The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-19
ARE AGAINST THE SEWER
Nineteenth Ward Taxpayers In Arms
Against the Project.
AN OPEN.AIR MASS MEETING
Citizens Who Object to TIC Proposed Sew.
cntccnih District Sewer Speak Their
Minds and Take Steps to Defeat
the Projected Improvement.

EO0dly numDer OF NlHeteentH Wdru
property holders, who are adverse to
the proposed Seventeenth District
sewer, assembled at Irving avenue and
Birch street yesterday afternoon at )
O'Clock to take some formal steps
against the Improvement.
1t was an open air mass meeting, ana
while the proceedings were not carried
on according to Cushing 1t was an un-
usually harmonious assembly. for
every man was of the same mind
and all Were deeply In earnest.
The men stood about in group
and talked over their grievances.
then discussed various plans for secur-
ing redress From the talk 1T was gath
cred that the sewer has been forced
unor the people Of the district and.
while some are willing to stand the ex-
pense of the Improvement, no one Is
clamoring for 1t. and the great major
ity are decidedly against Ii. They
claim In addition to this that the re-
port of the viewers as shown by the
first assessment was Outrageously
wrong, and further that they are left
entirely in the dark as to what the
subsequent assessments will be. 1t
was the concensus of opinion that the
sewer should not be constructed, and
further that it would not be construct
ed IL the lower courts or, as n final re-
sort, the supreme court can be con-
yinced that the necessity of the sewer
will not warrant infiicting upon the
people the hardship that will doubtless
ly result.
Another Meeting Next Sunday.
James Fox, ]. s. Uttroctt and George
Gumbert were appointed committee
to secure st. Johns hall for a meeting
next Sunday, when officers will be elect
ed and collector from each street ap-
pointed to solicit the necessary money
for engaging lawyers and carrying out
the anti-sewer campaign.
The territory through which the pro-
posed sewer will extend Is comprised
mainly in the Nineteenth ward. This
ward Is peculiar in it's topography, be-
ing a Veritable row of terraces, one
succeeding the other, from the low,
fiat district on Pittston avenue to the
furthermost end OF the ward at the
foot of the mountain known in local
term!nalogy as the 'bush." The water
which descends from the upper terraces
finds Judgement on Plttston avenue,
particularly in the cellars OF the houses
on that thoroughfare, and after every
heavy rainstorm comes down the hill
in a torrent, causing much damage.
As the whole hill Is what might be
called a solid rock there Is little or no
absorption, consequently there Is no
way of disposing of refuse water. OK.
cept to allow it to follow the cutters to
the lower portion of the ward. Then
again there Is constantly flowing
natural water which Is carried by the
gutter on Pittston avenue, and when
1t Is a little more than of usual volume
causes many incOnveniences.
In the face of these facts and the
4 4 h. 80
health. which has time and again COM
planned of the unhealthy nature of some
parts of the ward. the councilmen de-
termined to put in q sewer, notwith-
standing the strong opposition which
the project met. The viewers have COM
pleted their work and operations on
the sewer are about ready to begin, and
unless the objectors succeed in delay
ing the Improvement it will be under
way in the near future.
Say Expense Is Too Great.
1t Is quite evident from the express
sions heard yesterday that few, If any,
deny the value and necessity of the
contemplated sewer. but the vast ma
jority, all but twelve property hold
ers. the objectors claim, say that the
expense is too great for the benefits
that will be derived. Even though this
assertion was contrOVertlDle they would
not, they say submit to the report of
the viewers. which Is flagrantly unjust.
The people on the hillside. who would
neither be helped nor harmed by the
sewer. but who. in a sense of justice
towards their neighbors In the lower
district, feel their obligation to share
the burden Of the expense, are, accord
ing to the viewers ideas, called upon
to pay the larger assessments. An
instance was given of a property in the
middle of block on Irving avenue be-
ing assessed S14. while "a corner lot on
Pittston avenue. whose value would be
enhanced hundreds Of dollars by
sewer was assessed only $780, At this
ratio they figured that by the time the
sewer was all paid for the property
tlrat would not be benefited in the least
by the sewer would be assessed s14O.
while the property that received all
the benefit that can be derived from n
sewer would be taxed sS5.
Lateral sewers on the hill would also
entail greater expense because of the
rocky nature of the ground, and the
great depth that would have to be
reached to provide against future cut
ting, when the streets may need bet
ter grades.