The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-24
Sewers do Not Reach
the River in its
low Stage
The Dumps Should be washed
Once or Twice a Week
by the Fire Depart
ment

A great deal has been said lately
about the health conditions Of this
city. and various causes are named
why conditions are not better. There
is one menace to the city's health
that has attracted some attention,
and Il IL one that might be looked af-
tor by the authorities, and that is the
condition OF the city's sewers.
Stories concerning the health Of the
city, typhoid fever etc. have been
grossly exaggerated; yet conditions
are not perfect and steps should be
taken TO make them as nearly 80 as
possible.
There are four main sewers run
ming east and west through the city.
and omptying into the willamette riv-
er Ono is on Ferry street the
mouth Of II being Just above the State
street wharf; another ls on Court
street; the third. that Of State. con
meeting tho asylum and penltentiary
with tho river. and the fourth on Ma.
rion street. besides a number Of
smaller private sewers scattered all
along the river bank and emptying
their now into the stream and slough.
Il II stated above that these sewers
empty into the willamette river, but
that Is the case only In theory for,
at the extremely low stage Of the
river the fow OF the sewers only
reaches II In part. for II pours on the
rocks considerable above the water Of
the river. and while the greater por
tion OF the water coming out OF these
sewers reaches the river, a large
amount OF filth Is deposited on the
rocks from two TO eight feet above
the stream. and remains there 10 pol.
iute the air and menace the health OF
the community. Along the bank Of
the river the stencil from those accre.
tlons at the mouths OF the sewers is
ever present. and when the sea.breeze
In the afternoon sweeps across the
river and over the city. the polluted
air from the banks OF tbs willamette
10 carried 20 the nostrils OF the en-.
tire city. mcnacing the health OF the
population.
This Is an unusual condition. aud
prevails only for few months during
the summer. when the river Is at its
lowest stage, A remedy for this
would be. Il seems. to add extensions
to the sewers. and carry the fow well
into the aiream, even az the lowest
stage OF tho water, and this could be
done at comparatively light expense.
hut until this IA done, n at all. other
remedies should be applied and one
OF these Is suggested by a prominent
physician of this city who has given
the matter some attention, lie sug.
ecsts that che FIRE department 20 to
the rlvor bank once or twice a week.
run a line OF hose from the nea7est
hydrant TO each OF the sewers. aud
thoroughly wash down the rocks upon
which the sewers deposit their ilth.
carrying the lat,er well out into the
stream, and thus disposine OF this
menace TO the clty's health at pFac.
tioally no cost TO the municipality.
A walk down tho river bank from
the sawmill AZ the foot OF Ferry street
20 tho foot OF Marion, q distance OF
only half dozen blocks. win con.
vince anyone that remedy should
be applied here Especially bad are
tho conditions at tho foot OF Court
street. and again at Center, tho Ma.
rion county end OF the steel bridge.
These two sewers empty their con.
tents onto the rocks far above the
level Of the river, aud the stencil
arising from thom IA beyond belief
by those who have not made a per.
sonal vlslt on the groud The Ferry
street sewer emptios ON a gradually
sioplng hank ave or six feet above
tho level OF the river and tho con
tents seep through the gTavel and soil
10 The edso Of the water, aud this nee
essar.ly leaves a deposit Of flth "a
he Ia the sun and eVapOFate, pOlmtlnp