The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-23
CITY SCRIP AS MONEY.
Mayor Ronald Suggests the
Issue Of Warrants.
70 PAY FOR WORK ON STREETS.
Coaueii Recommended Sc Order Imms-
diafs csnstrastisa Of the Sewer
System to ofvs KmpIeynsnI

% the amount OF k25o.eD for sewers euo
$4,000 for the Lake Union sewer tunnel.
lie suggests thai warrants be issued by the
comptroller In suns OF 81, s., 3 and 10, 10
be paid from the proceeds Of the bonds
when sold. The message - IS follows:
To The CITY Couneil: The condition Of
orr sewer system demands some inmedt-
ale Improvement. five can devise means.
nov is the most auspsesous time 10 carry
oat these improvements. The sewers OF
our city are Ia the worst possible eondi-
tion.
Work in the Lake Union sewer tunnel
ss suspended Every days delay brings
us nearer 10 the loss Of this tunnel. by
reason of the formation OF the ground and
the character of the soil through which il
penetrates, it is impossible for this tunnel
TO hold up very much longer. unless the
masonry and lining shall soon 30 con-
strsc;sd.
The Yesier avenue sewer Is inadequate
for the purpose for which 1t Is required.
This sewer from South Third street 10
Williamson, one block east Of Broadway,
Is oaIy an 5-ineh pipe. This, BY means OF
numerous iatefals running into II from
both sides carries away the sewage OF a
very large district. Three Of these later
ais are themselves e-inch mains, rs large
as the main sewer. while the two others
are f0-inch mains. Il Is estimated that the
sewerage from the courthouse alone Is suf-
fcient 20 require an eight-IncD main TO
carry j. away. II will be remembered that
the bursting OF water pipe on Seventh
street during q test last winter furnished
more water in few minutes, before being
shut OF than this sewer could carry away.
The result was that the sewer burst. entail
ing q cost of $3.50 for repairing. This Yes
Ter avenue sewer, from South Third street
10 tie bay, II large wooden boz, and this
r. ee faf
upou wooden bents. Seven of these bents
are now broken and the sewer IS in 50 dan
gerous a condition that q man dare not
risk his life 20 90 into IL for examination.
IL Is liable to 20 down any day.
The water from the floods and SHOWS OF
last winter was 80 far beyond the capacity
oil our sewers that some Of the manhoies
are broken and the masonry carried away.
In every instance of this kind the newt
able result is d continual leakage Of sewage
matter aad a percolation through the
earth. This il notably the Gaze with the
manhola at Second and Cherry streets.
The sewage coming down Cherry street
runs into this manhole, thence south on
Second 60 the manhole az the intersection
Of James and Second, thence west on
James to tho Yesler avenue sewer. The
force of the water coming down Cherry
last winter burst the manhosa on Second
and Cherry, with the result that now a
large percentage OF the sewage coming
down Chsrry street, instead OF pass-
ing south on Second street from
the manhoie, passes on through and per-
colates through the ground. thereby en-
daneering the health oil the whole com
munity. No doubt the manhole on Sec
ond and James is destroyed from the same
Causes. 1t is inaccessible for examination
by reason of the fact that the Union
Trunk line has constructed their road
rfNfv q Ux1f d
nent.
The sewer on Washington street 10 a
large wooden box. 1t is not uniform in
width nor In height In some places ID is
about twenty-five feet below the surface of
the ground. In other places 1t is covered
with planking. while In others IL is open
clear 10 the surface. 1t Is in bad condi-
street were built without area walls, in
consequences of which tho dirt has been
sliding away from the sewer. The result
Is that the sewer In many places has slid
den or spread ont. The leakage from this
sewer, from these causes. il great.
The main sewer on Terrace street, east
OF Fifth, Ia completely blocked up and no
longer carries particle of sewerage mat
ter The residents heretofore depending
on this part of the main have now con-
structec q temporary make-shift, consist
ing of q wooden box about two feet be-
meath the surface. This carries all the
sewage of this vicinity and drops ii into
an opsn sewer in the city block purchased
from keyser, from which place IL runs
along and under the sidewalk throughout
the length Of this block to tho Yesler
avenue sewer. This makeshift is liable TO
burst any day. Ii will cost large
amount OF money 10 repair the sewers in
this vicinity ia case OF a break.
A trip along the water front past the
a. gAW ttNrfs.s
into the bay discloses the fact that none
of them are disehaFging properly. But
there Is no need OF particu ariEing. An
examination into the sewers constructed
In the city will convince You that i'm me-
dlate improvements is necessary.
The extension of our sewer system is so
vitality essential from a sanitary point of
view rs to make further delay in this mat
ter exceedingly dangerous. Even the
completion OF the Lake Union tunnel and
of the South sewer tunnel will not give us
relief. IL will only put Us in position TO
give relief TO the whole city " hen neces-
ssry laterals shall have been constructed.
To avert epidemics II is necessary that at
least about titteen miles of main and
lateral sewers should to made within the
next three years. Half Of our popu. alton
aud fully three-tourths OF tho area of our
resident districts are without sewer facia-
ties.
!
renaea for iack % funds. Al the election
held by the city on june q last, the people
voted So, 90 for the extension OF the gem
erai sewer system, and Sgt 90 sor the com.
pletson OF The Lake Union sewer tunnel
None of these bonds have, as Yet, heen
sold, and we are in consequence without
means Go make the needed improvements
The problem now before the city govern
nent is 70 devise means 90 do this, aud
herewith submit TO yon. for your consider
alton, pisu which | believe viii
accomplish the object sought, to-wit: The
Exosecntiou OF comprehensive sewerage
system, which woTS Will st the same time
furnish employment te the heads Of resi-.
dent families new living IN enforced idle
ness.
suggest that an ordinance be passed
authorizing the city comptroller TO draw
warrants against the funds which will be
derived from the sale OF the bonds voted
for on June q last. 20 the amount OF
$4,000
Assuming that the bonds are valid. there
can bo no question as 80 the authority Of
che city 20 issue warrants against the pro-
ceeds 81 the sale of the bonds.
These warrants will DO issued to those
Who perform service for the clty They
shoula be issued Ia amounts of 81. s. s.
and So and so On. 50 that they might
readily be used rs occasion or necessity
misht require.
AswarrAnts are always considered BY
bankers and investors as Investments 81
the best character. the issuance Of these
warrants would undoubtedly result in the
bringing forth Of much money THAI has
been Withdrawn fraFa circulation through
the appgehenslons of the possessors that 10
was in jeopardy during the reeeat slEan.
ctas crisis. now So happily past.
further suggest thar The recommends.
as