Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-10
DIGGING orr THE OLD SEWER
Identity ana origin of n Leak to lie
GnmclmslNelN Esin hi IAhnh.


ConctusiVcly Established.
Christian Straub, owner Of block OF bus
mess houses Oh Main street. applied for per-
mission OF the city engineer yesterday to
make a systematic search for the old leak
that has been the cause of great deal Of
expense and vexaton to the tenants the
owner and the city council. A force OF men
were put to work digging up the sewer in
the alley in the rear of the buildings yester-
day morning. The alley was paved thirteen
years ago, and Is distinguished as being
the first bit OF paving ever laid in the city.
a nine-inch tile sewer was laid at the time,
and has been in use since Three years
after the work was done stream OF water
made its appearance In the basement OF the
building occupied by Groneweg & Schoent-
gen as a Wholesale grocery, and that little
stream has been the source ever since Of
continuous contention between Mr. Straub
and the various city councils Mr., Straub
contends the water comes from leak in
the sewer, and the various city engineers
and others who have examined It, claim that
1t Is product OF nature in the shape OF
a generous spring that has gushed forth.
The sewer ia chiefly used to carry away the
water from the roofs Of the brick blocks that
line the alley for its entire distance, and
Straub claims that IL Is too small to do ito
work. The business block is being damaged
by the water and innumeTabe propositions
have been made to the council to remedy The
defect. These have been ignored. and the
threatened suits have not been brought. The
matter has now reached an acute stage. To
disprove Straub's claim, the city has had
the water analysed repeatedly, and each
test has shown 1t to be fairly good spring
water. Yesterday S:raub made proposition
to the city, by which he agrees to dig up
the sewer and If the water is found to
come from a spring, all of the expenses
will be borne by him. If " comes from the
sewer the city will bear the expense, and
will then be likely to be asked to settle a
heavy bill of damages FOR the repair of the
building.
The aldermen are watching the work with
a good deal Of interest. New tests of the
water were made yesterday, and no sewage
matter was shown. This has encouraged the
aldermen to rely confidently upon the claim
that 1t is spring and not defective sewer
pipe that has so long been the cause of
strained relations between Mr. Straub and
the city.
Go to Bartlett Grocery Co.'S flour sale.
Mixed nuts SC pound. Browns c. o. d.
The women of the Unity Guild will serve
meals today at 4O7 Broadway from II 30 to
p. m. and from $50 to Z p. m.
Wanted, position as stenographer by lady
of ten years experience. S, Bee Office.
Boston Store will be open every evening
until after Christmas.
| No better -four made than Bartlett Gro
cery Co.'S big A, S1.10.
Fancy New York apples. $1.5O per barrel.
| Browns C. o. ID.
Fine livery for parties and dances Ogden
/ Livery 15S Broadway. Telephone SO.
fioffmayr's fancy patent -four makes the
best and most bread. Ask your grocer FOR it.
| Durfee Furniture Co.'S great removal sale
| is now in full blast You in 1t?
/ If you want a bargain in watches and
| diamonds call at Snyder's, 32S B'way.