutting owners. This rule has worked very satisfactory, enabling the petitioners to know what the street will cost them individually, and relieving the Board, when betterments are assessed, of many misunder- standings as to the portion of the cost which is to be borne by the abutting owners.
The foregoing rules of the Board were strengthened in 1917 under Chapter 185 of the General Laws, requiring a cert- ificate from the Board of Survey stating that all provisions of the Board of Survey Act had been complied with before the Register of Deeds could accept any plan for record.
The original Board of Survey Act was further strength- ened by Chapter 135 of the Acts of 1918, authorizing the Board of Survey to establish building lines on any street, the plan of which is before the Board for approval.
STREET LIGHTING
The street lighting system of the Town was continued during 1921 under the one o'clock schedule, meaning that all lights are turned off at one o'clock a. m.
While many of our citizens feel that the street lights should be placed on the all night schedule the Board felt in recommeding the appropriation for the coming year that until conditions became more normal the additional expense, $2500, required to burn the lights all night could be saved the coming year.
Amount appropriated for street lighting in 1921 $14,660.00 Amount expended for street lighting in 1921 13,390.64
Unexpended balance $1,269.36
291
REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
PERMANENT SIDEWALKS
The Board is of the opinion that a more liberal appro- priation should be made each year for the installation of per- manent sidewalks, and for the putting in of curbstone, partic- ularly on our principal streets. With the increasing use of the automobile, and the narrowness of many of our streets it is almost imperative that curbstones be installed to prevent these automobiles from cutting away the loam strips and grass plots that many of our citizens take pride in maintaining in front of their homes. There are many streets where the permanent sidewalks already installed are not continuous and these breaks should be connected in order that these streets might have a continuous permanent walk on at least on side. On Massachu- setts Avenue, in the lower section of the Town, permanent sidewalks should be installed on the westerly side where so many new stores have been erected. Under the budget form of appropriation, as inaugurated at the March meeting all re- imbursements for the installation of sidewalks and curbstones are turned into the Town Treasury, and are not available for the use of the Department. Under this system, therefore, the Town must make its appropriation sufficiently large to entirely finance all applications received for sidewalks as well as for the construction of those walks which the Board deems neces- sary and which may be installed under the sidewalk act.
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TERRITORY
As reported last year the plans for the laying out into house lots of the Allen property and the Russell property were approved and these tracts of land are being developed for re- sidential purposes. The remaining large areas of land are not many, and the Board has deemed it expedient to have studies made of these remaining tracts so that as applications are made for the approval of plans the area may be developed as nearly as possible to lines in harmony with existing streets and contiguous property.
OLVIN H. LUFKIN, CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX, CHARLES H. HIGGINS, CLARENCE A. MOORE, THOMAS D. KENNEDY, LOREN W. MARSH.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen: I respectfully submit my twenty-second report as Superintendent of Wires, covering the period between January 1 and April 30, 1921.
On May first, in accordance with my resignation, sub- mitted to your Honorable Board, my successor, Mr. W. E. Mason, took over the duties of Superintendent of the Wire Department. During the month of May I acted in an ad- visory capacity to assist and instruct the Superintendent and his assistant in becoming familiar with the apparatus and wires of the Fire Alarm and Police Signal Systems ; also to give such other information as desired to the end that the Wire Department in all of its various branches, should be maintained efficiently as in the past. I beg to say at this time in terminating my services to the Town after twenty-one years as head of the various electrical systems owned by the Town, that it is a pleasure to me to turn over to my successor a Department, well organ- ized with Fire Alarm and Police Signal Systems, con- structed in accordance with the most modern engineering practice, these systems having given excellent service in past years, and being recognized by the Fire Underwriters as highly efficient.
The Annual Reports as submitted by me in past years specify what was done from year to year to build up these systems in accordance with the rapid growth of popu- lation and buildings in the Town, and careful considera- tion has been given to make provision for future enlarge- ment of the Signal Systems, which will have to be done within a few years, and the present Fire Alarm Apparatus at Headquarters in the Old Town Hall Building will have to be replaced by more modern equipment of larger ca- pacity. When this change is made, this new equipment should be installed in a fire-proof building built especially for the purpose, and so located as to be as far as possible free from adjacent fire hazard.
