USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1925 > Part 8
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The Board has granted only a very small per cent. of the numerous applications for gas stations, believing the Town is fairly well supplied with them, believing its action reflects the wishes of the citizens.
The Board wishes to compliment the Town Meeting members in their wisdom and discretion in appropriat- ing sufficient funds in main part to enable the various departments to function in proportion to Arlington's rapid growth, and trusts that the same farsightedness will pertain in the requests for the 1926 budget.
CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX, Chairman FREDERICK W. HILL NELSON B. CROSBY
REPORT OF THE LICENSING COMMISSION
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Arlington, Massachusetts,
Gentlemen:
The Licensing Commission hereby respectfully sub- mits its second annual report.
The Commission was organized with Daniel B. Tierney, Chairman and John A. Easton, Clerk.
Twenty-one (21) sessions were held at which four hundred ninety-nine (499) hearings were given. Four hundred ninety-two (492) licenses were granted, three (3) were denied, and four (4) applications were with- drawn.
Early in the year several garages were discovered in process of construction for which no advertised public hearing had been held as required by the Fire Marshal's rules and regulations. In order that contractors and builders should show a proper regard and respect for the said rules and regulations of the Fire Marshal, the Licensing Commission deemed it advisable to impose a suitable penalty against the offending builders. This course of procedure secured the desired results, and thereafter no further irregularity of this nature occurred.
The Commission has endeavored in granting loca- tions, as far as practicable, to recognize the rights and interest of abutting property owners, so as to cause the least inconvenience to them, without sacrificing the rights of the applicants ; and in this regard the Commis- sion believes it has been successful.
Respectfully submitted, DANIEL B. TIERNEY, WILLIAM GRATTO, THOMAS O. URQUHART, Licensing Commission Town of Arlington.
116
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT-1925
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
January 1, 1926.
Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit my third annual report as Chief of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1925.
The Department now consists of one Chief, five Captains, fifteen privates, five of whom were appointed in May, and nineteen call men. A Seagrave City Serv- ice ladder truck was purchased at a cost of $10,000 and placed in service at Fire Headquarters, December 12th. This truck is equipped with 410 feet of ladders, a 40-gal- lon chemical tank, emergency tools and equipment.
The new piece of apparatus is known as Ladder 1, the old piece changed from Ladder 1 to Ladder 2 on Dec. 12th. Two ladder trucks, one Engine (600 gallons ca- pacity) and three Combinations comprise the total equipment. The Department responded to 121 bell alarms, 153 still alarms, 19 mutual aid calls, a total of 293 alarms for the year, 43 more than 1924. Two gen- eral alarms were sounded and 19 false alarms.
VALUE OF PROPERTY ENDANGERED Value, Buildings
Value, Contents
$304,300 00 91,600 00
Total Insurance on Buildings
$395,900 00
$343,100 00
Insurance on Contents
68,100 00
Total
$411,200 00
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·
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Loss on Buildings Loss on Contents
$65,692 87 29,139 53
Total
$94,832 40
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation, including $10,000 for
ladder truck $59,228 00
Expended
58,610 96
Unexpended balance
$617 04
RECEIPTS
Fees for 63 blasting permits
$63 00
Fees for 40 fuel oil permits
40 00
Fees for . 7 inflammable fluid permits
7 00
Fees for 9 fireworks permits
4 50
Fees for 1 small arms ammunition permit
50
Total
$115 00
Two "General Alarms" were sounded during the year. February 5th the ice houses on Pond Lane were burned with a loss of $37,500 on buildings and $20,000 on the contents. Belmont, Medford, Cambridge and Somerville responded. The exposure was not great, due to favorable wind. Later, on May 21st, the ruins of this ice plant were set on fire, this time with a high wind blowing toward the congested section of the town; in a remark- ably short time seven other buildings were on fire and a "General Alarm" was again sounded. Just at the time when the Mutual Aid Group (Belmont, Medford and" Somerville) arrived, Box 25 was sounded for a fire in a house on Broadway, a quarter of a mile away, caused by sparks from this fire.
While the damage from all the fires was small, only quick work saved the town from serious conflagration, and demonstrated very clearly the value of our Mutual Aid system.
119
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION.
