USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1922 > Part 9
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I also recommend that a committee be appointed at coming Town meeting to investigate the building of a new Fire Station and Fire Alarm building to be built on land recently obtained by Town, situated on Massachusetts Avenue, Franklin Street and Broadway; said committee to report at a future meeting.
I wish to thank your Honorable Board for the courteous manner in which you have received me in my official capacity.
I also wish to thank all other officials of the Town, who have so willingly given their service when called upon.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
To my assistants and members of the department, I give special thanks for the able manner in which they have answered all demands made upon them bearing out the old motto, "In union there is strength."
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER H. PEIRCE, Chief.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1, 1923.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen: I have the honor of submitting my eighteenth annual report of the doings of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1922.
During the year there have been 1220 arrests and of this number 1198 were males and 22 females, 74 were juveniles under the age of 17 years, 751 were non-residents and 469 were residents.
Complaints were made at Court for the following offenses : Arson, 4. Adultery, 4. Assault ,and battery, 25. Assault to kill. 2. Accosting a female, 1. Attempting to commit arson, 1. Breaking and entering and larceny, 36. Breaking glass in streets, 1. Carrying a revolver without license, 2. Capias, (default), 24. Concealing child, 1. Cruelty to animals, 2. Com- mitting a nuisance, 1. Drunkenness, 134. Disturbance of the peace, 17. Disorderly house, 1. Escaped prisoners, 5. Forgery, 1. Giving a false alarm of fire, 1. Having obscene book in possession, 1. Illegally keeping dynamite, 1. Indecent exposure, 2. Interrupting a funeral, 1. Larceny, 37. Lewd and lascivious cohabitation, 2. Lewdness, 1. Manslaughter, 6. Malicious injury to real estate, 3. Non-support, 14. Peddling without license, 2. Receiving stolen property, 3. Rape, 4. Selling leased property, 1. Suspicious persons, 22. Safekeeping, 1. Stubborn child, 3. Trespass, 10. Threats, 1. Unlawful appro- priation of a horse, 1. Unlawful conveyance of property, 1. Violation of the automobile laws, 605. Violation of the traffic rules, 175. Violation of the liquor laws, 28. Violation of the by-laws, 15. Violation of the Board of Health rules, 8. Viola- tion of the labor laws, 6. Violation of the Park rules, 1. Viola- tion of the Lord's Day, 1.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The above cases were disposed of as follows: Appealed to the Superior Court, 66. Bound over to the Grand Jury, 7. Con- tinued for trial or other disposition, 23. Complaints withdrawn at Court by complainants, 36. Defaulted, 46. Discharged, 47. Delivered to other officers, 211. Fined, 162. House of Correc- tion, non-payment of fine, 8. Industrial school for girls, 1. Lyman school for boys, 7. Massachusetts Reformatory, 4. Probation, 70. Placed on file, 421. Released at the police sta- tion, 110. State Farm, 1.
The amount of fines and costs imposed by the Court was $3,328. Imprisonment imposed was 29 months and 20 days.
The Chief attended Court 166 days and the officers 446 days.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Accidents reported, 258. Ambulance calls, 29. Residences reported vacant and given special attention, 171. Cases investi- gated, 677. Dead bodies cared for, 3. Defective hydrants reported, 5. Defective electric lights, 90 Arc, 161 Incadecent, 251. Defective wires reported, 39. Defective water pipes, 11. Defective gas pipes, 2. Details for public assemblages, 21. Dogs killed, 32. Disturbances suppressed, 154. Fires extin- guished without alarm, 12. Fire alarms given, 17. Glass in fire boxes reported broken, 111. Injured persons assisted home, 14. Injured persons assisted to hospitals, 28. Lanterns placed in dangerous places, 50. Lost children cared for, 33. Messages delivered, 123. Officers at fires, 104. Obstructions in streets reported, 132. Runaway teams secured, 5. Sick persons assisted home, 14. Stores found unlocked at night, owners notified, 258. Search warrants for liquors served, 20. Search warrants for stolen property served, 1. Search warrants for obscene books served, 1. Wagon calls, 124. Sales of auto- mobiles recorded, 520.
In comparison with other cities and towns surrounding, Arlington has been particularly fortunate in the small amount of serious crime during the year; house burgalaries have been less than other years.
For breaking and entering and larceny we have arrested 36 persons and have recovered property to the value of $2514 as against $4524 reported as stolen.
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
Automobile thieves in Arlington have been fewer; we have had during the year four stolen from our streets valued at $2350 and have recovered them. We have also recovered automobiles valued at $7500, reported to us as stolen from other places.
