ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
City Engineer
BOSTON
FOR THE YEAR 1907
Compliments of
City Engineer.
BOSTON
Municipal Printing Office
, „ 1008
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
CITY ENGINEER
BOSTON
FOR THE YEAR 1907
tL^__*;
BOSTON
Municipal Printing Office
1Q08
b4-!.^t
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908.
Engineering Department, City Hall,
Boston, February 1, 1908.
Hon. George A. Hibbard,
Mayor of the City of Boston :
Sir, — The following report of the expenses and operation
of this department for the year ending January 31, 1908, is
submitted :
The duties of the City Engineer include the designing and
superintending of the construction of new bridges, retaining
walls, city wharves, and such other public engineering works
as the City Council may authorize; the making of such sur-
vey plans, estimates, statements and descriptions, and taking
such levels as the City Government or any of its departments
or committees may require; the custody of all surveys and
plans relating to the laying out, locating anew, altering,
widening or discontinuing of streets, and the new engineer-
ing construction for all departments of the city. He shall be
consulted on all work where the advice of a civil engineer
would be of service. The office of the City Engineer was
established by ordinance on October 31, 1850, and by chapter
449 of the Acts of 1895.
2 City Document No. 17.
The follo"^dng is a statement of engineering expenses from
February 1, 1907, to January 31, 1908:
Amount of department appropriation for 1907-
1908 . . ".
Revenue
Total
Amount expended for 1907-1908 . . . .
Unexpended balance . . . .
882,000 00
254 00
$82,254 00
82,240 35
S13 65
Statement of Expenditures, Department Appropriation.
(Auditor's Report, page 54.)
Salaries :
Engineer, William Jackson . . $6,000 00
Assistant Engineer, draughtsmen
and assistants .... 68,298 30
TraveUng expenses .
Instruments, tools and repairs
Exchange of automobile, repairs,
storage ....
Stationery ....
Telephone ser\dce
Printing ....
Books and papers
Blue printing and photographing
Binding and plans
Washing and smaU suppHes
Horse-keeping .
Typewriting
Furniture and office expenses
Messenger service
Carting ....
supphes
and
74,298
30
1,963
59
1,349
46
1,341
23
697
46
559
05
475
70
345
94
330
84
309
21
230
00
186
92
60
70
56
38
32
72
2
85
$82,240 35
Abolishment of Grade Crossings.
Congress Street.
Expenditures from February 1, 1907, to January 31, 1908:
Items of expenditure:
Land taking $95,187 83
Expert ser\'ices .... 945 62
Auditing 50 00
$96,183 45
Expended previous to 1907 1,575,827 91
$1,672,011 36
Engineering Department.
Dudley Street.
Expenditures from February 1, 1907, to January 31, 1908:
Items of expenditure:
Land damages
Apprizal services ,
Inspection
Engineering .
Auditing .
Relocating water pipes
Expended previous to 1907
$163,400 00
• 1,302
00
1,120
00
146
50
110
00
20
45
$166,098
OfJ
yo
17,755
00
$183,853 95
East Boston.
Expenditures from February 1, 1907, to January 31, 1908:
Items of expenditure:
Paving, fences, etc
Land damages
Relocating water pipes
Fire-engine house No. 40
Engineering .
Apprizal services .
Inspection
Saratoga-street sewer
Advertising
Printing .
Expended previous to 1907
$47,849 87
20,150 00
17,284
5,548
4,510
3,868
1,550
231
72
28
09
21
76
00
00
78
86
09
$101,093 66
262,064 36
$363,158 02
Atlantic-avenue Bridge.
Expenditures from February 1, 1907, to January 31, 1908:
Items of expenditure:
Draw span
$14,094 60
Draw machinery .
11,798 89
Engineering
3,430 87
Paving, fences, etc.
2,952 81
Painting
2,086 57
Drawtenders' house
1,269 08
Inspection
892 50
Roadway gates
519 45
Building concrete wall
469 94
Abutment wall
86 35
Advertising .
2 50
Expended previous to 1907
$37,603 56
500,012 40
$537,615 96
City Document No. 17.
Brookline-street Bridge.
Expenditures from February 1, 1907, to January 31, 1908:
Items of expenditure:
Land taking (widening Essex
street) $10,023 31
Pile and trestle work
Apprizal services .
Lighting
Surfacing Essex street
Expended previous to 1907
133 34
100 00
10 64
2 00
$10,269 29
124,509 59
$134,778 88
Northern Avenue and Sleeper Street,
1907, to January 31, 1908:
Expenditures from February 1
Items of expenditure:
Draw span and spans 1, 2 and 3 .
Sea wall at dock No. 1
Draw foundation and South BoS'
ton abutment . . . ,
Flooring draw span and spans 1,
2 and 3 . .
Piers and abutments
Engineering .
Paving, fences, etc
Inspection
Rent of office
Advertising
Printing .
Telephone
Expended previous to 1907
Bridges.
The annual inspection of all highway and footbridges has
been made, together with special examinations when notified
by the Superintendent of Bridges of the progress of repairs.
The management of all the bridges and draws between
Cambridge and Boston, by the Acts of 1898, chapter 467, is
vested in a board of two commissioners, which has charge of
the following seven bridges, viz.: Brookline street, Cam-
bridge, Cambridge street. Harvard, North Harvard street,
Prison Point and Western avenue to Cambridge; one-half
$105,995 06
40,837
10
20,856
88
15,477
24
15,329
87
12,502
64
11,666
89
2,704
01
412
75
162
83
130
52
48
83
$226,124 62
339,093 99
$565,218 61
Engineering Department. 5
the cost of the mamtenance of these bridges is paid by each
of these cities.
Two bridges have been removed during the year, West
Boston temporary bridge and WilHams-street bridge.
In the hst of bridges those marked with a star (*) are over
navigable waters, and are each provided with a draw, the
openings of which are shown in a table in Appendix A.
I. — Bridges wholly Supported by Boston.
Agassiz road, m the Fens.
Allston bridge, over Boston & Albany R.R., Brighton.
Arborway bridge, in Arborway, over Stony brook.
Ashland street, over Providence Division, N. Y., N. H. & H.
R.R., West Roxbury.
Athens street, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
* Atlantic avenue, over Fort Point channel.
Audubon road, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Baker street, at Brook farm. West Roxbury.
Beacon street, over outlet to the Fens,
Beacon street, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Bennington street, over Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R.R.,
East Boston.
Berkeley street, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Bernier-street footbridge, in the Riverway.
Berwick-park footbridge, over Providence Division, N. Y.,
N. H. & H. R.R.
Blakemore street, over Providence Division, N. Y., N. H. &
H. R.R., West Roxbury.
Bolton street, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
Boylston street, in the Fens.
Boylston street, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Bridle path, over Muddy river, in the Riverway.
* Broadway, over Fort Point channel.
Broadway, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Brookline avenue, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Brooks street, over Brooks street, Brighton.
Byron street, over Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R.R.
* Castle Island footbridge, from Marine park. South Boston,
to Castle Island.
Charlesgate, over Boston & Albany R.R., in the Fens.
Charlesgate, over Ipswich street, in the Fens.
* Charlestown bridge, from Boston to Charlestown.
* Chelsea bridge. South, over South channel. Mystic river.
* Chelsea street, from East Boston to Chelsea.
Circuit drive, over Scarboro' pond, in Franklin park.
6 City Document No. 17.
Columbia road, over Old Colony Division, N. Y., N. H. & H.
R.R.
Columbia road, over Shoreham street.
Columbus avenue, over Boston & Albany R.R.
* Commercial point, or Tenean, Dorchester.
Commonwealth avenue, in the Fens.
* Congress street, over Fort Point channel.
Cottage Farm bridge, over Boston & Albany R.R., Brighton.
Cottage-street footbridge, over flats. East Boston.
Dartmouth street, over Boston & Albany R.R. and Providence
Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
* Dorchester avenue, over Fort Point channel.
* Dover street, over Fort Point channel.
Ellicott arch, in Franklin park.
Elmwood street, over Stony brook.
Fen bridge, in the Fens.
Ferdinand street, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Florence street, over Stony brook.
Forest Hills entrance, in Franklin park.
Gainsborough-street footbridge, over Providence Division,
N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
Gold street, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
Huntington avenue, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Hyde Park avenue, over Stony brook.
Ipswich street, over Waterway, in the Fens.
Irvington-street footbridge, over Providence Division, N. Y.,
N. H. & H. R.R.
Keyes street, over Stony brook.
* L street, over Reserved channel. South Boston.
Leverett-pond footbridge, in Leverett park.
Linden Park street, over Stony brook.
* Maiden bridge, from Charlestown to Everett.
Massachusetts avenue, over Boston & Albany R.R.
Massachusetts avenue, over Providence Division, N. Y., N. H.
& H. R.R.
* Meridian street, from East Boston to Chelsea.
* Mount Washington avenue, over Fort Point channel.
Neptune road, over Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R.R.
Newton street, over Providence Division, N. Y., N. H. & H.
R.R.
Public Garden footbridge.
Scarboro'-pond footbridge, in Franklin park.
Shawmut avenue, over Boston & Albany R.R. and Provi-
dence Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
Southampton street, east of Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. &
H. R.R.
Engineering Department. 7
•'^Southampton street, west of Midland Division, N. Y., N, H.
& H. R.R.
Summer street, over A street, South Boston.
Summer street, over B street. South Boston.
Summer street, over C street, South Boston.
* Summer street, over Fort Point channel.
* Warren bridge, Boston to Charlestown.
West Rutland-square footbridge, over Providence Division,
N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
Winthrop bridge, from Breed's Island to Winthrop.
Wood Island park footbridge, over Boston, Revere Beach &
Lynn R.R.
II. — Bridges of which Boston Supports the Part
Within its Limits.
Bellevue street, over Muddy river, in the Riverway.
Bernier-street footbridge, over Muddy river, in the Riverway.
Brookline avenue, over Muddy river, in the Riverway.
Central avenue, from Dorchester to Milton.
* Chelsea bridge. North, over North channel. Mystic river.
* Granite bridge, from Dorchester to Milton.
Huntington avenue, over Muddy river, in the Riverway.
Longwood avenue, over Muddy river, in the Riverway, and
over Boston & Albany R.R.
Milton bridge, from Dorchester to Milton.
* Neponset bridge, from Dorchester to Quincy.
* North Beacon street, from Brighton to Watertown.
Spring street, from West Roxbury to Dedham.
* Western avenue, from Brighton to Watertown.
III. — Bridges of which Boston Pays a Part of the
Cost of Maintenance.
Albany street, over Boston & Albany R.R. freight tracks.
Ashmont street and Dorchester avenue, over Old Colony
Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
Austin street, over Boston & Maine R.R,, Charlestown.
Bennington street, over Boston & Albany R.R., East Boston.
Blue Hill avenue, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. & H.
R.R., Mattapan.
Boston street, over Old Colony Division, N. Y., N. H. & H.
R.R.
Brookline street, from Brighton to Cambridge.
Cambridge bridge, from Boston to Cambridge.
* Cambridge street, from Brighton to Cambridge.
8 City Document No. 17.
Cambridge street, over Boston & Maine and Boston & Albany
Railroads.
Chelsea bridge, over Boston & Maine R.R., Charlestown.
Curtis street, over Boston & Albany R.R., East Boston.
Dorchester avenue, over Old Colony Division, N. Y., N. H. &
H. R.R.
Everett street, over Boston & Albany R.R., Brighton.
* Harvard bridge, from Boston to Cambridge.
Harvard street, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. & H.
R.R., Dorchester.
Maverick street, over Boston & Albany R.R., East Boston.
Norfolk street, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.,
near Dorchester station.
Norfolk street, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.,
near Mattapan station.
* North Harvard street, from Brighton to Cambridge.
Oakland street, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.,
Mattapan.
Perkins street, over Boston & Mame and Boston & Albany
Railroads, Charlestown.
Porter street, over Boston & Albany R.R., East Boston.
Prescott street, over Boston & Albany R.R., East Boston.
* Prison Point bridge, Charlestown to Cambridge.
Saratoga street, over Boston & Albany R.R., East Boston.
Southampton street, over Old Colony Division, N. Y., N. H. &
H. R.R.
Summer street, over freight tracks, N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
West Fourth street, over Old Colony Division, N. Y., N. H.
& H. R.R., South Boston.
* Western avenue, from Brighton to Cangibridge.
IV. — Bridges Supported by Railroad Corporations.
1st. — Boston & Albany R.R.
Albany street, over passenger tracks.
Harrison avenue.
Market street, Brighton.
Tremont street.
Washington street.
2d. — Boston & Maine and Boston & Albany Railroads.
Main street, Charlestown.
Mystic avenue, Charlestown.
3d. — Boston & Maine R.R., Eastern Division.
Wauwatosa avenue. East Boston.
Engineering Depaetment. 9
4th. — Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R.R.
Everett street, East Boston.
5th. — New York, New Haven & Hartford R.R., Midland
Division.
Broadway.
Dorchester avenue.
Fifth street.
Fourth street.
Morton street, Dorchester.
Second street.
Silver street.
Sixth street.
Third street.
Washington street, Dorchester.
6th. — New York, New Haven & Hartford R.R., Old Colony
Division.
Adams street.
Cedar Grove Cemetery.
Freeport street.
Medway street.
Savin Hill avenue.
7th. — New York, New Haven & Hartford R.R., Providence
Division.
Albany street.
Baker street, West Roxbury.
Beech street. West Roxbury.
Bellevue street. West Roxbury.
Berkeley street.
Broadway.
Canterbury street, West Roxbury.
Castle square.
Centre and Mt. Vernon streets. West Roxbury.
Columbus avenue.
Dartmouth street.
Dudley avenue. West Roxbury.
Gardner street. West Roxbury.
Harrison avenue.
Park street, West Roxbury.
Washington street.
10 City Document No. 17.
V. — Bkidge Supported by the Metropolitan Park
Commission.
Mattapan bridge, Dorchester to Milton.
VI. — Bridge Supported by the Charles River Basin
Commission.
