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ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FORTY-FOURTH AND FINAL ANNUAL REPORT
CITY Engineer
BOSTON
FOR THE YEAR 1910
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CITY OF BOSTON
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ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FORTY-FOURTH AND FINAL ANNUAL REPORT
City Rnhinrpr
Compliments of
f owTS i. iouriic,
(Superintendent of Streets.)
Acting City Engineer.
CITY OF BOSTON
PRINTING DEPARTMENT
1911
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ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FORTY-FOURTH AND FINAL ANNUAL REPORT
CITY ENGINEER
BOSTON
FOR THE YEAf^ i9;ioi
CITY OF BOSTON
PRINTING DEPARTMENT
1911
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FOR THE YEAR 1910-11.
Engineering Department, City Hall,
Boston, January 31, 1911.
Hon. John F. Fitzgeeald,
Mayor of the City of Boston:
Sir, — The following report of the expenses and
operation of this department for the year ending Jan-
uary 31, 1911, 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 survey 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 relat-
ing to the laying out, locating anew, altering, widening
or discontinuing of streets, and the new engineering
construction for all departments of the city. He shall
be consulted on all work where the advice of a civil
engineer w^ould 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. 14.
On July 1, 1910, I received the following communica-
tion from your Honor :
City of Boston,
Office of the Mayor, July 1, 1910.
Louis K. Rourke, Esq.,
Superintendent of Streets:
Sir, — The death of City Engineer William Jackson occurred
yesterday, and, under the provisions of section 12 of chapter
486 of the Acts of 1909, I hereby designate you to discharge
temporarily the duties of the office of City Engineer.
Respectfully,
John F. Fitzgerald, Mayor.
Immediately on the receipt of the above I assumed
charge of the Engineering Department, and with your
approval appointed Mr. Frank A. Mclnnes, Assistant
City Engineer, as Acting City Engineer.
The following report of Mr. Mclnnes shows the
work done by the Engineering Department while under
my supervision.
Respectfully submitted,
Louis K. Rourke,
Superintendent of Streets and
Acting City Engineer.
Engineering Department.
Mr. Louis K. Rourke,
Superintendent of Streets and Acting City Engineer:
Sir, — The following report of the expenses and
operations of this department for the year ending Jan-
uary 31, 1911, is submitted.
Statement of engineering expenses from February 1,
1910, to January 31, 1911:
Amount of department appropriation for 1910-1 1, $84,000 00
Transfers • 2,301 04
Revenue 708 00
Total $87,009 04
Amount expended for 1910-11 .... $87,009 04
Statement of Expenditures, Department
Appropriation.
(As per City Auditor's Report, page 63.)
Salaries :
Engineer William Jackson to
June 30, 1910, inclusive .
Assistant engineers, draughtsmen
and assistants to January 31,
1911, inclusive ....
$3,000 00
76,502 82
$79,502 82
Traveling expenses 1,852 91
Automobile expenses
1,668 32
Instruments, tools and repairs
700 20
Blueprinting and photographing
660 08
Stationery
598 34
Telephone service
545 28
Printing ....
511 10
Horse keeping
241 25
Books and papers
238 53
Binding and plans
196 66
Washing and small supplies
102 12
Typewriting
66 09
Furniture and office expenses
60 40
Postage ....
46 56
Messenger service
18 38
Total
. $87,009 04
City Document No. 14.
Abolishment of Grade Crossings.
East Boston.
Expenditures from February 1, 1910, to January 31,
1911:
Land damages
$1,386 76
Apprizal services
245 00
Paving
214 10
$1,845 86
Expended previous to 1910
385,971 16
^
$387,817 02
Freeport, Walnut and Other Streets.
Expenditures from February 1, 1910, to January 31
1911:
Land damages
$9,300 00
Sewer construction
1,895 18
Relocating water pipes
481 29
Apprizal services
65 00
Auditing
50 00
$11,791 47
Expended previous to 1910
37,954 13
$49,745 60
Chelsea Street Bridge,
Appropriation and revenue . $75,018 00
Transferred from Congress Street
Bridge 1,500 00
$76,518 00
Less amount transferred to Park
Department May 20, 1909 . 20,000 00
$56,518 00
Expenditures from February 1, 1910, to January
31, 1911:
Draw span $3,329 98
Draw machinery .... 2,206 08
Drawtenders' house . . . 1,239 50
Engineering 1,002 25
Gates 397 50
Rebuilding bridge .... 387 16
East Boston approach . . . 205 80
$8,768 27
Expended previous to 1910 . . 47,422 96
56,191 23
Balance transferred to Hyde Park avenue .
$326 77
Engineering Department.
Chelsea South Temporary Bridge.
Appropriation
Expenditures from September 15, 1910, to Jan-
uary 31, 1911:
Engineering
Unexpended balance February 1, 1911 .
$80,000 00
464 16
,535 84
Congress Street Bridge.
Appropriation $35,000 00
Less amount transferred to Chelsea
Street Bridge 1,500 00
$33,500 00
Expenditures from February 1
, 1910, to January
31, 1911:
Repairing sidewalks, etc.
$852 18
Draw machinery .
451 24
Repairing end lifts
268 00
Engineering
255 00
Repairing screw pillars .
30 00
Expended previous to 1910
Unexpended balance
$1,856 42
28,745 57
30,601 99
$2,898 01
Northern Avenue and Sleeper Street.
Expenditures from February 1, 1910, to January 31, 1911:
Paving, fences, etc $518 87
Draw machinery 302 52
Rent of office 37 58
Engineering 24 00
Sea wall at docks 2 and 3 8 78
Expended previous to 1910
$891 75
819,984 65
,876 40
Meridian Street Bridge.
Appropriation $125,000 00
Expenditures from October 15, 1910, to January
31, 1911:
Engineering 434 00
Unexpended balance February 1, 1911 .
$124,566 00
City Document No. 14.
Bridges.
The annual inspection of all highway and footbridges
has been made, together with special examinations
when notified by the Street Department of the progress
of repairs.
Craigie temporary bridge was removed during the
year and Tollgate Way Footbridge has been built.
The Metropolitan Park Commission undertook the
management of Charles River Dam Bridge July 1,
1910, under the provisions of chapter 524 of the Acts
of 1909, which transferred to them the management of
Charles River Basin.
The management of all other 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, Cambridge, Cambridge Street, Har-
vard, North Harvard Street, Prison Point and Western
Avenue to Cambridge; one-half the cost of the main-
tenance of these bridges is paid by each of these cities.
In the list 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, in 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.
Engineering Department. 7
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 Boston & Albany R. R.
* Broadway, over Fort Point channel.
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.
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.
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 Divi-
sion, 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.
8 City Document No. 14.
Ipswich street, over waterway, in the Fens.
Irvington Street Footbridge, over Providence Division,
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
* L street, over Reserved channel. South Boston.
Leverett Pond Footbridge, in Leverett Park.
* 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.
Neptune road, over Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R. R.
Newton street, over Providence Division, N. Y., N. H. &
H. R. R.
* Northern avenue, over Fort Point channel.
Public Garden Footbridge.
Scarboro Pond Footbridge, in Franklin Park.
Shawmut avenue, over Boston & Albany R. R. and Prov-
idence Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
Southampton street, east 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.
ToUgate Way Footbridge, over Providence Division,
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
* Warren Bridge, Boston to Charlestown.
West Rutland Square Footbridge, over Providence Divi-
sion, 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. — Bkidges 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 River-
way.
Engineering Department. 9
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, over Boston & Albany R. R.
Brookline street, from Brighton to Cambridge.
Cambridge Bridge, from Boston to Cambridge.
* Cambridge street from Brighton to Cambridge.
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.
Mystic avenue, over Boston & Maine and Boston &
Albany Railroads, Charlestown.
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 Blue Hill avenue station.
* North Harvard street, from Brighton to Cambridge.
10 City Document No. 14.
Oakland street, over Midland Division, N. Y., N. H. &
H. R. R., Mattapan.
Perkins street, over Boston & Maine 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.
Reservoir road, over Boston & Albany R. R., Brighton.
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.
Sumner street, over Boston & Albany R. R., East
Boston.
Webster Street Footbridge, over Boston & Albany R. R.,
East Boston.
West Fourth street, over Old Colony Division, N. Y.,
N. H. & H. R. R., South Boston.
* Western avenue, from Brighton to Cambridge.
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 cfc Maine and Boston & Albany Railroads.
Main street, Charlestown.
3d. — Boston & Maine R. R., Eastern Division.
Wauwatosa avenue, East Boston.
4th. — Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R. R.
Everett street. East Boston.
Engineering Department. 11
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.
Gardner street. West Roxbury.
Harrison avenue.
Park street. West Roxbury.
Walworth street. West Roxbury.
Washington street.
V. — Bridges Supported by the Metropolitan Park
Commission.
* Charles River Dam Bridge.
Mattapan Bridge, Dorchester to Milton.
12 City Document No. 14.
Recapitulation of Bridges.
I. Number wholly supported by Boston . . 75
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 35
IV. Number supported by railroad corporations :
1. Boston & Albany R. R. ... 5
2. Boston & Maine and Boston & Albany
Railroads 1
3. Boston & Maine R. R., Eastern Div., 1
4. Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn R. R., 1
5. N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R., Midland Div., 10
6. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., Old Colony
Div 5
7. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., Providence
Div 16
V. Number supported by the Metropolitan Park
Commission 2
Total 164
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.
(See page 46.)
Allston Bridge {over the Boston cfc Albany R.R., Brighton).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1892. The stringers
and lower planking are in very poor condition and
should be renewed this year. When this work is done
the floor beams should be thoroughly cleaned and
painted and the shelf angles for stringers should be
replaced where found to be in bad condition. The
ironwork above the floor should be painted this year.
Engineering Department. 13
Arborway Bridge {over Stony Brook, in Arhorway near
Forest Hills Station).
The bridge is maintained by the Park Department.
A masonry culvert is now under construction to super-
sede this bridge and it is expected that the work will
be completed early in the spring.
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"
condition.
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
railroad company. It was lengthened on the Boston
side in 1895, and again further lengthened last year,
and now the city maintains 133 feet of the northerly
part. After the bridge was lengthened, the older part,
maintained by the city, was rebuilt. (See page 48.)
Athens Street Bridge (over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R. R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1874. The deck
planking and curb timbers should be renewed, the
fence should be repaired, and the bridge painted.
Atlantic Avenue Bridge (over South Terminal Station
Yard and Fort Point Channel).
The bridge was completed and opened to travel
August 12, 1907. On the Boston approach is a steel
viaduct about 450 feet in length, consisting of a series
of short plate girder and I-beam spans of the deck type.
The bridge over the railroad yard consists of two steel
plate girder spans and two steel truss spans, all except
one plate girder span being through spans. Fort Point
channel is crossed by one truss span, a plate girder span,
an I-beam span and a draw span, all being deck struc-
tures built of steel. The draw span is a swing or turn-
table draw, 184 feet long on center line, operated by
electricity and compressed air. On the approaches and
across Fort Point channel the bridge is 50 feet in width;
14 City Document No. 14.
over the railroad yard the width is 60 feet. Some
painting should be done this year, otherwise the bridge
is in good condition.
Audubon 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 por-
tion of the bridge over the main tracks of the railroad
should be cleaned and painted, otherwise the structure
is in good condition.
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 surface of the bridge is maintained by
the city, the remainder by the railroad company. The
fences should be repaired and painted, and the plank
walk should be repaired, otherwise the bridge is in good
condition.
Baker Street Bridge {at Brook Farm, West Roxbury).
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 incased
in Portland cement concrete, and the roadway was paved
with hard pine blocks, treated by the creoresinate pro-
cess. The bridge is 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 convenience and at the expense of the street
railway company. During the year the Boston Ele-
vated Railway Company removed the flooring of the
middle roadway carrying its tracks, cleaned the floor
beams, strengthened them to carry its cars of the 42-ton,
Engineering Department. 15
semiconvertible type, painted them three coats of red
lead paint, and rebuilt the flooring. During this work
the Elevated Railway Company carried its cars on a
temporary track on the northerly roadway.
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 Depart-
ments 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 sur-
face of the bridge is maintained by the city and the rest
of the structure by the railroad company. The bridge
should be painted, otherwise 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 out-of-town roadway should be
redecked and the bridge should be painted.
Berkeley Street Bridge {over Boston cfc 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 through plate girder bridge and
was built in 1891.
The bridge over the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H.
R. R. was built in 1899 and is maintained by that com-
pany. (See page 49.)
Bernier Street Footbridge {over Bridle Path, in Riverway).
This is a semicircular masonry arch of 38 feet 4 inches
span. It was built in 1893 and is maintained by the Park
Department.
16 City Document No. 14.
Bernier Street Footbridge {over Muddy River).
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.
Berwick 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. This
bridge should be painted the coming year.
Blakemore Street Bridge {over Providence Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1881-82. The lower
planking is poor and should be renewed and the iron-
work below floor 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.
K. 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 bridge is in
good condition with the exception of the sidewalk
planking, which should be renewed.
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. The walks have been repaired. The
fencing and deck planking need repairs.
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 Dor-
chester avenue. The surface of the bridge is main-
tained by the city and the rest of the structure by the
Engineering Department. 17
railroad company. The bridge should be painted and
the deck planking should be renewed in about a year.
Boylston Street Arch Bridge {in the Fens).
This is a stone arch bridge, built in 1881. It is in
good condition, with the exception of coping, which
should be repointed without further delay.
