The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-26
THE SEWAGE OF THE CITY.
Problem That the Present Admins.
tratlon viii Have 10 Solve in
the Ncar Future.
just Now tho Ranchmen Have
Consented TO n Temporary
Arrangement
Enrineer wade Outlines Plan witch a.
says WIN settle the Question
FOR Years

There has been much thought and no
small uneasiness recently IN the city coun-
oil conserving the sewage which flows upon
the city farm. This farm was designed to
take care Of the sewage, but 40 matter Of
fact IL ia with present arrangements, a
failure in this matter. The tract Is leased
as an ordinary farm. abe lessee having the
use Of the water or ns much thereof as be
desires but there Is no restriction upon
him az 20 when or where he shall let sue
water foW from the ranch. Indeed there
was no provision for any sort OF an outlet
for this water until within the past few
days when there was made a small ditch 10
carry il so the Prickly Pear creek. This Is
allowed by tho ranohmen with the under
standing that the city will at once proceed
with plans 20 place the flow In a covered
ditch.
Engineer Wade Says the initial cost Of a
permansn, plant. together with securing
Immediate control OF the ranch (which is
leased until Jan. /, 1856 sud the right Of
way over ranches all can be bad for about
] 1900. with sn additional cost not TO eH-
coed 500 per year thereafter so maintain
| il. keep box clean and in repair attend filter
beds, etc; all this by party under bond TO
the city in the sun Of $1,000. for the propsf
care OF the conduit and the hlter plant
and for the proper cleansing Of water be-
fore its passage by the conduit into she
Priokly Pear creek.
II this can be done and the city be thus
relieved from danger Of further litigation
from this source it would seem the city
council should not long hesitate TO put these
into opershon Ihs following is the en-
gineer's report made TO the council:
On further and more exhaustive e1-
animation Of the proposition 60 dispose of
she citY sewage, am prepared to say with
much conhisnce, that the wooden conduit
as proposed IN my ast report will be found
the wisest expedint under the circumstances
now existing. Because las we'll for many
other reasons already Rivsn) ths water
must have permau mt outlet no matter
what treatment Il may undergo previously.
Objections have already been made and
will continually arise against pollution of
the frickly Pear creek with sewage matter
and think it may be- stated a. a fact that
IL the city Is to be kept out of litigation on
this question in the future IL must remove
the Judge and other Objectionable matter
from the water before this water shall en-
ter the conduit on its way to the creek. !
Ibis can be done and at n small expense
by proper use OF the sewer farm. Ny
thoroua examination the past week OF the ]
soil of the farm. and all othet soils avail |
able proves 20 my mind that that OF the /
city farm is pre-eminently tttvd for me /
chanicallv removing all objeotioaabls sew
age matter. SO we need not so elsewhere
20 secure proper surface upon which to
operate.
! know this involves
First-Control OF the sewer farm.
sscond-A man (preferablY uBdet bond)
10 tend 10 the sewerage Vais Ia liberation
every day in the year.
ThirI-Frsquent visits OF the city engin-
Ger or his representative to insu success
fol operation. am also aware that this
plan may appear but temporary, but 10 -
not temporary, but can be made to 20 on
wear after year indefinitely, as will APP ear
from the following statement IN watch /
am thoroughly fortified. viz That this
wooden conduit aad appliances fos III
terailon and man to tend the same
under bond together with right OF way
across the ranches intervening, aud the /
immediate control Of tbs eWer farm, ire /
leving the city ftom any responsibility .
whatever. excstt az stated rs 10 the eugin- /
eer or his epresCntativel, can all be secured .
for q period o. five years for not exceeding
$1,000 plus the rental Of tie seWer IA ~. /
with the further assurance that tne con I
q uit shall az the expiration Of that period, ]
30 turned over 10 tho city II demanded, in /
ss good condition as when put in eIcept /
the inevitable dry rot" OF the upper part
OF the box which mar need renewing two .
or three years later. OF course speoifca-
tions IN detail may be prepa ed when con-
tract 10 let
nov advise that your honorable body
advertise for bids to reiievs tue city from
al responsibility In the mannsf above
stated. requesting that euch l4der submit /
his own plans for tLis lurposs-lsgo siting /
With ths city treusu er certified cheek or /
500 or some easonabl8 amount TO show /
Ills good faith IN the matter Of his bid; the /
city reese wing ths right 10 reisot any and I
al bid-. lie open sem .orsrg ditch which |
you dered 10 nov under cOnstr uctiou and
Will be completed IN few DAYS. 1 hers
with submit plans OF proposed conduit. to-
Getter with model Of the same.
JoHS W. MADE.
City Engineer.
Bargains in hosiory this wesk At The Bee
Hive.