* Craigie temporary bridge.
Recapitulation of Bridges.
I. Number wholly supported by Boston ... 78
II. Number of which Boston supports that part
within its limits 13
III. Number of which Boston pays a part of the cost
of maintenance 30
IV. Number supported by railroad corporations :
1. Boston & Albany R.R 5
2. Boston & Maine and Boston & Albany Railroads, 2
3. Boston & Maine, Eastern Division .... 1
4. Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R.R. ... 1
5. N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R., Midland Division . . 10
6. N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R., Old Colony Division . 5
7. N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R., Providence Division . 16
V. Number supported by the Metropolitan Park
Commission 1
VI. Number supported by Charles River Basin Com-
mission 1
Total i63
Agassiz-road Bridge (in the Fens).
This bridge was built in 1887, of brick and stone masonry.
It is maintained by the Park Department, and is in good
condition.
Albany-street Bridge {over the Boston & Albany R.R. Freight
Tracks) .
The original structure was built in 1856-57, and rebuilt
in 1867-68. The present bridge was built in 1886-87, and
is maintained in part by the City of Boston and in part by
the Boston & Albany R.R. New railings have been built
during the past year. The flooring of this bridge is in poor
condition and should be renewed at once. The connections
Engineering Department. 11
of floor beams to trusses are badly corroded and should be
strengthened. The stringer seats should also be repaired
and the whole bridge cleaned and painted.
Allston Bridge (over the Boston & Albany R.R., Brighton).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1892. The ironwork above
the floor should be cleaned and painted and the sidewalk
planking and boxing about the bottom chords should be
renewed.
Arborway Bridge (over Stony brook, in Arborway, near Forest
Hills Station) .
This is a wooden bridge resting on abutments of vulcan-
ized spruce piles. The stringers and under planking are of
vulcanized hard pine. When this bridge was built, in 1893,
it was assumed that within ten years the channel of Stony
brook would be improved at this point, and a temporary
structure w^as all that was deemed necessary. Some of the
piles are now badly decayed and the tops of the stringers
are poor. The bridge should be repaired unless the proposed
improvements are to be made at once. The bridge is main-
tained by the Park Department.
Ashland-street Bridge (over Providence Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R., West Roxbury).
The present structure is of iron, and was built in 1875.
With the exception of the fences the bridge is in fair condi-
tion. The recommendation made last year is renewed, that
the fences be rebuilt this season.
Ashmont-street and Dorchester-avenue Bridge (over Old Colony
Division, New York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is a wooden bridge formerly maintained by the rail-
road company. It was lengthened on the Boston side in
1895, and now the city maintains 75 feet of the northerly
part. The bridge has been repaired and is now in fair
condition.
Athens-street Bridge (over Midland Division, New York, New
Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1874. The sidewalk has
been patched. The sidewalk planking and deck planking
should be renewed and the bridge painted.
12 City Document No. 17.
Atlantic-avenue Bridge {over Fort Point Channel).
(See page 43.)
Auduhon-road Bridge (over the Boston & Albany R.R.).
This is a steel plate girder bridge, built in 1893-94, and is
maintained by the Park Department. The sidewalk plank-
ing should be renewed and some of the roadway stringers
should be replaced. The ironwork should be cleaned and
painted at the same time.
Austin-street Bridge (over Boston & Maine R.R., Charlestown) .
This is a steel plate girder deck bridge with steel floor
beams supporting a wooden flooring, built under the decree
of the Superior Court abolishing the Austin-street grade
crossing. It was built in 1903-07 by the Boston & Maine
Railroad Company, and is over the railroad location. The
bridge has fourteen spans resting on stone piers; it is 50 feet
wide and has one 10-foot plank sidewalk and a roadway,
39 feet wide, paved with stone blocks. Part of this bridge
was opened to travel May 6, 1903, being connected to the
Cambridge end by temporary structures. The entire bridge
was opened to travel September 17, 1907. The bridge was
painted last year. The surface of the bridge is maintained
by the city, the remainder by the railroad company.
Baker-street Bridge (at Brook Farm, West Roxhury).
This is a wooden stringer bridge of about 15 feet span.
It is in fair condition.
Beacon-street Bridge (over Outlet of the Fens).
This bridge was built in 1880-81, and had, up to 1901, a
wooden floor for the roadway. At the latter date a new
floor was built, consisting of 18-inch steel I-beams encased in
Portland cement concrete, and the roadway was paved with
hard pine blocks, treated by the creo-resinate process. The
bridge is now in good condition.
Beacon-street Bridge (over Boston & Albany R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1884-85, widened in 1887-88,
and the central roadway further widened in 1890 for the con-
venience and at the expense of the street railway company.
Attention has been called for several years to the Condition
Engineering Department. 13
of this bridge, especially below the flooring. The ironwork
below the floor is very rusty and should be cleaned so as to
determine how much its strength has been reduced. The
wooden flooring is badly decayed and should be renewed at
once. It is recommended that the work on this bridge be
done this season.
Bellevue-street Bridge (over Muddy River in Riverway).
This is a segmental masonry arch of 44 feet span and 15
feet rise. It was built in 1893 by the Park Departments of
Boston and Brookline, and is maintained jointly by them.
Bennington-street Bridge (over Boston & Albany R.R., East
Boston).
This is a steel plate girder bridge built by the railroad
company in 1906 under the decree of the Superior Court
abolishing the grade crossings in East Boston. The surface
of the bridge is maintained by the city, and the rest of the
structure by. the railroad company. It is in good condition.
Bennington-street Bridge (over Boston, Revere Beach &
Lynn R.R.).
This bridge is made up of two independent parts; the old
part is of iron, built in 1889; the new part is of steel, built
in 1902. The bridge should be painted, the boxing at the
girder of the south roadway should be renewed and the
deck planking needs repairing.
Berkeley-street Bridge (over Boston & Albany R.R. and
Providence Division, New York, New Haven & Hartford
R.R.).
The bridge over the tracks of the Boston & Albany R.R.,
which is maintained by the city, was originally built for the
Boston Water Power Company, and accepted by the city in
1869. The present structure over these tracks is a thi'ough
plate girder bridge, and was built in 1891. Some of the wood-
work should be renewed and the whole bridge cleaned and
painted. At the time this work is done the floor beams
should be carefully examined.
The bridge over the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
was built in 1899, and is maintained by that company. Dur-
ing the past year a new floor has been laid and the bridge
painted.
14 City Document No. 17.
Bernier-street Footbridge {over Bridle Path in Riverway).^"^
This is a semi-circular masonry arch of 38 feet 4 inches
span. It was built in 1893, and is maintained by the Park
Department.
Bernier-street Footbridge {over Muddy River) I
This is a segmental masonry arch of 52 feet span and 14
feet rise. It was built in 1893 by the Park Departments of
Boston and Brookline and is maintained jointly by them.
Berimck-park Footbridge {over Providence Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is an iron footbridge, erected in 1894. The iron stairs
and piers were new, but the trusses and floor beams were
those built for Franklin street in 1883. The planking is thin
and should be renewed and the whole bridge painted,
Blakemore-street Bridge {over Providence Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1881-82. New lower plank-
ing should be put in and the whole bridge should be cleaned
and painted.
Blue Hill^avenue Bridge {over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is a steel bridge built by the N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
in 1903, and is over the railroad location. The surface of the
bridge is maintained by the city, the remainder by the railroad
company. The steel work is very rusty in places, and the
bridge should be painted, otherwise it is in good condition.
Bolton-street Bridge {over Midland Division, New York, New
Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is a wooden bridge, originally built in 1889 and rebuilt
in 1905. It is in good condition, except the fencing which has
been cut.
Boston-street Bridge {over Old Colony Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is a plate girder bridge, built in 1900, in connection
with the abolishment of the grade crossing on Dorchester
Engineering Department, 15
avenue. The surface of the bridge is maintained by the city
and the rest of the structure by the railroad company. The
south sidewalk and the boxing around the girders need repair-
ing, otherwise the bridge is in good condition.
Boylston-street Arch Bridge {in the Fens).
This is a stone arch bridge, built in 1881. It is in good con-
dition, with the exception of coping, which should be repointed
without further delay.
Boylston-street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1886-88. In 1906 the Boston
Elevated Railway Company received permission to strengthen
it to carry heavier cars. At each side of the bridge this com-
pany inserted a truss between the city trusses, provided
eleven new floor beams at mid-panel points, and thus arranged
to support a strip of floor to include its tracks and extend
nearly from parapet to parapet. This structure was built in
the fall of 1907. The loads carried by it are completely sepa-
rated from the loads carried by the city bridge, and the
trusses of one bridge, with the portions of floor carried by it,
are perfectly free to deflect independently of the other bridge.
The steel of the old bridge beneath the floor, seldom painted
on account of difficulty of access, and almost constantly ex-
posed to locomotive fumes, had rusted very badly. When
the floor was removed to erect the Elevated Railway bridge
this deterioration was found even worse than expected. It
was also necessary to temporarily cut apart the metal work
of the old structure to some extent, still further weakening
it. Therefore the idea of again putting the old structure into
service was abandoned, and the bridge was ordered closed to
team travel as unsafe until rebuilt. The Boston Elevated
Railway Company laid a strip of temporary floor, partly on its
permanent floor beams and partly on temporary I-beams,
fenced it off. from the unfloored roadways, and began running
cars. The sidewalks were opened to foot travel. The bridge
was in this condition at the date of this report. An appropria-
tion of sixty thousand dollars is recommended to rebuild that
portion of the bridge which was built in 1888.
Bridle-path Bridge {over Muddy River in the Riverway).
This is a masonry bridge of three arches; the central arch
is elliptical in form, with a span of 30 feet and a rise of 9
feet 6 inches; the side arches are semicircular, 15 feet in
16 City Document No. 17.
diameter. It was built in 1894, and is maintained by the
Park Department. It is in good condition.
Broadway Bridge (over Fort Point Channel).
The draw was built in 1874-75 and the supports for the
draw landings are iron columns. The rest of the bridge is
built of steel on masonry piers, and was rebuilt in 1901-04.
The steel work over Foundry street, the plate girders, the
roadway gates and part of the fencing should be painted.
Some of the track and wheels below the draw need renewal
and the planking on the pier, waterway and the boxing at
the trusses need repairing, otherwise the bridge is in good
condition.
Broadway Bridge (over Boston & Albany R.R.).
The old bridge, built in 1880-81, was replaced in 1900 by
the present bridge. The whole bridge should be cleaned and
painted, new sidewalks built, new lower planking laid and
portions of the fences repaired.
Brookline-avenue Bridge (over Boston & Albany R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1884. The railings will
need painting next year, otherwise the bridge is now in good
condition.
Brookline-avenue Bridge (over Muddy River in the Riverway).
This is a semicircular masonry arch of 15 feet span. It
was built in 1892 by the Park Departments of Boston and
Brookline, and is maintained by them jointly.
Brookline-street Bridge (from Brighton to Cambridge).
This is a wooden trestle bridge, built on a pile foundation
in 1906, and is in care of the Commissioners for Boston and
Cambridge Bridges, and the city pays one-half the cost of
maintenance.
Brooks-street Bridge (near Faneuil Station, Brighton).
This is a steel bridge, with a concrete and asphalt floor,
built in 1902. The bridge should be painted, and the road-
way surface should be repaired.
Engineering Department. 17
Byron-street Bridge {over Boston, Revere Beach &
Lynn R.R.).
This is a wooden bridge, built in 1889; it needs a general
overhauling.
Cambridge Bridge (from Boston to Cambridge).
The new bridge was completed in the fall of 1907, the
formal dedication having taken place July 31. Since
December 21, 1907, the bridge has been maintained by the
Commissioners of the Boston and Cambridge Bridges, and
the city pays one-half of the cost of maintenance. The
structure is in good condition.
Cambridge-street Bridge (from Brighton to Cambridge).
This is a wooden pile bridge with a wooden leaf draw.
The Boston end was rebuilt in 1884. The draw, sidewalk on
Boston end and the Cambridge end of the bridge were rebuilt
in 1890. The bridge is in the care of the Commissioners for
the Boston and Cambridge Bridges, and the city pays
one-half the cost of maintenance. The bridge is in poor
condition, and needs extensive repairing. The waterways
need replanking, especially under the Boston leaf of the
draw, where the piling needs additional securing; some
of the piles are in poor condition, and need renewal; the
deck planking on the Boston side has been repaired in spots
many times, and should be entirely renewed and additional
stringers added; one draw arm needs renewal; the fender
guards need repairing. The support to the drawtender's
house needs strengthening, and a boat should be provided.
The channel cap and several stringers resting upon it on the
Cambridge side need renewal.
Cambridge-street Bridge (over Boston & Maine and
Boston & Albany Railroads, Charlestown).
This is a steel bridge of four spans, built in 1901 by the
Boston & Maine R.R. The surface is maintained by the
city, the remainder by the railroad company. The bridge
needs painting and some of the sidewalk planking needs
renewal.
Castle Island Footbridge (from Marine Park to Castle Island).
This is a temporary footbridge, built in 1892, and is main-
tained by the Park Department. It connects the Marine
18 City Document No. 17.
Park with Castle Island, and is furnished with a draw, so
that if desired by the United States authorities the island
can be cut off from the mainland. The planking has been
repaired. The bridge should be painted; otherwise the
bridge is "in fair condition.
Central-avenue Bridge {over Neponset River, Dorchester
Lower Mills).
This is an iron bridge, and was built in 1876. The city
maintains the part within its limits. The sidewalks have
been replanked. The fences need painting, and some of the
roadway stringers need renewal.
Charlesgate Bridge (over Boston & Albany R.R., in the Fens).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1881-82, and is maintained
by the Park Department. The railings need painting, and
some slight repairing should be done at the end of one of
them.
Charlesgate Bridge {over Ipswich street, in the Fens).
This is a deck plate girder bridge with a buckle plate floor,
built in 1900-01. The roadway is paved with asphalt and
the sidewalks with artificial stone. The bridge should be
painted and the ornamental railings repaired.
