USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1931 > Part 20
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Scituate Street.
8
25.00
Wall Street ..
8
22.00
Totals
1,875.00
$6,631.86
$3.54
$6,631.86
STORM DRAIN
LOCATION
Size of Pipe in Inches
Length in Feet
Net Cost
Cost per Foot
Totals
Arlmont Street.
21-18
1,616.00
$8,232.94
$5.09
$8,232.94
Total Net Expenditure.
$24,622.62
.
1
1,872.00
11
$9,757.82
$5.21
$9,757.82
359
360
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
TABLE 8 WATER MAINTENANCE DIVISION
Appropriation for 1931
$55,824.00
Net Expenditure
55,714.60
Balance, January 1, 1932 $109.40
DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENDITURES
Maintenance
Gross Ex-
Net Ex-
penditures Credits penditures
Services, care and repair.
$6,938.68
Meters, care, repair, read-
ing and inspection . . ...
11,821.83
Mains, care and repair. .
4,732.62
Hydrants and gates, care and repair .
4,642.58
Turning water off and on
54.88
Shop
509.43
Tools and equipment
1,227.85
*General expense.
9,871.17
Reservoir and Great Meadows. .
776.51
Renewing services, Mass. Avenue .
1,300.04
Changing hydrant, Mass. Avenue .
53.07
Renewing services, Park Avenue .
885.59
$885.59
Changing hydrants, new streets .
424.44
424.44
** Renewal of mains
13,785.94
Total. . $57,024.63 $1,310.03
Total Maintenance Cost .. $55,714.60
*Saturday afternoons, $2,741.40; Vacations, $667.50; Holidays, $723.60; Auto, $72.79; Time and Stockkeeper, $376.25; Miscellaneous, $5,289.63. ** See Table No. 8 for detail.
TABLE 9 RENEWALS-WATER MAINTENANCE
LOCATION
Size of Pipe in Inches
Length in Feet
New
Re- newal
New
Re- newal
Total Cost
Cost per Foot
Addison Street (entire length) .
S
707.40
1
2
1
3
$2,572.09
$3.64
Aerial Street (Forest Street easterly 417.5').
12
417.50
1
1
1
3,475.10
8.32
Chestnut St. (Mystic St. to Medford St.) ..
8
618.30
1
2
2
2,058.12
3.33
Irving Street (Ravine Street to Jason Street) Maple Street (at Academy Street) .
8
304.80
1
1
2
1,378.30
4.52
6
35.00
1
1
188.20
5.38
Russell St. (Mystic St. to Prescott St.).
S
175.30
1
1
683.24
3.90
Swan Street (entire length) .
8
305.90
1
1
1
1,163.70
3.80
Washington St. (Gorham St. to Ronald Rd.).
12
434.30
1,848.71
4.26
Washington Street (at Summer Street) . .. .
10
51.50
2
418.48
8.13
Totals.
3,050.00
1
7
8
12
13,785.94
.
.
·
·
.
HYDRANTS
GATES
361
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
RECEIPTS FOR WATER CONSUMED
Year
1921
$72,163.97
1922
73,830.02
1923
76,144.32
1924 .
84,390.12
1925
89,741.62
1926
113,656.95
1927
110,178.74
1928
108,477.44
1929
138,158.19
1930
162,283.18
1931
158,301.98
ARLINGTON WATER WORKS
Arlington, Middlesex County, Mass.
Population by census of 1930, 36,089.
Date of construction, low service, 1872; high service, 1894.
By whom owned, Town of Arlington.
Source of supply, Metropolitan Water System.
Consumption
1. Estimated total population at date, 36,550.
2. Estimated population on lines of pipe, 35,700.
3. Estimated population supplied, 35,800.
4. Total consumption for the year, 729,233,500 gallons.
5. Percentage of consumption metered, 100 per cent.
6. Average daily consumption, 1,997,900 gallons.
7. Gallons per day to each inhabitant, 52.
8. Gallons per day to each consumer, 52.
Distribution
(Including auxiliary supply from old reservoir)