Boylston Street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R. R.).
The first bridge on this location was built in 1886-88
and the present structure in 1907-08. The bridge is
now in good condition.
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 diameter. It was built in 1894 and is main-
tained by the Park Department. It is in good condi-
tion.
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. A new 4-inch spruce deck has been laid on
the draw. The plate girder section over the railroad,
the gates and some of the fencing have been painted.
The tracks and wheels below the draw are in poor con-
dition. The stone piers should be repointed. The plank-
ing on the waterway and pier needs repairing. The
draw is old and too light for heavy travel and should be
rebuilt within a year. The main bridge is in good con-
dition.
Broadway Bridge {over Boston & Albany R. R.).
The old bridge, built in 1880-81, was replaced in
1900 by the present bridge. (See page 51.)
Brookline Avenue Bridge {over Boston & Albany R. R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1884. With the excep-
tion of the paint the bridge is in fair condition; it should,
however, be painted this j^ear.
18 City Document No. 14.
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 founda-
tion in 1906, and is in care of the Commissioners for
Boston and Cambridge Bridges; the city pays one-half
the cost of maintenance. It was built as a temporary
structure, with the expectation that it would be replaced
by a permanent bridge within ten years. As the bridge
is now four years old, the construction of the permanent
bridge should be commenced within a year or two.
It is in good condition.
Brookline Street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R. R.).
This is a steel plate girder bridge, on steel trestles,
with wooden floor and wearing surface, built in 1906.
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.
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 roadway surface should be repaired.
Byron Street Bridge {over Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn
R. R.).
This is a wooden bridge, built in 1889. The stringers
and bulkheads are in poor condition and the bridge
needs a general overhauling.
Cambridge Bridge {from Boston to Cambridge).
The new bridge was completed in the fall of 1907.
It is maintained by the Commissioners for the Boston
and Cambridge Bridges, and each city pays one-half of
the cost of maintenance. The structure is in good condi-
tion and needs only the yearly cleaning and customary
touching up of the paint. It is of the utmost importance
' that this bridge should be kept properly painted in order
that it may not be deteriorated by rust.
Engineering Department. 19
Cambridge Street Bridge (from Brighton to Cambridge).
This is a wooden pile bridge with a wooden leaf
draw. This 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 draw and upper
part of the bridge were rebuilt last year. (See page 52.)
Cambridge Street Bridge (over Boston & Maine and
Boston & Albany Railroads, Charlestown).
This is a through steel truss 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 sidewalks have been repaired. The
bridge has been painted.
Castle Island Footbridge (from Marine Park to Castle
Island) .
This is a temporary footbridge, built in 1892, and
is maintained by the Park Department. It connects
Marine 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. Repairs
have been made on the planking. The fences should be
painted and more planking should be renewed. 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 roadway
planking has been renewed, and additional stringers
have been placed in the bridge. The fences should be
painted. Otherwise the bridge is in good condition.
Charles River Dam Bridge.
This is a steel bridge in line with the roadway over
Charles River Dam and is in charge of the Charles
River Basin Commission. It was built in 1906-07 by
the American Bridge Company and consists of a short
fixed span 9 feet 2 inches in length on the westerly side
and a movable portion 63 feet 10 inches in length.
The movable portion is composed of two leaves of the
Scherzer rolling lift type, each leaf having a roadway
30 feet 10 inches wide and a sidewalk 10 feet wide, and
20 City Document No. 14.
being operated by a 35 horse power electric motor.
The bridge was opened to travel January 27, 1910. It
is in good condition.
Charlesgate Bridge (over Boston & Albany R. R., in the
Fens) .
This is an iron bridge, built in 1881-82, and is main-
tained by the Park Department. The bridge should
be cleaned and painted this year, and an opportunity
given to make a careful examination of the ironwork.
As the abutments are constantly settling, decreasing the
head room over the railroad, the bridge should be raised
to its former elevation at the time the stripping is done.
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 as the portions under the side-
walks are in very rusty condition.
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
turntable 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.
On April 29, 1910, a fire in the power room destroyed
part of the woodwork of the electric equipment and
seriously damaged much of the operating machinery of
the draw. This necessitated the stopping of all water
travel that could not pass under the draw and it was
out of commission completely for four days. A special
appropriation was made to cover the cost of repairing
the damage and to place the draw in good working
order. It was necessary to completely rebuild the
power room, substituting metal and asbestos for the
former woodwork, to renew the electric equipment and
overhaul all the operating machinery. This work has
been completed, but it has been found necessary to
Engineering Department. 21
thoroughly clean and paint the draw, for which a con-
tract has been made and the work is now in progress.
Chelsea Bridge (over Boston & Maine R. R.).
This is an iron bridge, built by the Boston & Maine
R. R. Co. in 1894, and is over the railroad location.
The surface of the bridge is maintained by the city, the
remainder by the railroad company. Repairs have been
made on the sidewalk planking. The wheel guard is
too low and narrow; the fences and sidewalk planking
need repairing and the bridge needs painting; some of
the track stringers begin to show decay. Otherwise 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 foundation being enlarged, the draw
lengthened and the draw piers built. The upper part
of the bridge should be painted; new machinery should
be provided; several truck wheels need renewing; an
additional bearing should be provided at the skew end;
the sidewalk planking should be repaired; 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.
Where the rebuilding of 1895 joins the old work repairs
are needed on both sides of the bridge. The draw is
too light for the present travel; the bridge should be
rebuilt.
Chelsea Street Bridge (from East Boston to Chelsea).
This is a wooden pile bridge with a steel swing draw.
The original bridge was built in 1834. About 100 feet
of the Chelsea end was built in 1894-95, and strength-
22 City Document No. 14.
ened in 1906. The remainder of the bridge, including
the draw, was built in 1908-09. It is in good condition.
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 main-
tained by the Park Department.
Columbia Road Bridge (over Old Colony Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R. R., and Old Colony
Avenue).
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 roadway is paved with Canton brick,
cement grout joints, and laid on hard pine planking.
The sidewalks are badly cracked and should be put in
good condition without further delay.
Columbia 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
between the beams; the roadway is paved with Canton
brick laid with cement grout joints. The sidewalks are
of artificial stone. The bridge is in good condition.
Columbus Avenue Bridges (over Boston & Albany R. R.
and Providence Division, New York, New Haven &
Hartford 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.
In 1907 new plate girders were built on the center side
of each roadway and the roadway floor strengthened.
The bridge over the tracks of the N. Y., N. H. &
H. R. R. was built in 1899 and is maintained by that
company. The asphalt pavement needs patching. (See
page 53.)
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
Engineering Department. 23
part of the bridge were rebuilt in 1901. The deck
planking should be renewed. Otherwise the bridge is
in fair condition.
Commonwealth Avenue Bridge {in the Fens).
This is an iron bridge and was built in 1881-82. The
railings should be painted, otherwise the bridge is in
good condition. It is maintained by the Park Depart-
ment.
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 part of the bridge above the caps was entirely
rebuilt in 1908 and the machinery of the draw span
put in good order. In 1909 the draw fender pier was
replanked and new stringers put in. The bridge is now
in good condition and can probably be maintained so
for the next ten years.
Cottage Farm Bridge (over Boston & Albany R. R.,
Brighton) .
The present bridge was built in 1895-96. With the
exception of the plate girders on the outside lines of
the bridge and some special construction under the side-
walks, 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 should be painted and the
asphalt roadways repaired; otherwise it is in good con-
dition.
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. The
bridge is in poor condition, and should be repaired this
year. A few piles need strengthening, the sheathing
needs repairing, some stringers need renewal and the
fences should be painted.
Curtis 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
24 City Document No. 14.
abolishing the grade crossings in East Boston. The sur-
face 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 railing repaired ; other-
wise it is in good condition.
Dartmouth Street Bridges (over Boston & Albany R. R.
and Providence Division, New York, New Haven &
Hartford R. R.).
The bridge over the Boston & Albany R. R. was
built in 1878-79 and is maintained by the city. Very
extensive changes were made in this bridge in 1899 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.
Some of the hangers and the bottom flanges of the
floor beams over the main tracks have been reduced
in section so materially by the corrosive action of the
fumes from the locomotives that it will be necessary to
renew them this year and rebuild the floorings of the
roadways and sidewalks. When this is done the bridge
will be in fair condition for a few years longer, but the
question of a new structure at this location should be
considered without further delay.
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. Both sections of
the draw have been redecked, the sidewalks have been
rebuilt and stiffeners have been placed on the floor
beams. The fences and upper part of the draw should
be painted. The track timbers should be repaired;
the sills and planking on the wharves, waterway and
piers need renewal; some of the spur shores have begun
to decay and should be refitted, and 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 loca-
tion 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 bridge should
Engineering Department. 25
be painted and the deck planking should be renewed
this year, 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. On August 10, 1910, a fire on
an adjoining wharf at the southwest corner of this bridge
destroyed part of the sidewalk and necessitated exten-
sive repairs. A contract has been made for repairing
the draw machinery, tracks, etc., and the work will
begin early in the spring. When this work is under way
the draw span should be painted and a new flooring laid.
(See page 54.)
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.
Everett Street Bridge (over Boston & Albany R. R.,
Brighton) .
This is an iron bridge, built in 1891 by the Boston &
Albany R. R. Co. The bridge is in good condition.
Fens Bridge (in the Fens).
This bridge was built in 1891-93, and 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 3 feet at its southerly end
and the old south abutment replaced by a brick pier.
The bridge is now in fair condition except the fences;
these should be repaired and painted.
Florence Street Bridge (over Stony Brook).
This is a wooden stringer bridge of about 15 feet
span, and is in fair condition.
26 City Document No. 14.
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. The
bridge is in good condition except the paint; it is recom-
mended that the bridge be painted this year.
Gold Street Bridge {over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R. R.).
This is an iron bridge with a wooden flooring and was
built in 1895, replacing a footbridge which was built
in 1890. The fences should be repaired, and the bridge
should be painted. The walls need a small amount of
pointing, 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. The draw and the adjoin-
ing bay were repaired in 1907, and in 1909 the rest of
the bridge was entirely rebuilt.
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 the
Commissioners for the Boston and Cambridge Bridges,
and the city pays one-half the cost of maintenance.
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 raihngs
were painted. The draw span is now in good condition.
The draw fender pier and the fender guards should be
repaired and the whole bridge painted. It is recom-
mended that this work be done this year.
Harvard Street Bridge {over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R. R., Dorchester).
This is a steel bridge, built in 1904, under an agree-
ment between the city and the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
Engineering Department. 27
The deck planking is in poor condition and the steel
work is very rusty; the bridge should be stripped and
painted and a new deck laid this spring.
Huntington Avenue Bridge {over Boston & Albany R. R.).
The original bridge was built in 1872, and the present
structure was erected in 1909. A full description of
this bridge was given in last year's report.
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 and it 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 this year.
Irvington Street Footbridge {over Providence Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.).
This is a steel footbridge and was built in 1892. It is
in fair condition, but will need painting this year.
L Street Bridge {over Reserved Channel, South Boston).
This is a wooden pile bridge with an iron retractile
draw. It was built in 1892. The southerly face of the
waterway has been rebuilt in part and miscellaneous
repairs made. A few additional stringers are needed
in the draw. The northerly face of the waterway
should be repaired. The track timbers are in poor
condition and should be renewed in part. The painting
on the draw needs touching up. The fender guards
need repairing. The sidewalks need repairs. The plank-
ing under the abutment and wing walls on the South
Boston side is being eaten by the worms and additional
gravel should be deposited about the planking.
28 City Document No. 14.
Leverett Pond Footbridge (in Leverett Park).
This is a segmental masonry arch of 24 foot span and 5
feet 5 inches rise. It was built in 1894, and is maintained
by the Park Department.
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 should
be painted; the walks should be resurfaced, the paving
should be repaired, some of the capsills on the
pier should be renewed, and the bolts under the
main bridge should be tightened; about 50 feet of fence
should be built on the wing of the abutment. Other-
wise the bridge is in good condition.
Massachusetts Avenue Bridge (over Boston & Albany R. R.).
The original bridge was built in 1876 and the present
structure in 1908. It is a deck plate girder bridge with
steel floor beams, 6-inch hard pine roadway and 4-inch
sidewalk planking. The roadway is paved with wooden
blocks and the sidewalk with paving brick. It is in
good condition.
Massachusetts Avenue Bridge (over Providence Division,
New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.).
This is an iron bridge built in 1876. The roadways
carrying street cars were strengthened in 1908, and new
sidewalks were built last year. The middle roadway
should be repaired and the whole bridge painted this
year.
Mattapan Bridge (from Dorchester to Milton).
This is a three-arch bridge of Melan construction with
granite facing. It was built in 1902 by the Metropolitan
Engineering Department. 29
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.
The surface of the bridge is maintained by the city and
the rest of the structure by the railroad company. The
fence should be repaired and painted. The asphalt on
the roadway is in very poor condition and should be
repaired at once. The main structure is in good con-
dition.
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 strengthened in 1907. The
bridge is in poor condition and it should be rebuilt this
year; owing to the poor condition of the draw, the tunnel
cars ceased crossing it November 3. Plans are being
made for a new draw and rebuilding the upper part of
the main bridge.
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 older part of this bridge was built of stone,
and the widening is an iron structure on stone columns.
The westerly sidewalk was rebuilt on new iron girders
and floor beams in 1900. Some repairs have been made
on the flooring. The old planking on the bridge
should be uncovered and examined, and it will probably
need renewal. One of the capstones over the first water-
way is cracked.
