St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-16
THENORTH Tunnel TROUBLE.
Ex-Iayor John De Laittre Thinks
Work Should Be stopped.

EX-MayOr John De Laittre Thinks
Work Should Be stopped.
Since it has come to light that the
North Minneapolis sewer tunnel would
probably have to be abandoned there
has been a great deal Of comment over
the matter. and some very uncOmpli-
mentary talk has been INDUCED in in
regard to the engineering department
of the city. EX-MayOr John De
LaittTe advocates the abandonment of
the tunnel at the present time, claiming
that it viii prove the most expensive
piece OF work the city ever undertook.
Nearly. If not quite, $4,000 has now
been spent in bUTrOWing in the ground"
said he yesterday. The first danger en-
cOunrered on passing up Second street
was veins of water. which it was feared
would endanger the government works
at the fallSs Under pressure Of public
opinion the direction OF the tunnel was
changed. a small portion OF the eXcaVa-
ton retilled at considerable expense,
the contractors abandoning the Job
and the work being continued by The
city. The original estimate Of $4,000
for the completed work has long since
been exhausted. ana HOW comes the tug
of war. | do not believe it possible, at
any reasonable cost, to tunnel into the
low basin under HOag's lake and Bas-
Sett's creek. Several years ago En-
Eineer Rinker and l had several discus
siOns about this place Of sewage, l OPP
posing and. he faVOring ii. l then as
serted that when the tunnel struck into
the low basin he would find so much
water ana quick sand that the cost
would be enormous. His plan was
adopted because it seemed almost an
absolute necessity, as we were pumping
the water supply OF the city from the
mill pond above the falls, to empty the
SWerage below. This was one reason.
The other was that he cOntended that
10 sewer direct into the river he could
not obtain fall enough to drain out
around Central Park. At all events the
work was started, bonds issued. taxes
levied. The people of North Minneapolis
and the low lands have no sewer yet
and if they wait until the completion of
this tunnel it will be long time before
they do. The chief reason why sewage
should be discharged below the falls
has almost ceased to exist. Soon the
Single Creek pumping station will be
supplying the city with water, and by
another year l expect to see public
opinion compel the closing OF both
pumping stations at the falls. Now, 1
would say stop burrOwlng down so
deep under ground; end your
tunnel where it is; sink well
into it and start your sewers out
from that at a safe and reasonable
depth and sewer what low country you
can. Then, instead Of going to the vast
expense Of SeweTing away from the
river near its banks, run sewers out
into it. closing up the falls pumping
stations. HOag's lake could be lowered
in this way. say fifteen to twenty feet,
then I'LL it up. All the low country out
beyond the elevators and the Manitoba
tracks will eventually be filed and
raised. 1t is more than probable that
fifty to seventy five feet beneath the
surface of that low land. south and
west Of Western avenue, there is a vast
body of water and quicksand, and be-
lieve il should be let alone.