USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1930 > Part 18
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5 Mothers' Aid cases have been added to the list.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
8 Mothers' Aid cases are receiving continued relief at the present time.
37 new families have been added to the Public Welfare list during the past year.
1.
77 families aided have Arlington settlement.
18 familes aided have other City or Town settlement.
21 families aided have no settlement in the Common- ( wealth.
49 families have been discharged as being economically independent.
96 cases have received medical and hospital treatment.
As far as possible every remedial agent has been employed to bring the people into a normal existence.
Expenditure for Mothers' Aid and Poor Relief . for 1930 $35,888.05
Reimbursement for Aid rendered 12,546.46
Net cost of Relief. $24,341.59
We wish to thank the different agencies of the Town for their assistance and hearty and wise cooperation in the work-The Welfare Council-Visiting Nursing As- sociation-The Schools-The Hospital-The Lend-a- Hand groups-The Church Societies-The Pastors of the Parishes - The Elks - The Rotary Club - The Kiwanis Club-The Legion-The Police-and the vari- ous individuals who have helped to make the Town and the people a happier and more harmonious com- munity. Every step toward a higher expression of life, and a richer and more comprehensive use of life's op- portunities is an objective which is worthy of the effort of a united Town government. The ultimate achieve- ment of worthy citizenship is the goal of our Public
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
Welfare work. In addition we consider that every tax- payer in the Town shares in the responsibility of the support of the dependent, and we endeavor to protect his interest in every respect by conserving the Town ap- propriation and giving the most thoughtful considera- tion to all questions of out-of-town settlements and financial responsibilities. We estimate that the budget has been reduced several thousands of dollars through this system of thorough investigation.
Respectfully submitted, Board of Public Welfare, MARION L. SMITH, Agent.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The department at present consists of one Acting Chief, seven Sergeants, twenty-nine Patrolmen and eight Reserve Officers.
Sergeant John Duffy, who was a member of the Police Department for thirty-nine years, nineteen years as a Sergeant, passed away July 14, 1930. Sergeant Duffy was held in high esteem by all those who knew him and was a great loss to this department.
On September 1, 1930, due to ill health, Chief Thomas O. D. Urquhart was retired from active duty after more than twenty-five years of service. The Board of Selectmen sent Chief Urquhart a letter expressing their appreciation of the fine service he had rendered to the Town of Arlington. In addition the citizens also expressed their appreciation to Chief Urquhart by pre- senting him with a purse of gold. The Board appointed Sergeant Edwin C. Jacobs Acting Chief as of August 1, 1930, until further notice.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Last year through boulevard signs were installed on the main arteries of the Town and stop signs at the entrances of all intersecting streets. At the last An- nual Town Meeting these signs were made legal. It is now the duty of the Police Department to see that these signs are observed.
Considering the unrest that has prevailed all over the country the past year, law and order have been maintained and the Town has been free from violent and outstanding criminal acts, and Chief Thomas O. D. Urquhart, Acting Chief Edwin C. Jacobs and the men under them are to be commended for the fine record of the past year.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The department consists of a Chief, a Deputy Chief, seven Captains, six Lieutenants, thirty Privates and one department surgeon.
Considering the rapid increase in our population and valuation the last few years the quota of our men in this department has not kept pace with our growth. For this reason it is hoped the shortage will be provided for in 1931 by the vote of the Town Meeting.
The annual inspection of cellars in dwelling houses continued this year as in the past and the citizens have certainly been splendid in their cooperation.
There was one conflagration, the burning of the ice house at the foot of Linwood Street on the shore of Spy Pond. It required the aid of the surrounding Towns and Cities, in all a total of twenty-four pieces of apparatus responded.
A Special Service Truck was put into operation July 1, 1930, equipped with flood lights and emergency
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
tools which has proved very valuable to the department as well as for all emergency calls.
There were two exhibition drills given this year to the public at the Highland Fire House. The first invi- tation was sent out by the Board of Selectmen and the second by Chief Tierney and we are pleased to say they were very well attended. These exhibitions were staged to give the public some idea how the department func- tions.
The Fire Underwriters rate this department as one of the best in the country. The Chief and his men are to be congratulated.
GENERAL MATTERS
On June 24, 1929, we appointed a committee to have charge of Arlington's activities in connection with the "Massachusetts Bay Tercentenary," a State-wide and year-long celebration.