30 City Document No. 14.
Neponset Bridge (from Dorchester to Quincy).
The city maintains the part within its Hmits. The
original structure was built in 1802. The steel draw
and the adjoining upper part of the bridge was rebuilt
in 1909. With the exception of the draw fender piers,
the bridge is now in good condition. The piers should
be rebuilt at once.
Neptune Road Bridge (over Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn
R. R,).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1887-88, and is main-
tained by the Park Department. The fence should be
repaired, and the bridge should be painted. Otherwise
it is in good condition.
Newton Street Bridge {over Providence Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.).
This is an iron bridge, built in 1872. This bridge is
one of the oldest in the city, but can probably be main-
tained in safe condition for two or three years longer if
carefully watched and the deck is kept in good condition.
Norfolk Street Bridge {over Midland Division, New York,
New Haven & Hartford R. R., near Blue Hill Ave-
nue 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 roadway planking and a
few stringers should be renewed this year; the sidewalk
planking is only in fair condition. Otherwise the bridge
is in good condition.
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. R. R.
The bridge is very rusty and should be painted and the
boxing at the trusses should be repaired. The deck
planking will need renewal in about a year. Otherwise
the bridge is in good condition.
Engineering Department. 31
North Beacon Street Bridge (from Brighton to Watertown).
The city maintains the part within its Hmits. 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, but if it is to
be kept in service the older part should be redecked
and some pile work should be done in the early spring.
It should be rebuilt without a draw.
North Harvard Street Bridge (from Brighton to Cambridge) .
This bridge was originally built in 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 very
poor condition, and the building of a new bridge should
be commenced at once.
Northern Avenue Bridge (over Fort Point Channel).
This bridge was opened to travel in 1908. A descrip-
tion of this bridge was given in the last annual report.
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 Supe-
rior 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 is in good condition but will require new side-
walk planking next year.
Perkins Street Footbridge (over Boston & Maine, and
Boston & Albany Railroads in Charlestown).
This bridge was built in 1900 and opened to travel
February 2, 1901. It has two spans of wooden stringers
and one span of steel Pratt trusses. The surface is
maintained by the city, the rest of the structure by
the railroad companies. The bridge has been repaired
and painted. The stairs will soon need repairing.
Otherwise the bridge is in good condition.
32 City Document No. 14.
Porter Street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R. R., East
Boston).
This is a steel bridge built in 1906-07 by the railroad
company under the decree of the Superior Court abol-
ishing 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. The bridge
should be painted and the railings repaired, otherwise
it is in good condition.
Prescott Street Bridge (over Boston & Albany R. R.,
East Boston).
This is a steel plate girder bridge, built by the rail-
road company in 1906-07 under the decree of the Supe-
rior 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. The
bridge should be painted, and the raihngs repaired.
Otherwise it is in good condition.
Prison Point Bridge (from Charlestown to Cambridge).
This bridge includes a steel draw and its landings
and was built in 1907. 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. A
drawtenders' house should be provided, part of the old
pier should be rebuilt, and the bridge should be painted.
Public Garden Footbridge.
This is an iron bridge and was built in 1867. The
woodwork should be entirely rebuilt if it is proposed
to keep the present structure in service.
Reservoir Road {over Boston & Albany R. R.).
This bridge was built by the Boston & Albany R. R.
Company in 1906-07 under a decree of the Superior
Court aboUshing the grade crossing at this point, con-
firmed June 14, 1905.
The bridge is about 40 feet wide and consists of seven
lines of girders 39 feet 6 inches long. The outside girders
are built beams 38 inches deep at the center and 34
Engineering Department. 33
inches deep at the ends, the other five beams being
20-inch rolled beams, weighing 80 pounds per foot.
The flooring consists of 3-inch yellow pine deck and
a 2-inch spruce wearing surface, the sidewalk planking
being 1| inches thick.
The surface of the bridge is maintained by the city
and the rest of the structure by the railroad company.
Saratoga Street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R. R.,
East Boston).
This is a steel plate girder bridge, built in 1907 by
the railroad company 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. The
painting on the bridge should be touched up; otherwise
the bridge is in good condition.
Scarhoro Pond Footbridge {in Franklin Park).
This is an elliptical masonry arch of 40 foot span and
8 feet 3 inches rise. It was built in 1893 and is main-
tained 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 in a
thorough manner.
Southampton Street Bridge {over South Bay Sluice).
This is a wooden bridge, built in 1875 as a temporary
structure. The bridge has been replanked with 3-inch
hard pine and a wearing surface of 3-inch spruce; a few
additional stringers were also put in. It is in very poor
condition and should be rebuilt of a shorter length.
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
34 City Document No. 14.
structure by the railroad company. The bridge should
be painted. Otherwise it is in good condition.
Spring Street Bridge (fro7n West Roxhury 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.
Summer Street Bridges (over A, B and C Streets).
These bridges were built in connection with the aboli-
tion 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 sidewalks.
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 in good condition, except the paint,
which should be renewed this year.
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 channelway. The roadway of the fixed spans has a
granite block paving, and the sidewalks have asphalt
wearing surfaces. The whole structure should be
painted this year and the draws and draw fender piers
replanked. (See page 57.)
Summer Street Bridge {over New York, New Haven &
Hartford R. R. 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
Engineering Department. 35
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 is now in good condition with the exception
of the sidewalks. The walks laid on this bridge were
made of an asphalt composition containing but a small
percentage of asphalt; they are now in very poor con-
dition and should be rebuilt or resurfaced this year.
Sumner Street Bridge {over Boston & Albany R. R.,
East Boston).
This is a steel plate girder bridge, built by the rail-
road company in 1908 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.
Tailgate Way Footbridge (over Providence Division, New
York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.).
(See page 57.)
Warren Bridge (from Boston to Charlestown) .
This is a wooden pile bridge, with a double retrac-
tile iron draw. The present structure was built in
1883-84. The faces of the waterway have been
repaired during the past year. The fender guards
on the Charlestown side are in poor condition; the
planking in the draw pit should be extensively repaired;
the curbing on the draw should be realigned; the
landing shoes need adjustment; the sidewalk and fenc-
ing for the entire length of the bridge should be rebuilt
and the track timbers put in good condition.
Webster Street Footbridge (over Boston & Albany R. R.,
East Boston).
This is a steel truss bridge, built by the railroad
company in 1908 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.
36 City Document No. 14.
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 com-
pany. The roadway decking, sidewalk planking and
some of the stringers should be renewed this year,
and the bridge painted.
West Rutland Square Footbridge {over Providence Division,
New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.).
This is an iron footbridge, built in 1882. The bridge
should be painted this year.
Western Avenue Bridge {from Brighton to Cambridge).
This 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 draw and upper
part of this bridge have been rebuilt. The striking
plates for the draw should be adjusted; the piers should
be replanked, and the waterway repaired. (See page 59.)
Western Avenue Bridge {Brighton to Water town).
The city maintains the part within its limits. This
is a wooden pile bridge with an iron draw, and was
rebuilt in 1892-93.
The bridge has been replanked and painted. The
planking and capsills on the piers and along the water-
way should be repaired; some of the spur shores should
be refitted; 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 origi-
nally built in 1839; it was rebuilt in 1851; extensively
repaired in 1870 and has been repaired many times
since. The bulkhead at the Boston end, some of the
outside bolsters and the roadway planking are in very
poor condition. The piles are somewhat eaten by
worms; the piles in deep water should be examined by a
Engineering Department. 37
diver, and additional piles may be needed. The water-
way should be partially filled, and the bridge should be
rebuilt of a shorter length. If this bridge is to be kept
in service, extensive repairs should be made at once.
Wood Island Park Footbridge.
This is a steel footbridge, built in 1898-99, and con-
nects Prescott street, East Boston, with Wood Island
Park, spanning the tracks of the Boston, Revere Beach
& Lynn R. R. The steel work should be examined in
the spring, the weaker members strengthened if neces-
sary and the bridge should be cleaned and painted.
Bridges wholly Supported by Railroad.
Broadway Bridge over the Midland Division, N. Y.,
N. H. & H. R. R. has been rebuilt. Morton Street Bridge
over the Old Colony Division, N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.,
should be rebuilt. The other highway bridges main-
tained by the several railroad companies are in good or
fair condition.
38 City Document No. 14.
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 depart-
ments, and giving lines and grades of public streets
when requested by abutters intending to build.
* Twenty-four petitions requesting that catch-basins
should be constructed were reported upon to the Sewer
Division.
* One hundred and sixty plans of streets showing pro-
posed locations for future catch-basins were furnished
on request of the Sewer Division.
* For twelve Dorchester streets, the Sewer Division
were furnished with locations for catch-basins, made
necessary by the abolition of grade crossings.
* Two hundred and eighteen catch-basins were staked
out on request of the Sewer Division and duplicate
sketches showing locations of spikes, ties, etc., were
furnished.
* Measurements have been obtained on eighty-two
streets for the Sewer Division, for the purpose of making
sewer assessments.
* Two hundred and sixteen plans of proposed under-
ground pipes, conduits, etc., were examined for the
Sewer Division, and locations for proposed future catch-
basins were marked on plans.
Three hundred and sixty-eight notices of contracts to
lay artificial stone sidewalks were received, lines and
grades marked, the work measured when completed
and reported upon to the Street Department. In one
hundred and thirty-five cases the Street Department
was notified that the existing edgestones should be
reset preparatory to the laying of artificial stone.
Fifty-three notices of completion of repairs to arti-
ficial stone sidewalks were received, the work measured
and reported upon to the Street Department.
On request of the Street Department the coal tar
concrete sidewalks on thirty-six streets were inspected,
and measurement returned of the amount of repair
* This work performed jointly by the Engineering and Street Laying-Out Departments.
Engineering Department. 39
work necessary. On notice of completion of repairs to
coal tar concrete sidewalks, the work was measured and
reported upon to the Street Department. New coal
tar concrete sidewalks on four streets were measured
and reported upon.
Twenty-eight petitions to make sidewalk openings
for areas, bulkheads, etc., were received from the Street
Department and reported upon.
One hundred and forty requests for edgestone were
examined and the amount required reported upon to
the Street Department.
Sidewalk grades for sixty-seven streets were furnished
engineers and architects for plans of new buildings.
Plans of twenty-seven streets were made for sidewalk
assessments on request of the Street Department.
Data was also furnished the Street Department for side-
walk assessment on nine estates.
Two thousand and forty-one orders were attended to
for the Highway Division; these consisted of 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 the abutting owners.
Estimates for grade, land and building damages and
cost of construction were furnished the Street Com-
missioners on sixty-four streets.
The lines and grades of twenty-four streets, for which
the Street Commissioners were petitioned for author-
ity to open as private ways, were examined and reported
upon.
* Fifty-eight miscellaneous reports were made to the
Sewer Division.
Twelve miscellaneous reports were made to the Street
Department.
The following table gives the comparative annual
amounts of paving work measured by the Surveying
Division of the Engineering Department for seventeen
years :
* This work was performed jointly by the Engineering and Street Laying-Out Depart-
ments.
40
City Document No. 14.
Year Ending
January 31.
1^
Square Yards
Block Stone
Paving and
Crossings.
■2°
03 O 03
hi
m 9
<i 03
^S
£.2
6
a
Ih -4-3
53 tH
&^
to
2-3 fl
03 O O
03^^ .
^■^^
ill
oi cn ra
m
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
1,743
5,161
6,845
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
6,706
2,061
2,218
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
742
944
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
1,423
2,277
618
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
14,846
21,547
31,818
11,738
183
2,971
4,019
1,619
789
489
698
25
248
196
3,551
3,716
1,926
83
23
1,173
1,406
1896
1,297
1897
394
1898
27
1899
1900 ... .
16
1901
2,377
1902
1903
1904
62
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
Table showing the amount of paving work measured
by the Surveying Division for the year ending January
31, 1911, by districts:
Districts.
a
ll
3
pn 3 o3
few
IS
"o hi
m «
c3't-
o
•a
ea o o
CO
1
m
03
Old.
New.
Old.
New.
Old.
New.
New.
OZd.
New.
OZd.
New.
o
221
1,088
126
3,228
2,996
l,13o
71
4,436
14,823
949
2,131
335
500
69
3,514
322
1,275
90
1,575
20
1,143
122
360
35
538
15
601
221
14
5
2
341
568
43
420
Totals
14
641
2,049
29,769
3,905
2,940
1,285
933
17
601
562
611
5
Engineering Department.
41
Table showing the amount of paving work measured
by the Surveying Division for the year ending January
31, 1911, by months:
Months.
o
a
>_ o
°^
'►3
Square Yards of
Artificial Stone
Sidewalks.
few
"0
X
"o M
si
02
"0
oJ 03 -S
(S 0 0
§00
a
0
"3
S
w
03
0
Old.
New.
Old.
New.
Old.
New.
Old.
New.
Old.
New.
Oid.
New.
