The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1895-03-29


and we believe them to be within limits, then
the people of Morristown have invested the
sum of $l05, 600 in cesspools.
At the present time the charges for removing
cesspool waste are low, owing to competition,
but it is safe to say that it costs the people of
this city $4,000 per annum to maintain their
cesspools, which, capitalized at per cent,
equals $150,000, making a total capitalization
of S255, 900 for cesspooI privileges, which is
constantly increasing, for every additional
house built adds another cesspool to the list.
It has been estimated that the cost of COM
plete sewerage system for Morristown would
not be over 1885, 900, which may be considered
as a maximum limit of cost. The cost of
maintaining such system in this city would
amount to 5000 per annum, which, capital
lied at per cent, amounts to $75, 600, making
the total as follows:
sum necessary to yield So, 600. 900
Total capitalization s2sl 900
From casual observation these results
would seem to favor the continuance of the
cesspool disposal were there no other opposing
conditions, but such will not be found to be
the case, when we proceed with Investigations
looking to the future. Our city can be built
upon on the whole street frontage now unoc-
cupied, as now laid out, without building an
other foot of sewer than is provided for in the
estimate; but, under the cesspool system, for
every new house built, the owner must pay
from $50 to SIS for cesspool. while, at a
nominal cost, he might, under the sewerage
system proposed, have the advantage of the
sewer with lower yearly assessment than it
costs him to maintain his cesspool.
With properly designed system of sewers,
such as could be constructed within the esti-
mated cost, the area of the city could be
doubled without an additional outlay of more
than 80 per cent. of the above amount for ex-
tended sewer facilities. for our present study
provides for all main carriers and outfall
sewers of sufficient capacity to deliver the
sewage of a population of at least $4,000
people.
It is proposed that the cost of the sewerage
system be met Ry ievynf say 9nenaF v q tne
flied and that the other half he met by the
town at large.
rate per front foot in all of the streets through
which sewers were put without regard TO the
size of the sewer as the benefit of sewer con-
neetion does not depend upon the size of the
pipe connected with.
The extra cost of the large sewers into which
two or more small sewers empty-the cost of
the trunk sewer which is to carry the sewage
to the disposal grOundS-the cost OF the dis
pOSal grounds and of the general plant would
be met by the town at large.
There should be a charge for each sewer
connection with five dollars as a minimum and
fifty dollars as ma ximum. the sum to be de-
termined by the amount of sewage to- be dis
posed of through the onnectiOn-eStimated
The direct tax against property to be paid
for in ten equal annual payments TO be collect
ed as other city taxes are collected. The gen.
eral tax to be extinguished at the end OF say
30 years.
The town to issue bonds for the entire
amount needed sSfid bonus 10 bear interest at
the rate OF per cent and to be sold for not
less than par. These bonds should be retired
so many each year and the year in which each
bond falls due should be printed on the bond
SO that the length of time which it has to run
and consequently its selling price may be ae-
curately determined.
ANY portion of the town not severed at the
beginning to be severed hereafter upon appli-
cation of the majority of the owners ON the
street and the rate per front foot and the rate
per sewer connection to be the same as eStab-
Ished in the beginning.
BY this method it will be seen that the prop
erty directly benefited by having sewer pipes
in the street and sewer connections for the
buildings will pay directly ne-half of the en-
tire cost while the property not directly Dene-
fitted will bear only its proportion of the other
half of the cost. In some instances it may be
some years before unlmproyed property in
side the city limits can be profitably improved
and built upon.
The benefit such property receives from the
sewerage system is the prevention by proper
system of an epidemic which would result in
much lower real estate values all around and
from which it would take number of years
to recover.
In addition to this when the land is ready for
development the system is ready for them to
connect with and it is believed that with
proper system the town will grow faster and
property can be brought INTO the market
faster.
The proportion of the cost borne by the i'm
proved property directly benefited. it IS be-
iieved will be compensated for by being re-
lieVed from the cost of building any more
cesspools and also from the cost of cleaning
This matter if properly cared for in the cess
pool system means large and recurring ex-
pense-by the sewer system the expense once
incurred is over with.
In the foregoing pages your Committee has
endeavored TO express as briefly as the subject
would permit, the result of its consideration
of those portions of the discussion of the Sew
erage of Morristown not likely to be touched
upon by 0 professional engineer in his pre-
liminary report on this subject.
1t has been deemed advisable to omit at the
present time the description OF the course
which the trunk sewers would naturally take.
The Committee are in possession of all these
details should the information be required,
but we will not trespaSs upon your time or
patience by dwelling on the subject at the
present time further than to say that the out
fall OF the sewerage must follow the general
course of storm waters, except in special cases
where provision IS made by deep cuts or other
wise to pass from one water shed or system to
another.
We will now pass to the report of Mr. Ru-
dolph Herring to the Society.
The report OF an engineer of such high repu-
tation as Mr.. Herring may be relied upon to
fairly state the conditions which are to be met,
and the best method to be employed to accom-
plish the ends TO which we would attain.
NEW YORK, March 18th, 1895.
To the President and Members of the Norris
town Society for Public Improvement.
Gentlemen: You have requested me to re-
port to you my opinion on the present mode
OF sewage disposal in your city and TO suggest
such means of relief as are practicable and in
accordance with the best modern methods.
You also desire an approximate estimate of
the cost.
Complying with your request visited Nor
ristown on February 28th and March 9TH. in
order to make myself acquainted with the
locality and the possibilities for sanitary inn
proyements, and to consult with you and your
engineers on the subject.
MorristOwn, with present population OF
about 1000 persons, is situated upon ridge
of gravel and sand, an ancient terminal mo-
T.aine which extends from near Morris Plains
several miles in a s0utheasterly direction.
The ridge is from ne-Quarter to one-half mile
IN width and divides the city SO that the drain
age is delivered in two directions. Npftherly
the water runs into the Whippany River,
southerly INTO brooks which flow directly into
the Passaic River.
The northern watershed comprises about