The San Francisco call., 1897-07-16
OUR SYSTEM
OF SEWERS
The City and County Sur
veyor Calls Attention to
It's Faults.
Several Extensions Necessary to
Avoid Damage From
Fall Rains.
Thinks the Block Books Should Be
Copied Entirely to Prevent
Their Loss.

City and County Surveyor Charles S.
Tilton Yesterday filed his annual report
with the Board of Supervisors, which
contains some advice and warming with
regard tc the City's faulty sewers. He said :
I take occasion to briefly urge upon your
honorable body the necessity for the construc-
ton and extension oil certain sewers, the
neglect OF which Will probably result In con-
siderable damage 70 properly, P ior rhs w4ien aSst
and least costly OF the required sewers is the
extension of the Cole-street sewer across the
mark panhandle. When the Fell-street sewer
was cons tructed II was designed ana maze OF
Sufficient size 10 carry all of the drainage of the
large waters ed to the south, much OF which
is now delivered at the crossing OF Cole and
Oak streets.
The Fell-street sewer is now terminated at
the Gro sing of California street on the north
erly side OF the park. leaving gap OF $40 ieet
between the sewers, which should be con-
structed before the fall rains set III. Ii this
matter is not attended to the increased flow in
The time of storms in the Cole-Street sewer,
due TO the filing in bv grading OF the larger
pond in the Pope d Talbot tract, winch has
acted as a storage reservoir for the storm
waters will cause flooding and damage along
Oak street. The Oak-street sewer, which now
relieves the Coles treet sewer, cannot remove
the increased flow.
There is a somewhat similar state of affairs
at Union and Lyon streets and Baker
street north of Chestnut street. The City has,
at considerable expense, just constructed u
sewer through the Presidio reservation as an
outlet for the district Immediately 10 the
south, ald awards OF contracts have been
made for the extension of this sewer along
Lyon street to Chestnut, thence to Devisadero
and thence to an outlet at the bay.
This sewer is also designed to intercept all
of he flow from the south which is now de-
llyered a Chestnut and Baker streets thus
relieving the pressure in the Baker-street
sewer to the north, where breaks have oc-
Cured in the past and damage resulted. How
ever the work ON this extension for some rea-
son is not progressing. / wound urge tae mat
ter be taken up a. once ana the work pushed
TO completion This is necessary TO prevent
constructed and to avoid flooding a nd damage
on the lower portion of Baker street
The Army-Street sewer, te: nlinating as it
does al San Bruno avenue, has become an al
most into lerable nuisance, as has the Bran
nan-stre ct sewer terminating at First street.
Ihave now in hand the preparation of plans
which shall soon submit for the extension
of both OF these sewers. The construction OF
these extensions should he started al once so
they may b, completed before the fall rains
set in.
During the past year Balboa boulevard has
been opened and the greater part OF IL has
been graded. The grading oil Seventh avenue,
which Is 10 be II part OF the boulevard sysien m,
has also ieen in progress. The work now ex-
tends as far south l. street, where ii is en-
croaehing upon the waste pond which has
been a storage reservoir for the drainage oi
the large water-shei which lies to the south
erly. Further grading of the avenue would
destroy this reservoir. and the full volume OF
the storm-waters would flow at once down
onto the park and the land adjacent thereto