3
0
February, 1910
451
205
327
787
3,378
2,368
893
4,832
5,682
6,855
3,631
360
221
March
April
420
77
378
326
547
July
391
2,850
142
898
17
601
5
A.ugust
297
"399
558
14
1,186
2,200
128
■■■96
361
750
32
221
35
43
21
341
14
January, 1911
Totals
14
641
2,049
29,769
3,905
2,940
1,285
933
17
601
562
611
5
Surveys and plans have been made for the taking of
land for school purposes on Warrenton street and
Common street, Boston proper, for a site for the High
School of Commerce; Paris street, East Boston; Frank-
fort street. Porter street and Lubec street, East Boston;
Ashley street and Blackinton street. Breed's Island, an
addition to the Blackinton Primary School; Polk street,
Charlestown, for a boiler plant; Medford street and
Polk street, Charlestown, an addition to the Medford
Street and Polk Street Schools; Elm street, Charlestown,
an addition to the Prescott School; Pearl street, Wesley
street and Holden row, Charlestown; Walnut avenue
and Paulding street, Roxbury; Parker street and
Fisher avenue, Roxbury; Dacia street, Brookford street
and Danube street, Dorchester; Dacia street and Danube
street, Dorchester, in addition to the lot previously
taken; Chestnut Hill avenue and Dighton street,
Brighton, an addition to the Bennett School; Holmes
avenue, Redford street and Harlan street, Brighton,
and on Turner street, Brighton.
A plan was made for the Fire Department showing
the fire headquarters and repair shop at the corner
of Albany street and Bristol street.
42 City Document No. 14.
A plan was made for the Park Department on Stratton
street and Lyons street for an addition to Franklin
Field, also a plan for the relocation of Bernier square.
Surveys and plans were made for the Public Buildings
Department of the schoolhouse lot sold at auction on
North Margin street; the wardroom on Dudley street
and Vine street; and the lot owned by the City on
Wareham street and Plympton street.
A plan was made showing the change in the boundary
line between Boston and Cambridge in the Charles
river and Miller's river from a point nearly opposite
Berkeley street to the Somerville line.
Among the important plans made for the Street
Commissioners may be mentioned those for the widen-
ing of streets around the old Museum of Fine Arts, and
those connected with the change of the grade of Berkeley
street between Columbus avenue and Boylston street.
Plans were made for the revision of the grades of
three streets, in connection with the abolition of grade
crossings on the line of the Old Colony R. R., between
Harrison square and Neponset.
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 the Surveying Division of the Engineering Depart-
ment for the purpose of protecting the city's interests.
During the year ninety-one such cases have been
investigated.
There were 125 accident and other plans made for the
Law Department.
* In connection with the Surveying Division there
have been 2,022 titles examined, 1,202 deeds and 515
plans copied from the Registry of Deeds.
* Thirty-seven hundred and sixty-one blueprints
have been made during the year.
List of plans of takings for sewerage works filed
during the year ending February 1, 1911:
East Boston.
Addison street. Plan showing taking at Boston & Maine
R. R.
* Fifty-eight plans and profiles, representing a total length of six and one-quarter
miles, showing buildings, property owners' names, established grades, area of land taken,
or to be taken, for street widenings, relocations, or to be laid out, were completed for the
Street Laying-Out Department.
Engineering Department. 43
Dorchester.
Ashmont street. Plan showing taking in rear of, to Elm
avenue.
Baker court. Plan showing taking in Baker court from
Willow court to the marsh.
Kimball street outlet. Plan showing taking from Free-
port street to the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
Kimball street outlet. Plan showing temporary taking
outside above taking.
Robinson court. Plan showing taking from Savin Hill
avenue to the marsh.
Tenean creek. Plan showing taking from Longfellow
street to Westville street.
Ufford street. Plan showing taking in Dyer avenue and
Ufford street.
West Selden street. Plan showing takings in rear of,
opposite Halborn street.
West Roxbury.
Alder and Keith streets. Plan showing taking between
Alder and Keith streets.
Baker street. Plan showing taking in private land
opposite.
Guernsey street. Plan showing taking across N. Y., N. H.
& H. R. R.
Montclair avenue. Plan showing taking between Centre
street and Montclair avenue.
Spring street brook. Plan showing taking from Centre
street to Summer street.
Stony brook. Plan showing taking from Morton street
to Tower street.
Stony brook. Plan showing temporary taking along
the above, near Tower street.
Stony brook. Plan showing taking from Hyde Park
avenue to West Roxbury branch, N. Y., N. H. &
H. R. R.
The following sectional plans made under the Board
of Survey Act have been refilled during the year :
0I30 j Brighton 2
^~^^ j Dorchester _2
Total 4
44
City Document No. 14.
Thirty-five assessment plans were made for the Street
Commissioners.
The following list gives the number of orders attended
to for property owners, builders and the various city
departments from February 1, 1910, to February 1, 1911 :
Street lines given
510
Street grades given ....
308
Street Department, Highway Division
2,041
*Street Department, Sewer Division
383
Building Department ....
4
Law Department
218
*Street Commissioners
187
Engineering Department .
97
Park Department
3
Police Department
32
Schoolhouse Commission .
26
Fire Department
1
Wire Department
1
Public Buildings Department .
9
Water Department
1
Election Commission
2
Transit Commission .
1
Charles River Dam Commission
1
Mayor
3
3,828
There are on file with the Surveying Division 35,399
indexed plans.
There are also 3,523 lithographed plans in the office
at Old Court House not included in the foregoing list,
viz.:
Lithographed maps of Dorchester, raade in 1869 .... 33
" " " « 1880 .... 121
" " West Roxbury, made in 1873 . -. . 8
" " Fort Hill, made in 1866-69 .... 77
" " Church street district, made in 1868 . . 168
" " Washington street widening (parts 1, 2, 3),
made in 1860 . . . . . 1,186
" " Washington street extension, made in 1869, 324
" " North street, made in 1859 .... 44
" " Stony brook, drainage area 10
" " Boston, made in 1866-67 .... 98
" " Boston, made in 1888 30
" " Suffolk street district, made in 1869 . . 3
" " South Boston, made in 1880 . . . . 60
Carried forward 2,162
* This work was performed jointly by the Engineering and Street Laying-Out
Department.
Engineering Department.
45
Brought forward
Lithographed maps of Roxbury, made in 1880
burnt district
Mount Hope Cemetery
Winthrop Farm
Hanover avenue
Muddy river
Pemberton square, courthouse site
East Newton street, lots on, sold by auction,
made in 1888
public lands in South Boston, sold by auc-
tion, made in 1885
pubhc lands in South Boston, sold by auc-
tion, made in 1888
Boylston street, old PubUc 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, pubhc 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 .
2,162
81
57
19
49
44
41
195
42
82
8
17
136
60
57
5
10
34
63
96
16
38
57
154
3,523
46 City Document No. 14.
MISCELLANEOUS WORK AND CONSTRUCTION.
Abolishment of Grade Crossings on the Boston,
Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad.
This matter is still under consideration by the Massa-
chusetts Railroad Commission. Several hearings and
conferences have been held during the year and addi-
tional plans and estimates have been made.
Albany Street Bridge over the Boston & Albany
Railroad Freight Tracks.
The present bridge as built in 1886-87 was a wrought-
iron structure, about 130 feet long by 50 feet wide, with
two through trusses 30 feet 6 inches apart, and with
wooden flooring. The lower chords of the trusses were
boarded over at the floor level and thus subjected to
locomotive gases. The sidewalks were outside the trusses
on overhanging brackets. At the beginning of 1910
the iron above the floor was in good condition and prac-
tically of its original strength. Below the floor, especially
over the tracks where locomotives are apt to stand, the
iron had corroded badly. Several floor beams were
becoming dangerous; the hangers supporting the floor
beams were badly weakened, and of the lower truss
chords half a dozen panels had each lost 40 per cent or
more of its original strength. The bridge was evidently
in no condition to carry the heavy modern loads. (See
report of last year.)
Several methods of reconstruction were considered;
first, an entirely new bridge; second, inserting a new
truss on the center line of the bridge to act with the
existing trusses; third, reinforcing the lower chords of
the existing trusses. Finally it was decided not to
attempt to reinforce . the existing trusses but to narrow
the bridge and so reduce the amount of load that could
be imposed at any one time while leaving ample capacity
for a line of teams in each direction. This was done by
placing the sidewalks inside the trusses and leaving the
Engineering Department. 47
roadway 18| feet between curbs. The entire old floor
system was discarded. The trusses were raised till the
roller bearings at the southerly end as well as the lower
chords were above the bridge floor and shielded from
further injury from locomotive gases; the new floor
beams were hung at a greater distance below the chords
and were protected with heavy asphaltic coatings of
''Sarco." At the same time the entire bridge was raised
at the southerly end and rebuilt on a slight slope, making
a much better gradient for the street in connection with
the bridge over the main line tracks of the Boston &
Albany Railroad, and also giving drainage for the bridge
floor. These changes in grade involved considerable
masonry work on the bridge seat at each abutment and
raising of the coping of the pier between the two bridges;
concrete was used for this new masonry. The changes
in grade also involved resurfacing the street from the
bridge over the main line tracks of the Boston & Albany
Railroad to Curve street. The arrangement of lateral
bracing is somewhat novel. The system is attached at
the bottom flange of the floor beams; at the southerly
bridge seat it is anchored into the concrete; the swinging
of the floor beams on the hangers allows the necessary
expansion at the northerly end.
On September 8, 1910, an itemized contract for the
work was made with the New England Structural Com-
pany, the lowest bidder. The cleaning and painting
of the old iron which was to remain in the reconstructed
bridge formed a considerable part of the work. The
paint used was ''Government Waterproof Paint,"
black, made in Watertown, Mass. The use of the sand
blast was prescribed for metal which had been below
the bridge floor, and, as a matter of fact, the isand blast
was largely used on all the metal. (Compare the account
on page 51 of cleaning and painting Broadway Bridge.)
Sand blasting began early in October, 1910, and all
work was completed January 16, 1911. The work on
the bridge itself, including the raising, was done without
constructing supports from the railroad land beneath
the bridge. A heavy duct belonging to the Boston
Elevated Railway Company, lying outside the westerly
truss and containing thirty-six pipes inclosed in concrete,
had to be raised independently of the bridge, and for
this purpose the street railway company obtained per-
mission to place trestles between the tracks of the Boston
& Albany Railroad.
48 City Document No. 14.
Nine thousand four hundred and ninety-one dollars
and fifty-one cents was paid the New England Structural
Company under their contract. Engineering and inspec-
tion cost $1,729.16. Other expenses brought the total
to $11,268.18. Under an agreement already reached
with the Boston & Albany Railroad Company, half of
this sum, $5,634.09, was repaid to the city by the rail-
road company; $45.29 was later spent in resurfacing
the northerly end of the bridge over the main line tracks
and charged to this appropriation. Of the original
appropriation of $10,000 there then remained $4,320.62,
which was transferred for repairs on Dover Street
Bridge and West Fourth Street Bridge, respectively.
AsHMONT Street and Dorchester Avenue Bridge.
Work was begun by Jones & Meehan on March 21,
1910, under their contract dated November 11, 1909,
and was finished on July 2 at a cost of $5,041.16.
The work consisted of an extension northerly along
the line of the railroad for a distance of 57.5 feet of the
existing bridge which carries Dorchester avenue and
Ashmont street over the Shawmut branch of the New
York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. The existing
retaining wall on the westerly side of the railroad was
of such a height that the only masonry work required
here was the removal of the old coping, the cutting
down of the stone work to the grade of the bridge seat,
the furnishing of a new coping and changing the curb-
stone on the approach.
On the easterly side of the railroad the existing retain-
ing wall was not of sufficient height for an abutment and
supported a sloping bank. The face of the wall was
about 20 inches back of the face of the existing abutment
and was of less thickness than was required. The earth
was excavated from the front and rear of the wall, the
old masonry thoroughly cleaned and concrete masonry
of the required thickness was laid inclosing the old stone
work; that portion of the concrete in front of the old
wall was thoroughly clamped to the latter. The abut-
ment is 11.5 feet thick at the bottom, which is about 4.5
feet below the grade of the track; it is 11 feet thick at
the level of the ground in front and 3.5 feet thick at the
bridge seat. A return wall was built on the line of
the street. Granite coping was provided for the top
of the walls. All of the masonry, except the coping, was
of Portland cement concrete.
Engineering Department. 49
The roadway and sidewalks in the rear of the abutment
was graded and new curbstones and gutters laid.
The bridge superstructure has a span of 32 feet; it is
a simple floor of 8-inch by 16-inch hard pine stringers,
spaced 2 feet apart on centers, and covered for the road-
way with 3-inch hard pine plank with a 2-inch spruce
wearing surface. The sidewalk is covered with a single
thickness of 3-inch hard pine, matched. On the outside
line of the bridge there is a tight board fence 5 feet in
height.
Berkeley Street Bridge.
There are two Berkeley Street Bridges; the northerly
bridge, built and maintained by the city over the tracks
of the Boston & Albany Railroad, and the southerly
bridge, built and maintained by the New York, New
Haven & Hartford Railroad over its own tracks. As
they exist to-day, each is a through plate girder bridge
with six girders and wooden flooring. They join over
the pier separating the railroads and are built together
into one continuous structure 125 feet long and 80 feet
wide. The northerly bridge, built in 1891 and shortened
in 1898-99, is of iron; the southerly bridge, built in 1899,
is of steel and is an exact duplicate of the northerly bridge
as shortened.
The tight plank floor and the scant headroom over the
railroad tracks are producing the inevitable result on
the metal below the floor. On the northerly bridge
especially the outstanding leg of certain angles used as
seats for the wooden stringers had in some cases entirely
corroded and broken away, and the floor beam flanges
were becoming dangerously weak. Meanwhile the
Boston Elevated Railway Company wished to be
able to run its heaviest cars along Berkeley street with
safety.
