The Portland daily press., 1891-11-12
Citizens Talk Plainly About The
Deering Point Nuisance.
1t Is Held Responsible for Many
Cases Of Sickness.
Aldermen Recommend Prompt Action
lBy Their Successors.

"Mill Creek" nuisance alleged to be re-
sponsible for the present outbreak Of diph-
iberia and typhoid fever in the city and
Deering Point.
There were present Aldermen Birnie.
Gallagher, Clark, McClutchy. Conant.
Stephenson. Before proceeding to the
hearing the following jurors we're drawn
for the December term of the United States
District Court. Grand jurors w. 81. VIII
lard and John Gunu; petit jurors, George
FL. Horne. Charles P. Illsley.
In the absence Of the Mayor and Mr..
Lewis, chairman Of the board, Alderman
McClutchy was chosen chairman pro tenn
pore.
The petitions for filling the flats within
the limits Of Deering Park. signed by
DIR. F. FL. Gerrish and twenty-five other
physicians, and John F. Rand and ninety
eight others were read by the city clerk.
Mr.. Ardon W. Coombs appeared for the
petitioners. Mr.. Coombs said that these
petitions were not those signed by men
by residents in the immediate vicinity Of
the contaminated district, and after full
investigation of the matter in issue. They
were fully aware of the danger now exist
ing and fully willing to bear their share ot
the expense Of improvements.
Mr.. Coombs then spoke at length upon
the growth Of the Oaks as public park
northerly side, where the open sewer Of
Mill Greek is allowed to discharge Its Of
fensive matter on the land. The city Is
largely the author of the nuisance on Its
own property as the most of the offensive
matter comes from public buildings at the
West End. Mr.. Coombs said that he was
willing to stake his reputation as an ex-
county attorney. that the city is indictable
for negligence in allowing the nuisance,
which he thought was ;self-evident to re-
main.
The remedy he suggest ted was to cut off
the tide water, box up the sewer and fill
the fats. The expense Of all this might be
fifty cents on every thousand dollars Of
valuation If the work is contemplated to be
finished in one year. This, he thought,
was not necessary, as arrangements could
be made with responsible persons to con-
tinue the work from year to year. He
thought that considering the amount Of fill
ing necessary it was even impractica BILE to
undertake the entire work In year.
DR.. f. H. Gerrish was called upon for
some testimony. he reviewed the work
that he had done in regard to Mill creek.
commencing in 1877 and continuing at fire.
quent intervals to the present time. Al
though the area Of the pond now Is less
than 1t was in 1879 the amount Of sewage
is much greater. He though that the
health OF people living on the banks Of the
creek would indicate the deadly nature OF
the mass of sewage. Many cases of ty-
phoid fever exist at Deering Point. While
1t could not be said absolutely that the
water caused the disease. yet the inference
of cause and effect would readily be drawn.
Beside the matter of health there are busi-
ness matters that ought to weigh with the
city government. There must be sewers
there at some time and it would cost less
to build them now, than to wait for a judg-
ment gained In the courts, In favor Of the
town of Deering, to which suit he thought
the city extremely liable and fully indicta-
BILE.
In closing DIR. G5rrish reminded the
board that he had heard Of an appropria-
tion for this very matter, but which was
diverted 10 some other purpose. He
thought this should be looked up and an
equal amount OF money provided for at the
present.
Mr.. K. C. Jordan was next called upon.
Hn fhnnnht IN no r.lo ofrlu %
one that nuisance and fever were cause and
effect and that the nuisance should be
abated. No matter who owns the area of
the pond, the city has evidently created the
nuisance and should abate 1t. Part Of
the park, nearly three acres in fact.
belongs belongs In a.. Dessring. "and." said Mr.. Mr.
to me that the city has not been idicted be-
fore this for creating the nuisance" Re
garding the amount to fill, Mr.. Jordan
thought that there was much less than Mr..
Coombs said. $4,000 yards, much of 1t hav-
ing been filled already by the Rochester
railroad. he thought that there were per-
sons present who were ready to make the
city good offer for the work. Mr.. Jordan
said that the ownership OF the flats was
limited to three parties, all of which are
united in wishing to abate the nuisance.
Mr.. Coombs said that he knew that there
were no ownerships of property in the vicin
ity of the fats that will in any way inter-
fere with the work Of abating the nuis-
ance. Mr.. Henry Deering is perfectly
willing TO join, and Messrs. VIM. III. Con-
ant and Geo. z. Wescott, the other owners,
both OF whom were present, have stated
that they are also fav0rably disposed to
the project.
Mr.. George P. Wescott said he had a
lively interest in the matter and was ready
to take any reasonable steps toward abal-
Ing 1t. Mr.. Wescott graphically described
the condition OF the sewage at the Grove
street bridge. He hoped that some action
would be taken at once since postpone
ment would result In continuance OF the
trouble another year. He said that three
years ago Sl1, 900 was appropriated and d.
verted TO another source. The next year a
proposal to appropriate the same sum was
squelched on the plea Of stopping deal In
favor Of the Rochester railroad. He said
that Mr.. Conant and himself were perfect
ly willing to go In with the city in any
steps they might decide upon.
Mr.. Jordan explained the action Of the
tide upon the sewage near the foundation
| OF the old mill on Green street.
Mr.. Coombs called upon Hon. Charles X.
Libby to repeat some Of the testimony re-
| garding the sewer, taken by the county
| commissioners when the Rochester exten
sion land damage cases were under discus.
sion. MIR. Libby said that he was satisfied
that the sewer was so dangerous that In
making up the list of appropriations they
| would put this Improvement first OF all
LaDorers who worked on the railroad ex
tension testified at the hearing that in sim.
ply working there a few hours they were
made seriously i'll. As this was true then
1t Is more true now, as the sewers that dis
| charge into the creek are increasing In
number and extent every day. He thought
the aldermen should go to the outside linn
its of their constitutional rights, II 1t !:
necessary, in raising money to abate the
nuisance. He thought that as things now
| are the creek Is serious menace to the
prosperity of the city. Regarding the fact
that the appropriations are nearly ex
hausted at the present time, MIR. Libby
said that there Is no question as to ways
and means. A call for a voluntary loan
from the citizens would be justified, and
| undoubtedly would be generously respond
ed to. Mr.. Libby grew more emphatic as
he went on, saying that whatever means
| must be taken IT, raise the money to pay
for IL, this winter should not be allowed to
pass without beginning OF the work. He
1 said he thought that every citizen who un.
i derstood the facts OF the case would stand
| behind his representative in the board.
J The city cannot afford to walt for the ful-
| fillment of the large scheme CT improve
ment for Back Cove.
Mr.. LIBBY explained the growth of the
| sewage system from the almshouse drain
| built by Joel Merrill, years ago to the fes-
| tering sink of iniquity today, and discussed
| at length general schemes for improve.
ment. He stated that when the Deering
heirs gave the park to the city the filling OF
| the Hats was q part consideration of the