San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-14
SEWERS VS.. bitches.
A Meeting of the Sewer Commit
tee Yesterday Afternoon,
Oevine and the Waterworks CaIaghan
Opposed to It EntireIy-The Com
mittee's Final Stroke.

afternoon In the Mayors parlOr, the fol-
lowing members being present: Judge
Thomas }. DeviRe, Chairman; Mayor
Callaghan, F. Groos, George NJ. Nave
rick, Aldermen Belknap, Pauly and Con-
nor.
The Mayor having called the commit
tee to order. stated that the resolution of
Alderman Mackay, which was that a
committee of three members, together
with the Mayor and City Attorney, be
appointed to correspond with the Presi
dent Of the water works with a view of
agreeing upon terms for the purchase,
same to be submitted to the voters of
this city had been referred to that COM
mittee.
His Honor said he believed the city
should own the water-werks. This res
OlutiOn was made with a view of pur-
chasing the water-works. He would
very mu ch favor the establishment of
system of their own water-wOrks. In
a certain contract, and they ought not 10
betray the faith of the city.
GroOs: Is the city at liberty to estab
fish system of their own?
Mayor: Yes.
Groos: Is she at liberty to authorize
any one else to t tabIish a system?
Mayor: Yes.
GrOOs: | thought there was con-
tract for a certain number of years.
Mayor: There is a contract for public
purpose, but there is nothing excluding
the city contracting with any body of
men to establish their own. | will ask
Judge Devine who at one time repre-
sented the city to bear me out.
Devine: Whisky was the prevailing
drink in those days.
Mayor: The question came up and a
suit was instituted by the Water-works
Company to recover the amount claimed
by them for water furnished by the city.
| believe the city employed Judge De-
vine, Messrs. Harrison Il Howard, and
Judge NOOnan al that time decided the
Water-works Company had a right to
recover. We had not received the
water bu' they made us pay for it.
Devine: My impression is this that
while the city is under obligation to
take water from the company and pay
so much for every hydrant, yet there Is
nothing in the contract that prohibits
the city from giving permission to
another party to lay pipes and furnish
water.
GrOos: Is the city at liberty to estab-
lish a system of water-wOTks of their
Owa.
Devine: Undoubtedly, but the city
would have to stand up to the contract.
the new contract, the compromise.
Mayor: | was member Of the COun-
Gil at that time and | opposed the
water-works, and at that time
a compromise was made and fully re-
ceived on both sides, after suit had
been instituted and judgment rendered
against the city the price of each
hydrant was at first 500 per year it was
reduced to $50.
Belknap-I don't think that is the
business that pertains to the committee
at all.
The Mayor-No; that is true. There
has been dels- in calling the commit
tee. | am resp ible for it. did not
believe in calling the committee. and
am willing to take the responsibility.
because hardly thought it was neces-
sary under the discussion that was be-
fore them. The committee had left the
matter with him; certain questions have
been propounded to the City Engineer
on the subject, and he has reported as
follows:
SAN ANTONIO, November %, 1885.
Hon. Bryan Callaghan, Mayor:
DEAR SR-In reply to the following
inquiries, viz:
i. Whether the sewers should be
flushed daily, and if not, how often?
2. How many gallons will flush the
system now contemplated at one flush
ing?
s. The probable amount needed for
one flushing when the population ex-
ceeds $4,000?
| beg leave to say:
|. That each flushing tank should dis
charge once in every a hours.
2. In the system contemplated about
5000 flush tanks will be required, these
tanks to be located at the extremes or
dead ends of lsterals. Each tank should
discharge 100 gallons per day, making
the total amount of water required per
day 10000 gallons. Should it be deemed
advisable, | am Of the opinion that a
large portion of this water could be OBJ
tanned from bitches.
3. The increase of population to Co.
600 would not necessarily affect the
amount of water needed to flush dead
ends. The area included within the
limits Of the proposed system is more
than enough TO accommodate that
amount of population, and even were 1t
necessary to extend the laterals, il
would not increase the number of dead
ends to be flushed.
AS to flushing the interior portions of
the system, the volume of the sewage
itself can be depended on for that.
When extra flushing is required in
special cases, it is the practice to drive
the sewage back to a sufficient head to
accomplish the necessary cleansing
when liberated. Very respectfully,
c. z. MATLAcK, City Engineer.
A communication which had been re-
oeiyed from Major Breckenridge re.
garding the cost Of water was also read:
Hon. 7. J. DevinG, Chairman Sewer Committee.
SAN ANTONIO, November %, lSS5.-In
answer to your questions OF this morn
ing, / beg to state that it is difficult TO
set price upon the water required to
flush the sewers to be constructed by
the city of San Antonio; but, should the
quantity required be less than 100000
gallons per day, our charge will not ex-
coed cent per 100 gallons Should the
quantity exceed 100000 gallons and not
over 1000 gallons per day, we will not
charge more than cent per 100 gallons
for any excess over the first 100000 gal
Ions. If the quantity should exceed
100000 gallons per day, and require ad.
ditiOnal mains and machinery to fur.
ni'h what may be required, we will
probably not be able to supply the de.
mand without enlarging the mains and
mourning heavy expenses; in which