On June 22, 1908, after negotiations lasting nearly a
year, the two steam railroads concerned, the Boston
Elevated Railway Company and the City of Boston,
made an agreement. This agreement stated what work
was to be done; that the city should carry it out as
regards the northerly bridge and pay $5,500 towards the
expense; that the New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad Company should carry it out as regards the
southerly bridge and pay S3, 400 towards the expense;
and that the Boston Elevated Railway Company
should pay the rest of the expense, no v/ork being done
50 City Document No. 14.
and no bills being paid without its approval. This
department did the engineering in office and field for
both bridges, acting for the Street Department. The
work was done by the Boston Bridge Works under one
contract dated October 29, 1909, except that ten new
sidewalk beams were provided under a separate bill
which the city paid. A license for the work (made neces-
sary by the trolley traffic) was obtained from the Rail-
road Commission on September 28, 1909.
Working on one side of the structure at a time, all the
flooring was removed from the roadway with all planking
from the sidewalks; the old floor system under the road-
way was removed, and new floor beams and bracing struts,
protected with heavy asphaltic coatings of "Sarco," were
placed, the floor beams being stronger than those hereto-
fore in use. The girders were thoroughly cleaned and
each side of their webs protected by J-inch steel plates to
above the level of the floor and they were painted three
good coats of red lead to the same level. The wooden
flooring was relaid mostly with new timber and using
heavier track stringers. The metal above the floor was
cleaned and painted. The above work was done under
the contract. In addition, on the northerly bridge the
ten I-beams supporting the sidewalk had corroded so
badly that the city discarded them and placed ten new
9-inch I-beams. To meet a slight change desired for
their tracks, the Boston Elevated Railway Company
readjusted the parapet stones to a slightly altered grade.
The metal beneath the floor is now pretty thoroughly
protected, and until it deteriorates the bridge will carry
any loads likely to be imposed upon it, including 50-ton
trolley cars.
Work at the bridge began February 15, 1910. Car
and team travel was excluded from the westerly road-
way between February 15 and March 30, and from the
easterly roadway between March 31 and April 27. All
work was completed April 27, 1910.
The total amount paid under the contract was
$13,833.18. For the ten sidewalk I-beams the city paid
$211.
Blackwood Street Wall.
A concrete retaining wall was built at the end of
Blackwood street on the property line of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad, under a contract
with the Commonwealth Construction Company, dated
October 18, 1910.
Engineering Department. 51
The wall is of the same design as others built at the
ends of the streets abutting on the railroad, but a rein-
forced concrete fence, 6 inches thick and 6 feet high, was
built in place of the usual board fence.
The amount paid the contractor was $1,200.
Boston Common.
The laying of water pipes for an irrigation system
under the contract with the Rowe Contracting Company,
dated December 1, 1909, was completed on March 31,
1910, at a cost of $2,151.88. This work was described
in the last annual report. Measurements were made of
the tar concrete walks repaired during the year.
The topographical survey which was in progress a
year ago has been completed. All structures are shown
on the plans and the location of each tree is indicated
with a reference to an appended table giving the
varieties.
Boston Consumptives' Hospital.
Considerable work of a miscellaneous nature has been
done for this department during the year, such as giving
lines and grades for various pipe trenches and for the
extension of the service road. The 12-inch water main
was extended a distance of 94 feet.
Broadway Bridge over Boston & Albany Railroad.
Under a contract with George T. Rendle, dated
September 1, 1910, this bridge has been cleaned and
painted in the most thorough manner, the wooden
flooring renewed and new hangers for the floor beams
provided where necessary. This is the first bridge
where the city has called for cleaning by the sand blast
process before painting. The work has been satis-
factory, but where heavy rust scales had formed,
especially on the portions of the steel work below the
floor, it was found necessary to use hammers and chisels
to remove the thick scales before the sand blast would
give satisfactory results. The combination of the two
methods gave results which are much better than those
obtained from the use of chisels, hammers and wire
brushes alone. After the metal surfaces had been
cleaned three coats of paint were applied, the first
of red lead and the two others of the brand of paint
52 City Document No. 14.
known as ^'Ferox"; under the floor both coats were
of black and above the floor the final coat was of green
color.
Such of the old hard pine floor stringers as were in
poor condition were replaced by new timber, and new
planking was put in for the entire surface of the bridge,
the underplanking of the roadway being hard pine
and the sheathing of spruce. The sidewalk planking
was 2-inch hard pine. While the floor beams were
slightly reduced in section it was not deemed necessary
to strengthen them; a number of the hangers sup-
porting these beams, however, were found to be in
such condition that two additional hangers were put
on at each chord pin at thirteen panel points, and at
seven panel points the old hangers were replaced by
new ones.
The Boston Elevated Railway Company at the time
other work was in progress put new hard pine stringers
under its rails, built new supports for its stringers
and relaid its tracks with 7-inch girder rails. In the
reconstruction of the floor the lower chord bars of
the trusses, which had formerly been boxed in under
the floor and directly exposed to the locomotive fumes,
were kept above the floor, where they can be readily
examined at all times. The work was completed on
January 10, 1911, but final payment has not as yet
been made.
Cambridge-River Street Bridge over Charles
River.
Plans and specifications were made by this depart-
ment for the Commissioners of the Boston and Cam-
bridge Bridges for a general rebuilding of the upper
part of this bridge, including the draw. Bids were
received by the commissioners June 13, 1910, and a
contract was made June 29 with A. A. Hersey, the
lowest bidder, for doing the work, which was begun
July 18, when the bridge was closed to car and team
travel, foot travel being maintained. The bridge was
reopened to all travel September 15 and the work was
completed September 24 at a cost for contract work
of $6,094.68, each city paying one-half the cost. In
addition to this the Boston Elevated Railway Com-
pany paid $1,241.61 for strengthening the part under
their tracks. The steel header beams and locks were
Engineering Department. 53
furnished by H. P. Converse Company from drawings
made by this department.
The piles along the channel-way were recapped and
some repairs were made on other caps; fifteen of the
twenty-four drawarms, all stringers on the Boston
side, except some of those under the sidewalk, about
half those on the Cambridge side, the gudgeons and
their boxes and the entire roadway and sideway plank-
ing and some of the fencing are new. Repairs were
made on the abutment and other work of minor
importance made. The old machinery is still in use.
Columbus Avenue Bridges over Boston & Albany
Railroad.
The sidewalk floor beams of Columbus Avenue Bridge
over the main tracks of the Boston & Albany Railroad
were found to be so badly reduced in section from the
corrosive action of the locomotive fumes that it was
necessary to put in five new beams under the westerly
sidewalk and six under the easterly sidewalk.
The lateral angles and sway braces attached to these
beams were also renewed. This work was done under
a contract with the Boston Bridge Works at a cost of
SI, 071. The sidewalk stringers and planking were
renewed at the time this work was being done.
Deer Island Shore Protection.
The construction of the concrete sea wall under the
contract with J. H. Ferguson, dated September 22, 1909,
was completed on July 9, 1910, at a cost of $21,300.22.
This included the cost of repairing a portion of the wall
built in 1909, which was damaged by the storm of
December 26, 1909.
The wall extends along the northerly shore of the
island from near the westerly end of the North Head
sea wall, a distance of 1,334 feet toward Shirley Gut
connecting with an old wooden bulkhead. Jetties
extend (perpendicularly to the face of the main wall)
to the line of mean high water; they are spaced 100
feet apart. The face of the main wall was located on
the line of grade 13 above city base. The total length
of jetties built was 352 feet.
The main wall is 5 feet 6 inches wide on the bottom,
the bottom being at grade 8. The width on top is 3
feet 6 inches, including a projection of 6 inches beyond
54 City Document No. 14.
the face of the wall which tends to deflect the waves
striking the front of the wall. The main wall is 12 feet
high, the top being at grade 20.
The jetties are 3 feet wide on the bottom, 2 feet wide
on top and 6 feet high. They were built with their
tops 2 feet above the surface of the ground.
The wall was built in sections of from 30 to 50 feet in
length, each section being built complete in one work-
ing period, so that there are no horizontal joints. The
jetties were built at the same time as the adjoining
sections of the main wall so as to form a part of it.
The concrete was composed of one part of Portland
cement, two parts sand and four parts of screened gravel
or broken stone; the top of the masonry was finished
with a wearing surface of one to one mortar; the exposed
faces of the masonry were coated with three coats ol
neat cement wash.
Dover Street Bridge over Fort Point Channel.
The steel work of the fixed spans of Dover Street
Bridge has been thoroughly cleaned and painted three
coats, one of red lead and two of ''Copper Ore" paint.
This work was done under a contract with Bernard R.
Coullahan, dated October 25, 1910, at a cost of $1,400.
The asphalt sidewalk on the southerly side of the
bridge has been resurfaced under a contract with Simp-
son Brothers Corporation, dated September 15, 1910,
at a cost of $684.12.
*Eastern Avenue Wharf.
Plans and specifications for rebuilding the wharf
were made at the request of the Commissioner of the
Penal Institutions Department, who, on August 17,
awarded the contract for the work to Rendle & Stoddard,
the lowest bidder.
About 40 feet of the inshore end of the wharf was
omitted from the contract and the area filled solid, a
concrete sea wall being built to support the filling.
This work was done by the Penal Institutions Depart-
ment.
Rendle & Stoddard began work on the wharf Sep-
tember 6, 1910, and finished December 3 at a cost of
$10,625.03. The wharf is built of oak piles with a hard
*Thi3 wharf and slip are in the care of the Penal Institutions Department and is the
landing place for the Deer Island and Long Island boats.
Engineering Department. 55
pine floor and has a Winter drop ; the crane was replaced
on the wharf; an 80-foot extension to the wharf was
built for the use of the Pauper Institutions Department
and two piers were built for the slip. The fences and
gates were built by Henry S. Clark.
FiREBOAT Station at the North End Paving Wharf.
Plans and specifications were prepared for dredging
the dock, for building an extension of the present wharf
to the harbor Une and for building a new wharf to
serve as a foundation for a building for the Fire
Department. These improvements are for the purpose
of providing a dock for a fireboat and quarters for the
fire company.
On December 31, 1909, a contract was made with W.
H. EUis for dredging the dock and building the wharves.
The dredging was completed on January 30, 1910.
Fireboat Temporary Slip.
A temporary sHp for Fireboat 48 was built on property
of the Boston & Maine R. R., adjoining the fireboat
wharf near the end of Lewis street, East Boston. The
contract for doing the work was awarded to W. H. Ellis,
November 23, and the work was completed December
14, 1910. The work was done under supervision of
this department for the Fire Commissioner.
Fire Engine Station at Walk Hill and Wenham
Streets.
In order to care for the surface drainage from the
adjoining property a drain was laid from the rear of the
building to the sewer in Walk Hill street, a catch-basin
was built and a gutter paved across the lot at the rear
end of the building; the gutter is a temporary provision
to serve until a decision is reached as to the method of
treating the land in the slope at the rear of the lot. The
work was completed on November 17, 1910.
Gallop's Island Wharf.
At the request of the Board of Health, an examination
was made of the damage done to the wharf by a storm,
and specifications were written for repairing it. A con-
tract was made February 21, 1910, with W. H. Ellis, the
56 City Document No. 14.
lowest bidder, for doing the work, which was completed
March 10 at a cost of $486. The principal damage
was near the inshore end of the wharf; the work done
was to furnish some stringers and planking, clapboards,
baseboard, new doors, sheathing, rebuild the fencing,
steps, boxing around pipe, post under building, repair
the concrete abutment, and build a concrete parapet
and grout behind it.
Neponset Bridge over Neponset River.
A contract was made December 13, 1910, with Lawler
Brothers for repairing the Boston end of Neponset
Bridge. Under this contract a new deck of 6-inch hard
pine was laid, new sidewalk, wheel guard and fences
built and such of the stringers as were found to be in
poor condition were replaced by new timber. The Old
Colony Street Railway Company at the same time
thoroughly repaired the portion of the flooring which
it is required to maintain.
The work was completed on January 24, 1911, and
the total cost of the work, including inspection, was
$1,641.
The corner of the fender guard which protects the
waterpipe box at the up-stream end of the waterway
was rebuilt by the Water Department in July, 1910.
Public Garden Survey.
A topographical survey of the Public Garden has been
completed; this included the locating of all structures
and trees, the latter showing references to an appended
table which gives the variety of each tree.
Public Grounds Walks.
The work under the contract with the Warren Brothers
Company, dated September 29, 1909, for laying artificial
stone walks on Independence square. South Boston,
was completed on June 8, 1910.
There were laid 2,145.2 square yards of new artificial
stone walks and 94 square yards of old tar concrete
walks were repaired. The whole cost was $3,145.49.
On July 29, 1910, a contract was made with the
Simpson Brothers Corporation for repairing the tar
concrete walks on Telegraph Hill, South Boston; the
work was completed on October 1, 1910, at a cost of
$407.15.
u
Engineering Department. 57
Summer Street Bridge.
The floor of the draw pit of the Summer Street Bridge
was relaid under a contract with George T. Rendle,
dated October 31, 1910. The 4-inch spruce planking,
laid when the bridge was built in 1899, had become so
badly decayed that it was not safe for further use; it was
therefore removed and 4-inch hard pine planking laid;
the entire area was not covered, however, only such
portions being laid as were believed necessary to afford
convenient walks to reach the various tracks and other
parts requiring inspection. Suitable railings were pro-
vided on these walks to render them safe for use.