A complete set of plans are now on file in the Vault of the Town Engineering Department, showing all wires, conduits and cables owned by the Town as built under my direction, and future extensions of the Wire Systems can be properly made is these plans are consulted.
292
293
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES
INSPECTION OF WIRES IN BUILDING
During the period between January 1 and April 30, one hundred and forty-six, applications were received by this department for new electrical construction being in- stalled in buildings. One hundred and sixty inspections were made in the above specified period. In addition to the above specified inspection work, a general re-inspec- tion of stores and other mercantile places of business in all parts of the town was made late in January in con- junction with an Inspector of the New England Insurance Exchange. Owners and occupants were notified of defects as found, and given orders to make corrections immedi- ately to comply with requirements.
ESTIMATES FOR YEAR 1921
The estimates submitted by me to your Honorable Board for Street Lighting, Maintenance and Extension of Signal Systems should cover what will be required for the year, although the proposed new construction of under- ground cables for the signal systems will have to be re- considered, owing to the reduction of the appropriation asked by me for this work. This cut of several hundred dollars was an unwise piece of judgment on the part of the Finance Committee at this time, as it will make it necessary at a later date to go over the same ground again and install additional cables at a very much increased cost of labor and material than if done at one time.
CONCLUSION
I beg to say at this time, that in the past I have given careful consideration in making up each yearly budget cov- ering the requirements of the Town's electrical Depart- ment with the view of asking for sufficient appropria- tion to keep going ahead, at the same time considering the citizens' pocketbooks in accordance with financial con- ditions existing. From now on the Town will have in- creased appropriation to consider covering electrical mat- ters, and I trust that the Superintendent of Wires will be consulted · before reductions are made in appropriation asked for, to the end that the Town's best interests will be better served as a whole if a heart to heart talk is had before a final decision is made as to what should be rec- ommended for the voters to pass on.
Respectfully submitted, REUBEN W. LEBARON, Superintendent of Wires.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works : Gentlemen :
I respectfully submit my report as Superintendent of Wires from May 1 to December 31, 1921 :
STREET LIGHTING
During the above period thirty (30) new streets lights were ordered and up to December 31, the following eight (8) were installed: Park Avenue, two (2); Bartlett Av- enue, one (1); Pleasant Street, one (1); Maple Street, one (1) ; Acton Street, one (1), 125 c.p. in place of one (1) 60 c.p .; Robbins Road, one (1); Brantwood Road. (1). Changes were made in the location of three (3) lights on Harlow Street.
MORNING LIGHTING
The street lights were burned for one (1) hour dur- ing the months of January, February and March.
Summary of street lights in service December 31, 1921, all lights burning from thirty minutes after sun- down to one o'clock, A. M .:
60 Candle Power Type C Series Incandescent 468
80 Candle Power Type C Series Incandescent 21
100 Candle Power Type C Series Incandescent 1 125 Candle Power Type C Series Incandescent 1 600 Candle Power Type C Series Incandescent 87
578
ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING SYSTEM
50 Watt Lamps Multiple 44
100 Watt Lamps Multiple 5
49
INSPECTION OF WIRES IN BUILDINGS
Eight hundred and forty-two (842) applications were received for new electrical construction and ten hundred and fifty-five (1055) inspections were made during eight months. There were no fires caused by defective wiring during the year.
POLES AND WIRES ON STREETS
Many replacements of poles have been made during the year, more particularly during the month of Decem- ber on account of the sleet storm that commenced Novem- ber 27 and ended November 30, 1921.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF WIRES
During eight months there were twenty-seven (27) new poles installed, and eighty-four (84) broken and de- fective poles replaced.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
The Wire Department had just completed the good conditioning of the Aerial Wires for the winter; and then the sleet storm destroyed a large number of sections all over the System. Repairs were made at once; but sec- tions that were not broken were severely strained and will have to be renewed in a number of places this coming year. Ther has been a celluloid card, printed with the proper emergency calls, attached to the inside of the in- side door of all fire alarm boxes to facilitate the trans- mission of second alarms. An appropriation is asked for to cover the cost of five (5) new fire alarm boxes.
