USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1890 > Part 16
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SECT. 3. Said Inspector, shall, as soon as convenient after his appointment, make and thereafter keep in his office, a map showing the location of all wires over, in, or laid under the streets and other public places and over build- ings of the said city, and a record of the names of the owner or owners of each and all said wires.
6
82
REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SECT. 4. Said Inspector, shall, when so required by the mayor or aldermen, examine every application for the erection of any wires, or poles or posts for the support thereof, in or over any street or public place or for conduits under any street or public place for such wire, and shall report to them any facts which in his opinion bear upon the question of granting or refusing to grant such application.
SECT. 5. Said Inspector shall have the charge and control of the erection and maintainence of all wires owned by the city, including the fire-alarm telegraph and police electric signal and telephonic systems, and of the posts and other supports therefor now erected or owned, or hereafter erected by the city. He shall purchase and set up all the wires, posts, supports, and all the dynamos, machinery, and other electrical appliances required by the city in all departments, and shall see that all the said wires, posts, machinery and appliances are maintained and kept at all times in good order and condition.
SECT. 6. No telegraph, telephone, nor electric line shall be erected nor maintained until the owner thereof shall file with the mayor and aldermen a written agreement accepting and promising to abide by and perform all the conditions and provisions of this ordinance, and all orders, rules, regulations, and amendmends hereafter made in ad- dition thereto.
SECT. 7. All writings and authority for the erection of telegraph, telephone, and electric lines shall be sub- ject to the right of the mayor and aldermen to permit other lines upon the same posts ; but this shall not prevent a reasonable compensation therefor.
SECT. 8. On streets where curbstones are set, all posts shall be erected in the sidewalk, within and adjoining the curbstones ; and where there are no curbstones, the posts shall be so erected as not to interfere with the gutters. No post
83
ELECTRIC WIRE ORDINANCE.
shall be erected within fifteen feet of any hydrant, nor so as interfere with any water-pipe, shade-tree, driveway or inter- section of street.
SECT. 9. All posts for telegraph, telephone and electric lines shall be straight, properly trimmed and painted, shall not be less than twenty feet in height from the ground, shall be of iron, cedar, chestnut, or hard pine, and, if of wood, not less than six inches in diameter at the smaller end, and eight to ten inches in diameter at the ground. Such posts shall be properly set in the ground to the depth of at least five feet. Wherever any wire shall cross any street or way, it shall be at a height not less than twenty-five feet above such street or way, and be protected by guards, and, where practi- cable, cross at right angles.
SECT. 10. All wires for the transmission of electricity for lighting and motive-power, excepting the wires used by a street-railway company for the transmission of its motive power, shall at all times be so insulated as to resist abrasion and heat, and be impervious to water. When placed above the surface of the ground, such wires shall be suspended upon posts ; and, wherever in proximity to other wires, dead guard-wires must be placed so as to prevent any possibility of contact with foreign wires. This rule must be applied to both arc and incandescent wires. When any such wire shall be broken, or its insulation become imperfect, the electric current shall forthwith be discontinued, and the wire not used until properly repaired and insulated.
SECT. 11. Wires for the transmission of electricity for lighting and motive-power shall be secured to insulating fastenings of glass, hard rubber, or other approved insulating material. All tie-wire shall be insulating in the same manner as conducting wire. All joints in wire shall be securely made, and where possible soldered, and wrapped with insulating material that will resist heat and abrasion,
84
REPORT OF CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
and be impervious to water. Continuous wires, without joints, shall be used as far as possible.
SECT. 12. Wires for the transmission of electricity for lighting and motive-power, passing through the exterior walls of buildings, shall be firmly incased in substantial tubes of non-conducting material not liable to absorb moisture, and so placed as to prevent water from entering the building along the wire. Outgoing and returning wires for arc-lights shall enter and leave buildings at points one foot at least from each other; those for incandescent lights shall so enter and leave buildings at points at least three inches from each other. In running along outside walls, cornices, and the like, all such wires shall be rigidly fastened by non-conduct- ing fastenings; and where' carried over or attached to buildings, must be at least seven feet above the highest point of flat roofs, and one and a half feet above pitch roofs, and placed so as to avoid ladders of Fire Departments. They should not be run over or attached to buildings, other than those desiring light and power. In the interior of buildings, all such wires shall be so placed as not to come in contact with iron pipes, posts nor girders, nor in any way so as to form other circuits or ground connections. In passing through floors, or partitions, or walls, they shall be sur- rounded by an insulating tube of substantial material, to protect them from injury by rats and mice. All inside wires must be so placed as to be easily and thoroughly inspected. Whenever such wires enter a building, a cut-out of simple form and construction shall be provided, and properly at- tached as near as possible to such entrance.