The amount expended for this work was $1,811.16.
ToLLGATE Way Footbridge over Providence Divi-
sion, New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad.
This bridge is a new structure occupying nearly the
entire length of Tollgate way. Tollgate way was laid
out on January 31, 1910, by the Street Commissioners;
it is 10 feet wide and extends from Hyde Park avenue
to Washington street. West Roxbury, a distance of about
375 feet. It passes over a strip of land abutting on
Hyde Park avenue, 10 feet wide and about 117 feet
long, which was taken for the purpose; then over the
tracks of the Providence Division, New York, New
Haven & Hartford Railroad, and then over the yard of
the Washington Street Primary School. One of its
chief functions is to provide the only direct route by
which many of the pupils of the Washington Street and
the Francis Parkman Schools can reach home without
trespassing on the railroad tracks. Forest Hills, the
nearest crossing, is a quarter of a mile away. A sub-
way was considered instead of the bridge, but was not
adopted.
The main span over the tracks of the New York, New
Haven & Hartford Railroad is carried by two steel
riveted through trusses, 93 feet long, placed 8 feet
apart. The floor beams are 8-inch steel I-beams, the
stringers and plank are yellow pine. There is a pipe
railing carrying heavy wire fencing of the ''Wheelock"
type. One end of this span rests on a riveted steel
tower 9| feet by 8 feet center to center of columns; the
other (expansion) end rests on a single trestle-bent, con-
58 City Document No. 14.
sisting of two riveted steel columns braced together,
these columns bending slightly as the span expands and
contracts. The tower and the trestle-bent rest on and
are anchored to concrete foundations.
As designed and contracted for, the bridge provided
18 feet headroom over the tracks, but just before erec-
tion, by arrangement with the railroad company, it was
decided to increase this headroom to 20 feet, and the
bridge was erected at the latter elevation. This was
accomplished by providing at each end of the main span
a footing of second-hand steel girders incased in con-
crete; these footings were inserted between the columns
and their concrete foundations.
The two approaches to the bridge are timber struc-
tures, 8 feet wide between hand rails. The posts are
8-inch by 8-inch yellow pine, the bases set 4 feet into
the ground and inclosed in concrete. The approach
from Washington street is about 166 feet long, three
flights of stairs alternating with two inclined stretches
of footwalks; the highest point is about 33 feet
above the school yard, and practically all the area
beneath the structure remains available for playground.
The approach from Hyde Park avenue is about 102
feet long, an inclined footwalk ending in a flight of
steps next the main span; the highest point is about
21 feet above the ground. Between the timber struc-
ture and Hyde Park avenue is a gravel footwalk 12
feet long.
A contract for the superstructure was made January
26, 1910, with the Boston Bridge Works, Incorporated
(the lowest bidder), at $5,865. The additional height
given the bridge and other extra work raised the total
sum paid under this contract to $6,786.26. On March
11, 1910, a second contract was let to the same company
for the foundations at $700. Work was begun in the
field in the end of April. On Sunday, August 28, 1910,
by the use of a derrick car the two trusses crossing the
railroad tracks were lifted into place without interrupt-
ing the trains. All steel was painted with one coat
of red lead and two coats of "Government Water-
proof Paint," black, made in Watertown, Mass. Work
was completed September 30, 1910. W. H. Elhs was
subcontractor for the timber and concrete work.
On October 3, 1910, a contract was made with W. H.
Ellis for the wire fencing, price $175. This work was
completed October 10, 1910.
Engineering Department. 59
Damages to the amount of $920.95 were paid William
Camfill for the land abutting on Hyde Park avenue.
Advertising, printing, engineering and inspection, and
payments to the New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad Company for flagmen, bridge guards, etc.,
brought the total cost of the work up to $9,952.53.
The appropriation was $10,000. The work was done
for the Street Department under the direction of the
Engineering Department.
Warren Bridge from Boston to Charlestown.
A contract was made August 10, 1910, with W. S.
Rendle for repairing the faces of the waterway and
draw piers on Warren Bridge. The vertical plank fac-
ing of the upstream draw pier was removed and five
lines of new hard pine wale timbers put on; such of
the old wales as were found in poor condition were
replaced with new timber, so that now there are eight
lines of wale timbers below the girder caps.
A new hard pine cap sill was put on for the entire
face of the pier and the center stringers were renewed
where found in poor condition. The vertical plank
facing on the downstream draw pier was replaced where
in poor condition with new 5-inch hard pine and some
new wale timbers put on.
Other repairs were made to the fender guards and
waterways. The total cost of the work was $3,146.96.
Western Avenue Bridge to Cambridge.
A contract was made December 7, 1909, between the
Commissioners of the Boston and Cambridge Bridges
and W. H. Ellis, the lowest bidder, for a general rebuild-
ing of the upper part of the bridge, including the draw.
The work was begun December 14, 1909, when the
bridge was closed to car and team travel. Foot passage-
way was provided at all times. Car and team travel
was resumed February 19, 1910, and the work was
completed March 10 at a cost for contract work of
$6,702.30, half of which was paid by Cambridge and
half by Boston. The Boston Elevated Railway Com-
pany paid an additional amount of $1,088.69 for strength-
ening the bridge under their tracks. The steel headers
for the draw were furnished by H. P. Converse Com-
pany from drawings made by this department.
60 City Document No. 14.
Streets.
Preliminary surveys and plans were made, working
plans and specifications prepared and forwarded to the
Street Department for the construction of thirty-two
assessment streets, for repaying twenty-one streets, and
for constructing artificial stone sidewalks in thirty-nine
streets; surveys have been made, levels taken and pre-
liminary plans prepared for fourteen assessment streets
and for repaving eight streets; the necessary surveys
were made and grades for street railway tracks deter-
mined in nineteen streets.
Preliminary estimates have been made of the cost of
repaving sixty-six streets and for constructing forty-
three streets.
Record plans are now being made of the work done
during the year. The street book, giving the lengths
and areas of pavements in accepted streets and public
alleys, has been corrected to February 1, 1910, and is
now being brought up to February 1, 1911.
Waterworks.
The demands upon the Engineering Department in
connection with the extension and maintenance of the
waterworks system are yearly increasing, owing in
part to the fact that contract labor is fast supplanting
day labor. During the past year the laying and relay-
ing of mains was done largely by contract, under the
supervision of the engineering force, the city supplying
all required materials. The results of this policy have
proven satisfactory, both from the standpoints of econ-
omy and workmanship. The following is a summary
of the more important work done during the year:
1. A 30-inch and 24-inch main was laid in Chelsea
street, East Boston, from Addison street to Brooks
street, the 30-inch main reducing to 24-inch at Prescott
street; this line forms a second connection between
the metropolitan supply mains in Chelsea and the
distribution system in East Boston, notably improving
and safeguarding the fire and domestic supply of the
island.
2. A 16-inch high service main was laid in Dudley
street, from Warren street to Mt. Pleasant avenue, to
improve the distribution system.
3. A 16-inch low service main was laid in Granite
Engineeeing Department. 61
street and West Second street, from Mt. Washington
avenue to Dorchester avenue; when this work was com-
pleted the 20-inch main crossing at Binford street,
under fifty-seven tracks in the freight yard of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, which
had long been difficult to maintain owing to frequent
leaks, was abandoned,
4. A mile of 12-inch pipe was laid in Shirley street,
Winthrop, northerly from Shirley gut, to replace the
8-inch supply main to Deer Island, laid in 1870; the
result of this work was an increased pressure at the
island, which is now much better maintained than
formerly.
5. The Deer Island reservoir, put in service during
the past year, will safeguard the water supply on the
island in the event of failure of the long feed main
which passes through Winthrop under Shirley gut;
it will afford as well a much needed improvement in
fire protection. The reservoir was built by prison
labor, under the supervision of the Engineering Depart-
ment. It is located on the top of a hill and is con-
structed almost entirely in excavation; it is rectangular
in shape, 43 feet wide and 138 feet long at the bottom,
with side slopes of 2 to 1 on the inside and 2| to 1 on the
outside; its top is at grade 114, high water mark at grade
109; the bottom and entire sides were lined with 6
inches of concrete and, in addition, stone paving laid
upon 3 feet of ballast was placed from a berm formed at
grade 103 to the top; a suitable gate chamber was con-
structed of concrete; a 16-inch pipe at grade 110 was
provided as an overflow in the event of failure of the
regulating apparatus in the gate chamber; the capacity
of the reservoir is 2,500,000 gallons.
6. The Deacon meter system was operated for two
months during the summer season with a small force;
a total expenditure of $540 resulted in the detection of
500,000 gallons of water going to waste.
Miscellaneous.
A report was made on a proposed tunnel under
Sullivan and Cook streets, Charlestown, between Main
and Medford streets.
Levels have been taken on the masonry of the bridge
over the Boston & Albany R. R. on Charlesgate
West showing the progress of the settlement of the
62 City Document No. 14.
foundations; this settlement still continues but is
growing less rapid.
A report was made on the cost of public convenience
stations in various localities.
Plans and estimates have been made for a passage-
way under the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. opposite Bay
street, at Savin Hill.
Examinations and a report have been made concern-
ing the monument on Telegraph Hill, South Boston.
An estimate was made of the cost of filling the pro-
posed playground at Orient Heights.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank A. McInnes,
Assistant City Engineer,
Acting City Engineer.
Average Monthly Heights, in Feet, Above Boston City Base, to which Water Rose at Different Stations on the Boston Waterworks.
January.. .
February..
March. . . .
April
May
June
July
August
September
October. . .
November.
December.
Southern High Service.
247
247
248
248
247
247
247
246
247
248
248
246
235
235
236
235
234
234
234
237
236
237
237
236
Engine House
No. 24,
Quincy and
Warren Streets,
Roxbury.
248
247
250
249
248
247
248
248
249
250
250
247
238
238
239
238
237
238
237
240
239
239
240
239
Engine House
No. 20,
Walnut Street,
Neponset.
244
244
246
246
245
245
244
246
246
233
232
232
232
231
231
233
233
236
Engine House
No. 19,
Norfolk Street.
Mattapan.
246
246
248
247
246
245
245
245
246
247
247
245
240
240
240
238
237
239
238
239
239
238
Engine House
No. 28,
Centre, near
Green Street,
Jamaica Plain.
3 a.m. 9 a.m.
246
245
249
249
248
247
248
248
249
249
249
248
243
244
243
242
243
243
244
244
244
244
Engine House
No. 30,
Centre, near
Bellevue Street,
West Roxbury.
246
247
248
248
247
247
248
248
249
249
240
241
240
240
240
242
241
Engine House
No. 46.
Washington and
Poplar Streets,
Roalindale.
242
242
240
240
240
242
242
Engine House
No. 29,
Chestnut Hill
Avenue,
Brighton.
247
247
245
245
246
245
247
248
248
245
243
243
245
245
244
243
243
245
245
245
Northern High Service.
Engine House
No. 32.
Bunker Hill
Street,
Charlestown.
Engine House
No. 5,
Marion Street,
East Boston.
Average Monthly Heights, in Feet, Above Boston City Base, to which Water Rose at Different Stations on the Boston
Waterworks.
Low Service.
1910.
Chestnut Hill
Pumping
Station,
Brighton.
Engine House
No 34,
Western
Avenue,
Brighton.
Boston
Common.
Engine House
No 8,
Salem Street,
City Proper.
Engine House
No 7,
East Street,
City Proper.
Engine House
No 38,
Congress and
Farnsworth
Streets,
South Boston.
Engine House
No 2,
Fourth and
0 Streets,
South Boston.
Water Depart-
ment Yard,
710 Albany
Street,
South End.
Water Depart-
ment Yard,
Gibson Street,
Dorchester.
3 a. m.
9 a.m.
3 a.m.
9 a.m.
3 a. m.
9 a.m.
3 a.m.
9 a.m.
3 a.m.
9 a.m.
3 a.m.
9 a. m.
3 a.m.
3 a.m.
9 a.m.
3 a.m.
9 a. m.
January
February. . . .
March
April
May
June
July
140
140
139
146
155
153
146
146
144
150
153
140
165
163
161
158
157
158
154
156
156
155
156
156
134
136
135
143
153
151
144
144
143
150
152
136
145
144
144
140
142
142
140
140
141
141
142
138
134
133
139
145
155
153
146
146
144
150
153
137
138
134
137
132
137
136
134
135
136
136
138
134
130
129
134
141
151
148
142
143
140
164
153
136
131
129
131
126
131
130
128
129
131
136
135
130
134
132
138
144
153
151
146
145
144
150
153
136
136
133
135
131
135
135
132
132
134
134
135
131
125
127
133
139
147
146
140
140
139
144
147
130
124
126
130
126
130
129
127
127
130
129
130
124
126
128
134
142
151
149
143
143
141
147
151
133
125
127
131
127
131
130
128
128
131
130
132
125
136
136
139
144
154
152
147
147
146
152
156
139
140
139
141
134
139
139
136
137
139
138
141
135
126
127
134
141
160
147
141
140
140
146
149
132
126
126
130
126
130
130
128
August
September.. .
October
November. . .
December . . .
126
130
129
132
125
Engineering Department.
63
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64
City Document No. 14.
GENERAL STATISTICS.
Boston Water Department.
Daily average amount used during 1910 (gallons)
Daily average amount used through meters during 1910
(gallons)
Number of services February 1, 1911
Number of meters in service February 1, 1911 .