The liquor laws have been rigidly enforced wherever any evidence of illegal sales or keeping could be obtained. We caused 28 complaints to be made against persons for the viola- tion of the liquor laws and have secured 26 convictions.
We ask the hearty co-operation of our citizens in the enforcement of the liquor laws.
THE AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC
The time has arrived when this phase of police work must be given the serious attention it deserves and we must have the proper number of men stationed constantly in the streets, for the proper protection of the men, women and children that are crossing and re-crossing our streets. It is a fact that just on ordinary days in season, the number of automobiles crossing the railroad tracks at the Centre, averages 1,500 per hour and on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, this number is almost doubled and at times a grave menace to pedestrians who have to cross our streets; this condition applies to all of our main thoroughfares.
There have been reported 183 collisions of automobiles in which no personal injury was involved, 64 automobile accidents in which persons were more or less injured and there was in addition to this, 6 persons killed by automobiles.
We have caused the automobile laws to be rigidly enforced and have made 780 complaints at Court for the infraction of the automobile and traffic laws; of this number 17 were com- plained of for operating their automobiles while under the influ- ence of liquor.
During the year we "held up" 5,000 automobile drivers and gave to each a circular entitled, "Are you a careful driver?" These circulars were presented to us by the Motor Age Publish- ing Company and contained facts, figures and photographs which should have made an impression on every driver receiving
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
them of his duties toward the public while operating a motor vehicle.
It is in my judgment necessary to have officers stationed on fixed posts in the streets, for nothing but the direction of traffic; these men should be in distinctive uniform as is worn by the Boston Traffic Squad and they should be detailed to be placed at the following points:
At the junction of Park Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue; at the junction of Brattle Street and Massachusetts Avenue; at the junction of Mill Street and Massachusetts Avenue; at the junction of Mystic Street and Massachusetts Avenue; at the junction of Medford Street and Massachusetts Avenue; at the junction of Lake Street and Massachusetts Avenue; at the junction of Mystic Street and Summer Street.
This with the present number of men we are unable to do and I respectfully urge at this time that three new men be appointed that we may be better able to protect our citizens from injury by automobiles and make our streets safer for our children.
I recommend and urge that the sum of $3,600.36 be appro- priated for three additional men at this time.
THE POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
Our Gamewell Police Signal System was installed in 1906 and has been in constant use day and night for 17 years.
During this time the officers while on their routes have recorded over 600,000 duty calls and have sent in about 22,000 telephone calls; an accurate record is kept of every duty and telephone call received over the system.
Since 1906 great improvements to this system looking to increased efficiency have been made by the Gamewell Com- pany the most notable is the installation of a bell and light to be attached to the boxes whereby day or night should emer- gency require (and it often does) we could call one or all of the patrolmen to a box on their route for quick action. At the present time we can communicate with patrolmen on their routes only when they ring in a duty call.
The cost of installation of this valuable adjunct to our
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
system would be about $5,000, and I sincerely believe it would be of immense value could it be installed and I recommend that the installation of this valuable addition to our police signal system be given careful consideration.
There should be installed at or near Mt. Vernon and Gloucester Streets a police signal box; this section is growing rapidly and at the present time there is no police signal box on any of the streets leading from Massachusetts Avenue to Eastern Avenue. I have taken this matter up with our Super- intendent of Wires, Mr. Mason, who will ask that a proper amount be appropriated to install a box at this point.
There have been 56,859 duty and 2,528 telephone calls received at the station from the patrolmen on their routes over this system during the year. We have twenty boxes and they are located at the following points:
Box Number
12 at the junction of Henderson Street and Massachusetts Avenue.
13 at the junction of Winter Street and Massachusetts Avenue. 15 at the junction of Tufts Street and Massachusetts Avenue. 16 at the junction of Lake Street and Lakehill Avenue.
141 at the junction of Broadway and Massachusetts Avenue. 21 at the junction of Medford Street and Lewis Avenue. 23 at the junction of Mystic Street and Old Mystic Street. 24 at the junction of Warren Street and Park Street. 25 at the junction of Broadway and North Union Street. 26 at the junction of Marathon Street and Waldo Road. 31 at the junction of Central Street and Massachusetts Avenue. 32 at the junction of Gray Street and Bartlett Avenue. 34 at the junction of Pleasant Street and Kensington Road. 41 at the junction of Grove Street and Massachusetts Avenue. 42 at the junction of Prospect Street and Park Avenue. 43 at the junction of Brattle Street and Summer Street. 44 at the junction of Forest Street and Massachusetts Avenue. 45 at the junction of Wollaston Avenue and Tanager Street.
