The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-07-13
THE WALNUT STREET SEWER.
The Importance of Having the Work DOn'
Without Delay.

The Importance of Having the Work Done
Without Delay.
"Great bodies move slowly" and our
Council is not whit behind in proving
the truth of the aphOrism, but in the
matter of crying public works, whose
completion Is a matter of life and
health to the people. such as the sewer
age question, they are much slower in
getting at work than they are establish
ing grade, and very, very much slower
than they were in the matter of secur-
ing City Hall. Last year, and for
several years previous, the foul and
offensive condition of this main sewer
street has been brought to the attention
of Council, but aside from referring
the matter to the Committee on Sewers,
nothing practical was ever done, except
vague promises; the green, Shiny water
and fetid mud of this old canal bed con-
tinued to send up its miasmatic emana-
tiOns under the influence of the hot sun,
filling the air with
POISONOUS GERMS OF DEATH
which induced many fatal cases, and
cemetery removals of persons who, in
all human probability, would now be in
the full enjO m Mt of health and
strength. A spasmOdic action was once
taken, when an eastern expert showed
flush tanks, could be provided cheaply
and permanently, but nothing was done
until cool weather arrived, and then no
| further notice was taken of the Snbject,
reminding one of the man with the
leaky roof, when it was dry weather it
needed no repairs, and when it rained
| he could not work" This year the
Council advanced step further, and
| appointed a Sewer Commission, whose
| a %
to establish proper drainage system
This Board was appointed some months
ago, but the results of their labOrs have
not yet been visible on this street, fol
here it is, midsummer, and the street is
in the same cesspOOl condition.
At last, citizens became desperate and
long petition was handed into Council
asking for brick or cement floor main
sewer, properly arched over. to convey
the main body of up town sewage, and
on top of this to lay an open sewer, with
properly graded street for surface water
At the last meeting of the Council the
committee
REPORTED ADVERSELY
To this plan, on the ground of its "ex
pense," but recommend the City En-
gineer's plan of a cObble stone gutter
or open drain, with fiat stones on the
bottom, and "WOuld further recommend
that the job be let by contract, and pro
pOsaIs for bids be advertised" All thi
preliminary work recommended" to bt
done in the middle of July, when tht
blazing sun runs the mercury up int
the nineties every day, and the heated
2 earth and its attendant OdOrs makes tn
night burden is a slow process.
1t will take several weeks to advertis
i, for bids, one or two more to open an
, fight over them, and by the time tina
matters are settled, the building seasOI
will be nearly over and nothing done
1t would be far better in this hot weathe
to engage the street force, to clean tn
foul cutters, and then order out the fir
department at forty cents an hour,
} flush them with water, and thus affOr
partial relief.
| There are, of course, many question
3 of public improvements to engage IL
) attention of Council. and they are Ofte
in quandary which subject to take I
=, first, but the health and lives of citizeI
: should be paramount consideration
/ Outweighing mere property or pecun
}. ary views, and prompt and instant san
It tary measures should be taken at ono
!. pending the necessary delay incident
: the slow and pOnderOus proposed COul
y Gil action.