The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-19
DRAIN PIPE DISTRACTIONS.
Drainage Committee Has Taken the
Matter in Hand.

Mailer IN thAhus
The city Council committee on drainage
will proceed at once to obtain informa-
ton whether the courses Of the drain
pipes into the new sewers are blocked in
some localities. City officials do not he
lieve there are any distractions, but to
satisfy themselves they intend to look
thoroughly into the matter, by obtaining
facts and figures from the conduit COM
panies, the house drainage contractors and
City Engineer VIM.
Mayor Myers inumatsd yesterday that
ne fully appreciates the gravity of the
situation, and that it demands prompt and
judicious action on the part of Council.
That such a confused state of affairs
should continue is not the desire of any
alderman. While IL is admitted that the
trouble apt to be found is only enough
10 emphasize the Importance of reconcn-
ing the underground maze of pipes and
conduits, it is plain that the consequences
to the city might have been even more
serious so far as any vigilance on its part
is concerned.
City Engineer Winn is the official expect
cd 10 have all Information as to the loca-
ton and depth of underground construc-
ton. Mayor Myers stated that the city en-
gineers Office is the proper place for this
information, and not the public works di-
rector's office. This has evidently not been
understood by the contractors now at
work on the streets, as they have sought
information from the drainage engineers
direct without applying to Col Winn. 1t
is stated the plans OF the drainage sys-
TEN have been flied in the city engineers
Office since The drainage contract was let.
and that the depth and location Of all the
sewers may be obtained there Supervising
Engineer Chapman says compete set Of
plans were flied SO that the prospective
bidders ON the drainage work might know
the depth of pipes and get such other in
formation as they needed in bidding.
After the drainage committee has OBJ
tanned all facts in connection with condi-
tons in the lanes, il is stated the chances
are that recommendations of some kind
viii be made 10 Council. From general ex-
pressions by aldermen it is evident they
want The lines drawn more on companies
putting pipes in the ground not alone for
the cltys benefit, but TO protect the com
panies as well. There is considerable risk
in granting q permit 10 run pipes through
city thoroughfare without designating
first the depth they are to go and the
side of the street they are TO take. For
this reason the committee will likely re-
commend a systema izing of the present
method of granting permits
Alderman Graham stih thinks the citv
will not encounter a great deal of trouble
as a result of the conduit work but he
realizes the method of granting permits is
TOO loose and unsatisfactory When a con-
tractor gets a permit, he is entitled to have
designated 10 him "a route he can follow
without being put to unnecessary expense
in lodging distractions. I'VE are intend
ing 10 straighten things out" said Alder
man Graham but nothing can be done
until the drainage committee has COM
pleted its Investigations Supervising En-
gineer Chapman will be asked to appear
before the committee and other city Of
fcials VIII be there 10 throw all possible
light on the subject. Even though the
city suffers no Inconvenience / think the
suggestions in this connection have been
wen made, and that they should be given
deliberate consideration"
The Georgia Telephone Company, which
did the conduit work al York lane and
Whitaker street, where Mr.. Sugden
thought the drain pipes may be INSTRUCTED.
feels confident everything is all right A
representative OF the company said that
the conduts are sufficiently near The sur
face 10 admit the drains 10 pass under
meath them.