USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1939 > Part 19
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40
528
Winter Street
201 Massachusetts Avenue to 79 Broadway
40
1540
March 14, 1892 April 13, 1874; also Old Town Way, November 9, 1846
Winthrop Road
97 Summer Street, northerly
40
265
Wollaston Avenue .. 103 Park Avenue to West Street
60
1340
September 23, 1878 ; November 13, 1894 ; March 16, 1908
+ Wollaston Avenue
. 3 West Street to Rublee Street. ..
60
980
Wollaston Avenue
. . 347 Appleton Street to Rublee Street
60
495
Woodbury Street
. |35 Dundee Road to Hibbert Street ..
40
750
Woodland Street
120 Jason Street to Bartlett Avenue.
40
282
Woodland Street
109 Bartlett Avenue to 18 Lincoln Street
40
240
Wright Street
607 Summer Street to Winchester Line.
40
1930
Wyman Street
40
1050
Wyman Terrace
40
751
40
450
*Streets laid out by the County Commissioners.
+Proposed Street not built.
Length of Public Streets and Town Ways. . 63.50 miles
Length of Private Streets open for
travel.
38.69 miles
Length of Proposed Private Streets.
7.91 miles
.
40
985
November 23, 1909
+Wilbur Avenue
40
.
365
1250
Willow Place ..
801 Massachusetts Avenue, northerly .. 170 Lake Street, southerly
.
40
441
March 29, 1939 March 27, 1906; April 3, 1929
Windermere Park ..
April 3, 1929 March 29, 1939 ; Formerly Trent St. April 3, 1929. Formerly Trent St.
Williams Street
267 Broadway to Mystic Valley Parkway ... 86 Pleasant Street, easterly .
Wellington Street
West Street 82 Wollaston Avenue to Appleton Street West Court Terrace . 167 Lowell Street, 200 feet northwesterly. Westminster Avenue . 118 Lowell Street to Lexington Line ...
50
2310
April 15, 1926 March 25, 1861, and April 15, 1926 November 8, 1897; March 6, 1911
Webster Street
Yerxa Road
347 Massachusetts Ave. to 84 Warren St. 342 Massachusetts Ave. to 352 Mass. Ave. Ridge Street to end ..
March 22, 1909 March 25, 1915
March 19, 1888 ; November 22, 1906 March 20, 1916
March 25, 1915 May 6, 1924
352
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
GENERAL STATISTICS
Arlington is situated six miles northwest of Boston, in latitude 42 deg., 25 min. north; longitude 71 deg., 09 min. west, at an elevation above mean tide of from 4 to 377 feet.
Massachusetts Avenue at Cambridge line, elevation 10 feet.
Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street, elevation 48 feet.
Massachusetts Avenue at Park Avenue, elevation 155 feet.
Park Circle at Eastern Avenue (base of standpipe), elevation 377 feet.
Crescent Hill Avenue at Park Place, elevation 281 feet.
The Town and a part of what is now Belmont were set off from Cambridge and incorporated as West Cam- bridge in 1807. The name was changed from West Cam- bridge to Arlington in 1867.
Area of Town, including that covered by water, 3,- 5171/2 acres, 51/2 square miles; area covered by water, 268.2 acres.
Parks: Town, 127.03 acres; Metropolitan, 55 acres.
Total cemetery area, 44.2 acres.
Public streets and Town ways: Macadam, 33.34 miles ; Simasco, 1.40 miles; Warren Bitulithic, 0.13 miles ; Macas- phalt, 0.27 miles ; Colprovia, 0.29 miles; Kyrock, 0.47 miles ; gravel 16.12 miles ; concrete, 6.13 miles ; reinforced concrete
353
TOWN ENGINEERING REPORT
and bituminous macadam, 2.23 miles ; bituminous macadam, 3.12 miles; total 63.50 miles.
Private streets open for travel, 38.69 miles.
Length of proposed private streets, 7.91 miles.
Permanent sidewalks: Tar concrete, 9.10 miles; brick, 3.14 miles ; artificial stone, 45.24 miles.
Edgestones, 40.42 miles.
Paved gutters, 15.08 miles.
Storm drain system, 44.72 miles.
Catch basins, 1,740.
354
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
December 31, 1939
Honorable Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works
Gentlemen :
During the year 1939, as in prior years, the time of the town counsel has been largely spent in work for various town boards, officers and employees in matters which in- volved questions of law. This has required attendance at your regular meetings, regular meetings of the Board of Selectmen and meetings of other boards and committees, many conferences with town officers and others, the furnish- ing of opinions, the examination of records, the preparation of instruments and the performance of miscellaneous other duties.
