The Portland daily press., 1893-01-14
SEWERS VOTED.
Regular Meeting of the Deering city
Governm ent--Nyidening of Forest Avenue
Proposed Gates for Cobb Lane Crossing
-Oratory on the Sewer Question.

The most important act of the Deering
city COVE nment last evening was the
passage of an order to extend the system
of sewers to Woodfords This is the
order;
Ordered, That the street commissioner and
committee on drains and sewers be a are
hereby authorized to take immediate steps to
contract with responsible parties for the con-
structio of sewers upon Forest avenue, Pleas
ant street, Stevens Plains avenue, saunders saunders
street, Pearl and portion OF Deerl street;
said contract to be presented to the city council
for approval before it is finally closed
When the order came up, Alderman
Hutchins said that the citizens of Deer
ing had long been celebrating the ques-
ton of sewers, and it was the general
sentiment that they should be put in.
He thought that there might perhape be
better plans for larger cities; but for
Deering and behring's wants the present
plan was good. The old town govern
ment paid Shedd, the famous engineer,
$500 to come here and look the proposed
scheme over. He did SO and pronounced
it good. Mr. Hutchins thought this
justified them in going ahead, and he
moved that the order be passed.
Alderman Mitchell seconded the mo-
ton.
Alderman Jacobs said he was opposed
to entering into any contract for build
ing a sewer next year, and for that rea-
son should vote against the order.
Mayor Merrill said that this subject
was not new one. Sewers had long
been talked Of And he was greatly sur
prised to hear the opinions expressed by
some of our citizens at the hearing. He
could hardly believe that those men who
expressed those opinions believed them
themselves The ideas that sewers were
conductors of disease germs when prop
erly built seemed absurd to him.
Pecuniary reasons seemed to be at the
bottom of much of the opposition.
Sewerage was undoubtedly needed at
Woodfords. Last summer the city au-
thorities were called on to view aS nasty
case OF uncared for sewage as could be
imagined. This was caus d by a man
who believed in putting filth out for the
Almighty to take care of. The mayor
did not believe in this policy, and
thought that sewers should be begun at
once.
Alderman Nevens said that he should
vote for the sewers; but only on the I'm
Outstanding that certain amendments to
the city charter should be obtained from
the Legislature in order to equalize GER
tain burdens which would be unjust I'M
der the present assessment. For instance,
the whole c st of the trunk line sewer
must under the present plan fall upon
the AUDITORS along the present extension
while future users of the sewers would
come in for merely nominal sum, 1t
would be necessary to get an amend
ment to allow the establishment of a
sewer fund.
With the proper understanding as to
these amendments Mr.. Nevens said he
should be for sewerage. 1t was needed
and it must be had; and he was ready to
vote for it.
Alderman Johnston said he keenly felt
the importance of the matter; he was
aware of the hard work done by the
sewer committee; and was satisfied with
the safety of the proposed plan, backed
up by expert opinion as it is. He had
no doubt that sewers were much needed
and should vote for them.
Alderman Mitchell said he was salts
fed that sewers were necessary for the
health and prosperity of this part OF the
city and should vote for them.
Alderman True said they already had
sewers in East Deering: and he certainly
should favor them for the more thickly
settled village at Woodfords
The vote being taken the order passed
by vote of TO /, Alderman Jacobs on
~ voting nay.
Gates for Cobb Lane.
A communication was received from
General Manager Payson Tucker, in re-
ply to the request of the city council
that the Maine Central erect gates at the
crossing on Riverside street. Mr.. Tuck
Ell says that the gates have been ordered
and will be erected in few weeks. This
is the crossing otherwise known as the
Cobb Lane crossing, where the fatal ac-
cident occurred a few weeks ago.
Damages from the Small Pox Scare.
One of those exposed to the small pox
and quarantined by the Board of Health
Mr. William Morton, petitions the city
government for damages on account Of
his loss of time while quarantined. The
petition was received and placed on file.
New Streets.
Fred N. Hooper and so others ask for
the extension of Chestnut street to For
est avenue. Their petition was referred
Alderman Jacobs, for the committee
on new streets, reported favorably to the
acceptance of Hooper and Sewall streets,
on the property of the West End Land
Company, and the board accepted the
reports and the locations.
The location of Wilmot street was ac-
cepted
500 for Captain Lewis.
An order was presented by Alderman
Nevens to pay Captain Lewis 800 for lex-
ira services in caring for the city build
ing, and was unanimously passed.
Alderman Hutchins said it was known
that there was movement on foot to
/ annex portion of the city to Portland,
and while he did not think a great num-
Der of citizens would favor it, yet it was
a proper matter to take cognizance Of
He therefore offered an order deprecat-
ing the injustice of the effort to dismem-
Der the new city, and calling on Repre-
sentative Woodbury. To use every effort
to prevent the success of the movement.
This order passed unanimously.
RWidening of Forest Avenue.