Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-01-16
SEWERAGE AGAIN
TO THE FRONT
]. Murray Africa Before Council in Special
Session Saturday Evening.

OocoIuu OdluIudJ hfCuIu6'
The subject of sewerage, which has
been kept in the back ground since last
summer, has again come to the front. A
special meeting of council was called
Saturday night last for the purpose of
taking action on the plans and specifca-
tions prepared by J. Murray Africa and
to pay the bill rendered by that gentle
man for professional services. The fol-
lowing councilmen responded to the call:
Davis, George Sechler, Vastine, Fetter-
man, Kemmer, NJ D. L. Sechler, Jones,
McLain, Dougherty and Brandt
J. Murray Africa was present at the
meeting Being called to the floor he
explained that he had made a careful
examination of the borough and COM
pleted a survey Upon arriving here
last summer, he said, he was careful to
make inquiries as to whether or not there
was map of the borough in existence.
He was informed that there was none.
Acting upon this information, he said,
he proceeded with the survey.
Mr.. Murray exhibited the map to
council which showed the elevation of
every part of the borough. The plans
and specifications, he said, were in the
hands of the printer and would not be
completed for three or four days.
He explained at length the different
methods which might be employed in
sewering the town. While combined
system, taking care of the cellar drain
age and the rainfall, might be best for
one part of the town, separate system
would be advisable in another portion
For instance along Billiards. run he did
not think it would be practicable within
the limit of the borough's resources to
construct a sewer that would do more
than carry off the sewage. The excess
of water in times Of food, he thought,
would be too hard proposition to tackle
and it would have to be permitted to
drain off on the surface as at present.
In the matter Of outlet there is only
one plan to consider If it We're not for
contaminating the water supply the cost
could be considerably diminished by
sewering direct to the river. He recon-
mended that the entire system drain in
to one trunk outlet. SO that should the
borough at any time in the future be
restrained from polluting the river it
would find things facilitated for getting
rid of the sewage according to another
method, namely, by erecting a plant to
filter the waste The outlet as proposed
will enter the river at safe distance
below the water works in the vicinity
of the third alley below Chestnut street
The sewer, Mr.. Africa said, would be
constructed largely of brick; pipe could
not be used with advantage where a
diameter greater than a inches is re-
quired The cost of sewering the whole
borough, he said would be $40 600. This
would insure a complete and durable
system. Leaving out Welsh Hill, the
work could be done for $50, 200. This
would include all that part of the bor-
ough which is built up and where sew
erage will be essential during many
years to come. If permission could be
obtained to lay sewer along the bot
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Mill streets he said, a vast amount of
excavating might be avoided, which
would diminish the cost $1,000 or $1,000.
1t became apparent as the meeting
progressed that council were divided on
the subject of sewerage and that the
lines as drawn months ago had changed
little if any Everything remained
serene, however, until Mr.. Africa's bill
was submitted This read as follows:
Huntingdon, Jan. H. 1902.
BOROUGH OF DANVILLE TO
J. MURRAY AFRICA, DR..
Professional services, survey, prepara-
ton of plans and specifications for com
plete system of sewerage, $4,000.
Mr. Dougherty moved that the bill be
accepted Mr.. Brandt seconded the mo-
tiOn.
NJ. D. L. Sechler said he objected to
the bill and would not vote for its pay
ment, as the committee which authoriz-
ed the work had overstepped its instruc
tions. Mr.. Vastine endorsed Mr.. Sech-
ler's view and declared that he could
not support the motion.
A yea and nay vote was called for,
which resulted as follows:
Yeas-George Sechler, Fetterman,
Kemmer, Dougherty and Brandt.
Davis, Vastine, NJ d. L. Sech
Ter, Jones and McLain.
The secretary announced tie and the
president declared the motion lost
just what the outcome of the matter
will be is hard to determine President
Kemmer before adjourning ventured
the opinion that council will be obliged
to accept Mr.. Africa's plans and specifi
cations and to pay his bill.
Travelling Mans Bad Accident.