SECT. 13. The frame and exposed parts of all arc- lamps shall be insulated from the circuit. All such lamps shall be provided with a separate hand-switch, and also with an automatic switch which will close the circuit whenever the carbons do not approach each other, or the resistance becomes excessive. Arc-lamps must be provided with some
85
ELECTRIC WIRE ORDINANCE.
arrangement to prevent the lower carbon from falling out, in case the lamp does not hold them securely. For inside use, the globes must rest in a tight stand, that no particles of melted copper or heated carbon can escape. Converters on alternating circuits must be outside of buildings, and must be placed high enough from roof to prevent possible injury to firemen.
SECT. 14. For incandescent lamps, the conducting wire leading to each building and branch circuit shall be provided with an automatic switch or cut-out, or its equivalent, capable of protecting the system from injury by an excessive current of electricity.
SECT. 15. All light and power circuits shall be entirely of metal. No gas, water, nor steam pipe, nor the earth, shall be used as a part of any such circuit.
SECT. 16. In case of fire, the Chief of the Fire De- partment shall have full power and authority to order and cause any electric wires to be cut or removed, and electric currents discontinued until the fire is extinguished.
SECT. 17. No wire for the transmission of electricity for lighting or motive power shall be attached to posts of the fire-alarm telegraph nor to the posts of any telegraph or telephone company upon which fire-alarm wires are placed, except by permission of the Inspector of Wires.
SECT. 18. Plans showing the proposed location of the wires and posts of any new circuit, shall be filed with and be subject to the approval of the Inspector of Wires.
SECT. 19. The ordinance relative to Telegraph, Tele- phone and Electric Light Lines, passed to be ordained and approved, December 27, 1886, be and is hereby repealed.
STATISTICS.
From January 1, 1890, to December 31, 1890.
Total alarms, (Bell) 41
Total alarms, (Verbal) .
10
Total alarms, (Telephone)
2
Total alarms, (Out of City)
1
Grand total, (All alarms)
54
Loss on Real Estate,
$23,321 00
Insurance paid on same, .
23,172 00
Loss on personal property,
20,970 00
Insurance paid on same, 18,763 00
Loss in excess of insurance, 2,291 00
Total insurance at risk on same,
115,000 00
Assessed value Real Estate, as above,
100,000 00
Assessed value, Real and Personal Property (in fire limits), . 37,000,000 00
Reservoir capacity, (gallons) .
15,000,000
Pumping engines capacity (gallons daily)
6,000,000
Total number hydrants, . 642
Total area of fire limits,
sq. miles 20
CITY OF NEWTON.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CITY ENGINEER,
FOR THE YEAR 1890.
y
BERTY AND UNJON
FOUNDED 1630.
3.
88 A CITY 18
UM
NONANT RPORATE
NEWTON UPPER FALLS : FANNING PRINTING CO. 1891.
OFFICERS OF CONTROLLING BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
Chief Executive Officer (ex officio). HIS HONOR THE MAYOR, HEMAN M. BURR.
Joint Standing Committee on Highways. ALDERMAN WILLIAM F. HARBACH, Chairman.
Water Board. FRANCIS A. DEWSON, President.
Joint Special Committee on Sewerage. ALDERMAN WILLIAM F. HARBACH, Chairman.
Joint Standing Committee on Assessors' Department. ALDERMAN WILLIAM F. HARBACH, Chairman.
Joint Standing Committee on Public Property. ALDERMAN LEWIS E. COFFIN, Chairman.
Board of Health. HIS HONOR THE MAYOR, HEMAN M. BURR, President (ex-officio.)
Joint Standing Committee on Public Parks, Squares and Burial Grounds.
ALDERMAN GEORGE PETTEE, Chairman.
CITY ENGINEER'S DEPARTMENT.
City Engineer. ALBERT F. NOYES.
Principal Assistant Engineers.
FRED. H. BARNES.
HENRY D. WOODS.
Assistant Engineers.
I. W. HASTINGS. WILLIAM P. MORSE. DAVID HINCKLEY.
Transitmen and Levellers.
FRANK W. UPHAM. HENRY E. D. JEFFERSON.
Rodmen.
G. A. HARRIS. DANA LIBBEY. CHARLES TEMPERLEY.
H. H. APPLIN. ERNEST HARVEY. HERVEY A. HANSCOM. GEORGE O. HASTINGS.
Draughtsmen.