Number of motors under supervision February 1, 1911
Number of elevators under supervision February 1, 1911,
Length of supply and distributing mains in miles February
1, 1911
Number of public hydrants in use February 1, 1911
Yearly revenue from annual water rates (assessed)
Yearly revenue from metered water (assessed) .
Percentage of total revenue from metered water
Yearly expense of maintenance ....
87,346,700
26,938,800
*97,156
18,467
116
57»
767. S
8,106
1,237,694.96
[,527,192.80
55.2
^,591. 35
* This number does not represent that actual number of services in use. Previous to
1887 no deduction was made of the number of services abandoned. The number of serv-
ices in use, connected to the system, is much less than the number published and there la
no data available to determine the number correctly.
t No revenue was derived from the meters set on existing services during the year 1910,
all of the existing services metered during 1910 being assessed on the annual rate. The
number of meters from which this revenue was derived was 13,000.
Engineering Department. 65
CITY ENGINEERS,
1850-1911.
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 25, 1882.)
N. HENRY CRAFTS,
April 1, 1863, to November 25, 1872.
(Died June 14, 1908.)
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 April 3, 1885.)
WILLIAM JACKSON, M. Am. Soc. C. E.,
April 21, 1885, to June 30, 1910.
(Died June 30, 1910.)
LOUIS K. ROURKE, M. Am. Soc. C. E.,
Superintendent of Streets.
Acting City Engineer, July 1, 1910, to January 31,
1911.
66 City Document No. 14.
WILLIAM JACKSON.
William Jackson, for twenty-five years City Engineer
of Boston, died at his home in Brighton, June 30, 1910.
It is a remarkable tribute to Mr. Jackson himself and
to the engineering profession, of which he was a leading
and respected member, that from his appointment as
city engineer, at the age of thirty-seven, until the day
of his death he conducted the affairs of an exacting
municipal office, charged with the expenditure of milUons
of dollars of public funds, so honestly and so efficiently
that he stood above politics, surviving all municipal
political changes. He was universally regarded as an
official whose services were invaluable to the city.
WiUiam Jackson was born in Brighton, March 13,
1848, the son of Samuel and Mary Wright (Field)
Jackson. He received his early education in the Brighton
public schools, and lived there the whole of his lifetime.
His training for his Hfe-work as a civil engineer was
obtained at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology, where he took the full course with the Class of '68
until May 4, 1868, when he left, without receiving a
degree, in order to take a position in the City Engineer's
office, Boston, on the staff engaged upon the construc-
tion of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir of the Boston water-
works. At that time no Institute degrees had been
conferred — their value was not appreciated; and, no
doubt, to the youth of twenty an engineering position,
with assured remuneration, seemed more attractive
than a piece of sheepskin of unproven worth. In after
years it was one of Mr. Jackson's regrets that he had
not remained for his degree, and throughout his life
his interest in Technology and all that pertained to
her welfare was most keen.
From 1870 Mr. Jackson was engineer for the town of
Brighton, and in private practice until Brighton was
annexed to Boston in 1873, when he again entered the
Boston City Engineer's office, where for three years he
was engaged upon miscellaneous work, including sur-
WILLIAM JACKSON.
^Photo by Xotman.)
Engineering Department. 67
veys for the introduction of water into Brighton and
West Roxbury. From 1876 to 1885 he was assistant
engineer on the Boston main drainage works, a notable
and difficult engineering undertaking. In April, 1885,
upon the sudden death of City Engineer Henry M.
Wightman, Mr. Jackson was appointed City Engineer,
which position he held continuously until his death.
In addition to his duties as City Engineer, Mr. Jackson,
at different times, did other important engineering work.
He was chief engineer for the Harvard Bridge Commis-
sioners, 1887-91; chief engineer of Charlestown Bridge,
1896-1900; and chief engineer, Cambridge Bridge Com-
mission, 1898 until his death. In the fall of 1898, in
company with Mr. Edmund M. Wheelwright (M. I. T.,
'75), consulting architect to the Cambridge Bridge Com-
mission, he visited Europe to study notable bridges there
preparatory to making designs for a monumental struc-
ture for Cambridge Bridge.
He was a member of the Rapid Transit Commission
of Boston in 1891-92, and a member of the Boston
Statistics Commission from 1898 until he died. From
1902 to 1904 he was a member of the special commission
on the abolition of grade crossings in Attleboro, Mass.,
and at his death had been for three years a member
of similar commissions on the abolition of grade cross-
ings in Foxboro, Westwood, Canton, Sharon and Mans-
field, Mass. He served as consulting engineer to the
Cambridge Water Board upon the construction of the
Hobbs brook conduit, 1904; consulting engineer to
the Shore Road Commission, Brooklyn, N. Y., 1896-97;
and consulting engineer to the Massachusetts Harbor
and Land Commission on the Commonwealth Dock,
South Boston, in 1899. He was also a member of the
Approving Board appointed under legislative act in
1907 to pass upon plans for the development and exten-
sion of the drainage systems of Boston. On several
occasions, when a vacancy occurred at the head of
another city department, Mr. Jackson was designated
to temporarily fill the position until a permanent head
could be selected.
The breadth of Mr. Jackson's interest in general
affairs, as well as in matters pertaining to his profession,
is shown by the following list of organizations of which
he was a member at the time of his death: Union, Art
68 City Document No. 14.
and Technology Clubs of Boston; Boston City Club,
the Masonic Fraternity, Boston Chamber of Commerce,
Technology Alumni Association, Society of Arts, Ameri-
can Association for Advancement of Science, National
Geographical Society, Bibliophile Society, National
Municipal League, American Civic Alliance, American
Civic Association, New England Historical and Genea-
logical Society, Bostonian Society, Society of Colonial
Wars. Of professional societies he had been a member
of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers since 1874; a
member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
since 1884, and a director of that society in 1902-03-04;
and a member of the New England Water Works
Association since 1890.
Mr. Jackson married, on April 27, 1886, Miss Mary
Stuart MacCorry, of Boston. Mrs. Jackson died March
27, 1905. He is survived by a son, William Stuart
Jackson.
William Jackson was a man of high ideals and notable
ability, modest and unassuming, eminently fair in his
dealings with others, and faithful to every trust imposed
upon him. Of a retiring disposition, his circle of intimate
friends was comparatively small, but to those privileged
to come into close association with him he was a true
friend and a lovable man. He won the regard and
hearty support of his subordinates and inspired the
confidence and respect of all who knew him. He was
the last man to have willingly permitted words of
eulogy to be spoken, and to the many who knew him no
eulogy is needed to set forth his life in true perspective.
Engineering Department. 69
APPENDICES.
Appendix A. — Table Showing the Widths of Openings
for Vessels in all Bridges Provided
with Draws in the City of Boston,
January, 1911.
Appendix B. — Engineering Department Property
Schedule.
Appendix C. — Elevations and Datum Planes Referred
to Boston City Base.
Appendix D. — Engineering Department Annual Re-
ports, 1867-1911.
Appendix E. — Engineering Department, Revised Ordi-
nances.
Appendix F. — Meridian Line.
Appendix G. — List of Special Documents and Reports
Relating to and from City Engineer
Other Than Those PubUshed in
Annual Reports, 1848-1902.
70
City Document No. 14.
X
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Engineering Department.
71
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72
City Document No. 14.
APPENDIX B.
Engineering Department Property Schedule, Main Office.
1 automobile.
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.
13 Boston rods.
4 New York rods.
10 Troy rods.
4 Philadelphia rods.
Apparatus for blueprinting.
Cases for plans and books.
Reference library, 1,597 volumes.
16,366 plans engineering works,
loose.
14 volumes plans engineering works,
bound.
Photographs of engineering works.
1 mercurial barometer.
1 aneroid barometer.
1 holsteric barometer.
1 set hydrometers.
1 hygrometer.
1 pair field glasses.
3 typewriters.
Dynamometer.
1 pantagraph.
3 calculating machines.
1 volt meter.
1 comptometer.
2 thermophones.
Camera.
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.
35,399 plans.
3,523 lithographed maps.
1 pantagraph.
3 planimeters.
1 Federal blueprinting machine,
No. 10.
1 typewriter.
Engineering Department. 73
APPENDIX C.
Feet.
*0
.00
4.
98
+0.64
0.
00
+0.60
0
.00
-100
.00
-100
.00
-100
.00
Elevations and Datum Planes Referred to Boston City Base.
Boston city base. This base is used by the
towns of Brookline and Watertown and the
cities of Chelsea, Everett, Maiden, Newton
and Waltham.
Cambridge city base.
Somerville city base.
Metropolitan Park Commission base.
Harbor and Land Commission base.
Metropolitan Water Board base.
Metropolitan Sewerage Board base.
Boston Transit Commission base.
Charles River Commission base.
15.45 Old bench mark on coping of old dry dock at
Charlestown Navy Yard.
15.11 New bench mark on coping of old dry dock at
Charlestown Navy Yard, northwest end
over crowfoot.
5 . 00 Piles to be cut off for buildings.
12.00 Minimum cellar bottom grade.
9.82 South Boston base. Formerly in use, now
abandoned.
99 . 40 Charles river flood elevation, at the Brookline
pumping station, February 13, 1886.
97.50 Charles river flood elevation, March, 1902.
95 . 66 Charles river average flood elevation, 1886 to
1902, both inclusive.
Mean low water about 1830. f
Mean low water, 1867. f
Mean low water, 1902. f
Navy Yard base, 1902.t
Mean high water, 1902. f
Mean sea level, 1902. f
Mean rise and fall of tide, 1902.t
* 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 Com-
mittee on Charles River Dam, 1903.)
t John R. Freeman, civil engineer, in report to Committee on Charles River Dam,
1903, pp. 562, 569, 570.
0.00
+0.34
+0.79
+0.58
10.63
5.71
9.84
74
City Document No. 14.
Highest Recorded Tides.
Feet.
15.62 April 16, 1851, average of seven observations,
North Market street and vicinity, leveled on in
1854 by Charles Harris, Surveying Division
n. b. 22, p. 54 (15.10 above mean low water.
United States Coast Survey Chart of Boston
Harbor, 1857).
15.64 December 26, 1909, average of twenty-nine obser-
vations, on water front. Nut Island to Deer
Island, elevations determined in most cases by
John H. Edmonds, before January 1, 1910,
from points put in for that purpose, 1902
to 1905.
15.50 Actual elevation at North Ferry, Boston proper,
as observed on staff gauge, at high water.
From comparison of contemporary diary and
newspaper accounts the only tide of this class,
prior to 1851, found by John H. Edmonds,
was that of February 24, 1722-23, which was
in all probability about 16.00.
The following tidal records may be of interest:
High Tides.
[Plane of Reference, Boston City Base.]
Feet.
Date.
Where Taken.
By Whom.
16.00
15.62
15.74
14.94
13.72
14.19
13.60
13.00
13.40
14.83
14.70
14.70
13.50
13.00
Feb. 24,
April 16,
April 16,
Nov. 27,
Nov. 8,
Nov. 25,
Dec. 14,
Feb. 17,
Jan. 14,
Jan. 25,
Jan. 25,
Jan. 25,
Nov. 15,
April 9,
1722-23
1851..
1851..
1898..
1900..
1901..
1902..
1903..
1904 . .
1905..
1905..
1905..
1906..
1907..
*By comparison
*Average of 7 observations.. . .
Navy Yard, staff gauge
Average of 15 observations.
Maiden Bridge
Average of 10 observations.
Average of 11 observations.
North Ferry, Boston proper . .
North Ferry, Boston proper . .
Average of 34 observations.
Inner harbor, 10 observations.
North Ferry, Boston proper . .
Neponset Bridge
North Ferry, Boston proper . .
J. H. Edmonds.
Charles Harris.
Isaac Williams.
F. P. Spalding.
J. H. Edmonds.
J. H. Edmonds.
J. H. Edmonds.
M. F. Toomey.
J. H. Edmonds.
* See previous table.
Engineeking Department.
75
Feet.
Date.
Where Taken.
By Whom.
13.10
Nov. 24, 1909....
North Ferry, Boston proper
J.
H. Edmonds.
13.35
Nov. 25, 1909 . . .
North Ferry, Boston proper
J.
H. Edmonds.
13.10
Nov. 27, 1909....
North Ferry, Boston proper
J.
H. Edmonds.
13 00
Nov. 28, 1909 . . .
,T
H. Edmonds.
15.64
Dec. 26, 1909....
♦Average of 29 observations.
15.50
Dec. 26, 1909....
North Ferry, Boston proper (a. m.)
J.
H. Edmonds.
11.90
Dec. 26, 1909....
North Ferry, Boston proper (p. m.)
J.
H. Edmonds.
13 45
Feb 12 1910
,T
H. Edmonds.
13 35
Oct. 21, 1910....
J
H. Edmonds.
* See previous table.
Low Tides.
5.60
Feb. 27,1898....
Deer Island, metropolitan sewer station
Self-recording gauge.
—3.50
Feb. 1,1900....
Deer Island, metropolitan sewer station
Self-recording gauge.
—2,94
Feb. 3,1900....
South Boston station, Edison Electric
D. A. Harrington.
—3.00
Feb. 4,1904....
Deer Island, metropolitan sewer station
Self-recording gauge.
—2.70
Mar. 23, 1905....
Deer Island, metropolitan sewer station
Self-recording gauge.