Charlestown Bridge {from Boston to Charlestown).
This bridge was opened to public travel November 27,
1899, and superseded the old Charles River bridge, which
was built in 1785-86.
The present bridge over the river consists of ten spans of
the deck-plate type, each 85 feet long, and a swing or turn-
table draw 240 feet 6 inches long.
The bridges over Water street and over the railroad tracks
each consist of two spans of steel I-beams, with brick arches
turned between the beams.
The entire bridge and the drawtenders' house should be
painted, the floor of the draw repaired and new dolphins
provided.
Chelsea Bridge {over Boston & Maine R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built by the Boston & Maine Rail-
road Company in 1894, and is over the railroad location.
The surface of the bridge is maintained by the city, the
remainder by the railroad company. The wheel guard is too
Engineeking Department. 19
low and narrow; the fences and sidewalk planking need
repairing, and the bridge needs painting; some of the track
stringers begin to show decay ,Vjtherwise the bridge is in
good condition.
Chelsea Bridge, North {over North Channel, Mystic River).
The city maintains the part within its limits. The original
structure was built in 1802-03. The piles under the main
bridge were driven in 1880. The upper part of the bridge,
the draw and draw foundations were built in 1895. The
draw way was widened to 60 feet in 1900, the draw founda-
tion being enlarged, the draw lengthened and the draw piers
built. The fender guard has been repaired, some of the piling
has been strengthened, and ordinary repairs have been made.
The sidewalk and roadway planking on the draw need re-
newal and some stringers should be added. The draw should
be furnished with new machinery; an additional bearing
should be provided at the skew end; the sides of the water-
way need extensive repairing; the entire bridge should be
painted ; the track stringers and the fences should be repaired ;
the old fender guards are in poor condition.
Chelsea Bridge, South (over South Channel, Mystic River).
This is a pile bridge with an iron draw. The original
bridge was built in 1802-03. The piles of the present bridge
were driven and the draw was built in 1877. That part of
the bridge above the girder caps was rebuilt at a higher grade,
and the draw was raised in 1895. Repairs are needed on the
track and draw rest. Where- the rebuilding of 1895 joins the
old work repairs are needed on both sides of the bridge,
otherwise the bridge is in fair condition.
Chelsea-street Bridge (from East Boston to Chelsea).
This is a wooden pile bridge with an iron swing draw. The
original bridge was built in 1834; was rebuilt in 1848, 1873,
and again in 1894-95. The planking on the pier and on the
sidewalk of the main bridge should be renewed, and an
electric motor should be installed for operating the draw.
Circuit-drive Bridge {over Scarhoro' Pond, in Franklin Park).
This is an elliptical masonry arch of 30 feet span and 6
feet 3 inches rise. It was built in 1893, and is maintained
by the Park Department.
20 City Document No. 17.
C olumhia-road Bridge {over Old Colony Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is a deck plate girder bridge of two equal spans, one
over the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R., and the other
over Old Colony avenue, and was built in 1902. The road-
way is paved with Canton brick, cement grout joints, and
laid on hard pine planking. The sidewalks have an asphalt
wearing surface, and although they were laid only four years
ago they are now badly cracked and should be put in good
condition. The whole bridge should be painted next year.
C olumhia-road Bridge {over Shoreham street).
This bridge was built in 1902. It is a two-span steel-
beam structure, with brick and concrete arches turned be-
tween the beams; the roadway is paved with Canton brick,
laid with cement grout joints. The sidewalk is of artificial
stone. The bridge should be painted, otherwise it is in good
condition.
Columbus-avenue Bridges {over Boston & Albany R.R., and
Providence Division, New York, New Haven <& Hart-
ford R.R.).
The bridge over the Boston & Albany R.R. was built in
1876-77, and is maintained by the city. In 1899 the bridge
was shortened 11 feet at its south end, and a pier built in
place of the old south abutment. The sidewalks have been
repaired during the past year and the bridge is now in fair
condition.
The bridge over the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R.
was built in 1899, and is maintained by that company.
Commercial Point or Tenean Bridge {Dorchester).
This is a wooden pile bridge with a wooden leaf draw.
The piles were driven in 1875. The draw and upper part of
the bridge was rebuilt in 1901. The deck planking on the
main bridge has been renewed and the bridge is in good
condition.
Commonwealth-avenue Bridge {in the Fens).
This is an iron bridge, and was built in 1881-82. It is in
good condition, with the exception of the paint; the whole
bridge should be painted. It is maintained by the Park
Department.
Engineering Department. 21
Congress-street Bridge (over Fort Point Channel).
This is a wooden pile bridge, with an iron turntable draw,
on a stone foundation, and was built in 1874-75. The
upper part of the bridge and the upper part of the pier are in
very poor condition and should be rebuilt as soon as Northern-
avenue bridge is opened to travel. The track should be
renewed.
Cottage-farm Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R., Brighton).
The present bridge was built in 1895-96. With the excep-
tion of the plate girders on the outside lines of the bridge,
and some special construction under the sidewalks, the
superstructure is composed of 20-inch steel beams, filled
between with brick arches and Portland cement concrete, on
which is a wearing surface of Sicilian rock asphalt. The
bridge is in good condition.
Cottage-street Footbridge {over flats, East Boston).
This is a wooden pile bridge, built in 1889, for foot travel.
It was extensively repaired in 1905. As the filling at the
southerly end of the bridge has been carried out for quite a
distance, part of the bridge should be removed. The sheath-
ing needs repairing and the fences should be painted.
Craigie Temporary Bridge.
This is a wooden pile bridge, built by the Charles River
Basin Commission to accommodate travel during the con-
struction of the Charles River Dam. It was opened to travel
July 2, 1905. It is in the care of the commission and is in
good condition.
Curtis-street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R., East Boston).
This is a tlii'ough steel plate girder bridge, built by the
railroad company in 1906 under the decree of the Superior
Court abolishing the grade crossings in East Boston. It was
opened to travel December 29, 1906. The surface of the
bridge is maintained by the city and the rest of the structure
by the railroad company. The bridge is in good condition.
Dartmouth-street Bridges {over Boston & Albany R.R. and
Providence Division, New York, New Haven & Hart-
ford R.R.).
The bridge over the Boston & Albany R.R. was built
in 1878-79, and is maintained by the city. Very extensive
22 City Document No. 17.
changes were made in this bridge in 1889 by the railroad
companies, necessitated by the new location of the tracks of
the N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R. leading to the South Station and
the abandoning of the tracks connecting this road with the
Boston & Albany R.R. The lower planking and stringers of
roadway have been repaired during the year and considerable
painting done below the floor. The bridge is now in fair
condition. The bridge over the tracks of the N. Y., N. H.
& H. R.R. was built in 1899, and is maintained by the railroad
company. The asphalt surface at its northerly end is poor.
Dorchester-avenue Bridge {over Fort Point Channel).
This is a wooden pile bridge, with a double retractile iron
draw, and was rebuilt in 1891-92. The bridge should be
painted, more stiffeners should be placed on the draw. The
sidewalk planking and a few curb stringers on the draw should
be renewed, the sills and planking on the wharves and piers
need renewal, and additional supports are needed under the
house; some of the spur-shores have begun to decay, and
should be refitted; the waterway should be repaired; the
wreckage among the piling should be removed.
Dorchester-avenue Bridge (over Old Colony Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.) .
This is a steel bridge, built in 1900, over the new location
of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R. The surface of the bridge is
maintained by the city and the rest of the structure by the
railroad company. The deck planking, sidewalk planking
and boxing around the girders need repairing, otherwise the
bridge is in good condition.
Dover-street Bridge (over Fort Point Channel).
This was originally a wooden pile bridge, built in 1805,
rebuilt in 1858-59, and again in 1876. In 1893-94, upon
the abolition of the grade crossing of the Old Colony R.R.,
the present iron structure, resting on masonry piers, was
built. Two shelter houses for pedestrians have been built
on the bridge, and miscellaneous repairs made. The side-
walk planking on the draw needs renewal ; the bridge should
be painted; some new track is needed for the draw; the rack
should be realigned in order that the draw may be reversed;
the concrete of the draw foundation pier should be repaired
and the other piers should be repointed; the planking on
the wharves should be repaired.
Engineering Department. 23
Ellicott-arch Bridge (in Franklin Park).
This is a semicircular masonry arch of 17 feet 6 inches
span. It was built in 1889, and is maintained by the Park
Department.
Elmwood-street Bridge {over Stony Brook).
This is a wooden stringer bridge of about 16 feet span.
It is expected that a new masonry structure will be built
during the coming year in connection with the improvements
of Stony brook.
Everett-street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R., Brighton).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1891 by the Boston & Albany
Railroad Company. The bridge should be thoroughly
cleaned and painted, and the flooring of the roadway and
sidewalks should be renewed at once.
Fen Bridge {in the Fens) .
This bridge was built in 1891-93. It is in good condition.
Ferdinand-street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1892. In 1899 this bridge
was shortened about three feet at its southerly end, and the
old south abutment replaced by a brick pier. The bridge is
in good condition, except the sidewalks and fences which
should be rebuilt. When the sidewalks are rebuilt the
stringer seats should be strengthened.
Florence-street Bridge {over Stony Brook).
This is a wooden stringer bridge of about 15 feet span, and
is in fair condition.
Forest Hills Entrance Bridge {in Franklin Park).
This bridge was built in 1894-95. It is maintained by
the Park Department, and is in good condition.
Gainsborough-street Footbridge {over Providence Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is an iron footbridge, erected in 1904. It should be
painted.
24 City Document No. 17.
Gold-street Bridge {over Midland Division, New York, New
Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This bridge was built in 1895, replacing a footbridge which
was built in 1890; the sidewalk planking should be renewed;
the bridge should be painted and the walls need some point-
ing, otherwise the bridge is in good condition.
Granite Bridge (from Dorchester to Milton).
This is a wooden pile bridge, with a wooden leaf draw.
The city maintains the part within its limits. The bridge
was originally built in 1837. One draw arm and the stringers
in the section next the draw way have been renewed and the
draw and adjoining bay have been replanked. The remain-
ing part of the bridge is in poor condition and should be
rebuilt, and the abutments should be repaired.
Harvard Bridge (from Boston to Cambridge).
This is an iron bridge with an iron turntable draw, and
was built in 1887-91. This bridge is in the care of two com-
missioners, one appointed from Boston and one from Cam-
bridge, and the expense of maintenance is borne equally by
each city.
The roadway of the fixed spans was repaired in 1901-02
and a wooden block paving laid. In 1905 the asphalt walks
were replaced by 3-inch hard pine and the railings were
painted. The roadway stringers on the draw span and the
lower planking are in very bad condition. The stringers are
those put in when the bridge was built, and only a small
amount of patching has been done to the lower planking.
Attention has been called to the condition of the floor for
several years, and now it has reached a state where it is not
safe for the heavy loads which pass over it. It is recom-
mended that a new deck be put on at once. The masonry
piers should be repointed and the fender pier replanked.
The entire bridge should be painted.
Harvard-street Bridge ' (over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R., Dorchester).
This is a steel bridge, built in 1904 under an agreement
between the city and the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad Com-
pany. It needs painting, and is otherwise in good condition.
Huntington-avenue Bridge (over Boston & Albany R.R.).
This is an iron bridge. It was built in 1872, and in 1876-77
the abutments were rebuilt and the bridge widened by the
Engineering Department. 25
addition of two new girders. In 1896, in consequence of
changes in the grade of the avenue, the floor was entirely
rebuilt and new girders added for supporting the water pipes.
This is one of the oldest bridges in the city, and its condition
is such that it cannot longer be considered safe for the heavy
traffic that is liable to come upon it. It should be rebuilt at
once.
Huntington-avenue Bridge {over Muddy River).
This is a semicircular masonry arch of 15 feet span. It
was built in 1893, and is maintained by the Park Depart-
ments of Boston and Brookline.
Hyde Park-avenue Bridge {over Stony Brook).
This is a stringer bridge of 19 feet 9 inches clear span,
measured at right angles, and was built in 1904. The road-
way stringers are hard pine timber; those under street rail-
way tracks are 16 inches by 20 inches, and all others are
8 inches by 16 inches. The lower planking of roadway is
4-inch hard pine and the wearing surface is 2-inch spruce.
The sidewalk planking is 3-inch spruce. The bridge is in
good condition.
Ipswich-street Bridge {over Waterway in the Fens).
The bridge was built in 1898, and is in good condition,
except the railings, which should be painted.
Irvington-street Footbridge {over Providence Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is an iron footbridge, and was built in 1892. The
flooring is thin and should be renewed this year. The whole
bridge should be cleaned and painted, and at the time this
is done the steel work should be carefully examined, and
any parts that may have become weakened by rusting should
be renewed. ,
Keyes-street Bridge {over Stony Brook).
This is a wooden stringer bridge of about 15 feet span
With slight repairs it can be kept safe for travel until the
improvements to the brook render a bridge at this point
unnecessary.
L-street Bridge {over Reserved Channel, South Boston).
This is a wooden pile bridge with an iron retractile draw.
It was built in 1892. Some of the piling in the fender guard
26 City Document No. 17.
and under the 6-foot walk needs renewal; the bridge should
be painted ; the draw should be redecked ; the planking on the
waterways, piers and wharves needs repairing; additional
stringers are needed near the engine house, and the asphalt
walks need repairing.
Leverett-pond Footbridge (in Lever ett Park).
This is a segmental masonry arch of 24 feet span and 5 feet
5 inches rise. It was built in 1894, and is maintained by the
Park Department.
Linden Park-street Bridge {over Stony Brook).
This is a wooden bridge, built in 1886, and at that time
was considered a ''temporary" structure. The timber in the
trusses and floor beams is now badly decayed, and the bridge
cannot now be considered safe for heavy loads. It should
be closed to travel without further delay, and the building
of the masonry structure at this point begun at once.
Longwood-avenue Bridge {over Muddy River and Boston &
Albany R.R.).