In accordance with custom, only the following brief reference is made to court cases. In the Supreme Judicial Court and the Superior Court for the County of Middlesex, the Superior Court for the County of Suffolk, the Third District Court of Eastern Middlesex and the Land Court, a total of twenty proceedings involving interests of the Town were initiated, resulting in a net increase of six at the end of the year. Notwithstanding appeals to the Ap- pellate Tax Board during the year, there was a fifty per cent decrease in the number of pending cases. There was an increase in the number of claims presented during the year, of which some were abandoned and some were settled, with or without court action, all payments being first approved by the Board of Selectmen.
The Town Counsel wishes to renew his expression of appreciation of the helpful cooperation of officers and em- ployees of the Town.
Respectfully submitted, PAUL M. WHITE
Town Counsel
355
REPORT OF WIRE DEPARTMENT
WIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
Gentlemen :
I respectfully submit my report as Inspector of Wires for the year ending December 31, 1939:
STREET LIGHTING
During the year there were thirty-four (34) No. 70 lamps installed as follows: Twenty (20) were installed on Broadway from Franklin Street to the Somerville line; thirteen (13) were installed on Pleasant Street from Swan Street to Venner Road, and one (1) on Park Avenue near Wachusett Avenue. Also sixteen (16) No. 20 lamps were installed as follows: one (1) on Arlmont Street; one (1) on Cedar Avenue; four (4) on Eliot Road; two (2) on Fayette Street; one (1) on Fountain Road; one (1) on Grand View Road; one (1) on Magnolia Street; one (1) on Mayflower Road; one (1) on Michael Street; one (1) on Silk Street; two (2) on Upland Road West. There were ten (10) No. 20 lamps removed on Pleasant Street.
Summary of street lights in service December 31, 1939 -lights burning on the 4000 hour schedule :
No. 20 80 C. P. Series Incandescent Lamps 1399
60 Watt Multiple Incandescent Lamps 9
No. 70 600 C. P. Series Incandescent Lamps 156
No. 75 1000 C. P. Series Incandescent Lamps 108
No. 80 1500 C. P. Series Incandescent Lamps
30
ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING
60 Watt lamps multiple, burning until 2 A. M.
19
356
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
INSPECTION OF WIRES IN BUILDINGS
One thousand five hundred and eighty-six (1586) per- mits for electrical construction were issued at fifty (50) cents for each permit.
There were three thousand one hundred and fifty (3150) inspections made, and one thousand four hundred and eighty-nine (1489) installations approved.
Defective bell wire caused a short circuit, but caused no structural damage.
POLES AND WIRES ON STREETS
The Boston Edison Company, the Telephone Company and the Boston Elevated replaced one hundred and fifty- two (152) poles during the year.
Respectfully submitted, W. E. MASON,
Inspector of Wires
357
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF CEMETERIES
CEMETERY DEPARTMENT
January 10, 1940
The report of the Cemetery Commissioners having charge of the Cemeteries, submitted for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Number of Bodies received at Arlington cemeteries ... 238
Interred
Number of Bodies in Mt. Pleasant, Private Lots 156
Number of Bodies in Mt. Pleasant, Single Graves 75
Number of Bodies in Mt. Pleasant, Public Lots 7 .....
Removed
Number of Bodies removed to Bridgeport, Conn. ....
1
Number of Bodies removed to Concord N. H. 1
Number of Bodies removed to Rochester, N. H. 1
Valuation of Lots and Graves for sale $309,476.00 (Including Perpetual Care)
Valuation of Office Furniture and Equipment 313.00
Valuation of Chapel Furniture 105.00
Valuation of Stock and Tools
1,475.00
J. EDWIN KIMBALL M. ERNEST MOORE FREDERICK W. HILL Cemetery Commissioners
CEMETERY RECEIPTS
Sale of Lots and Graves
$4,570.00
Annual Care
3,187.00
Opening graves
3,277.00
Foundations
777.40
Miscellaneous
1,281.50
Turned back from Funds
3,948.55
Received for Perpetual Care
7,540.00
C
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
358
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL INSPECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE
February 2, 1940.
