The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-29
THE DIRTY MESS !"
Which Accumulated sUnder the lngra.
ham Regime.
THE PRESS TOLD THE EXACT
TRUTH ABOUT TT.

If Anything there are Probably More than
Thirty Hogsheads of the Sewage in the
Basement of the City Hall-It is Taint-
ing the Air of the Whole IsuiIding-An
Argus Reporter and Democratic AL
derlnan Who Attempted to Investigate
We're Driven Back by the Tremendous
Stencil Yesterday.
Mondays PRESS contained careful
statement as to large accumulation of
sewage in the basement of City Building,
under the Municipal Court room and the
marshal's office. Incidentally it was re-
marked that this accumulation had taken
place during the Ingraham administra-
ton, and although it must have been GO
ing ON for six months or more, had not
been discovered until Mr.. Mcgowan, the
new City Messenger, took charge. This
remark throw the Argus into delirirm,
which resulted in nearly half a column of
false statements yesterday morning. Cur
neighbor denied that there were moro
than a few pailfuls OF sewage in the base
ment, and said that even if there were,
it was the fault of the Republicans, since
under their care the pipe which burst
had been put in. Of course this line of
argument would convict the Democracy
of the Ward frauds out of their own
mouths, since the Democrats put in
Warden Harper who burst ito carry out
the fgure) during the Ward election.
Of course the sewage in the
basement was not measured by the
Press or by Messenger Mcgowan, and
the statement that there were thirty hogs
heads was an estimate. A fact not pub
lished Monday morning convinced us
that this estimate was too low. When
Mr.. Mcgowan and the plumber entered
the basement, one of them, who wore
rubber boots, attempted to walk across
the room: but before he had gone three
steps he found that the sewage was over
his boots. As the filth is deposited over
a large floor area, it seems more than
probable that there are more than thirty
hogsheads of it.
Yesterday afternoon. Messenger Mac
gowan attempted to take a well known
Democratic alderman and reporter of
the Argus down to the place to satisfy
them of the truth of what the PRESS had
stated; but before our Democratic friends
had arrived at the seat of the difficulty
the stencil become SO oyerpowering that
they beat a retreat
Yesterday the sickly odor that has per-
vaded the City Building was more pro-
nounced than ever. Of course, now that
everybody knows what causes it, the oc-
cupants of the building are getting nerv-
the building. and it will take several days
at least to do it.
The sewage of almost the entire build
ing passes through the pipe which burst,
the last few months may be imagined.
Of course the friends and supporters of
the Ingraham administration are terribly
shocked that any such matter should be
served up IN prlnl, OUT as tney nave IVed
over it for good portion of the past
year, they can stand it a little while
longer in print
Among the achievements" of the adj
ministration, this deposit of filth has not
been hitherto recorded; but henceforth
it will have to have place. In the words
of Mr.. Ingraham, it is the second dirty
mess" the Ward affair having been the
first.