During the year 10,352 inspections were made in stores, factories, offices, churches, schools, hospitals and all public or mercantile properties. Three small fires occurred in the 548 places that are under regular twice-a- month inspection, fires that would have been serious had quantities of rubbish been allowed to accumulate. The business men of the town have assisted the Inspec- tors to the extent that rarely during the year was it necessary to more than call their attention to any con- dition that needed correction.
In 1924, 9,152 inspections were made.
The second annual inspection of all dwellings was commenced on September 21st and 4640 houses were inspected by ten men in nine days, each man giving three of his "days off" to the work, and one Captain postpon- ing his vacation until the job was done. Seventy-two houses were re-inspected, making a total of 4712. In 1924, 3,918 dwellings were inspected. Total inspections for the year 15,064.
I strongly urge that collections of rubbish be made weekly during the summer season instead of monthly. Monthly collections mean that all rubbish will find its way to the cellar, there to remain until the Inspector orders it removed during the Fall inspection, unless a spark disposes of it before that time.
I wish to call your attention once more to the advis- ability of installing sprinklers in the basement of all schools, with the exception of the Hardy School (fire- proof) and the Russell School which is already equipped. I recommend that the Senior High School and the Junior High Centre be equipped with sprinklers the coming year; the Senior High School on account of its size, value, location and the inflammable nature of its contents; the Junior High Centre because of the general
120
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
nature of its construction, the liability of its destruc- tion should a fire start in the basement.
All school buildings were inspected and 106 ex- tinguishers recharged.
Two hundred and forty-two permits were issued to burn rubbish out of doors. These permits may be obtained at either station at any time.
Nine hundred and thirty-seven automatic fire plugs were installed during the year, making a total of 1,709 meters protected in this manner since first installation, February 1, 1924.
During the year the high water service was ex- tended from the dead end at Russell Park opposite No. 20 Mystic Street in a loop around Chestnut Street to the dead end at the Russell School on Medford St., thus pro- viding adequate protection for this high value district.
The water pressure to the Symmes Arlington Hos- pital has been increased approximately thirty-five pounds and in addition a sprinkler system has been installed, which, with constant inspection, provides everything desired for the safety of the occupants of this building.
Connection from the five-foot Metropolitan water main to the low service system was made October 26th, increasing the pressure approximately twenty-two pounds, and furnishes an inexhaustible supply to the low pressure area.
NEW FIRE HEADQUARTERS
September 26th, the Department moved into the New Headquarters Building. It was not completed on this date but it was necessary to vacate the old station that the building wreckers might begin the work of demolition, which was started October 5th. The old sta- tion had been in constant use since 1872.
121
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
Beginning with the occupancy of this building a fireman is on duty at the telephone switchboard every minute of the day and night to receive calls by telephone and transmit alarms.
The Fire Alarm System was transferred to the new building November 18th from the Old Town Hall where it had been since 1900. The whistle still re- mains there, to be transferred to the Tower of new building the coming year.
NEW PUMPING ENGINE
I recommend that a seven hundred fifty (750) gal- lon pumping engine be purchased at a cost of $12,500.
When the Park Circle Fire Station is completed early next year, an engine should be installed there. The water pressure in the section adjacent to the water tower is very low, approximately thirty pounds, in- sufficient, without the aid of a pumper to provide adequate water to combat a serious fire.
It is planned to place the present engine (six hun- dred gallon capacity) in this district in the event of a seven hundred fifty (750) gallon pump being purchased.
· With the exception of a ladder truck this year, the town has not purchased any fire apparatus since 1915 and the only addition to the equipment since that time has been two combinations built by the firemen in 1917 and 1918.
Combination A was purchased in 1911.
Engine 1 was purchased in 1913.
Ladder 1 was purchased in 1915.
The age of the apparatus will readily convince all who are familiar with automobiles that constant and excellent care has been given this equipment to keep it continually active in extremely hard service, and also of the necessity of replacing it in the future.
122
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Twice this year, during repairs we were obliged to borrow apparatus from Cambridge, a combination from April 26th to July 2nd, a ladder truck from November 10th to December 12th. The Department would suffer serious handicap had not Cambridge these spare pieces, and a neighborly disposition to lend.
The enormous growth of the town, not concentrated growth in any one section, but including all sections and areas, makes it imperative to provide additional apparatus.
The permits issued by the Building Inspector for dwellings from January 1, 1922 to December 31, 1925 more clearly denotes the additional number of lives and amount of property demanding protection by the Fire Department.
