The herald., 1894-05-26
A BAD LEAK NOT A BAD BREAK.
The officials Report on the Out
fall Sewer Defect.
Result of Herald Reporters Inves-
tigati0n of the Matter.
Considerable Difference of Opinion
About the Extent Of the Damage.
The Amount of Pressure-Re-
pairs to BE Made.

Yesterday morning the members of
the sewer committee paid visit to the
break in the outfall sewer, which was
exclusively reported in the HERALD,
and on their return to the city state
that there was a "leak" in the sewer
but not ''break."
Mr.. Vincent, superintendent of con-
struction, made substantially the same
report, and added that tine same could
be repaired at a trifling expense. This
gentleman also added that if the break
was Of serious nature the whole field
of alfalfa everything the sewer at that
point would be flooded.
A HERALD reporter who visited the
scene of the "break" found we'll eight
feet deep in the earth above the sewer,
filled with water to the surface, with
indications along line possibly $50 ieet
long where pools of water had formed
leaving a sediment OF rapidly drying
mud. At the point of the leak or break
the pool of water and mud, in which
frogs are disportng, is about three feet
in diameter. Mr.. Rowland, ON whose
land the reported "break" or "leak"
up out of this we'll like a fountain when
the full pressure was put on the pipe,
and that when it began to flow up in a
good stream the city authorities were
notified. aud when the pressure was
taken off the surface flow ceased.
Now for few facts regarding the
leak" or break" which may throw
some light on this apparently trivial
matter. According to the records of the
city water overseer's Office, the city on
gineer had 700 inches of water turned
into the outall sewer on. Wednesday
evening. The gate on the sewer at
Hyde Park, three and one-quarter miles
from the settling chamber at the head
of the sewer, was shut down. This
brought the pressure in the sewer at the
| point where the "bresk" or "leak" &C.
Cured up to IL pounds to the square
inch of surface, and then, as Mr.. How
land states, the water began to flow out
on the surface and form pools on his
alfalfa land. When this pressure was
taken off the sewer the water ceased to
| flow. When the committee examined
the sewer yesterday there were only $50
| inches of water running through it, ac-
! cording to the water overseer's meas
urement, and, what is decidedly more
TO the purpose, the stop gate at Hyde
Park was not closed. Under these con-
ditions the pressure on the sewer at the
point of the ''leak" or "break" was
only seven pounds to the square inch.
If the committee and the chief of
construction are go confident that the
leak" or "bresk" is of trifling conse
quence, let them 60 down and close the
stop gate at Hyde Park, turn in 700
.xf oka~ IN al -,
| Mr.. Howland's alfalfa patch, and let
nature take her course.
The wood pipe sections of the outfall
sewer are expected under the require
ments to Withstand a pressure of 40
pounds to the square inch of surface, in
accordance with tests which were made
with the aid OF the city fire engines by
employees of the city engineers Office
In view of the fact that 40 pounds
pressure is the maximum pressure re-
| quired on the wooden pipe section of
the sewer, there should be no hesitancy
in putting this first siphon to pressure
OF IL pounds per square inch of surface,
The first siphon begins at the settling
chamber at Agricultural park, and from
there to Hyde Park the distance is 8 d
miles. The lowest point between the
settling chamber and the stop gate at
Hyde Park is 40 feet; the point at which
the "leak' or "break" occurred is "a
feet, which would give pressure with
the stop gate at Hyde Park closed of II
pounds of pressure to the square inch OF
surface in the sewer ct that point,
and this is precisely what happened
when the reported "leak" or "break"
occurred.
Messrs. Rowland and La Dow saw
the water bubbling up oat of the earth,
but it ia claimed no credsnce should be
given to their statemsnts because they
are soured by reason that their claims
agains the city have not been promptly
considered. However, there are hints
OF people who are perfectly willing to
accept these gentlemen's statements as
to the water flowing from the "break"
or LEAK" at the time the pressure was on
the sewer. 1t was stated last evening
that an excavation would at once be
made for the repair of the pipe. Both
the members of the sewer comm ttee
and the contractors on the work are
anxious and willing to do everything in
their power to repair any break" or
"leak" that may develop, for they are
interested in demonstrating the success
of the outfall sewer.
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