The herald., 1897-07-20


I find as follows: Total frontage on
street, 1866 feet; a majority of which is
1S4 feet; represented on protest, 11SO feet.
The protest therefore represents ma
jority of the frontage. Filed.
In regard to the protests against the
grading, ETC., of Thomas street between
Downey avenue and Barbee street, I
find as follows: Total frontage on street,
2545 feet; a majority of which is 1878
feet; represented on protest, 760 feet.
The protests (Nos. 1888 and 1897, herewith
returned, do not, therefore, represent a
majority of the frontage. Ordinance
adopted.
1 herewith submit two sets Of house
numbering maps, covering the western
addition of the city, and ask that your
honorable body approve one of said sets.
Referred to board of public works. In
explanation 1 would state that the maps
on tracing cloth show the numbers car
ried through continuously from Main
street, while the mapse on mounted pa
per show the numbers beginning at $500
at Hoover street.
l herewith present ordinance of in
tention for the curbing and sidewalking
of Adams street between Hoover street
and Congress avenue. repeating ordi-
nance No. 1857. Adopted.
The city tax and license collector pre-
scented a report of delinquent taxes ETC.,
which was referred to the finance COM
mttee.
THE OUTFALL SEWER
The city engineer presented the fol-
lowing report on the outfall sewer, which
was referred to the sewer committee:
Having, in conformity with your re-
quest, examined the condition of the
brickwork, mortar and plaster of the
long tunnel, of several portions of the
forty-inch circular conduit, and of sew
eral chambers of the outfall sewer, beg
to hand you herewith the results of this
investigation in the following report,
embodying also my recommendations
as regards the immediate steps neces-
sary to be taken to arrest-probably-
the deterioration of the brickwork al
ready begun, and prevent the threatened
ultimate destruction of this work.
The investigation was carried out on
the 18th and 18th inst. On the former
date a cursory inspection was had in
the presence of Mr.. Toll of your honora-
BILE body, while on the later the examina-
ton was more detailed and included
structures and portions of the sewer not
reached on the former date.
tits an undeniable fact that the sewage
which has during the last few months
passed through the outfall sewer has de-
veloped a gas or gases which corrode
both the cement and the iron in marked
degree. All iron parts in the air above
the flow are deeply corroded. A crumb-
ling mass from one-sixteenth to one
eighth on an inch thick constitutes the
outer part of both the cast and wrought
iron details of gates, valves and steps
| The mortar is affected by a swelling and
| softening of the cement. This takes
place in the highest degree on the ver-
| teal walls few inches above the sur
face of the flow; this action is somewhat
diminished on the upper portions of YER
| teal walls and is very pronounced again
under the crown of all arches. AS just
stated the cement is disintegrated by
softening and swelling, forming in many
places loose, powdery, somewhat plas-
| tic mass. In the worst cases of disinte-
grafton the plaster hangs on the walls
in thick, semi-huid mass. On the other
hand, the invert, wherever tested, in tun-
nell circular conduit or chamber, is HARD
and in apparently as good condition as
on the first day. But in some stretches
of the tunnel the plastering of the inver
is gone, while the concrete of the invert
itself seems unaffected. This may, how.
ever, be only apparent, because what.
ever portion of the concrete is softene(
is probably soon abraded and sweep
away. But, in general way, the inver
is everywhere in apparently good condi
ton and free from holes or material ir
Irregularities. But even the bricks O.
walls and arches are here and there at
! fected; a thin spawl easily detaches it
self in places from the main body of ;
brick. This spawl has generally slight
ly different, darker color than the res
1 of the brick. In only one case of the man,
tested did the mortar between the brick
appear affected and softened. Every
where else the destruction appears O,
the surface as yet.
What the nature of the gas or gases is
which cause this destruction, I am I'm
able to state. this office being unprovid
ed with even the most rudi
mentary chemical testing appar
atus. But the presence of sui
phuretted hydrogen in large-un
usually large quantities is certaint,
A silver watch carried in the pocket 70
few hours, while this investigation
. was going on, came out in much tar
nished and blackened condition. This
a decisive test, even if the impression O.
the nostriis of the observer might b
deceptive. Carboric acid gas also seem
present in large quantities, as indicate
by the vagaries Of the flame in the Ian