The following committee planned and carried out the various events : Charles A. Hardy, Chairman, Frank A. Woodhead, Vice-Chairman, Miss Ednah A. Warren, Secretary, Charles H. Higgins, Treasurer, Mrs. Helen Gage Bailey, John G. Brackett, Gerard Ladd, Luke A. Manning, Denis A. McCarthy, Mrs. Lilliam W. Sawyer, Mrs. Mary L. Waterman.
Arlington was among the first of over 250 com- munities to respond to the call for organization pur- poses and in recognition of the helpful part Arlington took in the general rounding out of the program for the State, our local chairman was elected a Director of the Tercentenary Conference of city and town committees, to help plan and coordinate the activities of the various Communities. He also officially represented Arlington at the celebrations in our neighboring cities and towns.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
In addition to the principal activities listed below, the Committee wrote and distributed 10,000 copies of a short history of Arlington, showing its progress during 300 years. The Committee also repainted the large signs at the entrances to the Town, had the Revolutionary tablets cleaned and re-lettered and placed fifteen mark- ers at historical spots. The Robbins Memorial Town Hall and the Middlesex Sportsman's Association Club House were beautifully decorated during Old Home Week. The churches, schools, the press, the Chamber of Commerce, the patriotic and other organizations, and the citizens generally, gave splendid cooperation to our committee and made Arlington's part an outstanding one in this momentous year of historical events. The schools and many of the churches and societies held Tercentenary meetings, with special events or speakers.
The Committee's various activities leading up to the final and principal event in June, were as follows :
January 1, 1930-The church bells ushered in the New Year.
March 4-"Charter Day" Banquet in Town Hall. Judge Murray gave the historical address.
April 19-Special exercises in the forenoon. Military Ball and Concert in the evening, sponsored by Post 39, American Legion.
June 1-8-Old Home Week.
June 1-Civic and Patriotic Meeting in the Town Hall. John Jackson Walsh gave a historical address.
June 3-Old Home Day Dinner at Middlesex Sports- man's Association. Prof. Arthur W. Peirce, princi- pal speaker.
June 4-Sports at Spy Pond Playground in the after- noon and reception to former residents. Band con- cert in the evening.
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
June 5-Public rehearsal in Town Hall of the original production "Pageant of Music in America."
June 6 and 7-Three free performances of the above.
This Pageant was given by our Committee, under the direction of Miss Grace Gordon Pierce and Mrs. Dorothy Clements Evans and has been widely com- mented upon as being one of the most original and in- teresting events in the State celebration. Over 300 peo- ple in costume took part and 4000 of our citizens wit- nessed the performances. Copies of the program, which was quite valuable as a historical document, were sent to the principal libraries in New England. Our Com- mittee, which has been in touch with the celebrations of other communities states that Arlington stands out most prominently with a Tercentenary year program and this has been made possible by the harmonious and enthusiastic work of our Arlington Committee loyally supported by the citizens, all cooperating to bring about a Tercentenary celebration program fully representa- tive of the spirit of this very auspicious historical year of 1930.
At the call of the Board an Emergency Committee was organized November 20, 1930, for the relief of the Unemployed of Arlington.
All organized groups of residents were invited to send representatives who constituted a General Com- mittee. This Committee elected as Chairman and Execu- tive Committee: Lester W. Collins, Chairman, Miss Edith Winn, Vice Chairman and Secretary, Miss Grace Parker, Charles A. Hardy, and Charles H. Higgins.
Registration of the Unemployed was begun imme- diately and through the co-operation of the various or- ganizations and individuals a considerable number of short time jobs were found for the neediest cases.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Various Town Departments aided by arranging work in such a way that the maximum of relief was ob- tained. Further provisions were made for relief of the Unemployed in a special Town Meeting held in Janu- ary, 1931.
Thirteen petitions were received for minor varia- tions of the Zoning By-law and hearings were given. The Board granted seven and six were denied.
Twenty-seven hearings were given on petitions for filling stations, garages and automobile repair shops, and were disposed of as follows: Sixteen granted, nine denied and two were withdrawn.
A bus license was granted to the Lovell Bus Lines, Inc., to operate buses on the Watertown route from the Arlington-Lexington line through Lowell Street, Bow Street, Summer Street Boulevard, Mill Street, Massa- chusetts Avenue and Pleasant Street to the Arlington- Belmont Town line.