1922
1 family
112
total houses
299
2 families
187
total families 486
1923
1 family
94 total houses
392
2 families
298
total families
690
. 1924
1 family
141 total houses
392
2 families
251
total families
643
1925
1 family
269
total houses
591
2 families
322
total families
913
Total 1 family
616
Total houses
1674
Total 2 family
1058
Total families
2732
Allowing three to a family-total persons 8196-in addition 1204 garages were erected.
The above figures would indicate that in these four years dwellings to accommodate a population greater .
123
REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
than the Town of Lexington (7785) have been erected, and yet Lexington provides two engines, one ladder truck and two combinations, five pieces of apparatus in all, only one less than Arlington with a population of 24,943. Winchester, population 11,565, also has two pumpers, two trucks and two combinations. Belmont, population 15,256, has two pumpers, one truck and one combination.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend that a main be laid from the junction of Mystic Street and Chestnut Street to connect with the high pressure line on Summer Street.
I also recommend that hydrants be installed on the low service between the Old Town Hall and Brattle Street. Between these two points there are no hydrants at present on that service.
On the intermediate service main between Brattle Street and Forest Street four hydrants should be in- stalled. In case of fire on the northerly side of Massachu- setts Avenue, hose is stretched across this thoroughfare completely tying up all traffic, often for a considerable time. Massachusetts Avenue is one of the main arteries of travel in this Commonwealth, and it is to avoid inter- ruption of this traffic that the above recommendations are made.
DRILL TOWER
I recommend that a Drill Tower be erected in the rear of the Highland Station, where the firemen can have regular, systematic training in the use of ladders, hose, life nets and all fire appliances. The Drill Tower is the only practical means of giving the men actual train- ing in the many phases of fighting fires. The cost will be for material only, as the work of construction will be done by the firemen.
124
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
This year, through the courtesy of Commissioner Glynn and Chief Sennott, eight of our men took a thirty- day course in Boston Fire Department Drill School.
Arrangements are now completed with the Boston Metropolitan Chapter of the American Red Cross, where- by all firemen will be given instructions in First Aid. The course will require ten weeks, beginning January 5, 1926, under the direction of Dr. Kingman.
To furnish the necessary fire protection required for a town of this size, I recommend that nine men be added to the present force; four to be assigned to the new station at the Heights.
I recommend an appropriation of $78,935.75 for the maintenance of the Department for the ensuing year, this sum to cover the expense of procuring a pumping en- gine, nine additional men and the erection of the Drill Tower.
In concluding I wish to express my gratitude to the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Board of Public Works and the Police Department, who many times dur- ing the year rendered valuable assistance to the Depart- ment.
I extend heartiest thanks to the officers and men of the Fire Department for their loyalty, obedience and faithful performance of duty.
Respectfully submitted, Arlington Fire Department DANIEL B. TIERNEY, Chief.
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
Arlington, Mass., January 1, 1926.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I have the honor of submitting my twenty-first an- nual report of the doings of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1925.
There have been 1956 cases brought to the attention of the Court during the year. Of this number 38 were females and 58 were juveniles or persons under 17 years of age, and 1177 non-residents.
The Chief has attended Court 101 days, and the offi- cers 1053 days during the year in the prosecution of the various cases.
Fines and costs to the amount of $8,145 were im- posed by the District Court.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
Under this heading comes the detail work of the in- dividual patrolman showing some of the numerous things he constantly has to watch out for and attend while pa- troling his route and make an intelligent report of the same to the station.
The gross carelessness of the individual storekeepers is again manifest by the finding of 607 stores unsecured at night by our patrolmen as against 564 last year.
Accidents reported (all kinds) 381
Ambulance calls
30
Buildings reported vacant, protected 318
Cases investigated 1609
125
126
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
8
.
Dead bodies cared for
4
Defective hydrants
348
Defective electric lights on streets
47
Defective wires reported
22
Defects in water pipes
7
Defects in gas pipes
41
Dogs killed
29
Disturbances suppressed
21
Fire alarms given
63
Injured persons assisted home
32
Injured persons assisted to hospital
63
Lanterns furnished for dangerous places
137
Lost children cared for
77
Messages delivered
234
Notices served for Selectmen
53
Notices served to delinquent dog owners
4
Officers at fires
157
Obstructions in streets reported
188
Sick persons assisted to hospital
19
·intr ons assisted home
12
Stores found unlocked at night and secured
607
Stray teams cared for
2
Search warrants for liquor served
9
Cearch warrants for narcotics served
1
Search warrants for stolen property served
1
Wagon calls
160
TRAFFIC
The lives and safety of our citizens are the vital issue in this problem of handling traffic, and this has been the foremost thought in trying to make our streets safe for them.
