Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-07-30
Report on Sewerage
L. NJ. WILSON, Mayor Of Fairhayen,
Washington.

L. NJ. WILSON, Mayor Of Fairhayen,
Washington.
DEAR SIR: During my present visit In
the East, ! have gathered such iniorma-
tiOn as | conveniently could, relating tt
sewerage for the benefit OF FairhaYen and
have facts relating to such work from
Worcester, SOmervillc, Boston and
Lowell. Mass, Washington, ID. C., New
York City and Manchester, N. II.
have especially endeayorcd to ascer-
tain:
/. Methods of construction, economy
and durability Of concrete as compared
with brick in large sewers.
2. Cement as compared with yitrliied
or terra Gotta pipe.
3. Depth below street grade OF best
practice.
A. Frequency Of manhOles and value,
If any, Of lamp and hand holes.
g. Methods Of flushing and cleaning.
6. Wages Of employees.
Al Worcester, Mass, ! consulted Hon.
Phineas Ball, one Of the best known and
most reputable sanitary engineers In the
East. llc Informed me that that city
used cement pipe for all sewers under
u inches In diameter and brick Tor the
larger sewers, excepting that one was
constructed Of stone. Some Of this ce-
ment pipe was put In In 1861 aud II has
given perfect satisfaction.
For pipe sewers, Mr.. Ball advised that
man holes be not less than 80 nor more
than 800 feet apart, depending on changes
i'm grade, 10 being essential FOR cleaning
purposes that the sewer be In straight
lines from manhOlc TO manhole. Lamp
and hand holes were OF little use. He
considered automatic ilush-tanks Ia
sewers where grades were over per cent;
unnecessary, believing that occasional
flushing with hose from hydrant equally
good Concrete made Of Portland cement
was. In his opinion, better than the best
brick for large sewers.
Mr.. Fred Mcclure, city superintendent
OF sewers, told me he had no trouble with
cement pipe; considered IL a. durable aud
easier TO cut into and make good connec-
tions than yitriiied He also considers
lamp and hand holes useless. The city
does all work by the day. Nine hours Is
| the legal day ia Massachusetts Tor city
work. Wages Of foreman, $3.50 10 81, and
ordinary labOrcrs Sl.7j per day. The city
has over 5000 population; 20 miles oil
sewers and according 10 the mayors re-
port, has expended S2,7jOOO on It's sys-
! tenn Maintenance costs about SlG,D
per year. The city engineer Is paid s2,7O
| and superintendent Of sewers e 200, an'
| nually. each reporting TO the council
Brick used In sewers are good, hard
| burned brick, costing g. to $40 per thou
sand. Three-eights Of cost OF all sewers
| Is assessed against abuttOrs, but no as
sessment shall require over 81 per from
| foot. II thrce-eighths exceeds 81, the ex
cess IL paid by the city. Where cut Il
over % feet, tunnel is used. There arr
| two SKI feet tunnels in this system, eacl
over three fOurths Of mile in length.
| The city Is Obliged TO purify its sewage
| because Of towns lower down the Black
stone river. Much money has been eX
/ fuUka and tItTnt or
| beds and its works Of this character arr
| equal TO any in the country. Pipe-sewer
| are generally about nine feet below stree
grade. City has no automatic tanks, th'
| cleaning gang using hose from hydran
when necessary.
| From Worcester went 10 Washington
| ID. c., where Mr.. II. T.. McCOmb. superin
tendcnt, and Mr.. G. B. Ball, assistant en-
| Qineer. gave me every facility for CXamln
Ing their Office and field work. The worl
being done Is OF the highest class, and al
though the first cost is somewhat create
than In other cities, IL Is quite possible
| that building for all time, true economy
requires II. The work Is under the con
tro OF Colonel Roberts, engineer commits
sioner OF the general government. Con
crete Is freely used In the construction o
both pipe and main sewers according L
the plans which are attached 70 this re
port. ] spent the greater part OF one da,
In Inspecting both classes OF sewers unde
construction The heavy bed OF concret
for the pipe-sewers IS omitted In mos
cities, but undoubtedly II lessons the dan
ger OF settlement and also enables Tn
sewer 20 more successfully resist thrust
from tree-roOts. One circular, cOncret
sewer which passed through was In sec
tion, like No. 2 on street A, attached, 0
6 feet inches IN diameter. This sewer
being built complete for $22.J0 per run
ming foot. Contractors figure on eXcaya
tion being ten feet below the surface I
springing line Of the arch In concrete o
brick and ten feet in case OF pipe sewer
to bottom OF pipe. Contractors name
price at which they will be allowed eXtr
per yard for excavation II IL average
deeper or at which deduction will b
made II average excavation Is less. Con
tractor Cryle's price In this case was sixt
cents. Excavation averaged less Than te
feet and he was TO have reduction mad
from his contract price accordingly.
provision OF this character should be IN
corporated In Fairhaven contract
Washington has spent large sums on II
sewers. bu. most of those constructs
prior 10 1874 must be rebuilt, because {
br.akage and obstruction due 70 ba
alignment and settlement. Others, lik
the six-fOot Georgetown sewer, are badl