The original wooden structure was built in 1857, and
rebuilt in 1877. The present masonry arches were erected
in 1899 by the Park Departments of Boston and Brookline,
and are maintained jointly by them.
Maiden Bridge {from Charlestown to Everett).
This is a wooden pile bridge, with a retractile steel draw, and
was rebuilt in 1900-01. The bridge has been strengthened by
the Boston Elevated Railway Company for carrying heavier
cars, additional wooden stringers being placed from below, and
some steel work was done on the draw, and ordinary repairs
have been made; the planking on the draw needs renewal,
and about 50 feet of fence should be built on the wing of the
abutment at the Charlestown end. The lower part of draw
and track foundation needs painting, some of the paving at
Everett end of bridge needs attention, and the walks need
resurfacing. The bridge is otherwise in good condition.
Massachusetts-avenue Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1876. The bridge is not
safe for heavy street cars, and should be rebuilt at once. ,
Engineering Department. 27
Massachusetts-avenue Bridge {over Providence Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1876. The woodwork was
renewed in 1901, and the ironwork cleaned and painted.
The roadways carrying street cars have been strengthened
during the year by the Boston Elevated Railway Company.
The other roadway and the sidewalks should have new floors,
and the whole bridge painted.
Mattapan Bridge {Jrom Dorchester to Milton).
This is a three-arch bridge of Melan construction, with
granite facing. It was built in 1902 by the Metropolitan
Park Commission, and is maintained by it. The arches are
semicircular, two spans being 14 feet and one 50 feet; the
bridge has one 56-foot roadway and two 12-foot sidewalks.
It is in good condition.
Maverick-street Bridge {over the Boston & Albany R.R., East
Boston).
This is a through steel-plate girder bridge, built by the
railroad company in 1906 under the decree of the Superior
Court abolishing the grade crossings in East Boston. It was
opened to travel last summer. The surface of the bridge is
maintained by the city and the rest of the structure by the
railroad company. It is in good condition.
Meridian-street Bridge {from East Boston to Chelsea).
This is a wooden pile bridge, with a wooden turntable
draw on a pile foundation. The original structure was built
in 1858. It was rebuilt soon afterwards, and was widened
and rebuilt in 1884, excepting the draw, which was built in
1875-76. The chords of the draw were rebuilt in 1896. The
main part of the bridge was strengthened for the use of
heavy electrics in 1906, and the draw was repaired and strength-
ened last year. The planking on the pier has been repaired
and some work has been done on the waterways. The road-
way planking, the waterways and the pier are in poor condi-
tion, and the fences should be repaired and painted.
Milton Bridge {from Dorchester to Milton).
The city maintains the part within its limits. The original
structure is very old. It was widened in 1871-72. The
28 City Document No. 17.
older part of this bridge was built of stone, and the widening
is an iron structure on stone columns. The westerly side-
walk was rebuilt on new iron girders and floor beams in
1900. The bridge should be painted, and the sidewalk
planking on the down-stream side of the bridge should be
renewed in part, the fascia needs repairing and one of the cap-
stones over the first waterway is cracked.
Mt. Washington-avenue Bridge {over Fort Point Channel).
This is a wooden pile bridge with an iron draw. It was
built in 1854, and rebuilt in 1870-71. It has been closed
to travel since the summer of 1904.
Neponset Bridge (from Dorchester to Quincy).
The city maintains the part within its limits. The original
structure was built in 1802, and the present one in 1877;
the draw and upper woodwork of the bridge and piers are in
poor condition ; the draw is too heavy to be raised by hand,
and it should be replaced by a turntable draw.
Neptune-road Bridge (over Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1887-88, and is maintained
by the Park Department. The roadway has been redecked,
and some of the ironwork below has been painted. The
sidewalk planking needs patching, and the bridge should be
painted.
Newton-street Bridge (over Providence Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1872, It was cleaned and
painted in 1902 and a new deck put on. The fences are
poor and the angle seats for the roadway stringers are badly
corroded. A careful examination should be made of this
bridge at an early date to ascertain how much longer it can
be safely continued in service.
Norfolk-street Bridge (over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R., near Dorchester Station).
This is a steel bridge, built in 1905 under an agreement
between the city and the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad Com-
pany. The bridge should be painted and the adjoining tem-
porary fences should be replaced by permanent ones. The
bridge is in good condition.
Engineering Department. 29
Norfolk-street Bridge {over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R., near Mattapan Station).
This is a through lattice girder bridge, and was built by
the railroad company in 1902. The surface of the bridge is
maintained by the city, and the rest of the structure by the
railroad company. The sidewalk planking needs repairing,
otherwise the bridge is in good condition.
North Beacon-street Bridge (from Brighton to Watertown).
The city maintains the part within its limits. This is a
wooden pile bridge with a wooden leaf draw. The original
structure was built in 1822, and the present one in 1884.
The bridge is in poor condition. It should be rebuilt without
a draw.
North Harvard-street Bridge (from Brighton to Cambridge).
This bridge was originally builtan 1662, and was rebuilt,
except the piling, in 1879; the draw was built in 1891. The
bridge is in the care of the Commissioners for the Boston
and Cambridge Bridges; the city pays one-half the cost of
maintenance. The bridge is in poor condition, and should
be rebuilt and replaced by a wider structure, more in keeping
with the improvements recently made in the vicinity.
Oakland-street Bridge (over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is a new steel plate girder bridge, built by the railroad
company in 1902 under the decree of the Superior Court
abolishing the grade crossing at this point. The surface of
the bridge is maintained by the city and the rest of the
structure by the railroad company. The bridge should be
painted and the sidewalk planking renewed.
Perkins-street Footbridge (over the Boston & Maine R.R. and
Boston & Albany R.R. in Charlestown).
This bridge was built in 1900, and opened to travel Feb-
ruary 2, 1901; it has two spans of wooden stringers and one
of steel Pratt trusses. The surface is maintained by the
city, the rest of the structure by the railroad companies.
The slate steps are badly worn and the painting is in poor
condition, otherwise the bridge is in good condition.
30 City Document No. 17.
Porter-street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R., East Boston).
This is a new through steel truss bridge, built in 1906-07
by the railroad company under the decree of the Superior
Court abolishing grade crossings in East Boston. It was
opened to travel in the fall. The surface of the bridge is
maintained by the city and the rest of the structure by the
railroad company. (See page 46.)
Prescott-street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R., East
Boston).
This is a new through steel plate girder bridge, built by
the railroad company in 1906-07 under the decree of the
Superior Court abolishing grade crossings in East Boston.
The surface of the bridge is maintained by the city and the
rest of the structure by the railroad company. (See page 46.)
Prison-point Bridge {from Charlestown to Cambridge).
This is a new bridge over Miller's river and includes the
draw and its landings. The length between the adjoining
stone piers is 171.4 feet. The draw is built of steel plate
girders with steel floor beams and a wooden floor; it is a
swing draw 167.25 feet long and 50 feet wide, having a 10-foot
sidewalk and a 39-foot roadway; it is operated by elec-
tricity and was opened to travel September 17, 1907. It
was built by the Boston & Maine R.R. The operation of the
draw is in the care of the Commissioners for the Boston and
Cambridge Bridges, the city paying one-half the cost.
Public Garden Footbridge.
This is an iron bridge and was built in 1867. It should
have a new floor put on this season and such of the stringers
as may be found in poor condition should be replaced with
new ones.
Saratoga-street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R.R., East
Boston).
This is a new through steel truss bridge, built last year by
the railroad company under the decree of the Superior Court
abolishing grade crossings in East Boston. It was opened
to all travel September 6. The surface of the bridge is main-
tained by the city and the rest of the structure by the railroad
company. (See page 46.)
Engineering Department. 31
Scarhoro'-pond Footbridge {in Franklin Park).
This is an elliptical masonry arch of 40 feet span and 8 feet
3 inches rise. It was built in 1893, and is maintained by the
Park Department.
Shawmut-avenue Bridge (over Boston & Albany R.R. and
Providence Division, New York, New Haven & Hartford
R.R.).
The original bridge built in 1871 was removed and a new
through plate girder bridge erected in 1904. The bridge is
in good condition, but should be painted next year.
Southampton-street Bridges {over South Bay Sluices).
These are wooden bridges, built in 1875 as temporary
structures. The westerly bridge is now being filled solid.
The easterly bridge is in poor condition and should be rebuilt.
Southampton-street Bridge {over Old Colony Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is a steel plate girder bridge, built in 1901-02. The
surface is maintained by the city, the rest of the structure by
the railroad company. The deck planking and boxing around
the girders neecl repairing, otherwise it is in good condition.
Spring-street Bridge {from West Roxbury to Dedham).
This is a stone bridge. The city maintains the part within
its limits. The piers and arches were pointed in 1905, and
granite copings, surmounted by iron railings, built on both
sides of the bridge. The part within the city's limits is now
in good condition, but the railings should be painted next
season.
Summer-street Bridges {over A, B and C Streets).
These bridges were built in connection with the abolition
of the grade crossing on Congress street, and were opened to
travel in 1900. The bridge over A street is a steel deck plate
girder structure, with a paved roadway of granite blocks and
asphalt sidewalks.
The bridge over B street is a through plate girder structure,
with a paved roadway of granite blocks and asphalt side-
walks.
32 City Document No. 17.
The bridge over C street is a two-span steel-beam structure,
with brick and concrete arches turned between the beams;
the roadway is paved with granite blocks and the sidewalks
with asphalt.
These bridges are all in good condition now, with the excep-
tion of the paint ; they should all be painted at once.
Summer-street Bridge {over Fort Point Channel).
This bridge was built in 1899-1900, in connection with the
abolition of the grade crossing on Congress street. It is a
four-span deck plate girder bridge, resting on masonry piers,
with two retractile draws, over a 50-foot channel way. The
roadway of the fixed spans has a granite block paving, and
the sidewalks have asphalt wearing surfaces. The whole
structure is in good condition, but should be painted during
the year, and new lower deck laid on the draw spans.
Summer-street Bridge {over New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad Freight Tracks).
This bridge was built in 1900, in connection with the
abolition of the grade crossing on Congress street, and is
maintained by the city and the railroad company, the former
maintaining the wearing surface and the latter maintaining
the rest of the structure. It has four spans, consisting of
three through trusses each, and has a granite paved roadway
and asphalt sidewalks. The whole bridge should be painted
and new sidewalks laid or the present walks resurfaced.
Warren Bridge {from Boston to Charlestown).
This is a wooden pile bridge, with a double retractile iron
draw. The present structure was built in 1883-84. Half
the draw has been replanked, and miscellaneous repairs have
been made. The lower planking on half the draw should be
renewed ; some of the piles under the wharf are broken ; the
fender guards on the Charlestown side are in poor condition,
and repairs are needed on the deck planking of the main
bridge; the planking on the waterway, wharves and in draw
pit, need repairing; the landing shoes should be set; the
sidewalk on the westerly side of the bridge, city ends, should
be extended about twenty feet, and the concrete sidewalks
should be repaired ; the curb on the draw should be realigned,
and some of the fence posts need renewal.
Engineering Department. 33
West Fourth-street Bridge (over Old Colony Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
In 1893-94 the grade crossing of the Old Colony R.R. on
this street was abolished, and an iron bridge built, extending
from the end of Dover-street bridge, at the South Boston side
of Fort Point channel, to the easterly line of Foundry street.
The surface is maintained by the city, the rest of the structure
by the railroad company. The planking around the middle
trusses needs renewal, the bridge needs painting, and the
sidewalk plank needs patching.
West Rutland-square Footbridge {over Providence Division,
New York, New Haven & Hartford R.R.).
This is an iron footbridge, built in 1882. It is now in fair
condition, with the exception of the stair treads, which are
badly worn. The bridge should be painted this season.
Western-avenue Bridge (from Brighton to Cambridge).
The present bridge was built in 1879-80, and the draw in
1891. It is in the care of the Commissioners for the Boston
and Cambridge Bridges, and the city pays one-half the cost
of maintenance. The deck planking on the Cambridge side
needs renewing. The Boston end is in poor condition, some
of the piles and stringers need renewal, the draw needs adjust-
ing, the side beams need refastening, and the piers, fender
guards and waterways need repairing.
Western-avenue Bridge (Brighton to Watertown).
The city maintains the part within its limits. This is a
wooden pile bridge, with an iron draw, and was rebuilt in
1892-93. Only minor repairs have been made; the Boston
end of the draw should be raised; the draw should be ad-
justed, and the bearings under the ends of the girders should
be renewed ; the planking and cap sills on the piers and along
the waterways should be repaired; some of the spur shores
are broken and should be refitted ; the sidewalk planking and
deck planking on draw and main bridge need renewal, and
the bridge needs painting; some of the piles in the fender
guard are in poor condition.
Winthrop Bridge (from Breed's Island to Winthrop) .
This is a pile bridge without a draw. It was originally
built in 1839; it was rebuilt in 1851, and was extensively
34 City Document No. 17.
repaired in 1870 and has been repaired many times since.
The abutment at the Winthrop end needs pinning up, as
there has been some settlement; the bulkhead at the Boston
end, some of the outside bolsters and the roadway and side-
walk planking are in very poor condition. The waterway
should be partially filled, and the bridge should be rebuilt of
a shorter length.
Wood Island Park Footbridge.
This is a steel footbridge, built in 1898-99, and connects
Prescott street, East Boston, with Wood Island Park, span-
ning the tracks of the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R.R.
The walls need pointing; the bridge should be painted, as the
steel work is very rusty, and the plank needs repairing.
Bridges wholly Supported hy Railroad Corporations.
Morton-street bridge, over the Midland Division, N. Y.,
N. H. & H. R.R., has been redecked and the fences have been
rebuilt. Washington-street and Harrison-avenue bridges,
over the B. & A. R.R., are in poor condition and should
be rebuilt. The other highways bridges maintained by the
several railroad companies are in good or fair condition.
Engineering Department. 35
SURVEYING DIVISION.