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town Hall, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I present you herewith report of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Public Welfare for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Office
House
Total
Old Age Assistance
471
450
921
Aid to Dependent Children
170
59
229
Welfare and Soldiers' Relief
1,843
887
2,730
2,484
1,396
3,880
The total number of calls for the year 1938 was 3,555 calls. Therefore, there has been an increase in the number of calls of about 8% which in itself is not particularly sig- nificant. However, it is interesting to note (see below) that the number of calls continues to increase, although the per- centage of increase in later years is infinitesimal as com- pared with that of the early years of the depression.
Year
Calls
1930
316
1931
356
1932
652
1933
1,572
1934
2,049
1935
3,330
1936
3,315
1937
3,510
1938
3,555
1939
3,880
359
TOWN PHYSICIAN
From an inspection of the above figures it is evident that we have apparently arrived at a mean level for the past five years of about 3,500 calls per year. Deviation from these figures has been slight, whereas in the first half of this ten-year period there was an increase of over 600%. In the year 1939 more calls were made per month than were made in the entire year of 1930.
Since December 1, 1939 the hours of the medical clinic have been changed to correspond to the working hours of the Welfare Department. The change is a most desirable one because it provides a permanent First Aid Station for recipients who are injured while at work, welfare prescrip- tions may be filled at any time during the day, and it effects a saving of at least 50% on prescriptions which were for- merly filled at drug stores.
The problem of properly caring for the physical needs of elderly people continues to increase in importance; but the problem of caring for their mental health has been left untouched, just at a time in their lives when they need it most. During the year 1937 the Welfare Department cared for 335 elderly people in need; during the year 1938, 345 persons; and in 1939, 480 elderly persons were assisted. From these figures it is evident that we are dealing with a phase of relief which is increasing very rapidly, and in my opinion we have just skimmed the surface. In this country the relative percentage of persons over sixty-five years of age as compared with the general population, has increased enormously. Therefore, of necessity the number of persons over sixty-five years of age who are in need of assistance is also increasing. To-day persons over sixty-five years of age constitute 6.4% and in 1980 all things being equal, will constitute 14.4%. In other words we now have 8,400,000 over sixty-five years of age and forty years hence we shall have 22,000,000 over sixty-five years of age. This increase in the number of persons over sixty-five years has two etio- logical factors; first is the tremendous strides made by the medical profession in increasing the life expectancy, and secondly is the ever increasing popularity of the birth con- trol movement.
360
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
In regard to the first of these causes, may I state that in 1850 the life expectancy of a new born baby was forty years; that is to say that a baby born in 1850 might be ex- pected to live for forty years. This low expectancy was due to lack of medical knowledge as we know it to-day, and the rugged and dangerous lives lived by the frontiersman of those days. With the disappearance of the frontiers, improvement in maternity procedures, decrease in infant mortality and the increase in the knowledge of general medical and surgical practice, life expectancy has been in- creased from the forty years in 1850 to the sixty years in 1939.
The second cause of the relative increase in the number of the aged has been through the efforts of a certain group to reduce the number of the youth of the nation. If there is any one group of the population that the nation depends upon for its future well being and security, it is the youth of the nation. We cannot depend upon the middle aged group for the future happiness of our people. This group may be a factor at the present time, but twenty years hence they will have passed to the Old Age group, and certainly at present the Old Age group is no asset for the future, notwithstanding the fact that its mellowness and experience may be of value, to the present generation. Birth con- trollers are concerned only with the selfish aims and wishes of the individual. But when they attempt to reduce the number of the youth, they are gnawing at the very vitals of the nation. This real and relative increase in old age is one of the many unpredicted and undesired by-products of the birth control movement.
From the point of view of age and dependents, persons may be conveniently grouped as follows :-
A. Babies and children who are totally dependent.
B. Youth may be partially dependent on others. Young men in industry going up the ladder of suc- cess step by step, not only caring for the present, but also providing for the future.
361
TOWN PHYSICIAN
C. The so-called middle aged group, most of whom are self sustaining, but only some of whom are providing for the future.
D. Lastly the Old Age group, some of whom are finan- cially independent, and many of whom are depen- dent upon public assistance.
If the Federal Government wishes and at times insists upon aiding a certain group of the population, which of the above should be assisted, how much and when? Ob- viously in the present economic depression, youth needs as- sistance. The Federal Government has answered their call in a masterly fashion by providing the National Youth Ad- ministration, and the Civilian Conservation Corps. The successful young man in industry needs no assistance, nor does most of the middle aged group. Thus we have remain- ing for consideration the Old Age group and the children.