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Mains
1. Kind of pipe, cast iron and cement.
2. Sizes, from 4 inch to 16 inch.
3. Extended feet during year, 23,403.
4. Discontinued, 4,916.
5. Total now in use, 80.89 miles.
6. Cost of repairs per mile, $60.88.
7. Length of pipe less than 4 inches in diameter, 2,728.
8. Number of hydrants added during year (public), 20.
9. Number of hydrants (public and private) now in use, 835.
10. Number of stop gates added during year, 143.
11. Number of stop gates now in use, 1,381.
12. Average pressure on mains at center of Town, 100 high system, 60 low system.
Services
16. Kind of pipe, cement lined, black wrought iron and lead, 3 inch to 6 inch cast iron.
17. Sizes,1 inch to 6 inch.
21. Number of service taps added during year, 251.
22. Number of services now in use, 7,088.
25. Number of meters added, 251.
26. Number of meters abandoned, 10.
27. Number now in use, 7,088.
28. Percentage of receipts from metered water, 100 per cent.
29. Percentage of services metered, 100 per cent.
Respectfully submitted,
F. LEO DALTON, WALTER F. ROBINSON, EDWARD T. RYAN, Board of Public Works.
REPORT OF THE JOINT BOARD OF SELECT- MEN AND BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works respectfully submits its twenty-eighth annual re- port for the year ending December 31, 1931.
At the Annual Town Election held March 2, 1931, Mr. Arthur P. Wyman was re-elected a Selectman for a term of three years and Mr. Edward T. Ryan was elected a member of the Board of Public Works for a term of three years, and by reason of such elections both became mem- bers of this Board.
The Board organized with Mr. Hollis M. Gott, Chairman, and John A. Easton, Clerk.
The following appointments were made for the year ending April 1, 1932; Town Counsel, Paul M. White; Town Engineer, James M. Keane; Superintendent of Wires, William E. Mason.
NEW STREETS
At the present time there are approximately thirty- eight miles of private ways in the Town of Arlington open to public travel, which presents a problem of vital import- ance to those who are residents thereon.
Applications were received requesting estimates for the construction of thirty-four streets, of which number eighteen were recommended by the Board for construction.
364
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
At the Annual Town Meeting the following were accepted for construction :
Aerial Street Quincy Street
Field Road
School Street
Herbert Road
Varnum Street
Lockeland Avenue Washington Street
The amount appropriated for this purpose was $165,082.47.
In the past seven years there has been a gain of over nine miles in accepted streets, and it is desirable that this rate of progress be maintained.
STREET LIGHTS
The present lighting schedule was continued. The Superintendent of Wires has extended the lighting on new streets and private ways where construction of new houses has made it necessary.
SIGNAL SYSTEMS
The Fire Alarm and Police Signal Systems have been under the control and supervision of the Chief of the Fire Department and the results obtained have been highly satisfactory.
Recall flashlights were installed in the tower of the Central Fire Station and at the Nurses' Home at the Symmes Hospital. Because of their visibility from all parts of the Town it has been possible to keep in close touch with police officers on their beats.
SIDEWALKS AND EDGESTONES
The usual appropriation of $16,000 was made at the Annual Town Meeting for the construction of permanent sidewalks, driveways and edgestones.
A large portion of this appropriation was used in lay-
366
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ing granite edgestones on Park Avenue, Eastern Avenue and Highland Avenue.
A substantial amount of granolithic sidewalks was constructed upon petition by property owners. By order of the Board sidewalks were constructed on Eastern Avenue for the benefit of school children who will attend the Brackett School.
NEW BOARD OF SURVEY PLANS
There were submitted for study and consideration plans for laying out the following streets: Lennon Road, Valentine Road, Dundee Road, Wright Street, Governor Road, and Hemlock Street.
The Board, sitting as the Board of Survey, after care- ful consideration approved and signed the plans.
Building lines were established on Jason Street, southwesterly side at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue; Mill Street, northeasterly side at the corner of Massachu- setts Avenue; River Street, from Warren Street to Mystic Valley Parkway.
Exterior lines were established on Clark Street, Dow Avenue, Irwin Road, Spring Avenue, Spring Street, and Spy Pond Parkway and Princeton Road.
The establishment of the foregoing exterior lines fore- stalls the construction of buildings within the areas so restricted which will result in a saving to the Town.
The names of the following streets have been changed as a safety measure, continuing a policy adopted a year ago at the request of Chief Tierney of the Fire Depart- ment:
Highfield Road to Columbia Road. Irwin Road to Puritan Road. Walnut Avenue to Emerson Road.
367
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Park Boulevard to Lafayette Street (from Lafayette Street to B. & M. R.R.).
Park Boulevard to Boulevard Road (from Mass. Avenue to Lafayette Street).
Exeter Street to Philips Street (from Franklin Street to Beacon Street).
Irving Street to Endicott Road (from Churchill Avenue to Gray Street).
Dennett Road to Coolidge Road.
Eleanor Road to Osborne Road.
Farmer Street to Farmer Road.
FIRE AND POLICE BOXES
New signal boxes have been installed where needed and existing boxes have been relocated at points where, in the judgment of the Chief, the districts would be better served.
