Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-10
seems to have even in the present en-
lightened day.
THE SEWER QUESTION.
Expenditure OF Appropriation to Best
Advantage a Great Puzzle.


To say sewer in a city council meet
! ing at present is just like putting pop
corn on the fire as there is pretty sure,
to be several members on their feet at
once. for the majority have part.
more or less large and powerful, of
their constituents on the back most Of
the time in the effort to get some par
ticular piece of sewer laid. The APP
preparation for this department, this
year. is only $500 while $4,000 might
pc spent to good advantage. But the
smaller sum was all that could posi-
bly, be allowed on account OF the many
pressing demands on the treasury and
it is the desire of the committee to ex-
pend it where it is needed the most,
but Just where this is makes very
puzzling problem.
Some 20 families up in the vicinity~of
Kelsey street are positive that no sec
ton needs a sewer so badly as that
and they are backed by their neigh
bors. This is in Alderman Vaughn's
ward and his task is not a particularly
pleasing one when it comes to sewers.
Then there are some II families up on
High street who are just as positive
that they need a sewer more than any
one in the city. Their land is of clay
formation and they claim that water
will not soak into it readily but lays
on the surface causing no end of
trouble net to say menace to the pub
lie health. About 500 feet of 6-inch
pipe properly buried would give them
great pleasure. Here's where Alder
man Rand has his fun.
But the Board of Health has a claim
that it has been pushing.for some time
for a sewer on Main street, or rather
off from Main street. This is back of
the Waterville Hand Laundry and
buildings in the immediate vicinity. In
the days when Waterville was a thrifty
little town there used to be a small
brook in that section and the ground. is
still inclined to be DOGGY and wet
There are two laundries and a livery
stable in the immediate vicinity. The
little brook has been closed up for
years, and is now pretty well clogsed
up apparently so the natural drainage
for the land is gone. The result is a
wet piece of land with more or less
surface water. This is so near the
principal business section of the city
that the Board Of Health insists on
having it attended to. Alderman
Keith is of the opinion that this place
more than any other in the city needs
attention and has a good many with
him.
Then there is the sewer which af-
fectc the Maine Central. The company
has agitated the matter before the city
council for several years, but as yet
nothing definite has been done. The
company has been quiet thus far this
wear, but this is taken by some to be
lust a lull before a storm and that the
next thing that may be expected I'M
less something is done viii be law
suit.
The owners Of the new houses in the
section on upper College avenue beng
DEVELOPED by G. Fred Terry are also
c!amoring for sewers as they have
nothing at MI in their neighborh0od at
present.
And so it goes. Nearly every men,
her of the city council has some par
ticuIar piece of sewer which he is par
tic,llarly anxious to see built and there
is but $500 for them all. In several
cases SURVEYS have been made and
everything is in readiness for the ac-
tual work. G. II. Vigue cut the Cor
dian knot in his particular case by go
ing ahead at his own expense and lay
ing the sewer he wanted. and then
c.o1!rteousIv asking the city to pay the
bill. This promises 20 be q tough nut
to crack. So taken all in all, the lot OF
The committee on streets is not q par
ticularlv happy one, this year.