Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-28
Soho CitizenS-RObbed of Sleep by the
Condition Of the Choked-Up
Brady Street Sewer.
EVER IN FEAR OF A GREAT FLOOD,
The Result Of Which Would Be Heavy Loss
Of Life and Damage to a Great
Deal of Property.
SEVERAL TONS OF NITRo-GLYCERINE'
Could Do No More Harm Than Rain, if the Trouble
Isn't Remedied.

Some Soho people are not in q very envia-
bic frame of mind. The sewer on Brady
street is partly cho5ed between Fifth ave
nue. and the river, and were there heavy
shower to fall and the rest of the seven-foot
bore be clogged that section of the city for
Two OF three squares might well be lifted
by ton or two OF roglycerine.
At the many-grated drop just above Fifth
avenue the bottom has fallen in, and many
tons OF filling have gone out to obstruct the
channel OF the Monongahela. Queer rubbish
it was, too-pots, kettles, pans pieces of
carpet and every kind of furniture conceiv-
able, together with the skeletons of enough
cats, dogs, etc, to set up bone-grinding es-
tablishment. week or so ago during q
heavy dowHpour the bottom dropped out
alongside the drop, which looks like a stone
tower-when unearthed, as it is-of several
stories in height.
When the bridge was taken away on Fifth
avenue and the nil made, the sewer was apt
TO I'LL up at each shower from the debris that
accumulated, so the drop was built up al
most to the level of the avenue, with grating
at intervals to let the water of. 1t is mass
i've structure, and might be of assistance in
holding up the avenue in case of flood
MANY LIVES NOW IN DANGER.
The made earth went out, as stated, until,
in dimensions, il has made what would be
psctaJly-sized crater for a third rate vol
cauq and there are ominous cracks in the
bsnA that threaten the lives of numerous
kids" who, of course love to sport on the
brink of danger. The inhabitants of several
houses in the vicinity do not sleep well since
the washout, as the cave shows signs of e1-
tending to them. Parents dream that their
children have been engulfed or washed into
the sewer, and some people are apprehensive
that Brady street may be swept away, in
which case the pipe mill and the Moorhead-
McCleane Company's works would be in bad
shape, with possibility of the city being
amerced in heavy damages
If the sewer were in good shape and could
be kept from clogging there would be no
trouble, as 1t is Of seven-foot bore, sufficient
to carry Of any volume of water ever likely
to come down the raTine from Center ave
nue. but. a the old coal pits on the hill drain
constantly into it, cleaning it is difficult
The matter was the subject of discussion
at Beachs drugstore, yesterday, and also
the closing up OF the soho street sewer,
which Is liable to burst some time and do
mischief The mouth of this sewer, which
empties into the I'LL above Fifth avenue has
Ueen closed for long time by the dumping
Of Oflal. and the house of a lady named
OCOnuOT is in imminent danger of tum-
bling.
SPECULATION AS TO REMEDY.
Why the matter has not been remedied the |
people in the vicinity do not seem to know, |
as they say the overflow has given |
much trouble to the Pittsburg |
Traction Company, in times of heavy |
showers, causing its tracks to be flooded. |
The Eureka Building ard Loan Association /
has mortgage on Ms. O'Conuor's house, |
and expecting their security to be wiped |
ont. the officers have notified j. p. Andrews, |
superintendent of Highways and Sewers, |
that IN case il is, they will hold the city re- |
spOnslble. Mr Beach says Mr.. Andrews did |
not appear to shure in their apprehension.
People in the vicinity are beginning to |
think il was d mistake to fill up the ravine /
They have been somewhat nervous ever
since the scare regarding the Red pond some
years ago, and they realize that very careful
engineering Is necessary in the closing of /
water courses whose descent Is 300 or 400 feet
TO the mile.
Now. while the city officials admit the cry
ing necessity Tor an uninterrupted water
course, they do not admit the liability OF
the G.. y should anything occur.as the ravlne
was filed and the sewer ordered by the 1
Firth Avenue Commission over 20 years ago,
ana at that time ample for all
requirements. and the commission would be
hard To find were an attempt made to get
after it. The fact Is that the last 20 years
have revolutioniZed the city and the old
time ideas of its people. When the Brady
street sewer was connected with Soho
run 10 one dreamed that il 20
times 20 years il would be made
Cuate to drain the Minersville district.
They had no more idea of the present eN-
uansiou tnan had Mr. Tustin who named /
that section soho when he went out there
and bought a big farm, SO as to be retired, |
and that long time ago, for he built |
part OF the machinery placed IN the first /
Steamboat that ever sailed from this port.
DELAY IN BUILDING AN OUTLET
An ordinance lately passed finally in Coun- |
cils, after pending for long time. 1t pro- |
vidcs for continuation of the sewer at |
Second avenue some :, 100 feet up Soho run.
Though only TO be i've feet in diameter, it is |
calculated TO be fully adequate to carry all |
che surplus water Of the hill, as it will not |
meet with any obstruction. The seven-foot |
sewer from Fifth avenue down will be aban- |
G0ued as il is 20 feet deep and troublesome |
TO keep in order under the most favor |
able circumstances. 1t is thought II l
will not be built this season, but /
some people think 1t ought to be- as it will /
not cost any more to do the work now than /
later, and much damage may thereby be |
avertel. 1t will also ObViate all the trouble /
and Danger at RED pond, and purify very |
foul section. as soho must ever be SO long as /
the present condition OF affairs prevails.
some say that all present danger is past, |
unless an unexpected and very heavy rain |
fail snOuld occur before the present dam |
aye is repaired, but people in the vicinity do |
not share ID the confidence of the city Of |
1icials. 80 long as Minersvilie territory was |
largely agricultural there was no danger, |
but land having grown very valuable up |
that WAY. the natural channels have become |
obsuructed and defectcd, and an accumula- |
tiOn Of water is like 70 make trouble at any |
time.