A full report will be found in the report relating to the Fire and Police signal system.
ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST
Petitions have been received from the following public service corporations:
New England Telephone & Telegraph Company of Massachusetts,
The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, Boston Elevated Railway Company,
asking permission to locate, relocate and remove poles from the public ways of the Town, to construct conduits and manholes in Massachusetts Avenue and Broadway, and to install necessary cables and wires therein for the underground service.
Such hearings as were required by law were held on
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
the petitions filed by said companies, and the necessary orders adopted.
Permission was granted the Arlington Gas Light Com- pany to lay extensions of gas mains in the public ways of the Town to serve new developments and to replace small mains with larger sizes to improve the service where required.
BOSTON ELEVATED CAR SERVICE
Consideration has been given to various studies of locations petitioned for by the Boston Elevated Railway Company for a turn-around and storage capacity in Arlington to improve the car service from Harvard Square to Arlington Heights. Conferences have been held with the Trustees, and officials of the Boston Elevated Railway Company and with the Planning Board in relation to this problem.
To date the matter remains unsettled and further study is being made in the hope that a satisfactory solution may be reached in the near future.
Progress has been made in the matter of discontinuing the street cars on Medford Street. To improve traffic a portion of Medford Street was made a one-way street, and as a consequence the street cars were discontinued between Massachusetts Avenue and Parallel Street and the busses on the Broadway line are now operated to that point.
The City of Medford is considering a petition of the Boston Elevated Railway Company for a license to oper- ate busses in Medford on the Hillside line which, if granted, will dispose of this problem.
All matters coming before the Board have received careful consideration and such action as has been taken
369
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
has been along lines which we believe will result in con- serving the best interests of the Town as a whole.
HOLLIS M. GOTT, WILLIAM O. HAUSER,
ARTHUR P. WYMAN,
F. LEO DALTON, WALTER F. ROBINSON, EDWARD T. RYAN
Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
REPORT OF, THE TOWN COUNSEL
December 31, 1931.
Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
Gentlemen:
During the past year there have been presented a number of claims, including those relating to eminent domain takings and accidents, some of which have in- volved court proceedings. Certain of these claims have been settled as authorized by the Selectmen, others have been abandoned and others are pending. The Town has collected some claims, in part by court action. Of five appeals from the assessors' refusals to abate taxes, two have been dismissed, one by agreement and one after hearing, and one has been withdrawn after argument. It is expected that the other two will be abandoned.
During the latter part of the year, the Town Treas- urer has attended to actions of trustee process; and since August first Mr. Clarence Needham, as agent appointed by the Selectmen, has taken care of claims for workmen's compensation.
The Town Counsel has been present at all your regular meetings and at regular meetings of the Board of Selectmen. He has also been present at meetings of other boards and of committees; has furnished legal opinions, and has attended to other usual matters.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL M. WHITE, Town Counsel.
370
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE OF TWENTY-ONE
The Finance Committee of Twenty-one submits the following report in two parts:
1. Final report of the 1930-31 committee.
2. Partial report of the 1931-32 committee.
The committee of 1930-31 began the consideration of the 1931 departmental budgets early in January and made recommendations on all matters which fall within their scope in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting. The work of the 1930-31 Finance Committee was carried out by the following sub-committees:
Schools and Libraries
Ernest W. Davis, Chairman Donald M. Hollister Henry J. Welch Walter T. Chamberlain G. Leslie Vianello
Public Works and Parks Edward A. Morton, Chairman Thomas F. Good Angus P. Macdonald D. Herbert Buttrick Walter S. Cooledge
Department of Selectmen and Incidentals James F. Younie, Chairman Arthur O. Davidson John J. Sullivan Harold J. Rogers Nils G. Anderson
371
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Joint Board and All Other Departments Arthur C. McCarthy, Chairman
Clarence E. Biathrow William E. Barry Harold M. Estabrook
2. The Committee of 1931-32, as a result of the action of the Special Town Meeting of January 14, 1931, is composed of fourteen members, one from each precinct, and has held to date twelve meetings with an average attendance of 13 5/12 members. The committee has given consideration to all Articles except zoning in the Warrants of the special and regular Town Meetings, and has trans- ferred various amounts from the $15,000.00 reserve fund as provided in the Town By-laws and State regulations.
Ernest W. Davis was elected by the committee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Walter Chamberlain.
The following transfers were made from the reserve fund in 1931:
September 18, 1931-$150.00-Town Treasurer-postage.
September 18, 1931-$3,000.00-Board of Health- Communicable diseases.
