The record-union., 1896-08-07
TIE DRAINAGE PROPOSAL.
City Trustees Explain Why They Are in
Favor Of Il.
They Claim There is No Patchwork
About a Disposal
Plant.

The following address by the City
Trustees and Mayor Hubbard explains
their reasons for favoring the propo-
sition to put in a plant for disposing
of the drainage of the city:
To the Citizens of Sacramento: The
undersigned city officials of Sacramento
believe it their duty to explain to the
voters of this city their reasons for ad-
vocating the proposition of expending
S65,0O0 for a permanent drainage out
let.
We have found, after careful inves-
tigation, that the present system of
sewers is in a much better condition
than is represented by some; that all
the main sewers drain and keep free of
obstructions where not clogged and
choked up at the outlet. We have
found, too, that engineers from abroad,
who have submitted plans for this city,
have incorporated these sewers in their
plans, which is additional proof of their
usefulness. All these engineers agree
that our drainage must be directed to
the southwest portion Of the city or
lowest point where it must be disposed
of by pumping into the river.
1t is evident, therefore, that a pump
ing plant and a receptacle, reservoir or
conduit is necessary to receive and col
lect the drainage and eject it, no matter
what system Of sewerage is adopted
So much being admitted, it follows that
disposal plant, which will perform it's
duty by disposing of all drainage. is in
no respect responsible for any other
duty; therefore it is independent of any
system of sewers which may be de-
vised to carry drainage to the
lowest portion of the city, pre-
suming, of course, that any
Llan would direct the drainage to the
southwest portion.
If we agree that the flow of sewage in
any system of pipes is not retarded by
the disposal plant which keeps the out
let free we must agree that a per-
manently constructed disposal plant is
not patchwork for sewers, neither is it
a sewerage system. We therefore con-
elude that the engineer devising the
plan for the disposal plant, which COM
bines utility and permanence and econ
omy in construction, will best serve the
interests of this city. Such plant may
be applied to any system, because it will
remove the drainage as fast as it ac-
cumulates. and therefore is effective.
The plan herein proposed is, we be-
lieve, the best from all points of view
that has been submitted; that it COM
bines strength with efficiency, and that
it has capacity sufficient for all sewage
and storm waters, and will fill the re-
quirements for fifty years to come.
At present 1t is intended to construct
the sewer along S to Seventeenth street
only, but in the near future it may be
extended to Thirty-flrst street at an
elevation that will permit Of main sew
ers being constructed with proper fall,
both north and south of street, to the
levees.
We believe also that withsan expense
from $4,000 to $4,000 yearly taken
from our general fund, we can in few
years complete the construction Of these
main sewers according to some definite
plan, having not less than one in each
odd-numbered street; also, that we can
avoid the use of an expensive and sep
arate water-supply system for flushing
purposes by adopting the modern meth
cd of cleansing lateral or alley sewers
by the means of flush tanks-these will
not cost over $50 each, and, with one at
the head of each alley sewer, we can do
away with ceSspools and vaults. The
flush tanks may be constructed where
most needed and the expense taken
from the general tax fund.
The past and present city officials
have from time to time reiterated their
promises to lift the load Of debt with