This past year has seen a tremendous increase in auto traffic over our main thoroughfares, and on days of heavy traffc 2600 per hour have crossed the Boston & Maine tracks on Massachusetts Avenue at the Center.
.
Fires extinguished without alarm
98
Details for public assemblages
127
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
I feel that the efforts of your Traffic Officers have been highly successful and commendable in that during the year only two deaths have taken place. In the first instance, on May 29th Mrs. Nettie M. Edwards was struck while crossing the Avenue at Grove Street. It was 9:30 at night and rainy, and the driver stepped on the gas and kept going. There were several eye wit- nesses to the accident, but not one could give any infor- mation of value in detecting the car or the guilty driver.
The other was at the junction of Rawson Road and Broadway, when Eugene Cunningham was struck and killed. This occurred about 5:45 A. M. on the morning of December 5th. It was very dark and rainy at the time. The Grand Jury has brought in an indictment against one Bernard McGoldrick for murder in the sec- ond degree and for not stopping, and driving so that lives and safety were endangered. This case is now pending in the Superior Court.
Personal injuries reported due to auto collisions were 27, as against 51 last year.
Auto collisions reported, in which no personal injury was involved, were 150 as against 227 last year.
Twenty-eight autos were reported to us as running into trees, posts and fences.
Fifty-two pedestrians were injured more or less by autos.
During the year we placed two traffic men on motor- cycles from 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. and later two more traffic men were detailed to operate them from 6 P. M. to 1 A. M. We have found that it is an expensive proposition to have four men riding two machines, and if this pro- gramme is carried on each man should have a separate machine. The chance of personal injury to officers de- tailed for this duty is greater than on traffic post and
7
128
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
requires men of both ability and agility. Much time was devoted to traffic on the Summer Street Boulevard by motorcycle officers, and many speedsters have paid fines.
On the turning of Broadway into a boulevard the motorists immediately started using it as a speedway and Traffic Officer Ryan was immediately detailed from 2 P. M. to midnight to this roadway on the motorcycle. Numerous arrests have been made by him for speeding and not slowing down at street intersections and will continue until such time as speedsters learn that speed- ing will not be overlooked by your police.
If in the power of your Honorable Board, I would suggest that autoists entering upon main arteries from side streets be compelled to come to a full stop before entering the line of travel. If this traffic rule can be adopted it will prevent many nesd'ess collisions by selfish drivers.
There should be a more general use of Danger "Flare Backs" at dangerous curves, and some street intersec- tions, especially along the Summer Street Boulevard, Mystic and Pleasant Streets, and Aluminum Arrow Signs should replace the worn-out wooden ones now in use, and "No Parking" Alumnium Signs should be placed on hy- drants and electric car pole stops for the education of unthinking drivers.
The traffic situation is one that is giving serious apprehension to all Police Departments throughout the State, and we have attended many conferences of the Chiefs of Police and able traffic experts in an attempt to devise some system that will minimize deaths and in- juries, on our streets.
This Department by law is required to keep a record of the sale and exchange of all automobile transactions in Arlington, and 1025 automobiles have been so recorded as against 690 in 1924, and 5577 autos have been reported
129
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
to us as having been stolen in the Metropolitan District during the year.
Thirty-three automobiles were stolen in Arlington this year and all but one have been recovered, and we have recovered 43 reported to us as stolen from other cities and towns.
THE POLICE FORCE
The Annual Inspection of the Police Department was held on October 4, 1925, in the Old Town Hall, and I feel that I am justified in saying that the members of the department made a most creditable showing, and I wish that more of our townsmen could have been present to see them as a whole.
Your police force is as good as the best, and I feel a little above the average. We know that they have tried to make Arlington just a bit better place to live in and have obtained results and that is what counts.
The question of increase of pay is again brought to your attention this year in which a Committee of Patrol- men met your Honorable Board and asked that the maxi- mum pay be increased from $5.50 to $6.00 per day.
There is no dearth of applicants for appointment to the police force, but we have been ever on the lookout for quality and not quantity.