UNDERGROUND WIRES
Two thousand eight hundred and sixty (2860) feet of lead cable were installed during the summer in under- ground conduits, replacing old rubber covered wires in the following locations :
887 feet 12 conductor from Court Street to Old Town Hall. 763 feet 12 conductor from Old Town Hall to Franklin Street.
820 feet 4 conductor in Medford Street from Massachu- setts Avenue to Chestnut Street.
The Department is asking for an appropriation for a ten _(10) conductor lead cable from Franklin Street to Tufts Street and a six (6) conductor cable for Pleasant Street as the rubber covered wires in these places have been in use about twnty years and have been in trouble several times which is a dangerous condition.
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
The new four-pen register with time stamp and clock that was ordered the first of the year for Police Head- quarters at a cost of eight hundred and fifty (850) dol- lars was installed and is satisfactory in every way. The Department has recommended the installation of one (1) new Police Signal Box on Winter Street near Massachu- setts Avenue.
Respectfully submitted,
W. E. MASON, Superintendent of Wires.
-
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT
Arlington, Mass., January 1, 1922.
To the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :
Herewith is respectfully submitted the annual report of the Engineering Department for the year ending De- cember 31, 1921.
The Engineering Department furnishes all the Town departments and committees with such information, plans, designs, estimates and data of an engineering nature as they may require on work being done, or contemplated, also keeps careful notes, measurements and location of new work, additions, changes and extensions as they may occur, and properly records the same for future reference by maps, plans or profiles.
The north side of Massachusetts Avenue from Everett Street to Tufts Street, seven' hundred and eighty-two (782) linear feet, and the north side of Massachusetts Av- enue from Palmer Street to Franklin Street, six hundred eleven (611) linear feet, was reconstructed with Com- pressed Hassam Concrete. The excavated material was used for subgrading Bowdoin Street and grading Crosby School Playground.
Bowdoin Street from River Street to Rawson Road, five hundred thirty (530) linear feet, was reconstructed under the betterment act with asphalt.
Two thousand sixty-two and six-tenths (2,062.6) square yards of granolithic sidewalks and one thousand four hundred forty-nine (1,449.0) linear feet of granite curb were laid during the year.
A total length of four thousand two hundred thirty (4,230) linear feet of main sewers were constructed and one hundred thirty-three house connections were made ; work having been done by the Board of Public Works employees.
Two thousand sixty (2,060) linear feet of water mains were laid and seven thousand seven hundred thirty-two (7,732) linear feet of water services were constructed.
Prior to the reconstruction of Massachusetts Avenue
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TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT
an adequate storm drain system was installed. For de- tails and cost of construction see Board of Public Works Report.
Board of Survey studies were made for the layout of streets on the land bounded by Overlook Road, Aerial Street, Pheasant Avenue Ext., and Peter Tufts Road; on the area bounded by Massachusetts Avenue, Robbins Road, Gray Street and the Junior High School Site; on the area bounded by Hutchinson Road, Pierce Farm, Ridge Street, and the Winchester Town Line; and on the land bounded by Gray Street; Mt. Vernon Street Ext; Irwin Property and Pine Ridge Road.
Six (6) Board of Survey plans were verified by this Department and approved by the Board of Survey.
Street numbering plans of all new streets have been made, new buildings located, and numbers assigned.
Plans have been made by the various companies and corporations and filed in the Town Engineer's office, show- ing the locations of structures for which permits were granted by the Joint Board during the year.
The Engineering Department has prepared plans and performed miscellaneous services for all the Town .de- partments and for the Town Counsel.
Annexed to this report is a table giving the names of all streets in the Town, public and private, lengths, widths and total mileage; also a table of general statistics per- taining to the Town.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. AHERN,
Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works.
TABLE SHOWING THE LOCATION, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE STREETS
Name
Location
Width
Date of Acceptance
Public
Private
Aberdeen Road .
Dundee Road, easterly.
40
730
Aberdeen Road .
Tanager Street, 62 ft. northwesterly.
40
62
March 24, 1919.
Academy Street
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