The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-29
Mellcn's Bill Before
Committees.
THEODORE c. BATES
Tells the Committee It's the
Only Practical Solution.

Representa- tive Nellen's resolve for
an investigation. at a cost not exceed
ing $4,000. of the problem Of construct
ang high level sewer from Worcester
1e the sea, was considered yesterday
ey the committees on metropolitan at
fairs and drainage Of the legislature,
sitting Jointly.
Mr.. Mellen was present and addressed
the committees briefly. stating That he
Rad no objection TO action referring the
matter 70 the next general court. The
principal speaker before the commSt-
lees, however, was Hon Theodore c.
Bates Of Worcester, whose talk some
i'me ago before members Of the Wor-
ceSter Board Of Trade first brought the
subject 10 the serious consideration of
tn people of Worcester. Mr.. Bates
spoke at some length and was closely
Followed by his hearers.
&c said in substance:
Mr.. chairman and Gentlemen of the
ommlttee:-l desire to thank you for
Inc courtesy extended to me by your
yonlhulng this hearing until today. |
uld not know Of the previous hearing
as | was absent from the state. and /
understand that at the suggestion of
i'e representative from Worcester the
meeting was continued that he D,io,,.
Hsk me 10 speak on the matter.
MY observation and experience as =
tleIhper OF the state board of health of
massachusetts for several wears caused
me TO become interested in The subject
81 sewage disposal and in a recent talk
1ftoie the directors OF the Board of
trade Of Worcester. his subject was
<"uoheu upon by me as a matter that
7h'Sht properly be considered bv Them
as a representative body of the mann
occurring, mercantile and tax having
-u-eteSIs OF our city. 1t was my remark.
ahaue AT that time, giving expression TO
EiS Ie"s pN me- entertained in refer
SHce TO TINS matter that interested
NepresntatiV Mellen and others in yyor,
SFsSeI' ana hence this bill which Nh.
sHetien introduced and of which he 10
until today ' ca"
40 not suppose the committee AT
thls ume Will care to legisIata IN, a
subject thai so deeply concerns o,,.
psople, ana the citizens Of The towns
Net"eeH worcester and Boston with
OUT there having been some definite
"hu formal preliminary action by the
tlty government or the executive off,
GERS of the several towns.
No official action has been talxar OIL
3hough there has been much diseussion
10y cltlzens generally in reference
thereto. In conversation with tbe
engineer of the metropolitan sewage
commission, prior to my talk heFnTe
the BOARD of Trade, my attention was
S@Ileu TO many possibilities which
see nave taken form in the reDort of
me state board of health, looking IN an
carry determination by you. or by your
successors, as to what can best he done
20 save Boston harbor for the use of
the inhabitants of its immediate yfcin-
lly as a place for the disposal Of its
sewage. 80
The city of Lowell. understand is
ueposlting its sewage into the Mer-
Flmac river. also Lawrence HaverbiII
ana NeWbuTyport, and in my opinion
a. VIII De but comparatively short
tlme before the members of the leeis
Iature, from Middlesex and Fssev
counties, are urging action to prevent
me further pollution of the Merrimac
river. Already | am informed that in
HlNluualS are discussing the adYisah hill
1ty OF having a trunk sewer to take the
sewage OF those cities into the ocean in
Inc Nlclnity of Newburyport ! be
heYe that such proposition is sure to
come at an early day, and that the
Time is near at hand when the jnhab-
1tants OF the towns on the Blackstone
1lFef Will insist upon the discontinu-
ance of the discharge Of the sewage
from the city Of Worcester into the
~ No VIC ~ ei' whether partially
treated or otherwise
Under the ara GRITTY of a resolve
adopted by the legislature of 1884 a
commission was appointed by Govern
or Robinson, who gave this subject
Very careful consideration. The opin-
ION mas been expressed that of the four
nest known methods of treating sew
age me least desirable one was by
precipitation. The expense now being
incurred by WORCESTER in the treat
1lent or ITS sewage is something like
Fo'oV1 a year which, at the rate Of in
1erest paid by the commonwealth for
J =" money for the metropolitan sewer
WORK IN the cities in the eastern part
81 NE state would be equal to 3 per
cent on $-,ooo000 And as Worcester is
increasing ITS population the expense
o. treating its sewage by the present
2telhouS IS also increasing. and the
Giihculues and cost of treatment are
becoming more and more apparent.
what VIII ultimately be done with il
j. serious question, IL must be COW
eftd up, or carted away. or burnt the
Aaller method Delng an experiment
Mnlch, IL is beheNed, has never been
successfully attempted IN this country.
1he aggregation is very large and in
Tlue may be very offensive and OBJ
2'tuonapie' 70 cover II, on remove it,
o. pu1l IT, VIII be So very expensive
mat DIV many therefore il is thought
1hat u should be conveyed to the ocean
by trunk sewer through the state of
Dlassachusetts' ana not through Rhode
dSIand. ana that It's bclng conducted far
out INTO the sea Wonld be the most sat
sstaclory disposal That could be pre-
Ectioen' ,,o
An Ll,.AIH