The record-union., 1891-06-06
A CONSULTATION.
Meeting of Citizens to Discuss Drain
age and Levee Matters.
1t is Concluded that Sewage Dis
posaI is the Paramount Need
Action Taken.

pOSal IS UnG 1'aramOunC NecQ
Action Taken.
A meeting of citizens by special invita-
tions sent out by Mayor Comstock was
held at the Board of Trade rooms last
evening. There was good attendance,
though not half of those invited were
present.
Mayor Comstock said that the object OF
the meeting was to have those present
consider the main questions of immediate
city need, and that the Trustees Were
present to hear. These questions, he
said, were sewage and levees, and ways
and means to improvement of both. He
suggested that
JUDGE n. o. BEATTY
Open the discussion.
Judge Beatty said the sewage question
was nightmare with him, and had been
for years. He we'll understood the i'm
perative need for speedy reform. The
only way to dispose of sewage under con-
ditionS such as ours, was, so far as he had
read, chemical treatment and the dis
charge of the purified etf1uent by pump
ing. But nothing toward a permanent
y
funds.
NEXT SPRING,
However, the Funded Debt Commits
sion could give the city use of 100000 and
the like amount each year for four years
thereafter. He could not bind the COM
mission but believed that could be done.
No bonds could be lawfully issued to
create q sewer system construction fund
until after the assessment of next spring.
The law forbids it, or he would be in
favor of borrowing 100000 or more at
once. We have no right to send our
sludge down into the Pocket but we have
a natural easement to drain clean water
that way. There is no question about
that being the law.
AS TO LEvEEs
He spoke at length. He believed it un-
necessary to face the Front-street levee
with granite or to do much to Y street.
lie described the sections of Front street
needing raising and gave estimates of
. costs for all Ievee work necessary as some
thing less $4,000, being the sum total
exclusive of relaying cobbles on Front
street He favored willow-planting in
front of the levees north and east and on
the levees from r to and on street.
de argued at length to show that back
water could not top the Y-street ievee
He urged that additional license fees on
hquor-Selling be reSorted to to command
the means for the work.
AS TO THE wATER3 WORKS,
The pumps we have are ample The
trouble is that the pipes for uptown de-
livery are so small that the greater work
of the pumps is done in overcoming fric-
ton. Enlarge the pipe up street from
Ninth, and the waterway will be so
much easier as to double the capacity to
deliver without increase of cost for steam
lie declared that it was a well-known
mechanical law of which he spoke, and
that our pipe system violates it grossly.
THE DEBT.
Concerning the proposition to have the
city issue new bonds, he opposed it; said
the city cannot do so under the law this
year, and he then entered into an expla-
nation why the city was thus debarred,
and incidentally touched on the funded
debt and the commission and its work.
This brought on a spirited debate, nearly
the entire meeting favoring the cancella-
ton of bonds held by the commission
sufficient TO enable the city to borrow
money needed now within the. law.
COLONEL f. r. HAMILTON
Asked just how much money the Funded
Debt Commission could let the city have
next spring. Judge Beatty replied, $780,
600, and the like amount each year for
four years.
EX-Mayor Green asked what benefit
that would be to the city. Why not take
up the debt, and then be free to sell
new bonds? Judge Beatty again ex-
planned, saying that it would not
benefit the city to borrow of the
commission more than of an out
slider. But it would enable the COM
mission to say to holders of non-interest
bearing bonds, surrender for a low figure
or wait ten years for your money.
Mr.. Green replied, Yes, but in the
hn irrio TO :,
and Judge Beatty agreed that it was SO.
Mr.. Green asked the Judge what
INCREASE OF LICENSE
He thought would give us money enough
TO fix the levees as needed. He replied
that S25 month would give us $50 600 a
year and leave the city enough with
which to do the needed work.
II. Weinstock said Judge Beatty said
only Front-street levees needed treat
ment. The Bee said only the Y-street
needed treatment. He'll agree with both
and thus reach the conclusion that both
lines needed fortifying. He read from
the report of the engineers who a wear
ago examined the system, in which they
recommended that both lines of leyees
be treated by raising. The riprappino
already done was well done. It became
a necessity because of u break on the
olo side, which made the water cut
under on the Sacramento side. No one
can know that a like condition NAV
prevail again at some other point, so that
true economy dictates facing the whole
Front-street line. 1t is the feeling of un-
certainty. rather than any real danger,
that hurts the place abroad. He'd have
such work done as to wholly remove that
fear on the part of outsiders, and make
our bitterest enemies confess that Sacra-
mento is safe from floods.
SEWERAGE AGAIN.
Felix Tracy thought sewage disposal
the most immediate need, and he gave a
sketch OF his experience with the Seven
tcenth-Street sewer. He called upon
Health Officer DR.. c. B. Nichols to speak
and to tell his experience in an examina-
ton of our system.
HEALTH OFFICER NICHOLS
Then took the floor and delivered a
startling speech. 1t was graceful. in ad-
mirable English, direct and painfully
vigorous and alarming, and enchanted
the attention OF the assembiage. 1t was
such an indictment of our sewerage sys-
tenn as fairly made some of those present
turn pale. Nothing short of verbatim
report, which the lateness of the hour at
this writing inhibits, can do justice TO it.
1T must suffice TO say that it was ''speak-
ing out in school, with vim, yet it was
deiiberative, slowly spoken, and every
word evidently carefully weighed and
uttered with the conviction that it could
all be fortified by irrefragible proofs.
THE PARAMOUNT QUESTION.
Men, he said, who think much on one
subject are apt TO come TO believe that
matter absorbs public attention. But
this was not his case, for he spoke with
full knowledge of the importance of his
words, and the effect they would have.
He was no alarmist, but the people ought
10 know the truth. This is too fair city,
its interests are too great TO be wrecked
by the policy of concealment of ills. He
agreed to all that had been said as TO