76
City Document No. 14.
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Engineering Department. 77
APPENDIX E.
(Revised Ordinances, 1898, Chapter 16.) Engi-
neering 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 provided, take charge of the con-
struction of all public works of the city which properly
come under the direction of a civil engineer; shall make
such surveys, plans, estimates, statements and descrip-
tions, and take such levels and prepare such specifica-
tions 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 commis-
sioners, 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.)
78
City Document No. 14.
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 hne 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 18 inches square
at the base, 1 foot square at the top, and 8 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 ground 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.
Yeah.
Number
of
Readings.
Average of
Readings
West of
North.
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
9
8
3
3
3
2
8
13
4
7
3
5
5
6
8
4
14
3
7
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
11-39-56
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
4
1
8
6
8
13
8
4
12
6
8
12
9
10
11-49-30
12-32-20
12-04-37
12-34-34
12-33-45
12-44-44
12-43-42
12-48-45
12-56-42
13-19-20
13-16-35
13-27-05
13-30-46
13-35-30
Engineering Department. 79
The geodetic position of the apex of the dome of the State House as
determined by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey is latitude
42 degrees 21 minutes 29.596 seconds; longitude, 71 degrees 3 minutes
51.040 seconds.
In making the survey of Boston by the Boston Board of Survey a
system of rectangular coordinates was adopted, the zero of which ia
50,000 feet south and 50,000 feet east of the geodetic position of the State
House.
In other words, the geodetic position of the State House was assumed
50,000 feet north and 50,000 feet west of this zero. This value was
assumed to avoid any minus positions.
80
City Document No. 14.
APPENDIX G.
Special Documents and Reports Relating to and from City
Engineer, Other Than Those Published in Annual Reports,
1848-1902.
Yeah.
Document.
Subject.
1848
48
Ordinance relating to.
1856
46
Albany Street Bridge — estimate of cost.
1856
47
Bridge, East Boston to Chelsea, — East Boston Free
Bridge, — history and estimate of cost.
1858
47
Expenses of department for five years preceding October
31, 1858.
1863
26
Ordinance establishing a committee on the department of.
1866
108
Ordinance relating to.
1868
340
Additional appropriation.
1868
110
Ordinances relating to department of City Engineer and
City Surveyor.
1872
11
Report of the Joint Special Committee on commission to
examine candidates for City Engineer.
1872
75
Eastern Avenue and Northern Avenue Bridges, Boston
proper to South Boston, — estimate of cost.
1873
128
Broadway Bridge draw — report on proposed repairs.
1874
86
Report of City Engineer on changing the locations of the
Eastern and Boston & Albany Railroads in East Boston.
1880
143
Appendix A.
Charlestown New Bridge — estimate of cost.
1884
168
Ordinances (chapter 23) concerning the salary of.
1885
120
Report relative to sewerage of Dorchester district.
1886
127
Report on carrying Cambridge street, Brighton, over the
tracks of the Boston & Albany Railroad.
1887
96
Appendix C
Tunnel under Beacon Hill, Tremont street to Derne street.
1888
117
Report on the condition of the several bridges in Boston.
1889
134
Report relative to the necessity for providing for an addi-
tional supply of water.
1891
59
Opinion of Corporation Counsel as to the power of the
City Council to delegate duties of Water Board to.
1892
211
Report on proposed tunnel to East Boston.
1893
145
Report on values of property affected by Rapid Transit Bill.
1894
195
Report relative to drainage of Charles river watershed in
West Roxbury.
1900
82
Communication relative to reconstruction of Old Court
House.
1901
40
Report relative to completion of Blue Hill avenue boulevard.
1901
139
Report as to delay in construction of Cove Street Bridge.
1902
15
Estimate of cost of rebuilding drawbridges over Fort Point
channel.
Engineering Department. 81
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
REPORT ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR 1910.
General Index to Contents Engineering Department Reports, 1867-1892, will be
found in Report of February 1, 1892.
Page
Engineering Department 1
Statement of Expenses, Abolishment of grade crossings:
" " " East Boston 4
" " " Freeport, Walnut and other
streets 4
" " " Chelsea Street Bridge 4
" " " Chelsea South Temporary Bridge . . 5
" " " Congress Street Bridge 5
" " " Engineering Department 3
" " " Northern avenue and Sleeper street, 5
" " " Meridian Street Bridge 5
Bridges Inspected 6
" wholly supported by Boston 6
" of which Boston supports the part within its hmits, 8
" " " " pays a part of the cost of main-
tenance 9
" supported by railroad corporations 10
« " " B. &A. R. R 10
" " « B. & M. R. R. and B. & A. R. R. . . 10
« " " B. & M. R. R., Eastern Div 10
« " " B., R. B. &L. R. R 10
« " " N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., Midland
Div 11
" N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., Old Colony
Div 11
" « " N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., Prov. Div., 11
" " " MetropoHtan Park Commission ... . 11
" " " Charles River Basin Commission. . . 11
" Total number (164) 12
Bridges 12
Agassiz road, in the Fens 12
Albany street, over B. & A. R. R. freight tracks 12
Allston, over B. & A. R. R 12
Arborway, over Stony brook 13
Ashland street, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., West
Roxbury 13
Ashmont street and Dorchester avenue, over Old Colony Div.
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R 13
Athens street, over Midland Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. . . . 13
Atlantic Avenue Bridge 13
Audubon road, over B. & A. R. R 14
Austin Street Bridge, over B. & M. R. R., Charlestown 14
Baker street at Brook Farm, West Roxbury 14
Beacon street, over outlet of the Fens 14
Beacon street, over B. & A. R. R 14
Bellevue street, over Muddy river, in Riverway 15
Bennington street, over B. & A. R. R., East Boston 15
Bennington street, over B., R. B. & L. R. R 15
Berkeley street, over B. & A. R. R., and Prov. Div. N. Y.,
N. H. &H. R. R... 15
Bernier Street Footbridge, over Bridle path, Riverway 15
Bernier Street Footbridge, over Muddy river 16
82 City Document No. 14.
Bridges, continued. Page
Berwick Park Footbridge, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H. & H.
R. R 16
Blakemore street, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.. . . 16
Blue Hill avenue, over Midland Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. . . 16
Bolton street, over Midland Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R 16
Boston street, over Old Colony Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. . . 16
Boylston street arch, Back Bay Fens 17
Boylston street, B. & A. R. R 17
Bridle path, over Muddy river, in Riverway 17
Broadway, over Fort Point channel 17
Broadway, over B. & A. R. R 17
Brookline avenue, over B. & A. R. R 17
Brookline avenue, over Muddy river, in Riverway 18
Brookline street to Cambridge 18
Brookline street, over B. & A. R. R : 18
Brooks street, Brighton 18
Byron street, B., R. B. & L. R. R 18
Cambridge Bridge 18
Cambridge street 19
Cambridge street, over B. & M. and B. & A. R. R., Chs'n 19
Castle Island Footbridge 19
Central avenue, over Neponset river 19
Charles River Dam Bridge 19
Charlesgate, in the Fens, over B. & A. R. R 20
Charlesgate, in the Fens, over Ipswich street 20
Charlestown 20
Chelsea, over B. & M. R. R 21
Chelsea (North) 21
Chelsea (South) 21
Chelsea street 21
Circuit drive, over Scarboro' pond, in Franklin Park. ........ 22
Columbia road, over Old Colony Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., 22
Columbia road, over Shoreham street 22
Columbus avenue, over B. & A. R. R. and Prov. Div. N. Y.,
N. H. & H. R. R 22
Commercial Point, or Tenean 22
Commonwealth avenue, in the Fens 23
Congress street 23
Cottage Farm, over B. & A. R. R 23
Cottage Street Footbridge, East Boston 24
Curtis Street Bridge, over B. & A. R. R., East Boston 23
Dartmouth street, over B. & A. R. R., and Prov. Div. N. Y.,
N. H. & H. R. R 24
Dorchester avenue, over Fort Point channel 24
Dorchester avenue, over Old Colony Div. N. Y., N. H. & H.
R. R 24
Dover street 25
EUicott arch, in Franklin Park 25
Everett street, over B. & A. R. R 25
Fens Bridge, in the Fens 25
Ferdinand street, over B. & A. R. R , 25
Florence Street Bridge, over Stony brook 25
Forest Hills entrance in FrankUn Park 26
Gainsborough Street Footbridge, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H.
t. XT T) "p 26
Gold street, over Midland Div.' nV Y.,' N.' H.' & H.' R.R. ..... 26
Granite to Milton 26
Harvard to Cambridge 26
Harvard street, over Midland Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. . . . 26
Huntington avenue, over B. & A. R. R 27
Huntington avenue, over Muddy river 27
Hyde Park Avenue Bridge, over Stony brook 27
Engineering Department. 83
Bridges, continued. Paob
Ips^\dcti street, over waterway in the Fens 27
Irvington Street Footbridge, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H. &
H. R. R 27
L Street Bridge 27
Leverett Pond Footbridge, in Leverett Park 28
Longwood avenue, over Muddy river and B. & A. R. R 28
Maiden 28
Massachusetts avenue, over B. & A. R. R 28
Massachusetts avenue, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., 28
Mattapan to Milton 28
Maverick Street Bridge, over B. & A. R. R., East Boston 29
Meridian street 29
Milton 29
Neponset 30
Neptune road, over B., R. B. & L. R. R 30
Newton street, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R 30
Norfolk street, over Midland Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.,
DorcliGst/Gr SO
. Norfolk street, over Midland Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.,
near Blue Hill avenue station 30
North Beacon street 31
North Harvard street 31
Northern avenue 31
Oakland street, over Midland Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. . . 31
Perkins Street Footbridge, over B. & M. R. R. and B. & A.
R. R., Charlestown 31
Porter Street Bridge, over B. & A. R. R., East Boston 32
Prescott Street Bridge, over B. & A. R, R., East Boston 32
Prison Point 32
PubUc Garden Footbridge 32
Reservoir road over B. & A. R. R 32
Saratoga Street Bridge, over B. & A. R. R., East Boston 33
Scarboro Pond Footbridge, Franklin Park 33
Shawmut avenue, over B. & A. R. R., and N. Y., N. H. & H.
R. R 33
Southampton Street Bridge, over South bay sluice 33
Southampton street, over Old Colony Div. N. Y., N. H. &
H. R. R 33
Spring street to Dedham 34
Summer street, over A street 34
" B street 34
" C street 34
" " " Fort Point channel 57
" N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. freight tracks.. . 34
Sumner street, over B. & A. R. R., East Boston 35
Tollgate Way Footbridge, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H. & H.
R. R 35
Warren 35
Webster Street Footbridge, over B. & A. R. R., East Boston. . 35
West Fourth street, over Old Colony Div. N. Y., N. H. & H.
R. R 36
West Rutland Square Footbridge, over Prov. Div. N. Y.,
N. H. & H. R. R 36
Western avenue to Cambridge 36
Western avenue to Watertown 36
Winthrop 36
Wood Island Park Footbridge 37
Bridges wholly supported by railroads 37
Surveying Division 38
Lines and grades given and paving work measured 1910. . . .40, 41-44
Plans in Surveying Division 44, 45
84 City Document No. 14.
Miscellaneous Work and Construction in 1910: paqe
Abolishment grade crossings on the B., R. B. & L. R. R 46
Albany Street Bridge, over B. & A. R. R. freight tracks 46
Ashmont Street and Dorchester Avenue Bridge 48
Berkeley Street Bridge 49
Blackwood street wall 50
Boston Common 51
Boston Consumptives' Hospital 51
Broadway Bridge, over B. & A. R. R 51
Cambridge: River Street Bridge, over Charles river 52
Columbus Avenue Bridge, over B. & A. R. R 53
Deer Island shore protection 53
Dover Street Bridge, over Fort Point channel 54
Eastern Avenue Wharf 54
Fireboat Station, North End paving wharf 55
Fireboat temporary slip 55
Fire Engine Station, Walk Hill and Wenhani streets 55
Gallop's Island wharf 55
Neponset bridge, over Neponset river 56
Public Garden survey 56
Public Grounds walks 56
Summer Street Bridge 57
ToUgate Way Footbridge, over Prov. Div. N. Y., N. H. & H.
R. R 57
Warren Bridge to Charlestown 59
Western Avenue Bridge to Cambridge 59
Miscellaneous 61
Streets:
Working plans, specifications and forms of contract were pre-
pared and forwarded for assessment streets 60
Waterworks:
Extension of mains 60
Average monthly heights, in feet, above Boston city base, to
which water rose at different stations on the Boston water-
works, northern high service 62
Average monthly heights, in feet, above Boston city base, to
which water rose at different stations on the Boston water-
works, southern high service 62
Average monthly heights, in feet, above Boston city base, to
which water rose at different stations on the Boston water-
works, low service _ . . . 62
Table showing monthly rainfall in inches during 1910 at various
places in eastern Massachusetts 63
General statistics 64
City Engineers, 1850=191 1 65
William Jackson, obituary and portrait 66
Engineering Department. 85
APPENDICES.
Page
Appendix A. — Table showing the widths of openings for vessels
in all bridges provided with draws 70
B. — Engineering Department property schedule 72
C. — Elevations referred to Boston City base 73
D. — Engineering Department annual reports, 1867-
1910 76
E. — Engineering Department, Revised Ordinances 77
F. — Meridian line 78
G. — Special documents and reports relating to and from
City Engineer other than those pubhshed in
annual reports, 1848-1902 80
•sj
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