The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-14
want u sewer I.ntd First.

fsultOT OF tne scranton tribune.
Sir; VIII YOU kindly give space in
your paper for fair explanation of the
sewer and pave trouble now existing be-
tween property owners on North Main
avei.ue from Putnam street to the corner
of Providence road, commonly called
Bulls Head Corners, and on Providence
road from Bulls Head Corners to Court
street corner.
Now / claim a sewer should be laid
and given at least the rains of a fall and
spring to settle the ground where the
earth is dug up to put down a sewer.
There is now a law existing that has been
signed by the mayor to pave the street
and avenue between the space before
mentioned before sewering. This i think
entirely wrong and impra cticable for the
following reasons First, all old water
pipes belonging to a water company or a
private citizen should be removed ana
replaced by new pipe that would give the
longest service; then after the ground has
settled take up the loose dirt and lay
down a good concrete base, then lay upon
the concrete some good pavement that
will give US the best service and last the
longest.
| was one who circulated a petition to
hold off the pavement until the street
was severed and with but one exception
all wanted a pavement but they wanted
a sewer first. as l think almost anybody
would. But it having been stated to many
of the property owners by our councilml1 4
that we could not get a sewer for two
to five years to come. concluded to sign
to have a pave first and then dig up the
pavement and put down a sewer. as Il
sewer ordinance was also passed and be-
came a law about the same time the same
street ana avenue, but owing to their
| being no money of the city to pay their
| share of the sewer. those VINO want a
pavement use this excuse to pave with
out a sewer. Now l am told by some
councilmen that the city can and will be
bonded for other purposes, and why cam
not North Main avenue have a share to-
ward paying the City's share of the sewer.
Suppose the city was bonded to pay
| her part or the sewers of North Main
| avenue, Hyde Park and the South Side,
would this not be a good ordinance for
| the health of The city at large?
| If the reader would pass along North
Main avenue some hot day and smell the
| sops that are turned into the streets
\ from the business places and dwellings,
you would then. I think, agree with me
| that we want and need "A sewer first FOR
the health of the public in general. We
| also want n pave awful bad, but we
want a sewer verse.
| Now If these streets and avenues were
severed and the catch basins put in al
| every corner. and the cutters cleaned
| out so that the water would not stand
in the street and avenue, then the street
| would not be so bad; as it is now, the
| water does not run off and consequently
we must have mud, as there is a great
deal of travel on this street and avenue
as this is the inlet from all the county
west and north of our city
| And further ! will say that the mines
under North Main avenue and Providence
road should be well propped before a
! sewer or a pave is laid, as there have
been some large mine caves in the ave-
nue. mentioned. In case of cavern af
ter the street is paved the pavement
| would, | think, hold up for some dista ace
! while the dirt would fall away from the
concrete, and the concrete pave would
allow car or vehicle to get onto il
some distance before it would go down
causing great accident and perhap'
hold the city for damages.
And | would further state that we have
some very severe rain storms in thi:
end causing great floods Of water tina
would make you think the street was {
river and If the street was paved anC
curbed without a sewer with catch basins
II would be impossible during "a heavy
storm, and would cause the water to fiov
down the pavement so fast ad so mucl
on account of the street being curbed
it would cause damage, out of which
would grow damage suits.
In talking with one of the largest prop
erty owners on the avenue, and one wht
has a private sewer, and one who signcC
against the holding off on the pave uni
it was severed, said to me there SHOULD
be some way in which a main sewe
should be laid down before a pave is laId
because II would help the sale of lot
here there Is a main sewer for all. AM
one very particular point | will call you
attention to is the Traction company ha
decided to lay a double track on the stree
and avenue mentioned, before II is paved
and when there Is a double track lai,
on street that Is only "a feet in widtl
in some places and 4G feet in others
then where will you dig up the stree
and pave for a sewer? One might say
between the double tracks. There is no
room between the double tracks to dig
ditch wide cough to put down a sewer an
II there were, the dirt taken out Of tn
ditch would block both tracks and If yO
put II to one side of the double track
then the pave must be torn up for
connection to every house, and this wou
make 1t "holey pave" when done. n
you can't dig up street and settle It a
before without letting time and nature q
the work.
| am very much surprised that on
councilman caused such a law to be en-
acted. as he is a partner I'm a large front
age on this street, and has lots for sale
and II would be great benefit TO thes
lots and they would sell quicker II tn