The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-03-15
Law FoR PLUMBERS
UNION FRAMES AN ORDINANCE FOR
SANITARY PLUMBING.
Public VIII BE Protected-It VIII be
of More Benefit to the People
Than to the lumbers-Many Inn
p0rtant Points Are Covered-AIl
sDected Before Acceptance.

On account of the defects in plumb
ing in so many of the Duluth dwell
ings, and the many cases Of sickness
attributed to the escape Of sewer gas,
a plumbing ordinance for the protec~
tion of the public has been framed by
those competent to know what sanitary
plumbing is.
The plum bers union held a decidedly
lengthy and warm meeting Thursday
evening. John Lydon resigned as sec
retary. The election Of his successor
was postponed until the next meeting.
There was a full attendance, caused
by an order for the report of the COM
mittee which was appointed to frame
an ordinance to govern plumbing. The
committee reported at length present
ing proposed ordinance covering for
ty-eight sections.
An office Of Plumbing Inspector will
be created. Fees will be charged for
inspection, but the inspector will re-
ceive salary This is in accord with
the city charter.
The new office is to be connected
with the health department where it
properly belongs.
The schedule of fees for the new Of
flee has not as yet been determined,
but the salary is expected to furnish
a sufficient financial inducement to at
tract expert plumbers away from their
regular trade.
There is a great deal of plumbing in
Duluth that is very poor and unsani-
tary It is to prevent any more of that
sort of work, and to remedy the pres
ent bad plumbing that the new office
is to be created.
The ordinance as it now appears in
the rough draft says that no person
shall be appointed plumbing inspector
who has not had at least five years
experience as a practical journeyman
plumber.
Another provision is that no person
shall construct, extend, alter, discon-
meet, or repair any plumbing works or
house drainage for compensation, un-
less he shall first obtain license as a
plumber from the city council.
Another important provision is that
every building shall be, Independently
plumbed. That Is, the plumbing shall
be separate from that Of adjoining
buildings from the cellar to the roof.
Suitable plans Of all plum bing work
proposed must be filed in the office of
J. the 4plun binx inspeS:toE before the work
begins. These plans must show the
location of all soil and waste, and fix
lures and traps.
All plumbing work when finished
by the plumbing inspector, and this
inspection must be made within one
day from the time he is notified that
the job is ready for inspection.
Sewer pipes in yards must be of the
best quality of vitirfied pipe and not
nearer than two feet to any exterior
wall or less than six and a half feet
below the surface Of the ground. In
bad or made ground the sewer pipe
must be of cast iron.
Refrigerator waste pipes must not be
connected with sewer, and these pipes
shall not be less than one and one-half
inches in diameter and so arranged as
to be properly flushed.
Where it is necessary to use cess
pools on account Of unsewered streets,
no such pool shall be permitted within
twenty feet of any dwelling or factory.
forty-eight sections of the ordinance
are to be liable to a fine of not less
than $5 nor more than $50.
The union discussed the ordinance for
four hours Thursday evening. Several
changes were made from the original
draft. All is ready to be presented to
the board Of health for Endorsement
save the matter of cellar catch-basins.
The members differed as to the best
sanitary arrangement for cellars. AS
they connect direct with sewers there
is grave danger in the escape Of
sewer gas, caused by the possible
evaporation of water in dry weather.
Unless something perfectly sanitary is
agreed upon, the whole plumbing Or
diuance will be of no avail, because the
escape of sewer gas would be greater
there, than all the other defects in
plumbing. Every member is supposed
to put his thinking cap on between
now and the next meeting and come
prepared to offer something thoroughly