The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-04-15
SEWERAGE AND WATER QUESTION,

EDITOR GAZETTE learn that in
accordance with a petition from some
of our citizens, our city council has
conferred upon the people Of Corvallis,
the right to vote at the next regular
election to bond the city for the pur-
pose of establishing Il complete system
of sewerage for the city. l am sur
prised that any one should lave con-
ceived the idea that a complete system
of sewerage is possible without verv
efficient supply of water. Indeed, a
sewer is only channel or duct through
which filthy matter may be conveyed
by IA copious use of water. Will any
one contend that our present water
supply is equal to such demands, OF
will any one say 1t would not he abso-
lutely dangerous to health to discharge
waste pipe from a single kitchen into
sewer without using at the same
time many times the amount of water
now to be had on any street few
blocks from the river. But perhaps
those petitioners and the council
meant to establish a system of dry
sewerage. City fathers are sometimes
very wise, and may possibly have
found out IL new way to carry filth
through sewer and cleanse the sewer
without the use of water. Or do these
gentlemen propose that after this com.
plete (D system of sewerage is estab-
lished, to cork it up at both ends and
then wait until the spirit moves some
one to call fo, waser, after which they
would submit to the people at the next
general election, the question of water
or nc. water2 Possibly they may say
the sewers may be used to carry off
the surplus water during the wet
months, but will not filthy sediment
be deposited i'll these sewers to surely
exhale poison during the summer?
There is but one possible way, ex
cept as above mentioned, to make the
proposed complete system of any avail,
and possibly our last guess may be
the very thing these people have in
view, that is for the city to enter in
to another contract with the old "dry
water company" to finish this complete
system. Then it will stand thus: Our
citizens will continue to pay the pres
ent exorbltant prices for no water, the
city will be bound for a long term of
years to pay largely Increased
amount over what it now pays for no
water, and the people will be taxed to
pay for as great IA nuisance as ever
cursed city struggling to overcome the
depression of dull times.
But they will say, "Let us have the
sewers first, and then the people will
see the necessity of water" Could it
be seen any palmer than now2 Does
not every man who has worked in our
fire department know that water to
put out even small fire cannot be de-
pended upon? Does not everybody
know that insurance on property is
much higher than it would be if we
had a good supply of water, and that
the uncertainty of getting any renders
such organizations as fire companies of
little or no use2
Citizens, let us not be deceived,
this ruse is adroitIy desi gned to fasten
upon us the necessity of entering into
new contract with the water COM
pany as worthless as the old one, and by
using a large part of the amount we
are allowed to bond the city to effect
uaily prevent us fiom getting a good
supply of water at a reasonable price,
leaving us only the reflection that we
have lost a golden Opportunity to
work for the public good while we
have assisted private greed to quadru
pie the value Of useless piece of
property.
Now, it is because am in favor of
what this move seems to but does not
mean a complete system Of sewerage)
that | offer these suggestions and ask
the city council to submit to the peo-
pie the question of whether they want
complete water system or not. That
all may know the probable cost of this
l append an estimate from the we'll
known and competent engineers,
Adams & Gemmell, to wit +:
ESTIMATE OF CORVALLIS WATER WORKS.
Pumping plant. So 900
Stand pipe l6xlOO feet, capacity
10000 gallons ....... 4,5O0
6,1O0 #. 4 inch pipe a. 50 cts
in place.. ............... 3,l72
lO,40O #. 6 inch pipe a. "a cts ). 1896
$500 s "S7 s.. 1896
Specials. .................. 1000
4O hydrants, a. $40. ........ 1000
Gates. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 500
and supt ........ 1000
Total. .s27,S64
Or In round numbers, $4,000. The
present system must have cost but an