At the last Annual Town Meeting the Board was instructed to appoint a committee to investigate the School System. A committee of three was appointed to report at the next annual Town Meeting.
This year the National Census was taken. In 1920 the population of this Town was 18,646, in 1930 it had a population of 36,089, or an increase of about 94%. We are now the second largest Town in the Common- wealth.
By a referendum a Special Town Meeting was held in July. At the meeting an appropriation of two hun- dred seventy-seven thousand (277,000) dollars was voted for a new high school to be expended under the direc- tion of the Board of Selectmen. This school is now un- der construction and consists of eleven class rooms, ad-
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REPORT OF SELECTMEN
ministration rooms, large auditorium with seating capacity of about fourteen hundred. It will be built so it can be used temporarily as a gymnasium or for any other purpose which might be deemed necessary. This building is only a part of a program planned in such a way that any number of class rooms can be added to it at any time.
Our Limited Form of Town Government has been in force eight full years. This is the first year a refer- endum has been petitioned for. Considering the way the Town has grown, it speaks very well for this form of government.
The Districting Board after considerable study voted to redistrict the Town into fourteen precincts in- stead of seven as heretofore. This is the first time any change of this kind has been made.
At the last annual Town Meeting an appropriation of twenty-five hundred dollars was made to be used by the American Legion, Post 39, in connection with the Annual Convention of the American Legion which was held in Boston this year.
It is with great pleasure we state that the Board has received many complimentary letters from the Legion Post of Birmingham, Alabama and the Post from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who were guests Con- vention Week of the Arlington Post. We wish to take this opportunity to thank the Arlington Post in behalf of the citizens of the Town, for the splendid manner in which they conducted the affairs in this auspicious oc- casion.
There were many other matters given due consider- ation. In addition much time was devoted to legisla- tive hearings at the State House, many conferences were
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
attended, sponsored by the various Mayors and Select- men of the surrounding Towns and Cities, all of which were of vital importance to the Town of Arlington.
The Board appointed several committees this year, and we wish to express our appreciation for their splen- did work and to thank the various Boards and Depart- ments for their cooperation.
WILLIAM O. HAUSER, ARTHUR P. WYMAN, HOLLIS M. GOTT, Selectmen of the Town of Arlington.
REPORT OF ANIMAL INSPECTOR
To the Board of Selectmen,
Arlington, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1930.
Number of premises visited to inspect cattle, etc. 15
Number of cattle inspected. 24
Number of goats inspected. 4
Number of pigs reported. 151
Number of dogs quarantined for biting people 81
Number of dogs quarantined for contact with rabid dog 5
Number of cats quarantined for contact with rabid dog 1
Total number of dogs and cats quarantined. 87
Number of known rabies cases 7
Number of Heads sent to Laboratory by me 4
Number of positive reports . 4
Number of cases found by other veterinarians 3
Total number of calls made on dogs and cats. 199
Number of people bitten by rabid dogs 3
The inspection of premises where cattle, sheep and swine are kept and the number of animals examined does not vary from year to year, but the inspection work among dogs is making rapid strides, increasing practi- cally 50 percent over last year, as shown by the fact that there were 87 quarantine cases this year as compared with 50 in 1929, and 199 calls were made as compared with 132 calls in 1929.
The town has been fortunate in having only 7 cases of rabies this year as compared with 10 cases in 1929, but
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
3 people were bitten by rabid dogs, the same number as in 1929.
Reports show that there were over 1200 cases of rabies in the State of Massachusetts in 1930, which is quite a substantial increase over any previous year and the rabies question is getting to be a serious one.
The State Law requires that a physician who attends a case of dog bite or scratch shall notify the local Board of Health immediately and it is their duty to notify the local Inspector of Animals in order that he may imme- diately quarantine the dog for a period of 14 days for observation as to whether or not he is going to develop rabies during that period.
I am sorry to say that some bites are not reported soon enough to allow me to find the dog before he is lost, given away or killed without having his head examined.
It is dangerous business allowing a dog that has bitten some one to be given away or be killed without previous quarantine, especially when we are averaging 100 cases a month of rabies in this State.
It looks to me as though the physician who fails to report a dog bite case soon enough to allow for the proper quarantining of that dog is criminally liable, if the party bitten dies of rabies later on, without having had the pro- tection afforded by the Pasteur Treatment for that par- ticular bite.
