The record-union., 1896-07-22

levees "a thing which the law now pro-
hibitS) all that we can do is to prOvlde
a pumping plant with a capacity to re-
move all this water, and main sewer
that will conduct it to the pump.
The proposition you are asked to vote
for is to construct a main sewer from
Seventeenth street down S street to
Front street, which will be large enough
to carry all the water that will probably
ever reach it, and pumping plant at
Front and S streets that will be capable
of removing it as fast as it reaches the
sump.
With such sewer and pump to keep
the outlet free there will never be any
accumulation Of water in any part Of
our city.
We do not consider this sewer sys-
tenn, nor is it patchwork; it is simply
an outlet which we must have for our
protection. If in the future the city
decides to put in a general system of
sewers this may be made a part of such
system, but at this time this is the only
thing we can do, and l consider 1t alb
solutely necessary that it be construct
ed before the next winter begins.
During the past winter that portion
of our city lying between Front and
Nineteenth streets and r and streets,
comprising over 100 blocks, was sub
merged and many property owners were
damaged. These property owners, or
some Of them, have brought suits
against the city for damages. claiming
that the city has constructed sewers
which conduct the flood waters from the
higher parts of the city to and on their
property, and that no means have been
provided to protect them, and that con-
sequently they have been compelled to
invoke the aid Of the courts for dam
ages. If the courts should decide that
the city shall pay these parties for dam
ages sustained it will cost the city
many thousands Of dollars, and should
the proposed sewer and pump fail to
carry at the special election which will
be held on August II, 1896, many suits
will be brought next winter, which will
without doubt cost the city more than
the cost of the proposed sewer and
pump.
Many persons urge that we should put
i'll a general sewerage system in place
of this proposed relief sewer and pump,
but it must be plain to any one that this
would be impossible to accomplish be-
fore the next winter. 1t will take sew
eral months for competent engineers to
make surveys and for our Board of
Trustees to decide upon system which
would then have to be submitted to a
vote Of the people, and long before we
could accomplish this it would be too
late for any relief to be afforded for the
coming winter.
The citizens Of Sacramento are asked
to vote on the proposition above men
toned, that we may expend $4,000 for
the safety of the city. to protect the
property within our levees, to prevent
the people in the southern part Of the
city from being damaged and from
bringing suits, and to save the reputa-
ticn of our city, which would be imper-
lied If we do not now put in this sewer
and pump.
I find that all who have given this
subject careful attention and under
stand our sewer system as 1t is
at present agree that this is the only
practical way out of our difficulty at
this time
I trust that all citizens who are inter
ested in this matter will vote that the
work be done, so that we may commence
the construction of the plant before 1t
will be too late. Respectfully,
q TT HTTRRARD Mavor