The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-19
ANACONDA NEWS.
THE CITY SEWER SYSTEM
Proposition to Lay a Main on
Fourth Street.
AN ELECTION PROBABLE
A Scheme to Join Forces With the
Water Company in Digging a
Ditch-The Plan Will Be
Opposed.
AN ELECTION PROBABLE


- Since the last council meeting, when
the matter of sewers came up. there has
been good deal of talk among tax
payers about the sewer system of the
city. AT the council meeting the city
attorney was requested to prepare
resolution and have it ready by the
time the council meets again that VIII
order a special sewer bonding election.
1t is proposed to bond the city for a
sum sufficient to construct a main sewer
on Fourth street from the western ex-
tremity of the city to Alder street or fur
Their east.
The sewer system in Anaconda, as in
every other city, has caused some hard
feeling between the property owners in
one district and those of another The
lack of a proper sewer system in this
city was not felt until a year or two
ago, when the rapid growth of the town
made it apparent that something must
be done. A system of sewers was at
that time planned that seemed perfect
in every way. Then there was a lapse
of time when nothing was done in the
matter. The present council has dabb1ed
in the sewer business more or less for
some time.
The general plan under which the
sewers of Anaconda are to run is that
the sewers shall run through the alleys
of the town and with these sewers the
residences and business houses will be
connected. The alley sewers are in turn
connected with main sewers. AT the
present time there are main sewers on
Park avenue and on Third streets. Late
~ improvement district No. 2 has been
completed This district has built a
sewer from the alley between Main and
Oak streets eastward through the alley
between Commercial avenue and Front
street. Improvement district No. 3,
which is about ready to begin work,
provides sewer to run through the al
ley between Park avenue and Third
street, west of Main, to connect With the
Park avenue main. Improvement dis
trict No. runs through the alley be-
tween Third and Fourth streets, west
of Main, and Improvement district No 5
eastward from Main through the alley
between Commercial avenue and Park
avenue
The alleys north of Fourth street run
east and west. with the exception of two
alleys on either side of Main street
which run north and south. South of
Fourth street the alleys run north and
south. The proposed construction of a
main on Fourth street is for the pur-
pose of permitting people living south
of Fourth street to secure sewer con-
nection. That will be done in this way,
should the main be built Each alley
south of Fourth street will constitute a
special improvement district and each
lot abutting upon the alley will be as
sessed the proportionate rate for the sew
ers running through the alley The
main sewer on Fourth street will be
paid for by money raised by the sale of
the bonds of the special election.
1t is contended by some property own
ers north of Fourth street that they
should not be compelled to pay for the
\.
but those living south of that street
will derive any benefit therefrom; that
there is already a main sewer on Third
street and that the whole thing is un-
just. On the other hand, the people liy-
ing south of Fourth street say that they
are compelled to pay their share of the |
money expended in the construction of |
main sewers on Park avenue and Third
street and that the whole city should |
pay for the main on Fourth street. They |
point out that as it is they cannot con- |
meet with the Third street sewer because |
there are no alleys through which they |
can secure an outlet. and that il is i'm
possible to secure rights-of-way through |
private property, and besides the cost |
of such connection would be enormous.
Those who have looked into the mat
ter think that $4,000 will be about the
correct estimate of the cost of construct
ing the Fourth street main. There has
been talk however of ombinng with I
the water company in digging the ditch
when the water people lay their mains
on Fourth street. In case that plan is
found to be feasible. ii is estimated that
the cost will not exceed $4,000. Should
1t be found to be a practicable scheme it
is proposed to put the sewer mains two
feet below the mains of the water COM
pany. The only objection to this PLAZA
that has so far come to light is that The
sewer manholes at each intersecting
street would expose the water mains
and the water, in cold weather, would
freeze. If this objection can be over
come. many believe that a joining of
forces with the water company would
be good economy. Besides, should the
cost of the main be only 81, 900 or So 00O
there would be no necessity for an cleo
ton and $500 or $500 would thus be saved
TO the taxpayers.
There will probably be some action
taken on the sewer proposition at the
next council meeting. which will be held
on the first Monday in March, and
Of a fight is expected by
some when the bonding proposition
comes up. The question of bonding for
the Fourth street sewer main was voted
upon some time ago, but very little In
terest was taken in the election,
there being only few votes cast The |
bonds We're defeated.