Wichita eagle., 1888-10-19
BROKE DIRT.
A DELEGATION WITNESS THE
INITIAL WORK on THE
SEWER.
Mayor Allen Accorded First Honor
by the COuncil---Presenta-
ton Speech and Re-
spouse.

| was termed the initial Day OF the ACTUAL
work, though, of course dealt in quite
sparingly by the council. For many
months the council had been engaged in
the head work necessary to sewer great
city. a step forward, halt, possibly re-
| treat, again step in advance. Investiga-
ton, study and personal expense was in
dulged in by the different members. One
session member inclined to favor GER
tain way of disposing of a certain feature,
and the next meeting finding him after
| having given the question further and
more careful investigation favoring some
| thing almost opposite that he favored
shortly before. With constant invesUiga-
ton plans crystalized and system finally
decided upon.
Reaching this point which took many
months, and assisted by the board of trade,
it was thought for a moment that the
maj part of the work was over. Some
Of the members fancied it was but short
distance to the point desired, but it seems
to have proved mirage and the road
much longer and the road more trouble
some than was anticipated For time
attempts to go forward seemed to be re-
warded with a vim that placed the end
even farther than it had seemed some time
before. This, in turn, resulted in discour-
agement and spirit. at times, of discOn-
tent. This could be observed in the coun-
Gil sessions at times when the public at
ton would be directed toward the work,
and some ventured to hurl criticism be-
cause of apparent tortoise speed. With
the increased attention from the public
the council would get down to it and re-
main at council a little longer, and each
member gave closer attention to the ques-
tons under discussion.
Tedious and slow as the advancement
was made the engineer was finally given
an idea of what the council wanted. This
decision was the result of all Investigation
on the part of the council, assisted by
Rosewater &, Christie, who were paid for
services $, 900; Herring, of New York city,
who was paid $500 for advice and the con-
slant assistance of City Engineer Mulvey,
who has been diligent in his efforts to give
the council best direction and advice
The result finally reached seemed to be in
conformity with the city engineer, major
ity of the council and in accordance with
the views of the sewer committee from the
board of trade While it is known that
many months has been consumed in con-
sidering the sewer question it is recalled
that s., 500 is the amount of money eX-
pended for extra engineering services which
according to many is very reasonable
amount to eXpend and 1t seems
to be the opinion of many that
none of that amount has been expended
unnecessarily. So it is that the members
of the council are congratulating them
selves that so far they have gotten along
with reasonable expense and they admit
themselves as possible open to- one critl-
cism and that on account of the time it
has taken. But when looking back and
viewing the task and the information at
hand at first, they concluded that they are
not as deserving of criticism on that score
as many not acquainted with the work and
disposed to be free with fault finding may
conclude. The motto of having FASTENED
slowly they admit, but Immediately insist
that they have done well to do that and
are waiting to abide by the results.
So it was the councilmen were heard
talking yesterday as they met to start
upon the last half of the Wichita sewer
system. The construction is next and
it is generally conceded that
it is very important feature as it is
stated on broad terms that any system or
set of plans however meritorious may prove !
defective unless properly handled in con-
struction. On this score all were heard to |
place implicitly confidence in Steirmetz &
Sullivan who have the construction part |
in hand
According to former agreement and an |
the members of the city |
council were seen making their way to the |
council chamber yesterday about 1:30 p. |
IN. 1t was not long until number of the |
leading citizens were on hand to join in
the trip to the point of commencing work |
on the sewer IL was not long until all /
were on the way and it very soon became |
apparent that the temperature was ele-
waited and the wind was we'll |
burdened with sand and dust
but no one turned back. 1t was
nearly four miles south and few hundred |
feet above the point where Chisholm creek
flows into the Arkansas. The last part of
the drive degenerated into a narrow path
,ut out through timber and heavy under
brush, which may have had the appear
ance of being rustic, but not universally
appreciated in kindly manner The
nome strech was over the wire fence
after it had been torn down-and down
nto the river. But few We're satisfied
lntil they had tested the mud so thor
)ughly as to make demand for Shines"
n the near future. \ stake on the bank
vas ornamented with a chalk marking
hat read ''l2i90'' and each one took turn !
1t inquiring what it meant and it turned
nut 10 be the number of feet from that
point to Harry street. The fall from there
o the corner of Douglas and Waco is
hirty-on feet and forty-three hundredths
After taking in the surroundings a few
minutes an exploring party crossed over
N the island, but it was learned there had
,een a misconnection or switch left
pen. Nothing of striking Importance was
ound.
In due time there were calls for Mayor
Allen TO break dirt for the sewer construc-
ion His coat was soon in the hands of
2ev Harmon and he reached for the
howell in the hands of City Attorney Dyer.
I was not given him at that moment but
n response the city attorney removed his
lat and commenced a surprise for his
onor He said that about eighteen
months ago Mr.. Allen had been selected by
he people of Wichita to represent and
are for their interests at the head of the
ity government. Since that time he had
iven much careful and meritorious ad-
ice to the council for public improve
lents.
4 system of sewerage had been inaugu-
ated as result and the council had de-
armined by its former action to accord to I
i'm the distinction ald high honor OF /.
hrowing the first dirt. The speaker