412 at the junction of Park Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue. 431 at the junction of Westminster and Westmoreland Street.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
DEPARTMENT AUTOMOBILES
In July, 1919 the police motor patrol wagon was put in commission; it now stands in need of immediate repairs and repainting and I recommend that the sum of $350 be allowed for this purpose.
In May of last year we purchased a Ford Touring car for the department use and I would recommend that instead of expending money on repairs necessary that it would be economy to turn this car in for a new one and pay the difference, and I ask that the sum of $250 be allowed for this purpose.
For garage hire and upkeep of motor vehicles I ask that the sum of $1,200 be allowed for this purpose.
APPROPRIATIONS
For the salary budget: I would recommend that the sum of $40,172.66 be appropriated for the salaries of the present force and $3,600.36 for three additional men making a total of $43,773.02 for the salary budget.
For the telephone budget: I recommend that the same amount be appropriated as last year namely, $275.
For the general expenditure budget: I recommend that the same amount be appropriated as last year namely, $1,650.
For the automobile budget : 1 recommend $350 for necessary repairs and repainting the motor patrol wagon, $250 for a new Ford Touring Car, $240 for garage rental and $960 for the upkeep and maintenance of motor vehicles for the year, making a total of $1,800.
RECAPITULATION
For salaries, the sum of $43,773.02
For telephones, the sum of
275.00
For general expenditures, the sum of
1,650.00
For automobile upkeep, the sum of
1,800.00
Total appropriation asked for is
$47,498.02
In conclusion, I wish to extend to your Honorable Board my sincere thanks for the loyal support given this department throughout the year.
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REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
To His Honor, Arthur P. Stone, Justice of the Third Dis- trict Court and his assistants, Special Justices Robert Wolcott and Edward A. Counihan, the Clerk of the Court, William A. Forbes, and Miss Lucy Hutchins of the Probation Department, my deep appreciation for the great assistance they have been to us in the many arduous duties they have been called upon in the name of Justice, Law and Order, to perform.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS O. D. URQUHART, Chief of Police.
1
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON, MASS., January 2, 1923.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass .:
I herewith submit my report of the inspection of buildings for the year ending December 31, 1922. Six hundred and nine- teen permits have been issued, classified as follows:
Dwellings, one-family
112
$624,450
Dwellings, two-family
187
1,500,200
Additions and alterations
23
41,050
Garages
252
191,915
Blocks of stores
18
236,600
Stables
4
2,900
Shops
1
200
Sheds
7
3,425
Porches
8
2,825
Camp
1
200
Henhouses
2
375
Sanctuary
1
3,000
Dairy building
1
5,000
Greenhouses
1
350
Paint shop
1
10,000
619
$2,622,490
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM GRATTO, Inspector of Buildings.
126
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Arlington, Mass., January 1, 1923.
Gentlemen: I herewith respectfully submit my fifth annual report of services for this Department for the year ending December 31, 1922.
Number of scales, weights and measures sealed 1,272
Number of scales, weights and measures condemned
5
Total
1,277
Weights found incorrect and adjusted
83
Scales found incorrect and adjusted
34
Pumps having measuring devices, adjusted
156
Total
273
Weights condemned
0
Scales condemned
5
Measuring pumps condemned
21
Liquid measures condemned
0.
Total
26
Number of visits made to stores
234
Weighed out packages tested at stores
1,793
Number of inspections of scales and measures by junk collectors, hawkers and peddlers
29
Tested
Correct
Under
Over
Coke and charcoal
100
97
1
2
Coal in wagons
5
5
0
0
Coal in paper bags
191
165
16
10
Wood
70
68
2
0
127
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Tested
Correct Under
Over
Flour
198
168
1
29
Butter
160
80
2
78
Dry commodities
296
247
5
44
Liquid commodities
157
157
0
0
Meats and provisions
57
43
0
14
Fruit and vegetables
54
46
2
6
Bread
86
42
1
43
Confectionery
58
52
0
6
Gasoline and Oil Pumps
119
103
9
7
Massachusetts sealed bottles
20
20
0
0
Ice cream cartons
28
28
0
0
Total
1,599
1,321
39
239
One thousand two hundred and seventy-seven (1,277) scales, weights and measures were inspected, sealed or con- demned at places of business and statutory fees were received and the same paid to the Tax Collector.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) ALBERT F. DUFFY, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
Arlington, January 1, 1923.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1922.
The annual spring inspection of animals and stables is as follows:
Stables inspected
79
Cattle inspected 147
Swine inspected 110
Goats inspected 15
In the stables where improvements were recommended, it was necessary to make two follow-up visits to see that the recommendations were carried out.
