Wichita eagle., 1888-07-11
SEWERAGE THOROUGHLY C0NSlD-
Erred AT YESTERDAYS
SPECIAL COUNCIL
MEETING.
The City Attorney Instructed TO
Frame an Ordinance Permit
ting the Sewers to be
Built Without In
necessary Delay.

Glaze, Slower, Stone, johnson, Slmmon-
son and English.
The mayor stated the Object OF the meet
ing to be to discuss the sewer question
On suggestion Of his honor, Mr.. Buck
ridge moved, Mr.. Glaze seconding and II
was determined. that when the council ad-
journ, it be TO this (Wednesday) evening a.
7:30 for the purpose Of considering the re-
vised ordinances.
Judge Campbell being called upon for
his opinion in regard 70 procuring right OF
way, said that in his opinion the best way
would be to condemn an alley way
through the lots traversed and in that way
the sewers will all be on city property.
Mayor Allen stated that in accordance
with the action of the council, Judge II. c.
Sluss had been called in 70 act as consult
ing counsel in the sewerage problem
Mr.. HeaIy asked Judge Sluss if an
owner of a lot in the severed district could
be compelled to pay taxes on the sewers,
in case he had 10 connection with the
water works, and as a consequence did not
use the sewer. Ii was explained that
property owners failure TO connect with
the sewerage was not TIE fault of tae sys-
tenn.
Quite a running discussion was INDUCED
in by all OF the eouncilmen, his honor the
mayor and Judges Campbell and Sluss
upon the legal ability OF the city to divide
the city into as many drainage districts.
as there are mains running north and
south and at the same time make them
all pay for the one main sewer, into which
all OF the others empty in the south part
of the city. Mr. Healy aud Judge Sluss
suggested, that the letting OF the contract
entire, would limit the city's opportunities
for procuring many bidders, for the reason
that but few contractors can handle such
an undertaking.
There was a disposition among the
council generally, TO do only the most
necessary portion of the sewerage system,
provided that when doing only that much,
which it was thought would be required on
mains A, B and c, seweri1g all of the
territory west of the Santa te railway
track. First one plan and then another
was discussed, only TO be confronted By
insurmountable legal objections. Even
though these three should be constructed
and jointly pay for the large main at the
south end OF the city, it was stated that
the others could not be allowed to sewer
into the large one.
The total cost OF this large outlet WAS
stated by Engineer Mulvey, to be about
$4,000 Under any circumstances the
three mains "A >" B" and "C'i will have
to pay most OF this amount even if all
sewers are built at the same time, because
the property drained by these three is more
valuable and will be assessed higher. Still
the insurnountable difficulty about others
draining into the outlet was in the way.
Judge Campbell gave it, as his opinion,
baSing the same upon a decision of the sU-
preme court, that the city council has leg
islative power enough to apportion the
expense of the main outlet among the
different sewerage districts, presupposing
that each main will have q separate dis
trict The original cost being paid by
those being built first. Then as each subse-
queat district comes in, it shall pay to
those districts, which built the main out
let, its proper proportion of the cost Of that
outlet.
The mayor began to look wearied by this
great problem Of sewerage, and sugges ted
that somebody say some thing about doing
at least portion OF the WORK, whereupon
Mr.. Healy said that Re was in favor OF one
sewer west of the Santa Fe tracks, IN addi
ton TO the Topeka avenue sewer, and also
one east OF the tracks.
Then everybody, mayor, attorneys, en-
giueer and councilmen got the map of the
city spread out upon the table and studied
il, while they discussed the legal phases of
the enigma. And to the credit of the city
fathers, it is but proper to say right here
that they are giving this question OF sew
erage as much earnest, careful considers
ton as was ever given any subject OF vital
Importance by any other citys guardians,
and those people who have never attend ID
a council meeting, or investigated the
sewerage problem, but content themselves
with publicly berating the city authorities
for assumed inactivity, are doing those
officials an injustice and setting up their
opinions upon a question OF they know
really nothing. Il would, to be sure, be
very easy matter for the city officials 70
jump into the work at haphazard, but such
action might involve the property owners.
in the district to be severed, n and end
less amount OF time, trouble and expense,
besides depriving other portions OF the
city from atterward uniting with ths sYs-
tenn now proposed The best thing for the
public 10 DO IS 10 ley the city council get
this matter in proper shape and then pro
coed in a legal and safe manner
This is being done as rapidly -
it is possible for anyo1e to do, and
the sewerage system OF Wichita viii be an
accomplished success, Just as sool as it j.
a physical possibility TO make il such and
that viii be as fast as hundreds OF wOrz-
men can build the sewers. Il is an IN
fortunate circumstance that up 70 the
present time no city In Kansas has re
Quired any legislation concerning sewer
age and at this moment the city IS pro
ceeding under the advice OF the best legal
| talent 20 be obtained, for the purpose Of
interpreting the statutes Of the state IL
such manner as 20 permit Wichita 70
proceed with her metropolitan system Of
sewerage.
After great deal Of consultation MAJ
ters began 20 assume a definite SHAPE,
when Mr. Buckeridze. with Mr. Sto~er As
second, moved TIA: the city proceed With
the sewerage and Immediately construct
the main outlets and the mains a B"
and &C. as far north a. Twenty street
for "A" and 3" and up 70 se~enteenth
street for &C" The entire cost 20 be bor1e
now by the district 20 De severed By those
mains. which viii be known as sewer dis
t-ict No. /, aud then procure legislation by
which the other mains wo1ld De aLoEe1
TO empty into TIE Quiet, when they are
built That would sewer al cas-. II Waco
70 Mad svenue north. and t-01n Water
east that far. south o. Douglas Tbs
motion OF Mr. BUckeridgz bang put was
los. by tie following vote q Eve 70 four.