Officers Pick, Barry and Mahorey were laid up 56 days during the year on account of injuries received while on duty. Officer Barry is still undergoing hospital treat- ment.
DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION
Chief
1
Inspector with the rank of Lieutenant 1
Sergeants 3
Patrolmen · 25
Reserve Patrolmen 2
Police Surgeon 1
130
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Roster
Date of
Rank and Name Appointment
Chief, Thomas O. D. Urquhart.
.Jan. 1st, 1905
Inspector, Daniel M. Hooley. May 1st, 1887
Sergeant, John Duffy . . July 27th, 1891
Theodore R. Belyea . July 16th, 1913
66 Edwin C. Jacobs. October 16th, 1911
Patrolman, Thomas F. Priest May 29th, 1904
F. Joseph Cahalin August 26th, 1905
66 Felix Lopez. . June 16th, 1913
T. Arthur Nolan. June 16th, 1913
* Thomas M. Donovan .Feb. 2nd, 1914
Charles E. Carroll .: June 13th, 1916
66 Daniel P. Barry . June 19th, 1917
66 George E. Moore. .June 1st, 1920
66 William P. Mahoney June 1st, 1920
T. Francis Meagher, Jr
April 4th, 1921
Maurice J. Scannell.
April 25th, 1921
M. James Coughlin. April 25th, 1921
Harold F. Pick. Feb. 13th, 1922
66 James J. Flynn. Sept. 11th, 1922
James R. Burns . Jan. 2nd, 1923
Archibald F. Bullock. Oct. 1st, 1923
William A. Scanlan . Oct. 1st, 1923
*Joseph D. White. Oct. 21st, 1923
John Roche. Feb. 29th, 1924
William Burns May 5th, 1924
Charles O. Toomey Dec. 22nd, 1924
Albert E. Ryan Dec. 22nd, 1924
66 Denis F. Shea. Dec. 22nd, 1924
Charles J. Tynan. Nov. 30th, 1925
Thomas M. Curran. Nov. 30th, 1925
Thomas F. Sullivan
Dec. 28th, 1925
* Discharged
131
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
Reserve
Patrolman, Ralph H. Olson. Aug. 11th, 1925
Patrolman, I ester H. Peabody
Patrolman, Thomas R. Pigott .. Mar. 2nd, 1925
Police doctor
& surgeon, Dr. Harold R. Webb. . . April 27th, 1925
During the year the members of this Department have reported in as sick 242 days.
Forty-nine weeks or 343 days' vacation and 53 days leave of absence granted, and the 1 day off in 8 as re- quired by law was observed by 1256 days off, making a total of time lost 1894 days.
The officers have been paid $1,413 for details to dances, theatres and weddings during the year.
The needs of a new Police Station have been clearly demonstrated for the necessary hand ing of the 30 men that now comprise the force.
The general offices are in much needed repair and the cell rooms are unmentionable.
No appropriation las been asked for to make these repairs on account of the fact that we believe the citizens are fully aware of conditions, having at the last Town Meeting ordered and purchased a suitable lot of land on Central Street for a new Police Station, and the appoint- ing of a Committee to submit plans and specifications at t' is next Annual Town Meeting.
During the year we have had 38 breaks, 8 attempted breaks, and 2 holdups. Every means at our command was used in our endeavor to reduce this phase of crime to a minimum. Not only was Inspector Hooley detailed to give his undivided attention to his class of crime, but for wee's at a time every available day patrolman and
Resigned
132
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
traffic officer were assigned to evening duty, and night patrolmen to afternoon duty in the residential districts.
In view of what was happening in the cities and towns surrounding us, we were indeed fortunate that we did not have more. During the year 19 persons were ar- rested and he'd for breal ing and entering; 77 for larceny and 2 for robbery.
Fourteen persons were arrested for Violation of the Liquor Laws, and fines amounting to $350 imposed and · paid, two were given suspended sentences and eight were found not guilty ard discharged.
I do not believe there is a town in the State of the size of Arlington so free from the sale of liquor.
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
The Foio signal system, although installed twenty years ago, still continues to function. There were 78,915 duty calls rung in and 3,883 telephone calls re- ceived from officers while patroling their routes dur- ing the year.
The care of the System has been under the super- vision of Superintendent of Wires Mason. It will be (owing to the growth of buildings) necessary to add new boxes and make necessary repairs and adjustments on the System this year.
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