The record-union., 1896-05-04
THE SEWER PROPOSITION.

A few days ago the Record Union"
expressed the thought that the expendi
ture OF 100000 on the sewer system
would be unwise, as it could not possi-
bly, give us the corrections needed; sec
ondly, that, however good a civil engi-
neer the official who planned the scheme
for expenditure, it did not follow that
he was competent for this special task;
that, therefore, it would be a part Of
wisdom to have his plans passed upon
by competent specialist before sub
mitting the proposition to a vote Of the
people.
We are gratified to find that one Of
the Trustees, Mr.. Tozer, fully indorses
the views of the Record Union" and
has SO expressed himself in an open
letter. Indeed, he goes further by alleg-
ing that the board is now proceeding
with its 100000 proposition without
first adopting some well-considered and
definite pla.n," which is to say that the
plan of the City Engineer Is, in fact,
not a sewer system plan.
The "Record-Union" also said that
it would be folly to enter upon the con-
struction of new sewer system with
out contemplating the abolition of the
cesspools and filth pits. The Trustee
makes precisely the same statement in
his letter There can be no two opin-
ions upon these propositions among
those who place any value whatever
upon the experience Of other communi-
ties and upon the scientific knowledge
Of specialists in engineering.
The Record Union" now calls upon
the Trustees to pause in their prepara-
ton for the 100000 scheme and con-
slider the matters referred to above. If
their plan Is simply to provide better
means Of collecting surface drainage
and discharge It into the river 1t is pos
sible that 100000 would accomplish
that end, but it would not give US any
thing entitled to be called sewer sys-
tenn, nor would it provide for any essen
tfal betterments of the sewer system we
now have. But even II the 100000
plan would better our drainage, it is
unwise to adopt 1t, because the effect
viii be to postpone for years the sub
mission and adoption of a complete
sewer system. We assume that the
Board Of Trustees does not wish to en-
ter upon any scheme that would throw
discredit upon them. They should,
therefore take the ordinary precaution
of having an expert pass upon the pro-
posed plans, whatever they may be, be-
fore they submit them to a vote Of the
people.
In some quarters 1t is very plainly
limited that the Trustees know that the
$50, 900 expenditure will be inadequate
and that they propose to submit it with
the expectation that 1t will be defeated
for that, among other reasons. We dc
not, for a moment, give the slightest
credit to this insinuation. 1t is rehec-
ton upon the individual members of the
beard, unwarranted and unfair. Yet
since before the election can be held ii
win be shown beyond all question tha.
the S60,OO plan will not give US sys-
tenn under which we can abandon cess
pools. and since 1t will be shown that
q correct sewer system, such as a city
OF this size and promise ought to have
cannot be constructed for less than
twice 100000. and that. except for
storm waters the proposed plan will af-
ford US no relief, what win the Trustees
say when these facts are established
The Trustee whose letter Is referred
to expresses the belize that 1t would be
absolute economy and superior wisdom,
for this city to expend money enough
in this and the next year, to give us a
genuine corrected sewer system, clear
water supply, a city hall, and some new
wharves; that $500. 900 debt for forty
years at per cent. this city can assume
for these purposes. He figures that, with
a sinking fund Of $500. required by
the Constitution, and interest, 1900
q year. there would be no burden upon