The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-26
The Ktnd Of work That Vas Accepted


sewer. Instead he laid across the top of
the sewer walls twO-inch plankS and COW
cred them up with dirt
1t made no difference that this section of
the sewer was made foot smaller than the
rest. which Was foot smaller than IL
ought 10 be. 1t made a big saving to the
contractor, and the job was accepted.
The sewers between Seventh and FIJI
teenth streets carry off great deal OF the
clty's sewage Through faulty and dishon-
est construction they are nearly the worst
in the city.
In December of last year the Sewerage
Com mission reported Jam OF blanks in the
sewer at Fourteenth aud Howard streets.
The silt was deposited in this sewer to such
depth that there was only few inches left
for the flow of sewage.
In ordinary weather this suficed. When
there was a heavy storm the water over
flowed at the catch basins. The flow was
often so tremendous that the water spouted
out OF the catch asin5 and manholes to a
height Of six feet.
This stoppage on Fourteenth street was
the cause oil the aCcum ulatiOn of much of
the sediment in the Fifteeuth-street sewer.
The sewage was delayed In its passage and
the silt was so given time 10 deposit. Again,
the stoppage OF the Fourteenth street sewer
when heavy flow of water was absolutely
needed in the main Channel-street sewer
allowed that to become filed with sediment.
The sluggishness thus engendered in the
main sewer affected all its branches.
These and the Eleventh-street sewer were
visited by Marsden Manson and CALL
reporter yesterday.
All along Eleventh street. from Folsom to
Market Mr.. Manson pointed out holes and
depressi0ns that had been or soon would be
holes.
This sewer" said the Sewerage Commits
sioner, carries more waste matter than
any other sewer IN the city, yet it Is the
worst built.
I'VE have sent our men through it, and
they have found that the bottom courses of
the bricks of which the sewer was built
were laid on the sand without any mortar.
LAS result there are rods and rods of
the sewer That have no bottom at ALL
THE sewer drains over 10 blocks Of the
city, lying in district bounded by Pacific
street on tie north and Van Ness avenue
on the east After n storm the sewer Is
overcharged with water.
ut tEen fills the surrounding SAND.
When the water in the sewer falls that in
the earth begins to pour into it. OF course
1t comes bubblng In from She cracks where
there is no mortar.
THE water carries the sand with It, In
this way large excavation is made. Then
the arch of basat blocks falls In and the
sewer is patched up"
Between Folsom and Howard streets
there were six holes in the street. One near
Folsom street was ten by fifteen feet. An
other was circular and was fully fifteen feet
in diameter. Through tie interstlces Of the
bricks at least thirty cubic yards of sand
had been carried away In the sewer from
the smaller hole. From the other Mr. Man
son estimated that nearly fifty cubic Yards
of sand had been removed.
On one block there were found four circles
in which the GROUND was evidently settling
These depresSionS indicated where a break
would surely be after the first heavy rain or
two.
rThara vrara ibrea ofAar danroeefo,e ti,o
marked the patching mp of previous caves
Besides these there was at one end of the
street a piece of the granite crossing sunk
six inches lower than the surface Of the
street.
Besides carrying out the sand the running
water wears out the bricks. When the
bricks are so reduced in size that nothing
longer holds them In place. they are carried
down the sewer. Soon the entire fOunda-
ton of the sewer being gone, the top of the
arch drops in. Sometimes II happens that
tie earth Is entirely washed away from the
sides of and underneath the sewer, SO as TO
cause tie street TO cave in while the sewer,
held by mortar, stands.
Many OF the bricks taken from the
EIeventh-street sewer are so worn away
that they are only about half their original
size.
In speaking of the work Of the immense
force of men ratchiug up the Eleventh.
street sewer Mr.. Manson said: at will
cost almost as much to make these repairs
as il would 10 build new sewer Yet after
il is repaired it will be only short time be-
fore 1t needs repairing again"
Beyond Folsom street on Eleventh. the
grade of the sewer suddenly becomes very
slight. In this portion of the sewer there
are no breaks, the sand from tie steep part
having nearly filled up.
The Sewage Commission estimate that
to remove cubic yard of dirt from the
sewers through the manholes, costs So 90.
TO rem love the same amount from the catch
basins at the curbings costs about 81. To
remove cubic yard of dirt from the street
costs less than 80 cents.
From this it is argued that the city could
build better catch basins. keep the streets
cleaner. pave them more scientifically aud
save great deal of money by the outlay.