The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-29

sewer. The AuburndaIe sewer is all
clogged up with dirt, and it would cost
more to fix it than it would to build a
new sewer. Even the old pipes are not
worth taking up. the street commission
er says.
The following is the report of the city
engineer and street commissioner
which will be filed Monday night with
the city council:
To the Honorable Mayor and Council:
In pursuance of instructions from
your honorable body we have made as
thorough an examination as possible
OF the sewer systems of Potwin and
Auburndale and report as follows:
The main trunk sewer of this district,
which is 15-inch pipe, is about five feet
below the bed of the river at its mouth,
there being practically no outlet for
sand.
The laterals of Potwin, which in
most instances are composed of 6-inch
pipe, are smaller than good sewer con-
struct1on would permit but from con-
versation with property owners who
are are connected with these laterals we
learn thar. with the exception of the
stormont hospital lateral, they seem
20 De giving sort of satisfa elton. and
rom IRON personal observation we can say
e ersse aney are carrying the sewage
ehptled into them fairly we'll but as
Ihe district grows there will be more
connections and the conditions will be-
come serious.
Tie present COn0lI1OnS seem to
pe Satisfactory to the residents it is
continual expense to the city, for a
o-incn pipe is too small for good serv-
ice, as grease and fit accumulate in
me me potion of the pipe, gradually MAX
ing the orifice too small to carry the
sewage expected of it.
IN such cases it becomes necessary
Tor the street commissioner at consfd-
eranle expense to the city to clean the
sewer, oftentimes being compelled to
dig 1t up entirely.
a house connection with sewer
should not be less than six inches and
this being the case in most instances
IN FotWln, you can readily see that
When number of six-inch pipes are
emptying into one six-inch pipe. there
IS pound to be trouble, sooner or later
III our opinion arrangements should
pe mace as soon as practicable to at
Ieast rebuild the oPtwin main sewer
SO tnat there would be a proper outlet
Tor the sewage flowing through it.
we md that the sewer map of Au-
ourndale as filed with the city of To-
peka by Potwin, is incorrect, as a
great part OF the system as shown by
the map we have been unable to locate
ana the people living in the vicinity
say that none was built.
Ihat part of the system that was
putt lying north of Park street pro-
duced, is practically destroyed, as the
pipes and manhOleS are almost COM
pletely filled with soil which has wash
ed into the manholes during heavy rains.
carrying with it seeds which have ta-
ken root and grown in the sewer, form
ing a perfect network in the pipe
1t would probably cost nearly, if not
quite as much to put this sewer In good
condition as it would to build a new
sewer.
1t is probably not advisable at this
time to either repair or rebuild this
sewer, as there being very little water
in the district it would be but a ques-
ton of a short time until it would be
filled up again.
We submit with this report a plat
showing the location, size and condi-
ton of the main and lateral sewers in
Potwin and Auburndale, also the house
connections.
This plat is as correct as it is posi-
Bile for us to make it with the meager
amount of data obtainable.
Very respectfully submitted,
JAMES F. McCABE, City Engineer.
J. F. SNYDER, Street Commissioner.