The morning call., 1893-10-19
RICHMOND SEWER.
A Financial Problem for
PrOperty=Owners.
Refusal of the Government to Permit
Extension on the PreSidiO Will
Entail Great Expense.

There was a full attendance at the
monthly meeting of the Preside Height;
Improvement Club last evening. The
principal topic under discussion was The
sewer, which is causing no little con
troversy at present between the property
owners in that district and the Board Of
Supervisors.
The trouble has existed since the CON-
pletion of the sewer system of the district
last spring. The main line, to which the
adjuncts are connected, runs along Locust
street on a natural descent until the south
ern boundary Of the Preside reservation
is reached. There the line terminates,
permitting the flow of filth to ooze from an
OF en- manhole and make its way along q
broken ditch into the Government grounds.
1t was contemplated at the time of its con-
structon to this point to continue the main
sewer along the natural slope of the land
and connect with the Presdio sewer in
order TO secure proper outlet.
This move. however. was opposed by
General Ruger, who appeared before the
Board OF Supervisors and made strong
protest against it. The board instructed
the general to consult with the Street De-
partment, which in turn referred him to
the City Surveyor with instructions 10
draft plans whereby the sewer could be
conducted to a proper outlet without tres
passing on Government property.
The matter at first seemed hard
problem to solve, but finally, after consid-
erably prospecting, it was decided that the
sued was to dig tunnel through the large
hill east of the Presidio and lead the
line along the North Beach tract over the
unimpr0ved land to the bay.
The expense attending such course has
been submitted to the Superintendent of
Streets by City Surveyor FitZhugh, and is
as follows: 1900 feet of tunnel at 81 a
in tunnel at SO foot, $500; 900 feet of 20
inch pipe laid in trench at So foot. S2700;
40 feet of 24-inch pipe in ravine at So 80,
S100; 4 msnholes at $50 each, $500; Incl
dental expenses. including assessment,
district maps, surveys, plans, etc.. $1,000
making a total Of S20.0 600.
The assessed district contains about
1924, ,626 square feet. The total approxi-
mate cost of $4,000 is equal to $50 lot
25x100 or $50 II lot 34x137.
From preliminary surveys made by Gen
eral Ruger the length of sewer will be
about 2400 feet with a total fall of sixty
feet and 1900 feet will have to be laid in
trench. After carefully examining the
material through which the line will have
to be built Mr.. Filzhugh finds that the
work will be very difficult on account of
the rough and unlevel country which will
have to be cut through after leaving the
tunnel.
On the other hand. IL the sewer be al
lowed to run over the Presidio to connect
with that already built the cost would
only amount to about $1,000, reducing the
assessment 80 per cent. The Supervisors
have been requested to defer action in the
matter until thorough investigation is
made, and in the meanwhile committee
appointed by the Improvement Club will
endeavor TO secure a permit from the Gov
ernment for a proper right of way to an
outlet through the reservation and avoid
the tremendous expense and tedious de-
lays which would result were the other
survey accepted.