December 29, 1931-$1,400.00-Soldiers' Relief.
December 29, 1931-$1,265.00-Menotomy Hall Main- tenance.
December 29, 1931-$60.00-Sealer of Weights and Measures.
December 29, 1931-$1,200.00-Town Meetings and Elections.
373
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE OF TWENTY-ONE
December 29, 1931-$3,500.00-Public Welfare De- partment.
December 29, 1931-$7.13-Town Clerk.
December 29, 1931-$1,000.00-Board of Health.
December 31, 1931-$518.81-Police Department. December 31, 1931-$25.66-Traffic Signals. December 31, 1931-$238.70-Town Hall Maintenance.
December 31, 1931-$215.80-Soldiers' Relief.
December 31, 1931-$37.11-Menotomy Hall Main- tenance.
Total Transfers-$12,618.21.
The work of the 1931-32 Finance Committee is handled by the following sub-committees:
Schools and Libraries William J. Atwood, Chairman Arthur O. Davidson John L. Murphy
Departments of Selectmen and Incidentals Harold M. Estabrook, Chairman Daniel W. Flynn Henry J. Welch George T. Hagerman
Public Works and Parks D. Herbert Buttrick, Chairman Arthur C. McCarthy Thomas G. Smith
374
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Joint Board and All Other Departments (New Streets) Archibald C. Loveys, Chairman Edward D. Buckley Joseph C. Ohlund
ERNEST W. DAVIS, Chairman HAROLD M. ESTABROOK, Vice Chairman ARTHUR O. DAVIDSON, Secretary
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT
Arlington, Mass., January 25, 1932.
To the Honorable Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works:
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit my report as Town Engineer for the year ending December 31, 1931.
This year has proven the busiest of any since the organization of the Engineering Department, and it was necessary to increase the force to keep pace with the de- mands of the various departments.
From October 1 to January 1, 1932, seventeen men were employed full time and even with this force it was necessary to let out some work to a private engineering firm because of the small quarters devoted to the Engi- neering Department in the Town Hall.
A brief summary of activities of this branch of the service is as follows:
Selectmen-Thirty-one claims for personal injuries and damages to personal property were investigated and reports made.
In connection with this work 175 photographs were taken in addition to measurements and elevations of scene of alleged accident.
Surveys and plans were completed of Robbins Estate, rear of Robbins Library, for garage location at 57-59 Bartlett Avenue, grading at addition to Senior High School, sign board location on Massachusetts Avenue
375
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
opposite Robbins Road, design and location of precinct cabinets and investigation into status of Winnick Place.
Joint Board-Surveys, estimated cost of construc- tion, property damages and betterment on thirty-six streets petitioned for acceptance, were made.
Ten surveys and plans of exterior lines established in various sections of the Town, also estimated awards, were completed.
Thirty changes in lines and grades of Board of Survey plans and four new developments were studied and recom- mended for approval.
Four new Board of Survey plans and alteration of way plans, three cases of obstructions in various streets, estimated cost of granolithic walks and curbs, widening of Massachusetts Avenue in several sections, changes in names of eleven streets were finished.
Topographical survey of area bounded by Summer Street, Lexington, Winchester, Forest Street, and Park Avenue Extension was plotted and final plans completed.
Layout and inspection of installation of granite edgestone and granolithic sidewalks done under contract were looked after and final cost figured, the amount being $14,551.13.
The betterment assessment for this work and for 1930 streets were figured and record plans completed.
There were 32 inspections on driveways installed by private contractors on public streets and nine inspections on underground installations by Public Service Corpo- rations.
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· TOWN ENGINEERING REPORT
Board of Public Works-4.12 miles of water mains, 4.22 miles of sewers, and 3.45 miles of surface water drains were laid out, located and record plans of all of above are in the making.
In connection with this work 43 benefited area, 35 sewer takings, 26 water taking and 15 storm drain plans were draughted, signed by the Board, and recorded at East Cambridge registry, and sewer assessments were figured and levied in 78 sections.
163 pieces of ledge were measured and quantity figured, having a total yardage of 3,709.74.
270 water service boxes and 375 particular sewer connections were plotted on plans and permanent record of locations were filed.
Plans and specifications were drawn for 1.63 miles of new streets and .53 miles of Park Avenue, and these were constructed under contract. Lines and grades were given, measurement of quantities and final payment was figured, the amount being $172,721.45.
The section of Massachusetts Avenue from Central Street to Highland Avenue was reconstructed with rein- forced concrete under supervision of the State Depart- ment of Public Works. In connection with this work the Engineering Department of Arlington made all pre- liminary surveys and estimate of quantities, also the final estimate, the amount of this contract being $29,200.46.