ALFRED O. DOANE. FRED. C. MOORE.
Stenographer. STELLA J. VOSE.
REPORT.
CITY ENGINEER'S OFFICE, CITY HALL, - WEST NEWTON, MASS., Dec. 31st, 1890.
To the Honorable City Council :
GENTLEMEN .- In compliance with Section 5 of Ordi- nance No. 9, I herewith respectfully submit the annual report of the City Engineer's Department for the year 1890.
Amount appropriation for the year, . $8,050 00
Amount of additional appropriation, 850 00
Total appropriation, $8,900 00
Amount expended, .
8,892 10
Balance unexpended, . $7 90
Classification of Expenditures.
For salaries of City Engineer, assistants, draughtsmen, rodmen, and stenographer, . For car fares and other incidental office ex- penses, . .
$6,784 95
337 53
For exchange of horses, .
275 00
For care and keeping of horses, wagons, etc., 748 99
For instruments and repairs, . 585 44
For drawing paper and other supplies,
160 19
Total amount,
$8,892 10
8
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
The item of salaries of City Engineer and assistants may be divided as follows :
For defining street lines ; making surveys and maps ; the examination of titles and draughting of reports, orders and releases for street widening, acceptance, and exten- sions ; office records ; defining and estab- lishing proposed grades of streets ; pre- paring specifications for the construction of new streets ; surveys, plans, profiles and estimates for proposed work on high- ways, and for all work relating to high- ways, ยท For clerical work in keeping highway accounts, For establishing lines and grades for extension of water pipe, locating and measuring ser- vice pipes, and for all work relating to water works,
For making surveys and maps ; the examination of titles, establishing ownership lines, and draughting orders for taking of lands upon Charles River, in Needham and Newton ; making plans, diagrams, specifications, surveys and levels for the construction of the new filtering conduit ; superintending the construction of the same, making plans, diagrams, specifications and contract for new pumping engine and boilers, and for all work relating to additional water supply, 1,106 28
$1,690 82 577 88
614 52
Amount carried forward,
$3,989 50
9
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURES.
Amount brought forward,
$3,989 50
For making surveys and contour maps of land taken for a reservoir upon Waban Hill ; the examination of titles for the same, making plans, diagrams, estimates, calcula- tions, specifications and contract and superintending the construction of the covered reservoir, and for all work relating to the covered reservoir upon Waban Hill, 202 10 For making surveys, maps, profiles, estimates, designs, calculations and reports and for all work relating to the designing of a system of sewers, 948 76
For making surveys, plans, calculations and for all work relating to the Assessors' Depart- ment, . 503 88
For defining the lines and grades for the con- struction of drains and culverts, making preliminary surveys, plans, profiles, dia- grams, estimates, calculations and all work relating to drains, .
448 36
For copying all Newton plans at registry of deeds and indexing the same; and for all indexing of other plans, deeds, field work, etc.,
193 46
For defining the lines, surveys and plans of city property, and for all work under the direc- tion of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Property, 188 02
For plans, estimates, reports, correspondence, superintendence of work as ordered, and for all work relating to Board of Health, . 144 24
Amount carried forward,
$6,618 32
10
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
Amount brought forward, $6,618 32
For defining the lines, grading, making surveys and plans of the various present and pro- posed parks ; and for all work under the di- rection of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Parks, Squares and Burial Grounds, 96 99
For surveys and plans for numbering the houses on the various streets of the city, and for all work relating to the same, . 69 64
Total amount, $6,784 95
Surveys have been made of the whole or part of sixty- four streets, covering a length of eighteen and twenty-six hundredths miles. Surveys have been made of one and sixteen hundredths miles of location of the Boston & Albany railroad ; six and fifteen hundredths miles of the Charles river; and eighteen and fifty-four hundredths miles of divi- sion lines, making a total of forty-four and eleven hundredths miles of survey lines. Three hundred and sixty-eight plans, profiles and tracings have been made. Levels have been taken over the whole or a part of one hundred and thirty- one streets or brooks, a total length of twenty-nine and twenty-eight hundredths miles. Lines have been established on sixty-seven streets, and grades on ninety-eight streets. The total length of grades given was ten and five hundredths miles. The total number of plans, profiles, tracings, etc., now in the office is 3,621.
The minimum number of assistants employed during the past year is ten, average number seventeen, and the maximum number nineteen.
Upon the following named streets, plans and profiles have been made, lines and grades defined ; titles and bounda- ries of the abutting estates examined ; reports, orders and releases drawn ; and said streets have been laid out and accepted by the City Council.