Persons over sixty-five years of age and in need, are given cash in a sufficient amount for simple sustenance. In other words they are put on the dole for the simple reason that the Government gives them the money and asks noth- ing in return. They are placed in a sphere of enforced idle- ness, there to remain and vegetate, becoming at first pro- found neurotics, and later merely wasting away mentally and physically from atrophy of disuse. The neurosis cen- ters about the individual in general, and the condition of his health in particular; and why shouldn't he be centered in his own neurosis? Civil Service regulations, industry, and the Federal Government itself have already put it in writing that he is no asset to the community. Recipients come to our Clinic quite often, many of them quite regu- larly, complaining of the various pains and aches common to their age group. Their complaints usually are not serious from the point of view of morbidity and mortality, but they are very real to them. It is futile for me to explain that most of their trouble is due to their age, because they will not believe it. Their condition must have a label and it is immaterial whether that label is a name or a number (as in blood pressure). That gives them something to talk
362
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
about and complain about until the next time they return to the Clinic. On the return visit if the blood pressure is up or down ten points (it does not make much difference which) they still have sufficient ammunition for another few weeks. I do not cite these cases for the sake of being disparaging or disrespectful at all, but simply to point out the fact that under the present Old Age Assistance set-up we are producing a large number of neurotics, and are doing it on a mass production basis. What might be the answer? Work. In 1930, 75% of the people between 60 and 75 years of age were working, now it is estimated that only 15% to 20% work. Idleness is no producer of happiness and contentment, but a breeder of discontent and unhappi- ness. It is estimated that in ten years the Social Security Act will have removed most of the Old Age Assistance cases, but even if that be true, they will still be in a state of en- forced idleness. These recipients are already old, and their environment is narrow and limited. Because of the deaths, as the years pass by, of most of their relatives, friends and acquaintances, their point of view is different from that of their children and grandchildren with whom they fre- quently live. Therefore, they are out of step with the other members of the household. Remedy? Bring them together in an occupational community center where they may meet and work with people of their own age and points of view. Not laborious work of course, but any type of busy work, which comes under the head of Occupational Therapy, such as knitting, rug making, toy making, etc. The sale of high quality, handmade merchandise would probably more than pay the salary of a well trained occupational therapist. We can easily picture a group of people who have some- thing in common, similar points of view, in the same age group, keeping busy and keeping their minds off themselves. They will live much longer and be much happier while they are living.
An employable married man with three or more chil- dren, earning $20 to $22 a week, has a very difficult time in providing the bare necessities of life. If such a person applies for public relief he is refused, because he is in pri-
363
TOWN PHYSICIAN
vate employment. His children have to get along on a "filling" and unbalanced diet, consisting chiefly of carbo- hydrates, such as bread, potatoes, macaroni, soup and cereals. At the same time, however, there are individuals on relief work, with comparable families, who average a higher weekly income, considering their relief pay, welfare aid, Federal commodities, hospitalization, medicine and medical care. The children of the man in private employ- ment suffer. Therefore, we are not amazed when someone makes the charge that certain men are better off on relief work than on private employment. There should be some way to assist the children of large families where the wage earner is in the lowest income bracket.
Old Age Assistance is undoubtedly going to continue as a permanent part of our government. Whether the present set-up of the plan is most desirable is a question. It seems to me that able-bodied persons over sixty-five years of age should return something for the assistance they ac- cept. If this were feasible certain money might be liber- ated, which could be used for the assistance of the children of the lowest income group, even though the wage earner be in private employment.
It is a most honorable and humane idea for the govern- ment to assist old people in need, and I believe that this assistance in a modified form should continue, but it must be remembered that the government gets no return at all from its investment in Old Age Assistance. For the indi- vidual recipient it means only a few years of simple suste- nance, and then the final call. Whereas if the government should make an investment in assisting the children of large families, dividends in the form of healthy, happy children, and later good citizens would be tremendous.
In the distribution of the cash dole, the government has selected one particular group of its citizens to be the favored few. The reason for this is obvious, the old age group is an active nation-wide organization, which collects funds, hires counsel and publicity men, and lobbies the halls of Congress. In addition each member is a voter, and this
364
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
makes the situation political. This ever increasing number of old age voters has to be taken into consideration by any man seeking public office. Therefore, we may confidently expect that the dole to the old people will increase before it decreases.