During the year, twenty-three quarantines were issued. Twenty-one of these were for dogs who had either bitten some one or had come in contact with rabid dogs. There were eight positive cases of rabies in the Town during the year.
The two remaining quarantines were issued for cows suspected of tuberculosis.
Before animals are released from quarantine, the Inspector must make a second visit by order of the Director of the Division of Animal Industry to ascertain the condition of same. Reports of visits are then forwarded to the Director.
Respectfully submitted,
F. HOLDEN SMITH, V.M.D., Inspector of Animals for Town of Arlington.
129
REPORT OF TOWN PHYSICIAN
Arlington, January 1, 1923.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit a report of the work done by the Town Physician for the year ending December 31, 1922.
Number of calls at home, outside poor 384
Number of calls at office, including vaccinations 127
Emergency calls, police station and accidents 32
Patients taken to Insane Hospital 1 Confinements 2
The work in this department is still increasing due at this time to lessened coal rations, restricted heat and crowding in small quarters of many families who depend on the town physician to care for them. So that more time than ever is needed for their care and welfare. The district nursing associa- tion has been most kind in doing all they could, as have also the trustees of the Symmes Arlington Hospital.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES A. KEEGAN, M.D.
130
GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith submit my report as Superintendent of Moth Department for year ending December 31, 1922.
The condition of the Town as a whole, especially the public shade trees, has greatly improved during the past year. The greatest amount of work has been done in the residential section:
While the presence of the gypsy moth is to be discouraged even in places remote from thoroughfares and residences, it is to be particularly suppressed in those places where the nuisance is especially annoying to persons. Natural causes have aided in the suppression of the moth problem, especially in the woodlands. Some colonies which a year ago were very vigorous have almost disappeared, while in other cases active colonies have developed where least expected. That section of Arlington Heights west of Park Avenue from the Winchester to the Belmont line, the infestation of the gypsy and also the brown tail has greatly increased. This condition is due to wind spread and also on account of the severe storm in Novem- ber which made it impossible for me to complete my winter work of creosoting.
One of the greatest problems in connection with the moth work is keeping the expense down in the fact of the increasing cost of labor, materials and supplies. The use of a bean sprayer and the small X.L. greatly aided in this as they could be used under circumstances where it was unpracticable to use the large Fitzhenry-Guptill sprayer.
On account of the increasing demand for arsenate of lead in the control of the cotton weevil and also for the blight in celery, the price will advance this year. Last year we had 1,500 pounds of lead on hand and it was only necessary to purchase about 1,000 pounds. This year we shall be obliged
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
to order at least 3,000 pounds and at the advanced price, I would recommend that $6,500 be appropriated this year.
I thank your honorable Board for the confidence placed in me and the real estate owners for their cooperation with me during the past year.
The following is a statement of expenditures and location of work done the past year:
LOCATION OF WORK
Labor
Sundries
Gravel pits
$1.12
Hospital property
22.50
Lost time
838.50
Meadow Brook Park
29.25
Menotomy Rocks Park
155.87
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
29.52
Pleasant Street Cemetery
4.50
Private work
330.67
Reservoir property
58.50
Robbins Library
1.12
Robbins Town Hall
3.38
School properties
3.08
Stone Crusher property
84.94
Storehouse ·labor
222.85
Street trees
969.73
Town Yard, Summer Street
1.69
Vacations
324.00
Office supplies and expense
$73.28
Storehouse rent
120.00
Superintendent and Clerk
2,314.00
Team and automobile hire
199.75
Tools, repairs and supplies
510.55
$3,081.22
$3,217.58
Labor
$3,081.22
Sundries
3,217.58
Unexpended balance
1.20
Appropriation
$6,300.00
133
GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT
NATURE OF WORK
Labor
Sundries
Burning brush
$179.50
Lost time
838.50
Removing dead wood
263.37
Spraying
464.25
Storehouse labor
222.85
Treating nests
788.75
Vacations
324.00
Office supplies and expense
$73.28
Storehouse rent
120.00
Superintendent and Clerk
2,314.00
Team and automobile hire
199.75
Tools, repairs and supplies
510.55
$3,081.22
$3,217.58
Labor
$3,081.22
Sundries
3,217.58
Unexpended balance
1.20
Appropriation
$6,300.00
I
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D. M. DALEY, Superintendent J. F. HIGGINS, Clerk.
TOWN HOUSE AND GROUNDS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Dear Sirs:
I herewith submit my report on care of Town House Grounds.
