The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-23
SEWER MAINS roo SMALL
In Few Years They Must BE Dug Up
and Larger Ones Sobsttsated.

In . Few Years They Must BE Dug Up
and Larger OAes sobstissted-
SEATTLE. Jan. 20. 1894
To THE Epr TOR: During the excitement
over the many shortcomings Of our city
Government public attention is diverted
from . matter Of grave importance 70
every taxpayer in the city. Owing to tho
general depression of business and the
keenness by which the hard times IL felt
by our people in common nuch enthusi-
asm was manifest when it became known
that the city bonds were sold and the
money thus secured would be applied to
the improvement of street sewers. The
fact Of putting the money into immediate
use on the work intended and the placing
OF large numbers of men 70 work digging
out trenches seems to have satisfied the
citizens that everything in connection
with sewer construction was being per-
formed in first-class mechanical manner.
To this part Of the programme excep-
ton is taken and the following comments
advanced: A city like Seattle with so
great an area. containing many unoccu-
pied lots in valuable locations. with pop
ulation estimated at 6. 900 inhabitants, and
assuming growth that may be attained
during the next twenty years, based upon
past increase. it is safe TO say that its pop
ulation will not be far short of what San
Francisco now has, viz: 10000 people.
Basing on that estimate, it must be con-
coded that that portion of the city lying
north between Madison and Depot streets
and east from the water front 70 Third
street, which is now sparsely built up with
cheap wooden structures, in the next
nat nsv h.
planted with large. weli-fiiied stone and
brick blocks. 1t viii be in this event that
the question of sewerage becomes . matter
OF more than ordinary importance and
the efficiency Of the system now being
constructed put to proper test. The objec-
ton to the work now in operation. which
is evident upon examination, 10 the size of
the pipe used for the mains and the imper-
feet manner in which they are placed in
position. The size of the pipe used on
West and Front streets being only twenty
inches in diameter, and the West street
sewer being fully one and one-half miles
long, having outlets only at either end.
it is contended that it is in
adequate even for present service
where such Q voiuminous accumulation as
that which the main receptacle is bound to
contain from the various feeders along its
extreme length. In viewing the work as
it was excavated attention was directed to
the irregular formation of the bottom. In
alternating spaces hsrdpan was encoun-
tered which formed a substantial rest for
the pipe. while the intervening spaces were
soft sliding clay having no solidity to place
sewer that will require q regular run.
This being the case. when the work is com.
pleted and travel resumed over the
streets, ii is beyond all doubt that the sof,
places will settle and the part supported
by the hardpan viii remain In the original
place. The settling down IN places will
cause the sections of pipe to become dis
jointed and result in foreign matter enter
ing at every break. eau sing the sewer to
become choked and foul sewage escape
through parted joints. II the pipe was
large enough in itself the imperfect con-
dition of the bed would cause il in q very
short time to become absolutely useless.
When the city WAS bonded for the pur-
pose of inaugurating proper sewage sys-
TEN care should have been exercised that
at least the mains on West and Front
streets should nave been placed large and
firm enough TO meet the requirements of
the city for the next fifty years. In San
Francisco the mains on the principal
streets are six feet in diameter, all laid
in cement beds to guard against settling
unevenly. The cost of construction by
placing larger mains in Front and West
streets would be nominal. only . differ
ence in the cost OF the larger pipe, while
that of placing a cement foundation would
be more than q thousand times recon-
pensed by having 4 work performed that
would meet the requirements of the city
for oil time 10 come. ID. w. MoRRIsEY.