The daily sentinel., 1901-07-08
TELLER INSTITUTE
(continued from first page)

remedy these detects congress aHproPri-
ated S6 500, for the improvement OF the
sewer system. Plans were prepared by
an expert eng ineer who, after looking
over the field, was Of the opinion that
the only feasible method OF dispoeing
OF the sewerage was that known as the
distribution system, whereby the refuse
was to be carried in pipes and deposited
on an open field half Lille distant, this
to be cultivated, the same as any field
supplied with sewerage irrigation.
To prove that this system is not un-
! healthful, it is stated that the sewerage
OF the city of Berlin, Germany, is car
| ried to nearby field and scattered in
Just this way, producing extremely rich
farm lands. Within the past few years
an enormous city hospital has been
erected on the middle OF this field.
In order to reach the disposal bed at
Grand Junction it became necessary to
pass over a public highway. The school
gu uperintendent obtained authority from
| tue county mmissioners, the sewer was
consequently constructed and has been
! in operation few months. Since Its
compilation complaint has been lodged
that the sewer is an obstruction to the
highway, although the Indian authori-
ties claim not. Injunction proceedings
were instituted against the school au-
thorities and the government to remove
what was said to be nuisance. Now
| cl
had no autho.ity TO grant this right OF
way, which contention will robably be
sustained. This highway is wide one,
but not main thoroughiare.
II the government is compelled to take
the sewer off this highway, there is no
other method OF reaching the disposal
bed. The plan OF running the sewerage
OF the school into the river at point
below the intake Of the water works can
not be considered, as persons utilize the
river further below there for domestic
purposes The only other method would
be to connect with the city sewer OF
Grand junction, but it is contended that
the fall is not sufficient for that purpose.
The situation presented to the Indian
office is that if the rights now enjoyed
| are to be abandoned, the old cesspool
system will have to be restored. The
Indian office would consider it a crime
to resume such conditions as existed
prior to the ius s,allation of the new sys-
ten, and now simply awaits the action
of the people OF Grand Junction. who
have heretofore uniformly supported the
school, to know whether they will permit
a few individuals to force the govern
ment tc abandon this sewerage system
and return to the old.
During the continuance Of the cesspool
system there was death rate at the
school OF from one to one and half per
cent, and from nye to ten per cent OF the
pupils had to be returned to their par
ents critically ill or physically defective.
Since the installation Of the new system
there have been no deaths and practic-
ally no sickness.
Therefore, 10 view OF these facts, il the
new system must be abandoned, the In
dian office is seriously considering the
abandonment OF the school. Attention
is called to the fact that the Grand juno
ton school has recently been enlarged
and the government proposes to spend
considerable money in beautifying the
grounds. making them an ornament to
tho service and to the city. There are
now IT'S pupils at the school, for which
an annual appropriation OF S39, 725 is
made. Under present conditions much
OF this money is expended in Grand
Junction.
II the school is abandoned the city
will lose this trade, the pupils will be
scattered to other Indian schools with
no trouble aud at reduced cost to the
Indian office, aud the city itself will be
the sole loser. Everything now waits
upon the final determination as to
whether the new sewer shall or shall not
be abandoned.