I wish to thank the Police Department and the Board of Health for their hearty co-operation at all times.
Respectfully submitted
CHESTER L. BLAKELY, M.D.V. Inspector of Animals
REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEAL
January 1, 1931.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen. Gentlemen :
The Board of Appeal respectfully submits its second annual report.
During the year ending December 31, 1930, three appeals from the decision of the Inspector of Buildings have been made to the Board.
The Board upheld the decision of the Inspector of Buildings in one case, and in the second reversed his decision.
The decision on the third appeal has not been made up to the date of this report.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERIC F. LOW, ALTON F. TUPPER, THOMAS J. DONNELLY, Board of Appeal.
341
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
January 16, 1931.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Arlington, Mass. Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report of the inspection of buildings, plumbing and gas for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1930.
Five hundred and fifty-eight building permits have been issued, compiled as follows :
Dwellings, one family
214
$1,191,250
Dwellings, two family
37
268,500
Dwellings, complete one family ...
1
2,500
Garages .
154
74,315
Garage-8 car
1
4,500
Garage-enlarge
1
500
Garage --- relocate
1
60
Garage-alter and add.
1
150
Enlarge 1 car garage into 2 car
1
235
Additions and Alterations.
62
53,685
Addition to Robbins Library
1
90,000
High School
1
245,000
Church
1
80,000
Warehouse
1
40,132
Apartment House (6 apts.)
1
33,000
Chapel
1
26,000
Office and Show room
1
8,000
Stores (5)
1
15,000
Service Station
1
7,000
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343
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Dining car
1
6,000
Restaurant
1
3,500
Clubhouse
2
1,500
Fruit stand
4
1,200
Shed
1
400
Greenhouse
1
300
Summer house
1
200
Storage building
1
200
Tool shed
1
60
Hen house
2
360
Marque
1
1,600
Sun porch
5
4,100
Porch
20
4,980
Porch roof
4
655
House roof
1
500
Dormer
4
975
Foundations
5
1,950
Relocate one family dwelling
4
3,000
Demolish one family
2
150
Demolish two family
2
350
Demolish buildings
13
820
558
$2,172,627
581 plumbing and 823 gas permits were issued for the year.
Fees collected for 1930
558 Building permits $1,990.00
581 Plumbing permits
1,259.75
823 Gas permits @ .50.
411.50
1962
$3,661.25
There has been an increase in number of permits issued for residential buildings during the year. One family dwellings showing an increase of eleven while the two family buildings have dropped off slightly.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
There were issued seventy-seven less permits for separate garages this past year, apparently caused by the popularity of the type of construction as part of the house. However, the new rules governing garage con- struction under dwellings are very liable to increase the separate type of structure in the future.
But one block of stores was built this year which is three less than last.
Permits were issued for a High School, the Mt. Pleasant Chapel, St. James Church, an addition to the Robbins Library, also two outdoor and two indoor golf courses of the miniature type were constructed.
During the year, three Instantaneous Water Heat- ers have been approved for use in this Town: Ruud, Hoffman, Humphrey.
These are the only ones that can be installed under the Law.
I wish to call to the attention of the Board at this time the advantage which would accrue to the Town by the installation of a physical testing laboratory. A number of municipalities have such installations which are proving to be of great advantage to the public and the department. The initial cost of same being re- turned in a few years from fees from tests made and thereafter a reduced fee covers the maintenance cost. The benefits of such a laboratory are strikingly brought to our attention through the use of test apparatus at works of the Arlington Gas Light Company who have kindly loaned us, without cost, their facilities for test- ing of any plumbing or gas appliances which we may wish to try out before approval for use.
That the new Building Code covers most conditions which arise is shown by the fact that during the year
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INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
there have been but three appeals taken from the deci- sion made in this Department from the Code. The Ap- peal Board sustained the decision of the Department in one case, in one other case the decision of this Depart- ment was set aside and a variance allowed. The last case is still pending.
At this time I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen and other Town Officials for their kindly cooperation and consideration, and the Arlington Gas Light Company for use of test laboratory.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM GRATTO, Inspector of Buildings.
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-1930 -
Arlington, Mass., January 1, 1931
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Arlington, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to present my eighth annual re- port as Chief of the Fire Department for the year end- ing December 31, 1930.
The manual force is composed of forty-four men, including Chief, Deputy Chief, six Captains, six Lieu- tenants, thirty privates and a Department Surgeon.
