San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-07-03
THE THIRD WARD DRAINAGE.
Valuable Information and Pertinent Cd
servations Upon the Subject.

Valuable Information and Pertinent OBJ
servations Upon the Subject.
Editor San Antonio LIGHT:
In accordance with the plans for city I'M
proyement $4,000 is TO be spent forthwith, and
the Third ward gets SllOOO. OF this sum StOO,
as proposed by the aldermen, VIII De deNOted
10 the drainage of Crockett, BOnhaln, bowie,
Blum and NacOgdOches streets, ana tine hlalnO
plaza. No one will deny that the dralhage y
necessary in the streets named, Tor every Ilule
there Is a big rain they are Hooded WIN wafer
standing some times TO the depth Oh Two ISct'
and, as a consequence, the cellars, prISies,
cisterns, etc, are filled with dlrty WaIcT'
causing much annoyance and loss, but there
are those who believe the necessary improve
ments can be well effected without mOnopo-
hZing so much of the appropriation. your
correspondent has made careful inquiry
into the matter, and finds that the Hood
ing is occasiOned mainly by the overflow
of the Madre ditch between Nacogdoches
and Crockett streets. At one time this was
relieved by the old valley ditch, Out thai Is
now filed up to the top of the arch on Nolan
street and thus, instead of the water being
taken south and out of the city, 1t is driven
north into the Madre ditch, and increases the
overflow. In days that are gone, Ditch Com
missioner Wurzbach, father OF our county
Judge when storms were threatened, would
ride, and even walk, to the head OF the river
TO close the.water gates, and thus prevent the
how of the river water into the dltch, Dut that
Is not done now. The section was drained
some time ago by canal on BOnham street,
Is inches wide, and between two and three
feet deep, but this was found to be far too
small for the proper drainage. Instead OF
widening this canal, the city council closed IL
up, put in ten inch cement pipe, and cut a
small canal from Bowie street, connecting
both with the big sewer that runs from the
Arbeiter Verein hall to the bridge on Com
merce street where it finds an outlet into the
river, but these channels and openings INTO
the sewer were far too small TO be effective.
The 5000 is to be used IN max
ing brick and pipe sewers TO the
river, and If properly done would be an
effectual remedy for the overflow, but many
persons think that of a wide canal (having sec
tiOnal planks removable for cleaning purposes
as in the case of the Acequia street ditch
were cut from Blum street and contested by
spacious openings with the big sewer on East
Commerce street the same results could be
obtained for about $500. Thus leaving II larg-
err sum for the Alamo Plaza and other needed
improvements in the Third ward lf the pro
posed drainage is merely to carry on the over
How, IL would appear that the stoppage OF
the river water at the source of the MadfG
ditch, and the proposed canal would answer MI
practical purpose for years to come. II on
the other hand IL is intended that the SIUO
sewer shall form the nucleus of an efficient
system of sewerage then II should have the
hearty endorsement of the people. The tact
is opposition in this and other matters is
mainly OccasiOned by the people having 10
grope in darkness when the light OF OihClal ~
formation should shine brightly, dtspelling all
ignorance and doubt THIRD WAkDEH.