Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-01
TACKLED TO-DAY.
THE SEWER QUESTION BEFORE THE
BOARD OF TRADE.
Opinions of Prominent Men on the
QuestiOn---IncreaSed Inter-
est Being Shown.

The sewer committee, consisting OF
Brown, Healy and Derby, will meet the
board of trade this afternoon at O'Clock,
for the purpose of discussing the sewer
question. The committee will come be-
fore the board with all information and
data so far secured on the subject, taking
in the plans of Rosewater & Christie, the
experience with the Topeka avenue sewer
and the proposition recently submitted by
the Pacific Sewer company. AS is known,
the council at its last meeting instructed
the committee to interview, as it were, the
board of trade on the question and report
the result, hoping thereby to gain some in.
formation that will enable them to act
probably more wisely on the question or at
least know more of the public pulse on the
question.
For some time the matter has been Wv
idly before the council and many of the
leading business men in the city outside
the council have given the question no lit
tie thought and study, improved opportu-
mites to gain information in cities similar
to Wichita. In view of this fact a number
were questioned on the subject, and in
every case lively interest was shown and
opinions, the result of investigation, eX-
pressed in way that seemed to predict
that some definite line of action will be de-
cided upon before long:
Concerning the question Col. II. w.
Lewis said: 81 was one of a number who
spent time and money about three years
ago in getting the opinion of one of the
most eminent engineers in the country. He
tl.,x hoe
more so, and his opinion, the
result of personal investigation,
goes a great way in assisting me to for
tunate my opinion. l am Of the opinion
that no other than that known as the
pumping system will give the desired re-
suits in this city. While we have a fall
that may be tempting to other systems yet
they are not certain, in this case gravely
verging on experiment, and we would
suffer more in reputation from an expert
ment than we would to start out at once
and put in something that we all know
will succeed. / fear the experiment would
find hundreds of thousands of dollars
in iron pipes holding material generating
the most obnoxious gases"
LET the city own its sewerage"
Mr.. A. M. Oliver stated: II am certain
the West system would succeed here and
very doubtful of Others l don't think
this Topeka avenue sewer will
give good service, and 1 am
quite certain that the city as a city
should not construct sewers, giving a few
all the benefit while the many pay for it.
Another system than the pumping would
be an experiment SO dangerous we should
not attempt it. The one is but little more
and it is absolutely certain will
give satisfaction"
The city should own its sewer SYSTEM
Mr.. J. o. Observation-Disclosures City is a
model city, made so by its sewerage, which
is effected by the West system. A part of
Boston is severed by the same system, and
the wants of these are very similar to those
of Wichita. / think, however, the board
of trade should appoint a committee to
visit Pullman and other similar cities and
look .up the sewerage question. They
can see for themselves what
it is doing and let them report
BY their report we will be assisted to settle
the question. This is the year to do this
work The city needs it, the laboring
classes will need the work and we can do
it cheaper probably than we can next
year"
IF a company undertakes the job of
sewering the city should think the ma
joritv of the stock should be owned by the
city,"
Mr.. Amos Houck-'Yes, sir: I think this
city should be treated to first class sewer
system this year and l am quite certain in
my own mind that we can do no better
than adopt what is known as the "West
SYSTEM" which is giving desired results
in Pullman City, Atlantic City, Boston,
and some other cities. All other systems
would be throwing money in the ditch
never to get a nickel back. This
one system is sure to succeed
and will cost little more than
others proposed and should be put in this
year.
''The city should put in the system, own
it and have all to do in caring for it"
The opinions of Councilman English
have been published on the question and
be is in favor of the pumping system,
strongly advocating the same in council |
meetings.
When Councilman Healy was spoken to |
he said: Il am still of the |
opinion that water runs down hill. |
think the Topeka avenue sewer has |
demonstrated that my position on the |
question is correct. That is giving good |
service and will serve the business part of |
the city some time and when necessary we |
can duplicate it, costing as you know very |
little as compared with some other sys-
TENS suggested"
\. +. Niederlander-'I have not given |
the question much thought | am not de- |
cided whether the Rosewater & Christie |
plans should be adopted or the West sys- |
tenn. shall give the matter some thought |
before the meeting tomorrow"
DOCTORS TALK.
DIR. Jordan-'I am in favor of sewerage,
IS it will in time become necessary in order
% protect the health of the city. The !
health of the city so far has been unfor-
good so far as the doctors are
AS to the systems used think
he fall should determine. 1t is quite GER
ain the West will do the work if no other
WILL
Drs. NcCullough-"We favor sewerage
md let US have it as soon as possible. So
ar We have not suffered from lack of it,
nut should provide for the future"
DR.. Fabrique-'I don't see how it is
possible to better the health OF the city. 1t
nay be endangered in the future by the
resent sewer service, and as a result il
night be best to put in better system as
Don as possible