Three pumping engines, two ladder trucks, one combination (hose and chemical) and a special service truck are in active service. A combination (purchased in 1911) in reserve.
The Department responded to 149 bell alarms, 354 still alarms (telephone calls) and 72 out-of-town calls, a total of 575 alarms for the year, 83 more than last year, and the largest in the history of the Department.
Two false alarms were received, one pulled from the street, the other a false telephone call for which an alarm was transmitted. Last year we had seven false alarms and the year before, fourteen ..
The total value of property endangered, the insur- ance thereon, the losses sustained and the insurance paid, follows :
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REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Insurance
Value Insurance Loss Paid
Buildings $940,100.00 $799,600.00 $81,484.40 $81,484.40
Contents 92,512.98
102,912:98
18,032.81
17,692.81
Total 1,032,612.98 902,512.98
99,517.21 99,177.21
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation (including $3400 for Special Service Truck)
$109,796.50
Expended 108,511.38
Unexpended balance
1,285.12
CREDITS
Fees for 68 blasting permits $68.00
Fees for 7 fireworks permits 3.50
Fees for 3 inflammable fluid permits 3.00
Sale of junk and old hose.
18.60
$93.10
Many times during the past few years the Depart- ment has been called on for assistance in emergencies other than its regular duties and the responses being made with fire fighting apparatus, special equipment for this service was necessarily limited, also the piece of apparatus was not available for fire protection during emergency period.
The tendency to call firemen for special duty has increased to such an extent that a piece of apparatus was specially designed and equipped to handle such emergencies. This piece, a two-ton Federal Truck was placed in service June 28, 1930, responds to all alarms.
It is equipped with a Kohler Lighting Plant (2000 watts capacity) and at present carries 1-500 watt sta- tionary flood light; 1-500 watt portable flood light ; 1000 feet electric cable and two extra 500-watt bulbs. Other equipment carried : Foam generator and 500 lbs. powder
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
for gasoline and oil fires; 1-212 gallon soda and acid extinguisher; 1-CO2 extinguisher; 2 all service masks; 1 hose mask for use in manholes ; 2 pairs service waders, used in shutting valves on ammonia refrigerators; 4 rubber covers for covering furniture, stock, etc .; 1 Woolen blanket; 1 inhalator and 6 torridaire pads for resuscitation; 1 stretcher; 1 First Aid kit, tourniquet and assortment of splints; 1 electric saw (10" blade) ; 1 bar cutter (will cut 3/4" steel bars) ; 1 cross-cut saw; 1 hand saw; 1 pair wire cutters and rubber gloves; 1 life gun for shooting life line; 1 life belt; 1 safety belt; 3 jacks (1-15 ton, 2-10 ton) ; 1 trolley pick-up; 2 door and window openers ; 2 cellar pipes ; 4 axes ; 2 shovels ; 1-11/2" auger; ropes of assorted sizes ; 3 stop signs and flares for establishing fire lines ; 1 dozen chimney fusees for chimney fires ; hydrant wrenches ; large sizes of pipe and monkey wrenches; 2 sledge hammers; hose ropes; spanners; ladder hooks; plaster hooks; adapters of various sizes ; nozzles ; 6-case hooks; gas shut-off; elec- tric fuses ; sprinkler heads.
Sunday, April 6th, the Department experienced two of the worst fires in its history. The first, a woods fire, began at 11.05 A. M. and before the recall at 3.07 P.M. had swept the area from Winchester Road and Hutch- inson Road to the Winchester line near Forest Street. Only by the hardest work was it possible to save the home of F. A. Peirce after several old buildings on this estate were destroyed. Somerville, Medford, and Win- chester Departments assisted at this fire, while Bel- mont, Lexington and another company from Somerville responded to seven other fires in Arlington.
The second fire occurred at 7.03 P.M. in the ice plant of the Metropolitan Ice Co., Linwood Street. Fly- ing brands set fire to thirty-four other buildings, and for a time it was feared that a large section of the town would be destroyed.
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REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The second alarm at 7.05 brought apparatus from Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, Winchester, Lexing- ton, and Belmont. From this time until 7.30, the alarms came in rapid succession calling more apparatus from the above places and additions from Malden, Everett, Waltham, Woburn. In all twenty-four pieces responded with one hundred twenty-six men and nine Chiefs.
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