The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-27

Property of the Respective Compa-
mics.
The sewer committee held public
meeting in the court room yesterday
afternoon for the purpose of hearing
objections to the proposed interceptor
which Council has ordered to be built.
J. c. Rawn, manager Of the Roanoke
Gas and Water Company, and A. P.
Staples, attorney for the Buena Vista
Land Company, appeared before the
committee, ana in very forcible man
nor showed how the interceptor, if
built as ordered, would work irreparable
injury to the companies they repre-
scented.
Chairman Sheehan read the prelimi-
nary and final reports Of Mr.. Herring, at
the conclusion of which Mr.. Rawn made
very plain statement to the commit
tee, backing up his remarks with fig
ureS.
lie stated that the improvements
which his company had already made on
their property amounted to $50, 900, and
they contemplated making further i'm
provements there which will probably
amount to 100000. He had taken some
level along the city front and found
that for several hundred feet below
where the interceptor enters into the
river there is fall of three feet for
distance of 700 feet; then there is slack
water for 1900 feet, with only fall of
three-tenths of a foot, and for 600 feet
of the 1000 feet there is no fall at all.
In the next 600 feet there is fall of
4 2-I0 feet, in other words short rapids.
For 600 feet there is fall OF only one
tenth of foot, practically level, and
for 500 feet further on there is no fall at
all in the river, so that practically for
1,400 feet on the lower part OF tho prop
erty of this company there is dead
level and for 1900 feet on tho upper
part of the companY's property there is
also a level.
In these places Mr.. Rawn claimed
that the sewage would remain just as 1t
does in tho portion of Tinker creek
which has not been graded. 1t would
purify and become disease breeder.
He did not like to put his opinion
against Mr.. Hering's, whom he admitted
had worldwide reputation as an engi-
neer, but anyone is liable to be mis-
taken, and he thought that Mr.. Herring
had made q mistake in this case and was
fully convinced that Mr.. Dunlap's plan
of using Tinker creek was much better.
He called on the city engineer for infor-
nation on this subject, and tho latter
stated he had made a report on the mat
ter favoring the Lick run plan, as, in his
opinion, this was the most prac ticable.
a. p. Staples said that he had
been instructed by the Buena Vista
Land Company to present some obiec-
tions to the proposed plan of sewerage.
There are several very important cues
tions involved in this matter. One is a
question of the right to the city in tho
arrangement of this sewer, another is
tho question of expense to the city in
the construction of the sewer, and an
other is the question of the injury that
will result to citizens in and around the
city, independent of the question of the
cost OF tho sewerage and the injury that
will result to the city from any injury
to its citizens.
The Buena Vista Land Company has
purchased 6i7 acres of land on the river
front at cost of 100000 and it has
been negotiating for some time with va
rious industries to CON to Roanoke and
establish their plants here. The pro-
posed interceptor empties into the river
directly opposite the lands of this COM
pany and It's officers claim that it will
practically render them worthless for
manufacturing purposes.
He read letter from the president OF
the Cowell Platform and Coupling Com
pany of Cleveland, Ohio. who stated
that he was organizing car building
company, to be located on this prop
erty, but he objected to having the CITY
sewerage empty into the river at this
point. In the next Two years, az soon
as the works are. in full running order,
they will employ 1000 men and will re-
N nj oil
vicinity, and the question of the health
OF these men was very important one.
MIR. Staples added that the question
OF damage suits to the city should also
be considered in the location OF this
sewer, for If the lands of the company
become worthless on account OF the nui-
sance, the city could be held respon-
sible.
e. Ii. Stewart said that tho question
OF health should be considered in locat-
ing the sewerage system and when such
engineers as Mr.. Rawn and Mr., Dunlap
said the Tinker creek. system was prao-
ticable and much more suitable than
Mr.. Hering's plan, he thought that
their opinions should have some weight.
Messrs. .Sheehan, Coe and Huff, of the
sewer committee, and MIR. Charles
Churchill, of the Norfolk and Western
railroad, spoke in favor of Mr.. Hering's
plan and took the ground that a man
who has had twenty-five years eype-
renee in sewerage work ought to know
more about 1t than engineers who have
not devoted SO much time to this sub
ject.
rhe committee will meet again at Mr..
Goes house Saturday night at O'clock.
An Insolent Negro Arrested.
William Ross. negro, was arrested