The work of the Surveying Division during the past year
has consisted of the making of such surveys and plans as have
been required by the several city departments, and giving
lines and grades of public streets when requested by abutters
intending to build.
* Forty-nine petitions, requesting that catch-basins should
be constructed, were reported upon to the Sewer Department.
* Catch-basin locations were furnished the Sewer Depart-
ment for thirty-three streets, on request of the Superintendent
of Streets.
* On request of the Sewer Department, fifty plans of streets,
showing proposed locations of future catch-basins, were fur-
nished.
* For three East Boston streets, locations for catch-basins,
made necessary by the abolition of grade crossings, were fur-
nished the Sewer Department.
* Three hundred and forty-one catch-basins were staked
out and duplicate sketches showing locations and ties were
sent to the Sewer Department.
* Measurements have been obtained on one hundred and
twenty-three streets for the Sewer Department, for the
purpose of making Sewer assessments.
* One hundred and eighty plans of underground pipes, con-
duits, etc., were examined, and proposed future catch-basins
located for the Street Department.
Two hundred and sixteen notices of contracts to lay arti-
ficial stone sidewalks were received, examined and reported
upon to the Street Department. In 104 cases the Street
Department was notified that the existing edgestones should
be reset preparatory to the laying of artificial stone.
Fifty-two notices of the completion of artificial stone side-
walk repair work were received and reported upon to the
Street Department.
Nine petitions to make sidewalk openings for areas, bulk-
heads, etc., were received from the Street Department and
reported upon.
Ninety-one requests for edgestone were examined and
amount of curb required reported to the Street Department.
* This work was performed jointly by the Engineering and Street Laying-Out Depart-
ments.
36
City Document No. 17.
Grade heights were furnished engineers and architects for
estates on thirty-seven streets.
Nineteen plans of streets were made for sidewalk assess-
ments on request of the Street Department. Data was also
furnished the Street Department for sidewalk assessment on
six estates.
Seventeen hundred and thirty-seven orders were attended
to for the Street Department; these consisted of the staking
out new streets for construction, giving lines and grades for
repairs and reconstruction of old streets, testing lines and
grades after completion of work, and measuring the amount
of work performed and making plans showing quantities to
be assessed upon abutting owners.
Estimates for grade, land and building damages and cost
of construction were furnished the Street Commissioners on
thirty-nine streets.
The lines and grades of twenty-two streets, for which the
Street Commissioners were petitioned for authority to open
as private ways, were examined and reported upon.
Eleven miscellaneous reports were made to the Street
Department.
Eleven miscellaneous reports were made to the Sewer
Department.
The following table gives the comparative annual amounts
of paving work measured by the Surveying Division of the
Engineering Department for fourteen years :
Yeae Ending
January 31.
o a
6h
Square Yards
Block-stone
Paving and
Crossings.
a
II
cS ■» .
£§■>
C3 O 53
03
o3"E
CO
6
a
-Sco
2=
T3
>^H£
S 03 a
goo
m
1
1895
23,487
129,383
120,158
154,718
76,991
86,354
264,982
245,410
104,133
60,555
30,899
67,114
140,878
52,380
12,007
60,472
64,952
100,414
56,541
60,803
161,428
188,041
135,310
65,474
54,455
65,132
101,118
76,216
5,175
32,940
24,976
36,658
14,249
17,323
61,356
30,324
5,077
4,815
184
1,264
17,390
3,386
6,168
68,701
68,178
94,003
43,930
48,946
147,863
131,487
59,051
29,078
16,268
27,544
82,044
30,339
3,962
12,296
13,471
13,599
11,652
14,221
16,541
15,565
14,119
12,806
9,906
12,981
20,135
16,635
11,738
183
2,971
4,019
1,619
789
489
698
25
248
196
3,551
3,716
1,926
1,406
1896
1,297
1897
394
1898
27
1899
1900
16
1901
2,377
1902
1903
1904
62
1905
1906
1907
1908
Engineering Department.
37
Table showing the amount of paving work measured by the
Surveying Division for the year ending January 31, 1908, by
districts :
(Includes New and Old Work.)
Districts.
"^
^
ca
■£•13
*-5
< 3
•J^co
^
K
"S ^
^5
kC5
1%
c3 O
= 02
||
5aS
03 iS
3'S
3'S g
30
■^m
cua
cua ^
•i=W
*A
m
OQ
ij
m
>H(iH
crOn
0
0
CS
m C>
W
"S©
in a
S S
•H.2
0
go
0 t^
.2 0
3 03
J2 K
CTH
3W
02
0
3W
City Proper . . .
South Boston. .
East Boston. . .
Charlestown. . .
Roxbury
Dorchester ....
West Roxbury.
Brighton
Totals.
126
126
374
374
3,147
995
3,210
7,903
682
698
16,635
10,852
7,356
769
4,410
18,514
6,875
3,461
143
52,380
18,722
10,529
3,180
8,042
19,205
13,014
1,364
2,160
76,216
225
430
546
2,185
8,730
6,463
527
3,270
9,461
1,739
149
3,386
30,339
21
53
1,849
1,923
58
58
117
38
City Document No. 17.
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Engineering Department. 39.
Surveys and plans have been made for school purposes for
the taking of land on Tyler street, for the enlargement of the
Quincy School site; on Pleasant avenue, West Roxbury, an
addition to the Mt. Vernon School site; and on Holton street,
Ranleigh road and Hobart street, Brighton, an addition to
the Hobart-street Primary School site; also for new schools
in East Boston, on Chaucer, Pope and Moore streets, and in
Dorchester, on Pleasant street and on Savin Hill avenue.
A survey and plan have been made of the land on Mason
street, owned by the City of Boston and occupied by the
School Committee building and Engine No. 26.
A plan was made for the Park Department, showing land
proposed to be taken for a playground at East Boston, on
Bennington street.
Plans have been made for the Fire Department, for an
addition to Engine-house lot at Andrew square. South Bos-
ton, and of the laying out of a passageway in connection with
the engine-house lot on Harvard avenue, Brighton.
At the request of the Mayor, a plan of Fort Hill square has
been prepared, showing the relation of the ancient lines to the
modern development.
A plan has been made showing the changes in the streets on
Beacon Hill, occasioned by the extension of the State House
and laying out of Commonwealth park.
Petitions for the registration of land in the Land Court are
referred to the Mayor whenever the City of Boston is an
interested party.
These cases are examined by the Law Department and by
the Surveying Division of the Engineering Department for
the purpose of protecting the city's interests.
During the year fifty-five such cases have been investigated.
There were one hundred and forty-five accident and other
plans made for the Law Department.
In connection with the Surveying Division there have been
1,175 titles examined, 803 deeds and 274 plans copied from
the Registry of Deeds.
Thirty-two hundred and seventy-five blue prints have been
made during the year.
List of plans of takings for sewerage works filed during the
year ending February 1, 1908:
Roxbury.
Williams street. Plan showing taking in Willow park, from
Shawmut avenue westerly to a passageway, then in pas-
sageway to Williams street, rear of Westminster street.
40 City Document No. 17.
Stony hrook. Plan showing drainage area between Fenway
and Roxbury Crossing, scale 200; showing all the sewers
and surface drains, style, sizes, etc., for special commis-
sion on Stony brook.
Stony hrook. Plan and survey of original line of T. B. Moses'
survey of taking redefined, showing supposed encroach-
ments, etc., from Huntington avenue to Elmwood street.
West Roxbury.
Fairview street. Plan showing taking for an outlet to the
Fairview street and other sewers down the hill across
railroad to South-street sewer.
Hewlett street. Plan showing taking for the brook from Ros-
lindale playground to Robert street, thence to Belgrade-
avenue culvert.
Roslindale branch. Addition to original takings.
Brighton.
Shepard hrook. Plan showing taking for connection of cul-
vert across North Beacon street to the Wool pond.
The following sectional plans made under the Board of Sur-
vey Act have been refiled during the year :
T-82
T-96
W-50
X-52
V en ) Dorchester 10
X-70
X-71
X-72
X-73
O -28
O -29
O -33 *■ Brighton 6
O -34
O -48 .
2 Igo I West Roxbury 2
Total 18
Seven assessment plans were made for the Street Commis-
sioners.
Engineering Department.
41
Forty-two plans and profiles, representing a total length of
four and two-thirds miles, showing buildings, property own-
ers' names, established grades, areas of land taken, or to be
taken, for street widenings, relocations, or to be laid out, were
completed for the Street Laying-Out Department.
The following list gives the number of orders attended to
for property owners, builders and the various city depart-
ments from February 1, 1907, to February 1, 1908:
Street lines given
Street grades given .
Street Department .
* Sewer Department
Building Department
Public Buildings Department
Public Grounds Department
Law Department
Street Commissioners
Engineering Department .
Park Department
Police Department .
Schoolhouse Commission .
City Messenger Department
Cemetery Department
Sanitary Department
City Hospital Department
Water Department .
Board of Health
Mayor
454
243
1,737
697
12
8
1
200
216
175
7
12
14
2
5
1
7
1
3
5
3,800
There are on file with the Surveying Division 33,920
indexed plans.
* This work was performed jointly by the Engineering and Street Laying-Out Depart-
ments.
42
City Document No. 17.
There are also 3,692 lithographed plans in the office at Old
Court House not included in the foregoing list, viz. :
Lithographed mapsx»f Dorchester, made in 1869
" " " " 1880
" " West Roxbury, made in 1873
" " Fort Hill, made in 1866-69 _ .
" " Church-street district, made in 1868
" " Washington-street widening (parts 1, 2, 3)
made in 1860
" " Washington-street extension, made in 1869
" " North street, made in 1859
" " Stony brook, drainage area
" " Boston, made in 1866-67
" " Boston, made in 1888
" " Suffolk-street district, made in 1869
" " South Boston, made in 1880
" " Roxbury, made in 1880
" " burnt district
" " Mt. Hope Cemetery
" " Winthrop Farm
" " Hanover avenue
" " Muddy river
" " Pemberton square, Court House site
" " East Newton street, lots on, sold by auction
made in 1888 .
" " public lands in South Boston, sold by aue
tion, made in 1885
" " public lands in South Boston, sold by auc
tion, made in 1888
" " Boylston street, old Public Library lot
" " public lands in South Boston, sold by auc-
tion, made in 1882
" " Boston Directory map, made in 1886
" " Boston, scale 1,600 feet to an inch, made in
1890 . .
" " Boston, scale 800 feet to an inch, made in
1891, colored plans
" " Boston Proper, scale 500 feet to an inch
made in 1894
« " Exhibit No. 1, City Surveyor's Report, 1893,
" " Exhibit No. 2, City Surveyor's Report, 1893,
" - " Exhibit No. 3, City Surveyor's Report, 1893,
" " High street, public lands sold by auction
" " Beacon Hill, State House site
" " Harrison avenue, Savage Schoolhouse lot,
auction plan
" " Boston Proper, showing changes in street
and wharf lines from 1795 to 1895
33
123
9
77
168
1,186
324
44
10
98
30
7
60
81
63
22
49
44
41
195
42
82
8
17
136
60
83
5
10
59
80
98
16
38
57
237
3,692
Engineering Department. 43
MISCELLANEOUS WORK AND CONSTRUCTION.
AtlantIc-a^enue Bridge.
Tt!e work done by Patrick McGovern under his contract
dated July 29, 1905, for the flooring of the bridge was fully
described i^ the last annual report, but was not entirely
completed until August 27. The total cost was $48,509.78.
On April 2 a contract was made with the Genasco Roofing
Company for laying the asphalt surface on the sidewalks of
the fixed spans of the bridge. The plank floor of the walk
was 4 inches below the finished grade and had been laid
under another contract. On this floor was laid a water-
proofing course consisting of four alternate layers each of
roofing felt and pitch ; then there was laid asphalt concrete to
a depth of 3 inches and on this a wearing surface of asphalt
mastic 1 inch thick. The wearing surface was divided into
blocks, each about 5 feet square, by galvanized-iron strips,
bent into an inverted T-cross section and | inch high, for
the purpose of localizing any shrinkage cracks that may
occur. This work was completed on July 31, at a cost of
$1,514.70.
On March 7 a contract was made with the Atlas Construc-
tion Company for laying an artificial stone walk on the via-
duct approach at the Boston end of the bridge. This work
was finished on April 25, at a cost of $679.26.
Another contract was made on June 24 with the Atlas
Construction Company for laying an artificial stone walk on
the Boston approach to the bridge. This was completed on
June 28, at a cost of $417.10.
The railing on the easterly side of the Boston approach at
its lower end, where the grade is but little above the grade of
the yard of the Boston Terminal Company, having been
frequently broken by the teams working in the yard, it was
decided to build at this point a concrete wall for a length of
about 141 feet; this was done by inclosing the existing fence
in a wall of Portland cement concrete 1 foot wide by 4 feet
2 inches high. The work was done by the Atlas Construction
Company, and completed on May 23, at a cost of $469.94.
On March 30 a contract was made with Allen Kennedy for
painting the steel work on the Boston approach viaduct and
the first span of the bridge. This was finished on May 21, at
44 City Document No. 17.
a cost of $1,000. Under a later contract Mr. Kennedy
painted the railings and gates of the bridge, at a cost of $270.
This contract was dated June 13.
Atlantic-avenue Bridge Draw Span.
The draw span is a swing draw of the deck type with the
deck inclined at a gradient of 4f per cent. It is 183 feet
10^ inches long on the center line of bridge by 49 feet 2 inches
wide, with one circular and one skew end. It is made up of
two riveted steel trusses of unequal length supported by
cross girders resting on a rim-bearing turntable 29 feet lOJ
inches in diameter. Floor beams and stringers are steel
members, the floor surfacing is wood. The draw is swung by
a 28-horse power General Electric motor, acting through a
train of gears on a rack fixed to the lower track. The ends
are raised to fixed supports by means of a lever and an air
cylinder hung at each end of each truss, the air for which is
supplied by a 15-horse power motor driven, Ingersoll-Rand
air compressor, pumping through two receivers of about 40
cubic feet capacity each.