The aforementioned low income group children de- serve some consideration when the dole is being handed out. Must we overlook the physical needs of these children just because they have not nation-wide organization, and are not voters ?
The present old age plan is not satisfactory because the government gets no dividend of any kind on its invest- ment; the ever increasing demands of the old age group are unfair to the taxpayers ; because enforced idleness is no asset to the recipient, and because it is unfair to the children of large families where the cash dole could be used to much better advantage for the production of healthy, well fed children, and future good citizens.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD W. FEELEY, M. D.,
Town Physician.
365
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
In accordance with the Town By-Laws, the Board of Health herewith submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Regular Board meetings are held at the office in the Town Hall the first Monday of each month at 7:30 P. M.
At the annual Town Meeting, held March 6, 1939, Dr. Carl E. Barstow was elected a member of the Board of Health for a term of three years. Dr. Barstow qualified before the Town Clerk and was sworn to office on March 7, 1939. On that date the Board organized by re-electing Alfred W. Lombard as Chairman for the ensuing year. The personnel of the Board of Health is as follows :
ALFRED W. LOMBARD, Chairman ERNEST R. BROOKS, D. M. D. CARL E. BARSTOW, M. D.
To Dr. Charles F. Atwood, who served as a member of the Arlington Board of Health from March 10, 1906 to March 3, 1909, and again from March 4, 1918 to March 5, 1939, the Board of Health wishes to publicly extend thanks for his devoted interest in the health of the Town.
His services were always available and were graciously given to the Town at a personal sacrifice. We who have served with Dr. Atwood accepted his decision not to seek re-election to membership on the Board of Health with profound reluctance, for by that decision we realized that this Board was losing a most valuable member.
Resignation
Paul F. Burke, D. M. D. Dental Operator
366
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Temporary Appointment Herbert J. Towle, Jr., D. M. D. Dental Operator
Appointments
J. PHILIP BOWER, Agent, Clerk and Milk Inspector. EZEKIEL PRATT, M. D., Bacteriologist and Physician to the Board.
PAUL F. BURKE, D. M. D., Dental Operator.
HELEN M. HEFFERNAN, R. N., Nurse and Assistant to Dental Operator.
ARTHUR TAYLOR, Inspector of Slaughtering.
J. PHILIP BOWER, Inspector of Slaughtering.
The Arlington Board of Health is able to report that the past year has been an exceptionally healthy one in so far as communicable diseases are concerned.
In general the occurrence of the major diseases was about the same as in the preceding year. There was a marked increase in the number of reported cases of Measles over the preceding year, but this increase was not unex- pected inasmuch as the disease shows a tendency to ap- pear in cycles with maximum intensity at intervals of three years. The last year in which this disease reached a max- imum intensity in this community was 1936. (Tabulation of reportable diseases appears on following pages.)
DIPHTHERIA CLINIC. The Board conducted but one free, public Diphtheria Clinic during 1939. This Clinic was held in the Fall and was attended by two hundred eigh- ty-eight children. The cost to the Town per child was 14c.
DOG CLINIC FOR INOCULATION AGAINST RABIES. The annual clinic for inoculating dogs against Rabies was conducted in the Spring. At this Clinic 1043
367
BOARD OF HEALTH
dogs, from a total of 1453 dogs licensed in the Town, were inoculated at a cost to the Town of 50 cents per dog.
The Board wishes to emphasize the importance of licensing the dog on April 1st, having the dog inoculated against Rabies at the Free Clinic sponsored by the Board of Health, and in the case of a dog bite, determining the ownership of the dog involved in the case of biting. By co-operating with this suggestion the cost to the Town in treating cases of dog bites, as required by law, is greatly reduced. In 1939 twelve persons were given the Antirabic treatment as contrasted with eleven in 1938. Average cost per treatment of $22.28.
DENTAL CLINIC. This service was continued as in former years. (A detailed report of its activities appears on a following page.)
SPY POND AND THE RESERVOIR. At the request of this Board, the State Department of Public Health ex- amined these waters and this examination showed both bodies of water to be safe for bathing purposes. Under the supervision of the Board of Health, these waters were treated once during the year with Copper Sulphate to con- trol the growth of Green Algae.
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL DISPOSAL. One of the greatest problems presented within the Town is the disposal of rubbish and combustible material. This Board is firmly convinced that incinerating these wastes is the only solution to this problem because suitable locations for maintaining an open dump within the Town are no longer available.
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