The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-12
DUTIES NOT ONEROUS.
The Board of Health AbOlishes
Sewer InspectOrship.
PROPOSED CHANGE OF SYSTEM.
He Only Has to Inspect Ten Connee-
lions Monthly, and This Great Labor
IL Put On Mr.. Brown.

At . special meeting of the board of
health yesterday afternoon the report of
the committee regarding the abolition of
the Office of sewer inspector was adopted
and ordered to be submitted to the corpor-
alton counsel for an ordinance embodying
its provisions. Should the proposed ordi-
nance pass the two houses of the city gov
eminent, the office of sewer inspector will
become q thing of the past, and such
duties as are still held to be within the
province of the health department will de-
volve on Plumbing INSPECTOR John Brown.
DR.. P. B. NJ. Miller, who was deputized
to investigate the subject. submitted q
statement showing that the main part of
the work relating to sewer connections
was done in the city engineers Office.
After stating that under the present sys-
tenn on plat issued by the city engineer
the health officer grants permit for the
opening Of the street and the making Of
the connection, the report states that the
inspectors duty is simply to see that the
sewer is laid according to the plan filed
and the proper connection made. During
the past six months the number of con-
nections made has averaged only ten .
month. DIR. Miller says this system fails
to place the responsibility where it be-
longs. In progressive cities in this coun-
try and Europe the connections az far as
the margin of the street are made under
the same authority as the main sewers,
and he cannot see why the board of health
should have power to authorize breaking
the grade of street. He recommends
the adoption Of the system mentioned a.
follows:
When a householder desires or 10 notified by
the board OF health to establish . sewer con.
nection he should prepare = plan OF the pro-
posed sewer and submit il 70 the city engineer
for approval. Alter such approval the plat
should be presented BY the city engineer 70 the
superintendent OF streets and sewers for IN es-
innate OF the cost of construction Of such part
as lies within the limits of the street or alley.
The householder should deposit the amount OF
such estimate with the secretary OF the board
OF works and the superintendent OF streets and
sewers will then construct such portion OF said
sewer and make the connection with the main
sewer. under supervision OF the city engineer
and according to the plat nled- Upon the com
pletion OF such work the superintendent of
sewers and streets should make . return to the
secresaay OF the board Of public works showing
the cost OF the work II the cost il less than
the amount deposited, the difference
should be returned to the householder; II
IL exceeds the estimate the excess must BE-
paid in TO the secretary of the board of public
works. who shall then issue . certificate that
the street connection 10 complete. such certi-
hcate with . diagram of the work should BE-
presented TO the board OF health, who shalt
grant permit for The remainder of the work on
private property. which shall then be carried
on by ths householder, or such person - he
may engage. under the supervision Of the board
OF health BY its plumbing inspector or other
officer By following such plan the system Of
sewers and connections will be absolutely un-
der control OF the department. which Is rsspon-
sibie for their maintenance and service. The
board OF health will have charge and inspection
OF the means by which sewage II carried from
tho premises into ne oovos thus Constructed by