The draw span was built by the New Jersey Bridge Company
of New York City, and the machinery was installed by the Otis
Elevator Company of Boston.
The work on the draw was so far completed that the bridge
was opened to travel for a short time on March 18, but as the
floor, railing and turning mechanism were not wholly finished
the bridge was closed again and was finally opened to all
travel on August 12.
The pointing of the masonry of the pier at the Boston end
of the bridge under the contract with H. P. Nawn, dated
November 28, 1904, for constructing this pier was completed
on October 30, the total cost of the pier being $1,097.
Boston Consumptives' Hospital.
In July an examination of the grounds acquired for this
institution was made in reference to the surface drainage.
In September plans and specifications were prepared for
grading a surface service road from River street, near the
easterly boundary of the property, for a distance of 1,230
feet to the site of the proposed hospital building. On Nov-
ember 1 a contract was made with Peter F. Connolly for
doing this work; the work is not yet finished. A 12-inch
water pipe is being laid in this road by the Water Department.
A plan has been made for a surface water drain in this road
Engineering Department. 45
which will take care of the drainage from the high ground
east of the city's property. Surveys have been made for a
study of the drainage of other portions of the grounds.
Deer Island Boundary Wall.
In the spring plans and specifications were prepared for
a wall on the boundary line between the lands of the Com-
monwealth and city and that part of Deer Island sold to the
United States.
On May 1 a contract was made with the Atlas Construction
Company for buOding 3,200 lineal feet of this wall. The
work was completed on December 24, with the exception of
cleaning the surface and washing with cement and the doing
of a small amount of grading. The- wall is of Portland
cement concrete reinforced with f-inch square twisted steel
rods; the amount of steel was calculated to be sufficient to
withstand strains due to temperature changes. The founda-
tion is 3 feet by 3 feet in cross section; this is surmounted by
a section 10 feet high and 1 foot 6 inches wide, on top of
which is a coping 2 feet wide by 1 foot high. The wall extends
from the sea wall on the seaward side of the island, following
the contour of the surface, along the boundary line, to the
roadway along the harbor shore leading to the outlet of the
Metropolitan sewer; here there is a gateway 16 feet wide.
This section of the wall is 3,084 feet in length in one con-
tinuous mass without joints. On the harbor side of the
gateway the wall is to extend to the half-tide contour. The
whole work will be completed early in the spring.
Dudley-street Grade Crossing Abolishment.
This improvement has been nearly completed, Dudley
street having been opened to all travel at its new grade in
September. The work has all been done under the direction
of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Com-
pany.
East Boston Grade Crossing Abolishment.
This work has made good progress during the year, so that
all of the street work is done except small portions of Sumner,
Webster and Marginal streets. The masonry for the bridge
on Sumner street is completed, but the steel superstructure
is not yet in place. The only other bridge remaining to be
built is the footbridge on Webster street.
The Boston & Albany Railroad Company had so far
completed its new roadbed that on January 11 traffic was
46 City Document No. 17.
turned on to the new line for its whole length, and the old
location abandoned.
The work of surfacing on Chelsea and Curtis streets, done
under the contract with James Doherty, dated August 7,
1906, was finished on June 3, at a cost of S5,707.49.
Work on Saratoga street was continued through the winter
and spring. There was considerable delay in building the
bridge, but this was so far completed that the street cars
began running over it on August 28. The bridge was finished
September 6, and the street opened to all travel on October 1.
On April 17 a contract was made with Jones & Meehan
for paving and regulating on Bennington and Saratoga
streets and on the approaches thereto on Bremen street and
on the southerly approach to Neptune road on Orleans street.
This work was completed on November 9, at a cost of
$12,485.40.
^ The bridges on Prescott and Porter streets have been
finished. On April 17 a contract was made with Coleman
Brothers for surfacing these streets with the approaches on
Bremen and Orleans streets. The work was completed on
October 17, at a cost of $17,434.46. .
The Boston & Albany Railroad Company, in addition to
' the grading previously done, has subgraded Saratoga street
with the approaches on Bremen street, Bennington street
west of the railroad with the approach on Bremen street,
Sumner street, except where it crosses the old railroad loca-
tion, with the approaches on Bremen and Orleans streets,
and Murray court. Considerable additional grading was
required on the streets previously graded, which were sur-
faced this year on account of the settlement of the filling
during the winter.
On August 19 a contract was made with James Doherty
for paving on Sumner and Orleans streets. This work was
finished on September 4, at a cost of $1,818.97.
Another contract was made with Mr. Doherty on Sep-
tember 30 for paving on Sumner and Orleans streets and
Murray court. This work is practically finished, but the
final payment has not been made.
On September 10 a contract was made with James Doherty
for building a concrete retaining wall on the southerly line
of Sumner street, adjoining the property of the National
Dock and Storage Warehouse Company. This wall is of
Portland cement concrete, is 110 feet 4 inches in length,
8 feet 2| inches high at one end and 11 feet f inch at the
other end, the top being at the grade of the sidewalk. The
work was completed on October 3, at a cost of
Engineering Department. 47
A contract was made on October 30 with James Doherty
for paving on Sumner street and on the approach thereto on
Bremen street. This work is not yet finished.
Highland Park Standpipe.
At the request of the Superintendent of the Pubhc Grounds
Department, plans and specifications were prepared for^'an
exterior balcony around the water tower at Highland park,
Roxbury. Contracts were made with the G. W. & F. Smith
Company for this work, and it was carried out under the
direction and inspection of this department. The exterior
and interior walls of the tower and the iron standpipe and
stairs were also cleaned and painted.
Meridian-street Bridge.
A contract was made with Jones & Meehan, August 7, 1907,
for reconstructing this bridge. The work done has been on
the draw; many of the hard pine floor beams were renewed;
all the wooden angle blocks on the upper chord and some on
the lower chord were replaced with new cast-iron blocks; the
end trussed floor beams were strengthened and stiff eners were
riveted on the drum ; new 4-inch deck planking, wheelguards
and 2-inch sheathing were put in; the tower and chords were
repaired and the draw was painted. The work of repairing
the deck of the main bridge has been postponed till spring.
The expense of strengthening the end floor beams and the
draw was paid by the Boston Elevated Railway Company.
The total amount of payments on the contract work by the
city is $5,372.25.
Northern Avenue and Sleeper Street.
The City Engineer was directed by chapter 381 of the Acts
of 1903 to construct Northern avenue from Atlantic avenue,
near Oliver street, across Fort Point channel to the lands of
the Commonwealth on South Boston flats, and to construct
Sleeper street from Congress street to Northern avenue.
A contract was made with W. H. Ellis of Boston, dated
July 31, 1905, for building the substructure of the bridge
across Fort Point channel. The work under this contract
was completed early in May, 1907, and included the abutment
on the Boston side of the channel, three masonry piers for the
fixed spans of the bridge in the channel, the foundation for
the center piers of the draw and the drawfender pier. Under
a second contract with Mr. Ellis, dated May 20, 1907, the
abutment on the South Boston side of the channel has been
1/
48 City Document No. 17.
built and the center pier completed, ready for the turntable
of the draw span.
The buildings at the Atlantic avenue approach to bridge
have been removed, the street filled and the paving of the
roadway and sidewalks laid. On January 28, 1907, a contract
was made with the New England Structural Company for the
steel superstructure of the draw and fixed spans of the bridge,
and at the date of this report the fixed spans have been erected
and the erection of the draw span is in progress.
A contract for the flooring of the draw and fixed spans,
including the paving of the roadway of the latter, was made
with Jones & Meehan under date of July 25, 1907, and at the
present time about one-half of the wooden flooring is in place.
The portion of the avenue on the South Boston side of the
channel for a length of about 500 feet and the part of Sleeper
street adjoining the avenue, have been filled to the required
grade with gravel by the New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad Company, under a contract dated September 9, 1907.
A contract for paving with granite blocks, setting edge-
stones and laying brick sidewalks on the area filled was made
with Jones & Meehan, dated September 30, 1907, and consid-
erable work has been done under it.
The sea wall at the head of Dock No. 1, South Boston flats,
has been built under a contract with W. H. Ellis, dated Feb-
ruary 21, 1907, and the area back of the wall has been filled
and graded.
East Boston Ferries. — South Ferry, Boston Side.
A contract was made January 4, 1907, with George T.
Rendle for rebuilding the middle and south piers. Work
was commenced January 18, and completed October 31,
the work not being pursued continuously. During part of
the work on the middle pier the ferryboats were diverted
from this landing. The cost of the contract work was
$16,031.02.
Streets.
Preliminary surveys, working plans and specifications
were prepared and forwarded to the Street Department for
the construction of thirty-three assessment streets, for
repaving thirty-one streets, for constructing artificial stone
sidewalks in ten streets; surveys have been made, levels
taken and preliminary plans prepared for eight assessment
streets, and for repaving three streets; the necessary surveys
were made and grades for street railway tracks determined
in sixteen streets. A plan was made showing position,
Engineering Department. 49
dimensions and grades for a platform landing at the junction
of Beacon street and Commonwealth avenue, for the use of
patrons of the street railway. Plans and specifications were
prepared for a retaining wall at the westerly end of the north-
westerly wing wall of the Boston & Albany bridge abutment ;
for a retaining wall in Florence street, from Blackmore street
to Sherwood street; for a wood fence with iron supports on
the southerly wing wall of easterly abutment of Harvard-
street bridge, and for grading roadway, paving gutters and
sidewalk, setting edgestones and constructing planting
spaces in Worthington street at Patrick A. Collins School.
A study was made of the proposed widening of the northerly
sidewalk of Boylston street, between Washington street and
Tremont street. Preliminary estimates have been made of
the cost of repaving twenty-one streets and for constructing
twelve streets. The street book, giving lengths and areas of
pavement in accepted streets and public alleys, has been
corrected to February 1, 1907, and is now being brought
up to February 1, 1908.
Waterworks.
The following is the more important work done during the
past year under the direction of the Engineering Department.
The work of laying the 48-inch low service main in Prentiss
street, Parker street and Longwood avenue, from Tremont
street to Brookline avenue, in progress last year, was com-
pleted. Connections were made with the 36-inch and 30-inch
mains in Tremont street, with the 16-inch main in Huntington
avenue and with the 40-inch main in Brookline avenue.
The resulting increase of pressure on the low service system
was about 3^ pounds at time of maximum draft.
A 30-inch low service main, feeding directly from a 36-inch
main, was laid in Congress street, from Franklin street to
Atlantic avenue with two 16-inch connections for reinforcing
the distribution system, one at High street and one at
Atlantic avenue; this line will form part of the proposed
low service feed from the city proper to South Boston. A
trestle, 450 feet in length, was built across Fort Point
channel, from the ends of the pipe tunnel, built in 1904,
to the City Proper and South Boston shores; this trestle
is designed to carry 24-inch low service and 16-inch high
service mains, and is part of the plan for the new service
for South Boston.
The lowering of the grade of Dudley street, on account of
the abolishment of the grade crossing of the New York, New
50 City Document No. 17.
Haven & Hartford R.R., made it necessary to relay 600
feet of 24-inch low service and 800 feet of l^-inch low
service pipes. At the same time opportunity was taken to
lay about 600 feet of 16-inch high service pipe, which will
form part of a very necessary high service main designed
to extend in Dudley street from Upham's corner to Washing-
ton street.
A considerable amount of work was also done in connection
with the abolishment of grade crossings in East Boston on the
line of the Boston & Albany R.R.
The work of relaying mains inadequate for fire protection
was prosecuted less vigorously than for several years past,
in all about two miles of relaying being done. This work
of improving the distribution system and making it equal
to the present demands for fire protection is of first import-
ance and should be carried on with all possible speed.
The usual large amount of routine work, consisting of
reports on petitions for main pipes and fire pipes, lines and
grades for pipe laying, supervision of contracts and estimates
of the same, preparation of plans of work done and proposed,
tabulation of records, inspection of castings made in the
local foundries, etc., was done during the year.
Surveys and investigations to determine the electrical
conditions existing on the water pipe system have been
carried on continuously.
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52 City Document No. 17.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Boston Water Department.
Daily average amount used (gallons) . . . 96,422,800
Daily average amount used through meters
during 1907 (gallons) 21,588,400
Number of services, February 1, 1908 . . 94,047
Number of meters in service February 1, 1908, 5,185
Number of meters under supervision Februarv 1,
1908 " . 116
Number of elevators under supervision Febru-
ary 1, 1908 586
Length of supply and distributing mains in
miles, February 1, 1908 748.3
Number of public hydrants in use February 1,
1908 7,837
Yearly revenue from annual water rates
(assessed) $1,338,121.74
Yearly revenue from metered water (assessed), $1,256,970.23
Percentage of total revenue from metered water, 48 . 4
Yearly expense of maintenance .... $605,586.38
Engineering Department. 53
Miscellaneous.
A plan and estimate were made at the request of the Fire
Commissioner for extending the down-stream pier of Congress-
street bridge to make room for a contemplated building for
the use of the Fire Department.
A plan and specifications were made for the Sewer Depart-
ment for repairing the bulkhead at Gately's wharf.
Plans, sketches and estimates were made for the recon-
struction of Fort Hill wharf for a garbage disposal plant.
A plan and specification were made for a bulkhead at the
head of the dock at Fort Hill wharf, ordered by the Superior
Court. It was built by the Sanitary Department.
Plans were made for a new draw and draw foundation at
Mount Washington-avenue bridge. The general plan was
approved by the Harbor and Land Commissioners, but the
War Department withheld its approval.
Sketches and estimates were made for wharves and plat-
forms for the disposal of ashes for the Sanitary Depart-
ment.
Plans and estimates were made for building Soldiers'
Field bridge to replace the present North Harvard-street
bridge.
A plan and estimate have been made for the Pauper Insti-
tutions Department for rebuilding the wharf on the north-
west side of Long Island.
An estimate has been made for connecting Irvington and
Yarmouth streets by a bridge over the Providence Division
of the New York, New Haven & Hartford R.R. to accommo-
date all ordinary traffic.