11
ROUTINE WORK.
Streets Accented in 1890.
STREET.
From
To
Width in Feet.
Length in Feet.
Bacon, .
Washington St. .
Pearl St.
30
418
*Beach, .
At Court St.
Chestnut,
Boylston St.
Circuit Railroad.
41.25
2,566
Clyde,
Walnut St.
Gay St.
40
1,081
Hunnewell Ave.,
Washington St. .
Hunnewell Ter. .
48
225
Hunnewell Ave.,
Hunnewell Ter.
Copley St.
40
911
Hunnewell Ter.,
St. James St. .
Hunnewell Ave. .
48
917
Total,
1.16 miles,
.
or
6,118
* Widened. + Re-located.
The routine work of the office, the system of accounts, the copying and indexing of all Newton plans at the registry of deeds, also all private plans attainable has been continued as outlined in previous reports.
Surveys were made, levels taken and contour maps and plans of the playground at Newton Centre made, also such consultations as the committee of the improvement society desired, have been rendered.
Under the direction of this department, a contour map of the almshouse property on Beacon street, together with the adjacent properties upon the south side of Moffatt's hill, prepared by McClintock and Woodfall, civil engineers of Boston, and this plan has been submitted by the Committee on Public Property to Mr. F. L. Olmstead the well known landscape architect for a study of the most judicious and artistic development.
A survey and plan were made of the new almshouse property on Winchester street, also a contour map for deter- mining the location of the new buildings.
Batter boards. levels and other information have been furnished for the engine house at Newton Highlands, the
12
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
new schoolhouse at Waban and the police patrol station at West Newton, also upon a number of minor matters.
The City Engineer has attended to such consultation work as has been requested of him by the Board of Health, and has furnished the Board with estimates, reports, plans, etc., and has superintended such work as has been ordered.
The low land lying in the rear of the corner of Auburn- dale avenue, River and Elm streets, which has been a source of complaint for a long time was drained by opening and lowering the ditch crossing Oak avenue, and lowering the ditch in the rear of the property on Webster park. This work was done by order of the Board of Health. At request of the Board estimates were made for draining the lands in the rear of the old cemetery at West Newton, both through Cherry street and through Henshaw street. An appropriate estimate has been made for this work, and it will be carried out next year.
Although the City Engineer has numbered the houses upon a large number of streets, and especially in the postal district of Newton, in accordance with the order of the Board of Aldermen, complaint has been received from the postal authorities that but a small proportion of the citizens have availed themselves of the system. This department will designate the proper numbers to any one making application therefor. A more general compliance with the ordinance would greatly aid not only strangers, but the postal delivery.
Surveys have been made, levels taken and lines and grades for the laying of water mains have been established on fifty streets, covering a total length of 18,280 feet. There have been located 272 services and renewals laid during the year.
A more extensive description of the work done upon the highways, water works, sewerage system and block system of plans for the Assessors will appear later under their respec- tive heads.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
Highway Surveyors and Joint Standing Committee on Highways.
ALDERMAN WILLIAM F. HARBACH, Chairman.
ALDERMAN GEORGE PETTEE.
ALDERMAN LEWIS E. COFFIN. COUNCILMAN ARTHUR F. LUKE.
COUNCILMAN WILLIAM C. BATES. COUNCILMAN GEORGE F. CHURCHILL. COUNCILMAN FRANCIS E. PORTER.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. Superintendent of Streets.
*WILLIAM E. FULLER, to August 27th, 1890.
CHARLES W. ROSS, from Dec. 8th, 1890.
Assistant Superintendents of Streets.
GEORGE E. STUART, WARDS 1, 2 and 7.
fJOHN J. WARE, WARDS 3 AND 4, to Sept 27th, 1890. CHARLES L. BERRY, WARDS 3 AND 4, from Dec. 31, 1890. CHARLES A. PECK, WARDS 5 AND 6.
City Engineer. ALBERT F. NOYES.
* Deceased. | Resigned.
HIGHWAYS.
During the year the Joint Standing Committee on Highways has had under its management the repairs, building and rebuilding of streets, drains, culverts, bridges, sidewalks, etc., the gravel lands and the watering of the streets.
The following changes were made in the membership of the Highway Surveyors and the Joint Standing Committee on Highways: Alderman Coffin and Councilmen Bates, Churchill and Porter succeeded Alderman Chadwick and Councilmen Moody, Rice and Hamblen, retired.