A study was made for additional buildings in Hobbs Court yard, location and record plan of gas tanks, pipe lines and pump in this yard were finished.
Extensive survey and study for main outlet sewer in area bounded by Massachusetts Avenue, Williams
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Street, Hibbert Street, Appleton Street, Perth Road, West Street, Claremont Avenue, Prospect Avenue, Park Avenue, and Belmont line were completed, as were widening of Appleton Street, investigation of complaints in regard to surface water drainage, changes in triangle at Medford Street and Chestnut Street, study for changes at Medford and Warren Street and Appleton Street and Paul Revere Road.
Board of Health-Layout and estimated cost of drainage of swampy areas in connection with mosquito elimination campaign, maps of sewer system and water system.
Building Department-Surveys of buildings con- structed in location other than shown on plot plan filed when application for permit to build was made.
Town maps showing zoning changes and sewer system.
Committee on Additional School Accommodations- Survey and study of various sites for proposed school buildings and plan of proposed taking on Lake Street.
Districting Board-48 maps showing new precincts.
Brackett School Building Committee-Placing mark- ers on school area and lines and grades or grading.
Finance Committee-Maps showing various projects and nine descriptions of takings in 1931 Town Warrant.
Fire Department-10 maps showing location of fire alarm boxes and one map showing water system.
Legal Department-Investigation into clafms for damages, and survey and plan of Grove Street taking for play area.
379
TOWN ENGINEERING REPORT
Metropolitan Planning Board-Data, information and several plans were submitted to this Board to aid in their study for a thorough route from Cambridge to Concord via Lake Street and Spring Street in Arlington.
Park Commission-Surveys and plans of land takings for Warren A. Peirce playground, Linwood Street ice house site, and Grove Street pit and vicinity were made.
Cross-sections of area at Crosby School and off Ceme- tery Street for skating rinks, layout for tennis courts in Meadow Brook Park, staking out of football field and setting markers in Warren A. Peirce playground, setting of grades in this area and Grove Street park and placing of corners on Turkey Hill Park Area were all completed.
Planning Board-Soundings, quantities, plans and estimated cost of bathing beaches at Scully's pit, Arlington Heights Reservoir, and Spy Pond; topographical survey of area bounded by Mill Street, Boston & Maine Railroad, Warren A. Peirce playground and Massachusetts Avenue; study for Boston Elevated loop; Spring Street extension data; description of takings on Lake Street, Linwood Street and Lakehill Avenue, and survey, estimated quan- tities and cost of grading Grove Street park area were some of the more important items furnished the Board.
Police-Survey and plan of auto accident case at Medford Street and Mystic Valley Parkway; plans of proposed islands at different locations; three plans show- ing proposed installation of traffic lights, maps showing police and fire box locations and precinct maps were finished.
School Department-Elevations, plans and esti- mated cost for elimination of ground water in boiler room of Cutter School; cross-sections, grading plan and grade stakes at Peirce School playground, layout of drive and
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
walks in and about Senior High School and survey for division line between Park and School areas at Junior High School West were completed.
Town Clerk-Precinct maps were made showing street numbers at division lines.
Miscellaneous-The copying of all original plans was completed this year (about 1000) and filed in the fireproof vault in basement of Town Hall. The copies are kept in the vault in the Engineering Department on the second floor and are used for every-day references. This com- pletes the work that was started in 1930.
In addition to the above, about 400 new plans were filed, the originals in the basement vault and the copy on the second floor, and this practice will be followed so in case of a serious fire the original plans will be well pro- tected from damage.
At the East Cambridge registry 100 plans of which we had no record were copied and filed. These were all of registered land but through an arrangement with Land Court officials a copy of each plan is sent to this office as soon as certificate has been issued, so it will be unnecessary to copy any more of these plans at the registry.
Twelve hearings at the State House were attended and several plans and estimates were prepared and pre- sented to the different committees.
One hundred and fifty-four releases for alterations on newly accepted streets were drawn, signatures pro- cured and filed in the office of the Town Clerk.
Cross-sections were taken in the Grove Street gravel pit owned by the Town in an effort to determine quantity of gravel removed by a contractor without permission.
381
TOWN ENGINEERING REPORT
The amount was calculated and the contractor paid for the material taken.
Considerable survey work and study was necessary to find errors in Gardner Street, Hilton Street section, between registered land plan and acceptance plan of this section. It was finally located and settled to the satis- faction of everybody concerned.
All new street numbering plans were drawn and as usual street numbers were assigned to new buildings.
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