Morris tribune., 1889-01-16
Something that Morris Must
Have

Vhere are three tthnSS requiSt1o
make u good town--a town. that vii
attract people and induce them t
take up their residence in it, VIZ
Good schools, an abundant supply o
good water, and good system OF sew
erage. These are matters first though
ofby strangers who are meditating or
locating in new town. Nine person;
out OF ten, If they have families, he
fore deciding to settle in any particu'
lar town, will make these enquiries
first: "Have you good schools in your
town?"-second: "Have you plenty
of good ater!"-third: "Have you
good sewerage, so that your town is
well drained?" To the first ques ion
we can. answer "Yes," yet there is
room for improvement In our shoots.
AS to the water question, that was
pretty thoroughly discussed in the
TRIBUNE two weeks since. And now
we come to the question of drainage.
That's the question we want to dis
cuss ut this time, and If possible III
vince our people that sewerage is an
actual necessity; that without it a
damage to property all over town is
being done, but more especially TO
the business property along Atlantic
avenue. And not only is property
damaged by not having u proper sys-
tenn of drainage, but the health of our
city Is endangered, and it requires no
special prophetic inspiration to pre-
dict with certaint: that unless we do
have properly constructed sewers, so
rs to afford good drainage, Morris will
become an unhealthy city before very
many more years pass away. So, then,
it may be truly said that it will pay
to construct sewers even if they were
of no benefit except as a sanitary
measure. We doubt if any one will
pretend to deny this.
Now what we wish to suggest for
the consideration of the Taxpayers of
this city is not q new thing, as it has
often been talked about but 10 action
taken, viz: The construction of q
sewer along the west side of Atlantic
avenue, commencing at q point a
short distance north of the Fist Ma
tional bank building and extending
as far south as is necessary to convey
the sewage. We are told by Surveyor
Wheaton that there is fall Of about
sixteen feet from the point suggested
above to where the outlet of the lake
crosses the railroad. This would give
a sufficient fall to carry off water by
means Of Il sewer, even after the sewer
was put down below the frost. Pro-
badly tile of sufficient size for the
sewer can be obtained, which would
be equally as durable and much
cheaper than brick.
With such sewer constructed,
pipes or tile could be laid from the
business houses and connected with
the main sewer, thereby draining the
Easements and making them useful.
Surface drains could be made and
connected with the main sewer so as
to drain large portion of the city, at
least that part of it lying on the east
side of the railroad track. Probably
the west side could be better drained
in another direction.
The lot adjoining the National bank
building has been purchased for the
purpose of erecting fire brick hotel
on it. Work on this building will be
commenced as early as possible in the
spring and will he hurried to compile
ton with all possible dispatch. A
well will be sunk for the use of the
hotel and al engine will be employed
to pump water into an elevated tank
of several hundred barrels capacity.
Water from this tank could be used to
flush the sewer whenever necessary to
carry out any accumulation of dirt
So that We think there need he no
fears in regard to the sewer filling up
and becoming useless. How large
the main sewer should be we are un-
able to say, as we have not advised
with any one competent to decide.
Neither are we we'll enough posted to
give an Intelligent opinion as to the
expense of constructing such a sewer
as here proposed. But we will hazard
the opinion that the property owners
of our city who would have to be taxed
for this system of drainage would
never regret its construction.
Now, then, you gentlemen who are
in favor of Improvements which will
add to the value of city property, as
we'll as act in sanitary measure, talk
up this drainage question and let us
know what you think about it. One
thing is certain, the improvement is
needed, and needed badly, and if
practicable, should be CARED out to
completion. That's the opinion of
the TRIBUNE.
pIICEI CNyc hDNIrA cAluc