An estimate has been made for a ferryboat landing at
Governor's Island.
An estimate has been made for filling that portion of South
bay southerly of Dover street between the Roxbury canal
channel and the Midland Division of the New York, New
Haven & Hartford R.R.
Respectfully submitted,
William Jackson,
City Engineer.
54 City Document No. 17.
CITY ENGINEERS,
1850-1908.
E. H. CHESBROUGH, M. Am. Soc. C. E.,
November 18, 1850, to October, 1855.
(Died August 18, 1886.)
JAMES SLADE,
October 1, 1855, to April 1, 1863.
(Died August ?5, 1882.)
N. HENRY CRAFTS,
April 1, 1863, to November 25, 1872.
JOSEPH P. DAVIS, M. Am. Soc. C. E.,
November 25, 1872, to March 20, 1880.
(Resigned March 20, 1880.)
HENRY M. WIGHTMAN, M. Am. Soc. C. E.,
April 5, 1880, to April 3, 1885.
(Died AprU 3, 1885.)
WILLIAM JACKSON, M. Am. Soc. C. E.,
April 21, 1885, to the present time.
Engineering Department. 55
APPENDICES.
Appendix A. — Table showing the width of openings for
vessels in all bridges provided with
draws.
Appendix B. — Engineering Department property schedule.
Appendix C. — Elevations referred to Boston City base.
Appendix D. — Engineering Department Annual Reports,
1867-1907.
Appendix E. — Engineering Department, Revised Ordi-
nances.
Appendix F. — Meridian Line.
Appendix G. — Grades of Streets.
Appendix H. — ^Width of Streets.
56
City Document No. 17.
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58
City Document No. 17.
APPENDIX B.
Engineering Department Property Schedule, Main Office.
1 horse.
2 carriages.
1 automobile.
1 sleigh.
2 harnesses.
3 robes.
Instruments for drawing.
Instruments for surveying, as fol-
lows:
2 Temple transits.
7 Buff & Berger transits.
1 Berger & Sons transit.
1 P. & R. Wittstock transit.
8 Gurley transits.
1 Keuffel & Esser level.
2 Temple levels.
4 Buff & Berger levels.
7 Gurley levels.
1.3 Boston rods.
4 New York rods.
10 Troy rods.
4 Philadelphia rods.
Apparatus for blue printing.
Cases for plans and books.
Reference library, 1,492 volumes.
15,071 plans engineering works,
loose.
14 volumes plans engineering works,
bound.
Photograghs of engineering works.
1 microscope.
1 mercurial barometer.
1 aneroid barometer.
1 holsteric barometer.
1 set hydrometers.
1 hygrometer.
1 pair field glasses.
3 typewriters.
2 dynamometers.
1 pantagraph.
3 calculating machines.
1 volt meter.
1 comptometer.
2 thermophones.
2 cameras.
3 planimeters.
1 Bourdon pressure gauge.
1 Burroughs arithmometer.
1 Steiger calculating machine.
1 Egli calculating machine.
Surveying Division.
2 Temple transits.
2 Moody transits.
2 Buff & Berger transits.
4 Berger & Sons transits.
1 Buff & Buff transit.
1 Stackpole transit.
1 Troughton & Sims transit.
1 P. & R. Wittstock transit.
7 Buff & Berger levels.
1 Moody level.
18 Boston rods.
1 Troy rod.
8 iron rods.
32,669 plans.
3,747 lithographed maps.
1 pantagraph.
3 planimeters.
1 Federal blue printing machine,
No. 10.
Engineering Department. 59
APPENDIX C.
Elevations referred to Boston City base. * (The City base is 0.64 feet
below mean low tide.)
Feet.
0.00 City base.
15.66 Highest tide, April 16, 1851.
15.45 Coping old dry dock, Charlestown Navy Yard, at
left of entrance.
15.11 Coping old dry dock, Charlestown Navy Yard,
new bench, over crowfoot.
*0.64 Mean low tide.
5.00 Piles cut off for building.
10.00 Water works (old base) approximate tide-marsh
level.
0.38 South Boston fiats base (state).
9.82 South Boston base, formerly in use, but now aban-
doned.
— 100.00 Metropolitan Sewerage base.
— 100.00 Charles River Basin Commission base.
— 100.00 Boston Transit Commission base.
— 4.98 Cambridge City base.
0 64 Somerville City base.
0.60 Harbor and Land Commission base.
* Mean low water January, 1903. Computed from tidal observations taken during
the year 1902, at the Charlestown Navy Yard, is 0.79 feet above Boston City base.
John R. Freeman in Report on Charles River Dam, 1903, page 570.
Navy Yard base above Boston base is 0.58
Mean High Water above Boston base 10 . 63
Mean Low Water above Boston base 0.79
Mean range of tide 9.84
Mean Sea Level above Boston base 5.71
Definition of Boston City base : Boston City base is a datum plane 15 feet above the
average height of the sill of the Charlestown Dry Dock. (Page 552, Report of the
Commission on Charles River Dam, 1903.)
60
City Document No. 17.
The following tidal records may be of interest :
High Tides.
[Plane of reference, Boston City Base.]
Feet.
Date.
Where taken.
By Whom.
14
94
Nov.
27,
1S98
13
72
Nov.
8,
1900
14
19
Nov.
25,
1901
13
60
Dec
14,
1902
13
00
Feb.
17.
1903
13
40
Jan.
14,
1904
14
83
Jan.
25,
1905
14
70
Jan.
25,
1905
13
50
Nov.
15,
1906
13
00
April 19,
1907
13
00
Dec.
5,
1907
Average of 15 observations.
Maiden bridge
Average of 10 observations.
North Ferry, City Proper
North Ferry, City Proper
North Ferry, City Proper
Average of 34 observations.
Inner harbor, 10 observations.
Neponset bridge
North Ferry
Mt. Washington avenue
Low Tides.
F. p. Spalding.
J. H. Edmonds
J. H. Edmonds.
J. H. Edmonds.
M. F. Toomey.
J. H. Edmonds.
Boston Terminal Co.
5.60
Nov. 27, 1898
Deer Island, Met. sewer station
Self-recording gage.
—3.50
Feb. 1, 1900
Deer Island, Met. sewer station
Self-recording gage.
—2.94
Feb. 3, 1900
South Boston station, Edison Electric,
D. A. Harrington.
—3.00
Feb. 4, 1904
Deer Island, Met. sewer station
Self-recording gage.
—2.70
Mar. 23, 1905
Deer Island, Met. sewer station
Self-recording gage.
Engineering Depaetment.
61
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62 City Document No. 17
APPENDIX E.
(Revised Ordinances, 1898, Chapter 16.) Engineering
Department.
Section 1. The Engineering Department shall be under
the charge of the City Engineer, who shall be consulted on all
matters relating to public improvements of every kind in
respect to which the advice of a civil engineer or architect
would be of service; shall, unless otherwise specifically pro-
vided, take charge of the construction of all public works of
the city, which properly come under the direction of a civil
engineer; shall make such surveys, plans, estimates, state-
ments, and descriptions, and take such levels and prepare
such specifications and contracts as the mayor, the board of
aldermen, the common council, any committee of the city
council or of either branch thereof, the board of street com-
missioners, or any officer in charge of a department, may need
in the discharge of its duties; shall, upon being notified by
the superintendent of streets,* supervise all repairs on the
bridges of the city used as highways which affect the safety
of the structures, and shall, when required by the mayor or
any officer in charge of a department, measure the work done
by contract for the city, and certify to the results of such
measurement. Said engineer shall have the custody of all
surveys and plans relating to the laying out, locating anew,
altering, widening and grading of streets; and his office shall
be deemed to be the office of the surveyor of highways.
Sect. 2. Said engineer shall, in his annual report, include
a report upon the safety and completeness of all ponds, basins
and reservoirs under the charge of the water department, and
of all bridges within the city limits used as highways.
(Stat. 1870, Chap. 337 — Stat. 1895, Chap. 449, par. 21.)
* Superintendent of Bridges.
Engineering Department.
63
APPENDIX F.
Meridian Line.
In 1870 an act was passed by the Massachusetts Legislature requiring
each land surveyor in the state at least once in every year to adjust and
verify his compass by the meridian line established in the county wherein
his surveys were to be made.
A meridian was marked by stone monuments, and a book of record kept
by a custodian designated by the County Commissioners.
The law compelling surveyors to test their compasses annually was
modified in 1875, so that surveyors who did not use the compass in turn-
ing angles were relieved from the penalty attaching to the violation of the
original act.
The meridian posts for the County of Suffolk were placed on the south-
erly portion of the "Parade Ground" on Boston Common. They are
granite posts, three in number, placed 200 feet apart, are eighteen inches
square at the base, one foot square at the top, and eight feet long, being
firmly set in a bed of concrete with their tops originally just below the
surface of the ground.
A stone curb was placed even with the surface of the grovmd over the
top of each post, with a metallic composition cover.
The surface of that part of the Common where the posts are set was
raised several feet in 1897, the posts being protected by building a brick
manhole around each stone, the posts being accessible by the removal of
the manhole cover.
As the cover and cap of the manholes are made of iron it is now necessary
to set up the compass in the production of the line marked by the monu-
ment to avoid local attraction. The point selected has been 290 feet north
of the northerly stone.
The following table gives the number of tests for each year, with the
average readings:
Year.
Number
of
Readings.
Average of
Readings
West of
North.
Year.
Number
of
Readings.
Average of
Readings
West of
North.
1871
9
8
3
3
3
2
8
13
4
7
3
5
5
6
8
4
14
3
10-53-46
11-09-47
11-07-53
11-11-40
10-58-33
11-13-00
11-12-35
11-28-56
11-35-15
11-34-53
11-28-23
11-36-18
11-42-04
11-46-13
11-43-12
11-39-58
11-51-54
11-40-57
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
7
4
1
_
8
6
8
13
8
4
12
6
8
11_39_56
1872
11_49_30
1873
1874
12-32-20
1875
1876
1877
1878
12-04-37
1879
1880
1881
12-34-34
12-33-45
1882
1883
1884
12-44-44
12-43-42
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
12-48-45
12-56-42
13-19-20
13-16-35
64 City Document No. 17.
APPENDIX G.
GRADES OF BOSTON STREETS, 1907.
Adams Square.
Per cent.
C — Across Washington street, from Brattle street to Dock square . . 4 . 00
Beacon Street.
B — From Somerset street to Tremont street 6 . 60
F — From Joy street to Spruce street, 695 feet 5 . 70
Boylston Street.
B — First 100 feet west of Washington street 2.61
B — Second 100 feet west of Washington street 2.87
B — Third 100 feet west of Washington street 2.53
D — From Carver street (246 feet) east 2.93
D — From Park square (35 feet) east 4 . 33
A — First 100 feet east of Arlington street 2.34
A — Second 100 feet east of Arlington street 1.33
Congress Street.
C — First 100 feet north of Exchange place 2.39
C — Second 100 feet north of Exchange place 2.30
C — First 100 feet south of Franklin street 1.09
C — Second 100 feet south of Franklin street 2.36
C — Third 100 feet south of Franklin street 2.21
C — Fourth 100 feet south of Franklin street 2.20
C — Sixth 100 feet south of Franklin street 2.37
C — Seventh 100 feet south of Franklin street 4.24
C — Eighth 100 feet south of Franklin street 3.45
C — Remaining distance to Atlantic avenue (15 feet) 2.96
Cornhill.
C — From Court street to Franklin avenue (270 feet), average . . . 4.00
Devonshire Street.
C — Adams square to State street 2.90
Exchange Street.
C — First 100 feet north of State street 0.98
C — Second 100 feet north of State street 2 . 46
C — Third 100 feet north of State street 3.39
Garden Street.
F — From Cambridge street (150 feet) south 6.00
F — From Phillips street (100 feet) north 11.00
F — From Phillips street to Revere street 12.50
F — From Revere street to Myrtle street 15.40
Irving Street.
F — First 130 feet south of Cambridge street 5.60
F — Next 200 feet south of Cambridge street 8.00
F — Next 400 feet south of Cambridge street 14.10
Engineering Department. 65
Milk Street.
Per cent.
C — First 100 feet east of Washington street 4.67
C — Second 100 feet east of Washington street 4.48
C — Third 100 feet east of Washington street 3 . 65
C — Fourth 100 feet east of Washington street 3.14
C — Fifth 100 feet east of Washington street 3.00
Park Street.
F — From Beacon street first 144 feet 9.30
F — Then 325 feet ■ 4.80
Pearl Street.
C — First 100 feet south of Franklin street 3.23
C — Second 100 feet south of Franklin street 2.92
C — Third 100 feet south of Franklin street 2.60
C — Fourth 100 feet south of Franklin street 1.63
C — Sixth 100 feet south of Franklin street 3.43
C — Seventh 100 feet south of Franklin street 3.90
C — Eighth 100 feet south of Franklin street 4.80
C — Remaining distance to Atlantic avenue (36.6 feet) 4 . 80
Pemberton Square.
F — From Scollay square to the Court House 8 . 20
School Street.
C — First 100 feet from Tremont street 6.20
C — Second 100 feet from Tremont street 4 . 40
C — The next 350 feet 3.10
South Street.
C — First 100 feet south of Summer street 0.74
C — Second 100 feet south of Summer street 2.10
C — Third 100 feet south of Summer street 2.05
C — Fourth 100 feet south of Summer street 2.26
C — Fifth 100 feet south of Summer street 1.95
State Street.
C — Opposite Exchange building 2.00
C — Washington street to Devonshire street, north side 4.60
Tremont Street.
A — From Winter street to Hamilton place, 150 feet 4.20
A — From Winter street, towards Temple place, 180 feet 2.50
Warren Avenue, Charlestown.
B — City square to the railroad 2.80
Washington Street.
C — From Court street to Cornhill 3.00
D — From Harvard place. 160 feet southerly 2.30
D — From Franklin street, 190 feet southerly 1.30
D — From West street, 170 feet southerly 1-50
D — From Essex street, 205 feet northerly 1.30
A — Asphalt. B — Granite blocks on gravel.