The total amount expended was $984.69, of which $19.50 was spent on the grounds at the Old Town Hall. The water pool was in such a bad condition that it was necessary to have the cracked seams chiseled and filled with cement, also the bottom and sides recoated. This work was done in the early part of the summer by Mr Bacon and it remained in a per- fectly tight condition throughout the season. The hand lawn mowers are old and it is impossible to keep an edge on the knives. I would advise the purchase of two eighteen-inch Quaker Mowers the coming year.
The following is a statement of expenditures:
LABOR
Winter cover and clean pools
$3100
Edging and cutting lawn
355 63
Remove and replace board walks
31 50
Remove and replace winter cover on hedges
62 00
Loam, roll, seed and sod lawn
54 50
Watering and planting
20 25
Fertilize lawn, dig and rake beds
77 50
Trimming hedges and bushes
111 50
Dig blind wells, clear conductor
9 00
Cutting lawn at Old Town Hall
19.50
$772.38
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135
TOWN HOUSE AND GROUNDS
SUPPLIES
Fertilizer
$30.00
Loam and seed
47.55
Bushes
18.00
Sharpening lawn mowers
19.50
Repairs and parts on gas mower
48.26
Teaming
7.00
Cementing pool
42.00
$212.31
Total labor
$772.38
Supplies
212.31
$984.69
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL M. DALEY.
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF CEMETERIES, ROBBINS FUND, SOLDIERS' MONUMENT FUND AND SAMUEL C. BUCKNAM FUND
ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1, 1923.
The report of the Commissioners having charge of the cemeteries and the above funds is herewith submitted for the year ending December 31, 1922.
The Commissioners during the year have adhered to the policy established of restricting the sale of lots to only those having a residence in the Town, and requiring the consent of the Commissioners for the interment of persons outside certain defined degrees of relationship.
Forty-nine lots and twenty-five single graves have been sold in 1922, amounting to $5430. This amount, together with the appropriation of $6000, and the income of the Funds are the only amounts available for the use of the cemetery.
The Pleasant Street Cemetery and Soldiers' Monument Lot are cared for by the Commissioners out of the appropria- tion made.
INTERMENTS
Whole number of interments 191
Interments in private lots 142
Interments in single graves 27
Interments in public lots 22
191
Number of bodies removed from Mt. Pleasant to other cemeteries 5
Number of bodies removed from other
cemeteries to Mt. Pleasant 8
STOCK AND TOOLS ON HAND
1 Lowering device $125.00
1 Lowering device 55.00
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137
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF CEMETERIES
Lawn mowers
$110.00
2 carts
60.00
3 wheelbarrows
18.00
Hose
75.00
Covering slabs
25.00
Bricks
75.00
Waste barrels
50.00
Sprinklers
20.00
Sail cloths
75.00
Tools of all kinds
65.00
Screened stones for building driveways
185.00
$938.00
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
Appropriation for 1922
$6,000.00
Receipts from sale of lots
5,430.00
Receipts for perpetual care
2,675.00
Receipts from care of lots, openings, etc.
3,899.45
Receipts from Income Perpetual Care Fund
2,233.68
Receipts from income Robbins Fund
175.00
Receipts from income Soldiers' Monu- ment Fund 75.00
Receipts from income S. C. Bucknam Fund 72.00
$20,560.13
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer, Perpetual Care Fund $2,675.00
Paid Town Treasurer, receipts for open-
ings, care of lots, etc. 3,899.45
Amount paid for labor 10,512.54
Amount paid for loam, trees and all other
expenses 3,473.14
$20,560.13
PERPETUAL CARE FUND, 1922
Amount of Fund, January 1, 1922 $57,490.00
Receipts for perpetual care of lots in 1922 2,675.00
Permanent Fund, December 31, 1922
$60,165.00
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Income Account
Balance on income from 1921 $5,162.17
Interest on:
Henderson Street Sewer Loan $420.00
Locke School Addition Loan 300.00
Water Loan of 1910 160.00
Schouler Court Land Purchase
Loan 200.00
Sewer Loan of 1916
80.00
Sewer Loan of 1917
60.00
Summer Street Loan of 1918
160.00
Water Loan of 1920
300.00
Water Loan of 1921
150.00
Liberty Bonds, 1st issue
212.50
Junior High School Furnishing
Loan
135.00
Water Loan of 1922
63.75
Liberty Bonds, 3d issue
170.00
Liberty Bonds, 4th issue
212.50
Arlington Savings Bank Book
98.35
Menotomy Trust Co., Interest
Dept. 91.42
From Town, care of single
graves
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