The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-21

ton of the state. and in due time the
rights so long withheld from Worces-
ter may be cheerfully granted our peo-
pie by the state, through it's law-mak-
ing power, the general court.
The acts of 1896 provided that the
board of metropolitan sewer commits
cioners be authorized and directed to
consider and report upon high Level
or gravity system of sewage for the
Charles and Neponset river valleys to
be called the South Metropolitan sys-
tenn, the outlet being in the Atlantic
ocean. between Nut Island and Pad
docks Island.
These commissioners have submitted
their report to the present legislature,
together with a draft of a bill, author
izing the issue of $4,6O0,0O0. This bill is
now pending in the house of represen-
tatives.
A SEWER TO THE SEA.
This proposed high level gravity sew
er win extend from point in Newton,
or Brookline, or Wellesley out into
the ocean, a distance of 16 or 20 miles,
and discharge it's sewage into the sea
between Nut Island and Paddock's ISL
and, by continuous, neyer-ceasing dis
charge, at considerable depth below
the surface of the sea--this method now
being regarded with favor by the met
ropolitan sewer commissioners.
BY the construction of a sewer for
about thirty miles to reach Worcester,
passing through Wellesley. Natick,
South birmingham, Ashland, West
boro and Grafton, Marlboro could be
connected with this proposed trunk
sewer to the ocean by the construction
of a lateral sewer eight or ten miles
long.
That this method would be by far the
best possible solution of the problem
now confronting the towns on the line
as to the disposal of their sewage, as
well as the city of Worcester, admits
of no doubt, in the minds of those who
fully realize the cost of the present ex-
pertinent and the unsatisfactory re-
suits now being obtained.
1t is now costing the city Of Worces-
ter 1000 per year, If not more, which
is 3R per cent on $2000,0 00 and very
few are satisfied with the results, nor
do many consider the prospect favor
able for any great improvement, eth
er in results obtained. or cost of the
vain experiments.
The author OF the present unfortu-
| nate system openly admits that the cost
of treating the sewage is immense, and
must continue to increase as Worces-
| ter grows in POPULATION. The use Of
water for manufacturing, sanitary and
domestic purposes is constantly in
| creasing, as the towns and cities con-
tinue to be more and more prosperous
and the increased use Of water fncreas-
es year by year the volume of sewage
1t is admitted that our present exper-
| mental works are growing more and
more costly, and when completed and
made as perfect as possible, there will
| be great annual cost connected there
with.
Worcester judging the future by the
past, win sometime be a city Of 500 00t
/ people. Is it possible that its sewage
can then be treated in the experimental
way it is now being disposed Off -.-
The leading authorities on this sub
iect assert that the best way to treat
sewage is to discharge it into the lar
gest body of moving water obtainable
and that is usually into the ocean
where the tide GIBBS and flows twice in
every "a hours
London for years discharged its sew
age some IS miles down the stream into
the river Thames. and now the city
fathers have decided they must carry
it to the sea and beyond the mouth OF
the Thames.
Mr.. Bates next outlined at length the
| sewage systems of New York, London
and Chicago. and then. returning to
Worcester. said.
And who will say as to Worcester
that an ocean high-level gravity sewer
is impossible or impracticable, when
the mouth of the present sewer at
Quinsigapond is 430 feet above the tide
water?
NOW CALL THE TURN.
There is an old saying that it is a
long lane that has no turn, and there
are certain things necessary to be done
in the comparatively near future to
complete the great enterprise contem-
plated in the metropolitan water sys-
tenn. wherein the representatives and
senators from Worcester county may
automatically insist upon a condition
precedent which may result in proper
recognition Of that to which the county
and city of Worcester is entitled
It is now believed that a mistake was
made in estimating the cost Of the
Boston Water Works at so low a fig