After a short and sudden illness, William E. Fuller, superintendent of streets, died August 27th, 1890, thus closing a long term of faithful, efficient and conscientious service to the city as superintendent and previous thereto as assistant superintendent. Mr. Charles W. Ross, formerly assistant superintendent at Newton Cemetery was appointed to fill the vacancy, December 8th, 1890.
While the vacancy existed the work of the superinten- dent was conducted by the chairman, Alderman William H. Harbach and the City Engineer. During the latter part of the year, John J. Ware, assistant superintendent of streets in charge of Wards 3 and 4, was confined to his house by sick- ness, and the position was temporarily filled by Thomas Stuart. Mr. Ware's resignation was presented September 27th, and December 31st Mr. Charles L. Berry was appointed as his successor. Mr. Ware was highway commis-
16
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
sioner from the time the highway department was organized under the town government up to the establishment of the city government, and has held the position of assistant superintendent since that time.
The machinery of the department has been under the care of the engineer, William Kent.
A ring horse roller, weighing 4,300 pounds, has been purchased for light work.
For a long time it has been necessary to maintain a night watchman at the Murray street ledge, to protect the large amount of property belonging to the city located there, and it was decided as a matter of economy to build a dwelling house at the ledge. This house was built by S. D. Garey & English, at an expense of $1,200, and is occupied by the engineer, Mr. Kent.
Curbing was set upon both sides of Richardson street for a greater portion of its length; the sidewalks were also repaired. This work and the work upon the roadbed leaves this street in fine condition.
The work upon the Morse Field drainage was com- menced early in the year, and the drains were laid in Emerson, Pearl, North School, Thornton, Waban, Hovey and Centre streets, thereby completing the long-needed drainage of the accepted streets of this district.
The drainage of Waverley avenue was brought through Church street to the Eldridge street drain, and a branch laid through the west side of Kenrick park to Franklin and Park streets. The Lincoln street drain was extended to Tappan place, and through Bowdoin street to Erie avenue.
A drain was laid in Chestnut street, from the Boston & Albany railroad to Highland street to remove ground water from the road bed, and also by means of catch basins to intercept the surface flow, and prevent washing away the road surface, caused by the water running a long distance upon the steep hill.
17
HIGHWAYS.
On Grant avenue, it was necessary to go to a depth of seventeen feet in order to pass under the Sudbury river con- duit. It was thought best at the same time to lay the water and sewer pipes through the culvert under the conduit and thereby save future expense. The manhole built here is double, being intended to be used for the sewer and the drain.
A drain was laid from the culvert at the cemetery on Walnut street to the Sudbury river conduit, connecting with an old drain at that point, and relieving the owners of adja- cent land from flowage. A part of this drain was laid upon a timber foundation on account of the excessive depth of muck.
The principal streets which have been repaired during the year are Homer, Walnut and Washington streets and Waverly avenue.
A large amount of work has been performed under widening, reconstruction and improvement, which will more fully appear in the table relating thereto.
The contract for constructing tar concrete sidewalks and street crossings was awarded to Messrs. Simpson Brothers of Boston and Newton, at the following prices, the sidewalks and roadbeds being graded and prepared by the highway de- partment. In the construction of new sidewalks, one-half of the cost is paid directly to the contractor by the abuttors.
Sidewalks, new, 70 cts. per square yard, one-half paid by the abuttors.
Sidewalks, two layers, 47 cts. per square yard.
Sidewalks, skim coat, 37 1-2 cts. per square yard. Street Crossings, new, $1.00 per square yard.
The mileage of concrete sidewalks and street crossings in the several wards is as follows :
2
18
REPORT OF CITY ENGINEER.
Ward 1,
7.18 miles.
2,
8.68
66
66 3,
5.76 66
66
4,
.
5.71
66
66
5,
3.98
66
6,
7.65 66
66
7,
9.12 66
Total, .
48.08
Curbing.
Amount appropriated by order of the City Council for the year 1890,
$4,000 00
Amount transferred to appropriation for drains and culverts, . $600 00
Amount transferred to appropriation for highways and general re- pairs,
300 00
900 00
Total appropriation, . $3,100 00 Total amount expended as per superintendent's and assistant superintendents' record of work, 2,964 04
Balance unexpended,
$135 96
The following table shows the number of linear feet, kind and cost of curbing which has been laid :
19
HIGHWAYS.
STREETS.
Wards.
Linear feet of Straight Curbing.
Linear feet of Curved Curbing.
Total Length of Curbing.
Cost.
Arlington and Belmont,
7
12.60
10.46 28.79 65.16
23.06 28.79
$20.13 34.74 403.90
Curbing to private
70.00
70.00
31.58
parties,
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