The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-05-06
The Back Cove Nuisance.
The Last Plan Adopted for i.- Abatsm


The following correspondence discloses the
plan for disposing Of the sewage on the north
side OF the city, which was adopted by the al-
dermen Monday night:
OFFICE Cry ENGINEER, May, 2, 1885.
Dagid Birnte, Esq, Chairman Committee on
Drains and Sewers.
Sir.-I have the honor to submit the follow
ing reply to your communication Of the s0th
ult., which is as follows:
"The committee on sewers have learned
that the engineers in charge OF the sewerage Of
the city OF Washington have adopted a plan Of
discnargiDg all the lateral sewers into the Po-
tomac river without the intervention Of an In
tercepting sewer, and ask your opinion whstb-
or the excavation Of suitable channels to ex.
tend from the main chaOAel In Back Cove to
Green street and Gould's wharf, and the ex-
tension Of the laterals to these channels, would
not meet all requirements for the present and
for many years 10 COME"
My opinion is that the above named channels
with the addition Of another from somersst
street location to the main new channel, and
minor channels in the Cove east Of franklin
street, and the extension of all the sewers ta
constant water, together with the proper care
OF the whole length OF the shore between Dear
iDgs bridge and Tukey's bridge, will meet all
practicable requirements for the present and
for many years to come, judging the proapec-
tive growth of the city by Its increase during
the past twenty years.
have read the sewerage reports Of Wash-
ington, to which you refer, and though the Pc-
tomac has q constant outward hoW, should
consider such channels as could here be excs-
waited more efficAcious for the reception and diff
fusion Of our comparatively small quantity Of
sewage than those Ia operation in WashinKton.
We want speedy diffusion OF the sewage In
many times its volume Of water, and then its
removal. The quantityof water entering and
leaving the bay at each tide may be taken ~
hve million tons, or ten thousand million
pounds. With this quantity OF water COM
parison OF our daily SO wage will justify the
statement heretofore made that it is scarcely
drop in bucketful. However small 1t may
be II should no longer be left 30 discharge ss
the Oats.
l have laid down on the map OF the Bay .
channel 80 feet wide and 10 feet deep from the
natural channel where its depth is 10 feet %
mean low water, Extending up the partially
dredged chanel OF Gould's Wharf dock to .
point 125 feet distant, on its centre line, fron
the northerly side line OF the Marginal Way TO
behring's Bridge. Also a channel 30 feet vide
and 10 feat deep from the channel TO Somerset
street near the foot OF Pearl street, aud the ex-
tension Of all the sewers west OF, and including
franklin street, to these channels. The dook
at the foot OF Wilmot street to be dredged to
the depth of feet at low water, and channels
to be opened from the sewers ia the cove east
OF Franklin street, leading to the tide pools at
the Marginal Way sluiceways.
Inc quahJlgy OF oreuglng le l2,0UO Cuplc
yards, at the moderate rate Of Is cents q yard
amounting to $11, 1880. The dredged materi-
al to be deposited on the Marginal Way looa-
ton between Dsering's Bridge and the Coal
Sheds, thus beginning the much needed re-
clamation of the fats 10 that vicinity, aAd
opening the way to a scheme OF Improvements
Of that slope of the city.
Back Bay comprises navigable waters having
q natural channel 5000 feet long from q depth
of 10 feet at low water at the upper end In
creaslng to 80 feet and shoaling again to Is feet
the fats will involve sea wall at the Harbor
Commissioners line and extensive dredging,
not only for the material for filing, bat for the
preservation OF the value of the Bay as tidal
basin. Reno Val Of material from the channel
TO the flats does not enlarge the water area but
will serve our present purpose.
The details Of permanent improvement Of
the Bay will come within the province of the
Engineer Officers Of the United States, and
would respectfully suggest that steps be taken
to obtain the opinion of such oficers on ths
harbor lines of the Bay and on other points,
which should be prescribed with authority. The
dredging IS above proposed, with the exception
of the small cross channels, cannot come amiGs
In any general plan of improvement, and
would dosbtless form part of the same.
The estimate for the work proposed to bs
done at once Is as follows:
Dredging as above .1T5oO
Extension Of sewers, earth filing ETC.. 6.S00.00
Total................................sI797 Total. .sI7 976.Oo
Balance of appropriation on hand. .,.. 100000
Additional appropriation required. 7,97t.oO
Respectfully submitted.
WIN. A. GOODWIN.
City Civil Engineer.