Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-31
IL BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

The Mayor, from the special committee appoin-
ted June 9th, to establish rates for parties de-
siring to make of the Chapel street and State
street, drain, made the following report
The undersigned committee TO whom re-
fered the petition of w. T. johnson for perms-
sion to connect with the Mansion House sewer,
and who wee instructed by order of the Board,
dated June 9th, 1874, to receive applications for
entering said sewer, report that said johnson and
Freeman Barker the only persons who have
made application for permission 10 enter said sew
err with their drains, and the committee having
considered these cases, come to the conclusion to
recommend to the Boa.d, to assess William Il.
johnson for the right to connect his drain, from
his three houses ON two lots on Winthrop street,
including all buildings which may be erected on
said lots, and for all purposes of drainage of the
same, at the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars,
and TO said Barker for the right for his
tenement house and lot on Chapel street, at the
sum of one hundred dollars. In recommending
these assessments the committee were embarrassed
by the novelty Of the question, and were impressed
with the Importance of making just and equita-
BILE assessment in these initial in system Of
sewerage. BY the statute, providing for assess
ments IN these cases, the applicant acquires per-
petual right to the use of the sewer for the pur
pose of drainage, and this right is appuitenant TO
the lot or lots described in his application, and
passes with the land-he is subject to no addition
al expense for repairs or extension. The city I'M
dertakes to receive his sewage, as it is delivered
from his drain, at the sewer, and convey it for all
time, without any additional expense to him, to
some point where it shall not be offensive to the
public or any private party. The city is not 1T
liberty to depart from its undertaking, and there
fore might not desire to confer so valuable privi-
lege or undertake an onerous duty for a mere
nominal sum.
The impression prevails with some that the city
is under obligation to take care of the sewage Of
private parties without expense to them, when it
is delivered on the street; such is not the law and
persons so delivering offensive matter commit an
oiense for which they are answerable to the law
Undoubtedly it is the duty Of the city government
to- provide, and the convenience ard comfort of
our citizens require, and the public health de-
mands that sewers should be constructed to con-
vey the surface water from the streets and the
sewage Of private parties, but while the law con-
fers the authority, and sanitary reasons demands
be assessed, for the benefit which they receive
more than taxpayers generally, by the public
sewer being made part OF their private drain and
subscrvient to their private use. The proportion
of the expense which should fall upon the public
for general drainage of the Streets and the part
which should be paid by private parties entering
the sewer, must be determined by the cost and
circumstances attending the construction in each
particular case-as in relation to the present
err, the cost of delivering the sewage which it may
carry, at place where it may not be offensive,
NAV be many times the cost of the present sewer,
without adequate contribution on the line of ex-
| tension from private sources. Your committee in
closing these suggestions, would recommend that
| Mr.. johnson and Mr. Baker be notified, and be
heard by the Board in relation to the assessments
upon them, and that after this hearing such action
be taken and such sums fixed, as may appear to