C — Granite blocks, concrete base. D — Wooden blocks.
F — Macadam.
City Document No. 17.
Approaches to Bridge over Boston & Albany R.R., on^Beacon Street and
Brookline Avenue.
Beacon Street.
Per cent.
F — First 100 feet west of bridge 1.64
F — Second 100 feet west of bridge 2.64
F — Third 100 feet west of bridge 2 . 77
F — Fourth 100 feet west of bridge 2.53
F — Fifth 100 feet west of bridge ■. . 2.08
F — Sixth 100 feet west of bridge 1.95
F — Seventh 100 feet west of bridge 1.33
F — Remaining 32.5 feet to foot of approach 0.92
F — Length of approach, 732.5 feet.
F — Average gradient 2 . 08
F — First 100 feet east of bridge 0.90
F — Second 100 feet east of bridge 1 . 53
F — Third 100 feet east of bridge 1.71
F — Fourth 100 feet east of bridge 1.71
F — Fifth 100 feet east of bridge 1.71
F — Sixth 100 feet east of bridge ' 1.71
F — Seventh 100 feet east of bridge -. 1.71
F — Eighth 100 feet east of bridge 1 . 53
F — Ninth 100 feet east of bridge 0.68
F — Length of approach, 750 feet.
F — Average gradient 1.51
Brookline Avenue.
F — First 100 feet southwest of bridge 3 . 06
F — Second 100 feet southwest of bridge 3.06
F — Third 100 feet southwest of bridge 3 . 06
F — Fourth 100 feet southwest of bridge 2 . 90
F — Fifth 100 feet southwest of bridge 2.25
F — Sixth 100 feet southwest of bridge 1.50
F — • Seventh 100 feet southwest of bridge 0.75
F — - Length of approach, 700 feet.
F — Average gradient 2 . 36
F — First 100 feet northwest of bridge 3 . 47
F — Second 100 feet northwest of bridge 3 . 69
F — Third 100 feet northwest of bridge 3.23
F — Fourth 100 feet northwest of bridge 2.10
F — Remaining 74 feet to foot of approach 1 . 19
F — Length of approach, 474 feet.
F — Average gradient 2 . 77
F — Macadam.
Engineering Depabtment.
67
APPENDIX H.
WIDTHS OF BOSTON STREETS, 1907.
Roadway Total
width. width.
Albany street, at Dover street 54 . 0 80 . 0
Arlington street, at the Public Garden 50.0 80.0
Atlantic avenue, at Broad street 78.3 100.0
Atlantic avenue, at Commercial wharf 78.3 100.0
Atlantic avenue, near Commereial wharf 78.3 100.0
Atlantic avenue, at Essex street 70.0 100.0
Battery street, near North Ferry 45.0 65.0
Beacon street, at Brimmer street 61.0 89.0
Beacon street, at Clarendon street 47.9 72.0
Beacon street, at River street 66.8 93.0
Berkeley street, at Stanhope street 54.5 80.0
Beverly street, near Causeway street 36 . 0 50 . 0
Blackstone street, near south side North street . . . . 45.5 61.5
Boylston street, at M I. T 49.5 78.5
Broad street, near Central street 49 . 5 70 . 0
Canal street, near Causeway street 50.0 75.0
Canal street, near Market street 50.0 75.0
Central street, near Atlantic avenue 48.3 63.5
Charles street, at the Common 52.0 80.0
Columbus avenue, between Berkeley street and the railroad
bridge 54.0 80.0
Columbus avenue, between railroad bridge and Dartmouth
street 54.0 80.0
Commercial street, at Cross street 48.5 67.7
Commercial street, at Hanover street 60.0 80.0
Court street, between Ames and Sears building . . . . 24.9 41.7
Court street, between Brattle street and Hanover street . .62.0-38.0 89.0-62.0
Dartmouth street, at Commonwealth avenue . . . . 70.0 100.0
Eastern avenue, near South Ferry 54.2 70.0
Exchange street 15.5 25.0
Haverhill street, near Causeway street 32.2 49.0
Kilby street, near State street 25 . 2 39 . 3
Leverett street, near Charles street 46.0 62.0
Lincoln street, at Beach street 44.8 64.5
Massachusetts avenue, at Commonwealth avenue . . . 62.9 90.0
Mercantile street 46 . 0 66 . 0
Milk street, at Post Office 41.0-46.0 60.0-65.0
North street, between Union street and Merchants row . . 19.0 31.0
North Market street, at Commercial street 44.0 64.3
Portland street, near Causeway street 34.3 50.0
South Market street, at north side Commercial street . . 76.6 101.0
State street, at State-street block 66.5 86.0
State street, opposite Exchange building 38.0 63.0
Tremont street, at West Newton street 70.0 100.0
Washington street North, near Causeway street . . . . 68 . 0 92 . 0
Washington street North, near Medford street . . 68.0 92.0
Washington street, between Cornhill and Court street . .23.5-28.0 41.5-45.0
Washington street, corner Summer street (north) . . . 40.7 60.0
Washington street, corner Summer street (south) . . . 32.5 49.5
Washington street, north side of Hanover street . . . 40.0 60.0
Washington street, at Worcester street 80.0 100.0
Winter street 19.5 36.0
CONTENTS.
REPORT ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR 1907.
General Index to Contents Engineering Department Reports, 1S67-1892, will be found
in Report of February 1, 1892.
Engineering Department
Statement of Expenses, Abolishment of grade crossings:
" " " Congress street
" " " Dudley street
" " " East Boston
" " " Atlantic-avenue bridge
" " " Brookline-street bridge
" " " Engineering Department
" " " Northern avenue and Sleeper street,
Bridges Inspected
" wholly supported by Boston
" _ " " railroads
" of which Boston supports the part within its limits,
" " " " pays a part of the cost of main-
tenance
" supported by railroad corporations
" Boston & Albany
R.R
" Boston & Maine
R.R.andB.&A.
R.R
" Boston & Maine
R.R., Eastern
Div
" Boston, Revere
Beach & Lynn
R R
N.Y., N.H." & H.
R.R., Midland
Div
N.Y., N.H. & H.
R.R., Old Col-
ony Div
N.Y., N.H. & H.
R.R.,Prov.Div.,
" " Metropolitan Park Commission
" " Charles River Basin Commission
Total number (163)
Bridges.
Agassiz road, in the fens
Albany street, over B. & A. R.R. freight tracks
Allston, over B. & A. R.R
Arborway, over Stony brook
Ashland street, over Prov. Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R., W. Rox.,
69
2
3
3
3
4
2
4
4
5
34
7
9
10
10
10
5
10
10
11
11
11
70 City Document No. 17.
Bridges, continued.
Ashmont street and Dorchester avenue, over Old Colony Div.
N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R 11
Athens street, over Midland Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R 11
Atlantic-avenue bridge 12
Audubon road, over B. & A. R.R 12
Austin-street bridge, over B. & M. R.R., Charlestown 12
Baker street at Brook Farm, W. Roxbury 12
Beacon street, over outlet of the fens 12
Beacon street, over B. & A. R.R 12
Bellevue street, over Muddy river, in Riverway 13
Bennington street, over B. & A. R.R., East Boston 13
Bennington street, over B., R.B. & L. R.R 13
Berkeley street, over B. & A. R.R. and Prov. Div. N.Y.,
N.H. & H. R.R 13
Bernier-street footbridge, over Bridle path, Riverway 14
Bernier-street footbridge, over Muddy river 14
Berwick-park footbridge, over Prov. Div. N.Y., N.H. & H.
R.R 14
Blakemore street, over Prov. Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R 14
Blue Hill avenue, over Midland Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R... . 14
Bolton street, over Midland Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R 14
Boston street, over Old Colony Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R. ... 14
Boylston street, Back Bay fens 15
Boylston street, B. & A. R.R 15
Bridle Path, over Muddy river, in Riverway 15
Broadway, over Fort Point channel 16
Broadway, over B. & A. R.R 16
Brookline avenue, over B. & A. R.R 16
Brookline avenue, over Muddy river, in Riverway 16
Brookline street to Cambridge 16
Brooks street, Brighton 16
Byron street, B., R.B. & L. R.R 17
Cambridge bridge 17
Cambridge street 17
Cambridge street, over B. &. M. and B. & A. R.R 17
Canal, or Craigie's, temporary 21
Castle Island footbridge 17
Central avenue, over Neponset river 18
Charlesgate, in the fens, over B. & A. R.R 18
Charlesgate, in the fens, over Ipswich street 18
Charlestown 18
Chelsea, over B. & M. R.R 18
Chelsea (North) 19
Chelsea (South) 19
Chelsea street 19
Circuit drive, over Scarboro' pond, in Franklin park 19
Columbia road, over Old Colony Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R.. . 20
Columbia road, over Shoreham street 20
Columbus avenue, over B. & A. R.R. and Prov. Div. N.Y.,
N.H. & H. R.R 20
Commercial Point, or Tenean 20
Commonwealth avenue, in the fens 20
Congress street 21
Cottage Farm, over B. & A. R R 21
Cottage-street footbridge, East Boston 21
Curtis-street bridge, over B. & A. R.R., East Boston 21
Dartmouth street, over B. & A. R.R. and Prov. Div. N.Y.,
N.H. & H. R.R 21
Dorchester avenue, over Port Point channel 22
Dorchester avenue, over Old Colony Div. N.Y., N.H. & H.
R.R 22
Dover street 22
Engineering Department. 71
PAGE.
Bridges, continued.
Ellicott arch, in Franklin Park 23
Elmwood-street bridge, over Stony brook 23
Everett street, over B. & A. R.R., Brighton 23
Fen bridge, in the fens 23
Ferdinand street, over B. & A. R.R 23
Florence-street bridge, over Stony brook 23
Forest Hills entrance in Franklin Park 23
Gainsborough-street footbridge, over Prov- Div. N.Y., N.H.
& H. R.R 23
Gold street, over Midland Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R 24
Granite to Milton 24
Harvard to Cambridge . 24
Harvard street, over Midland Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R 24
Huntington avenue, over B. & A. R.R 24
Huntington avenue, over Muddy river 25
Hyde Park-avenue bridge, over Stony brook 25
Ipswich street, over waterway in the fens 25
Irvington-street footbridge, over Prov. Div. N.Y., N.H. & H.
R.R 25
Keyes-street bridge, over Stony brook 25
L-street bridge 25
Leverett pond footbridge, in Leverett Park 26
Linden Park street, over Stony brook 26
Longwood avenue, over Muddy river and B. & A. R.R 26
Maiden 26
Massachusetts avenue, over B. & A. R.R 26
Massachusetts avenue, over Prov. Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R. . . 27
Mattapan to Milton 27
Maverick-street bridge, over B. & A. R.R., East Boston 27
Meridian street 27
Milton 27
Mt. "Washington avenue 28
Neponset 28
Neptune road, over B., R.B. & L. R.R 28
Newton street, over Prov. Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R 28
Norfolk street, over Midland Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R., Dor-
Norfolk street, oyer Midland Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R., near
Mattapan station 28
North Beacon street 29
North Harvard street 29
Oakland street, over Midland Div. N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R 29
Perkins-street footbridge, over B. & M. R.R. and B. & A.
R.R., Charlestown 29
Porter-street bridge, over B. & A R.R., East Boston 30
Prescott-street bridge, over B. & A. R.R., East Boston 30
Prison Point 30
Public Garden footbridge 30
Saratoga-street bridge, over B. & A. R.R., East Boston 30
Scarboro' pond footbridge, Franklin Park 31
Shawmut avenue, over B. & A. R.R. and N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R. . 31
Southampton-street bridges, over South Bay sluices 31
Southamptonstreet,'over01dColony Div.N.Y.,N.H. &H.R.R., 31
Spring street to Dedham 31
Summer street, over A street 31
" B " 31
" C " 31
" " " Fort Point channel 32
" N.Y., N.H. & H. R.R. freight tracks 32
Warren' 32
West Fourth street, over Old Colony Div. N.Y.,N.H.&H.R.R., 33
72 City Document No. 17.
Bridges, concluded.
PAGE.
West Rutland-square footbridge, over Prov. Div. N.Y., N.H.
& H. R.R 33
Western avenue to Cambridge 33
Western avenue to Watertown 33
Winthrop 33
Wood Island Park footbridge 34
Surveying Division 35
Lines and grades given, and paving work measured, 1907:
Boston Proper 37
Brighton 40
Charlestown 37
Dorchester 37
East Boston and Breed's Island 37
Roxbury 39
South Boston 37
West Roxbury 40
Plans in Surveying Division 41
Miscellaneous Work and Construction in 1907 :
Atlantic-avenue bridge 43
Boston Consumptives' Hospital 44
Deer Island boundary wall 45
East Boston ferries :
South ferry, Boston side 48
Grade crossings:
. • Dudley street 45
East Boston 45
Highland Park standpipe 47
Meridian-street bridge 47
Miscellaneous plans and estimates 52
Northern avenue and Sleeper street 47
Street Department :
Working plans, specifications and forms of contract were pre-
pared and forwarded for assessment streets 48
Plans and specifications for repaving streets 48
Grading Street Railway Tracks :
Boston Elevated Railway Company 48
Water Department :
Extension of mains 49
Table showing the average stated monthly heights in feet,
above city base, to which water rose at different stations
on the Boston waterworks 51
Table showing monthly rainfall in inches during 1907 at
various places in Eastern Massachusetts 51
General statistics 53
City Engineers, 1850=1908 54
Engineering Department. 73
APPENDICES.
Appendix A. — Table showing the widths of openings for vessels
in all bridges provided with draws 56
B. — Engineering Department, property schedule 58
C. — Elevations referred to Boston city base 59
D. — Engineering Department annual reports, 1867-
1907 61
E. — Engineering Department, Revised Ordinances. ... 62
F. — Meridian line 63
G. ■ — Grades of streets 64
H. — Widths of streets 67
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