The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-21

pean cities have been experimenting for
number OF years with this form OF treat
ment ana sufficient data has been obtained
TO warrant the construction of permanent
works. Manchester was the first large city
In England TO adopt septic tanks and bac,
terra beds. The first cost is excessive, and
unfortunately we have not sufficient infor-
nation before US TO arrive definitely at the
annual cost. but 1t will probably range
from $50 10 s. per million gallons The
great advantage of this system is the re-
duction in the amount of sludge TO be dis
posed of and the high degree OF purity that
can be obtained ny treatment upon contact
beds after septic action If a first-class
effiuent Is not desired, septic tank treat
ment may be found sufficient Every city,
of course, is a special study in ITSELF and
where suitable soil can be obtained at a
reasonable cost / am OF the opinion that
land treatment after septic tank action will
be found the most satisfactory method OF
disposal in this country.
Considerable progress has also been made
in the method of constructing pavements
and sidewalks. In laying pavements the
question Of freedom from noise, as well as
durability, should be carefully considered,
for in business centers owners would prefer
to pay more for nolseless pavement, even
if the lifetime is not as long. The ideal
city pavement Is block or sheet asphalt
or rectangular wooden blocks treated with
a preventative and laid upon a concrete
foundation The question of the advisable
ity of requiring long term OF guarantee
upon pavements has been source of dis
cussion among engineers, many consider
ing il undesirable to demand a guarantee
of more than one year, while others are of
the opinion that a municipality is better
protected and Ii is more probable that first
class material will be used If a guarantee
of five or ten years is required upon all
pavements laid concrete foundation
AS the tendency in cities and towns is to
construct pavements of a costly nature, 1t
has become customary to build narrower
roads than formerly, in order TO reduce the
cost. In some cities the general width for
residential streets is twenty-four feet.
SMOKE NUISANCE.
"As the of soft coal in manufacturing
cities Is now almost universal, the smoke
nuisance has become a great evil. AL
though several cities have passed ordinances
to prevent this trouble, understand it has
been found difficult to enforce them.
1.-The question of garbage disposal has
come prominently to the front within the
past few years and we have much to learn
from European cities in this respect. 1t
is of the most important matters in
munio pal administration, as the health
of the community depends largely upon the
proper disposition of waste material.
lone of the most important questions of
| they day and one which has attracted great
| attention not only from municipal officers
but from the public generally is the NUM-
! cipal ownership of public franchises. There
is no doubt that every city should own
| and operate its own water works system and
| lighting plant Unfortunately, during the
past few years, If we may believe the pub
| lie press, attempts have been made by capt.
! talsts, sometimes successfully, to corrupt
both State and municipal corporations for
which condition of affairs would be entirely
abolished If these were owned by the munic-
ipalty.
"A short time ago there was some dis
cussion in the press upon the best method
/ OF appointing city engineers. In Canada
| the City Council appoints the municipal
has been found to work satisfactorily. This
| is also the universal custom in England and
| 1t appears to me to be preferred TO the sug-
| gestion that the engineer be elected by the
| citizens. / am of the opinion that an OFF,
cial cannot be a good engineer and in addi-
| ton devote his time TO politics. One of the
! difficulties and drawbacks to the more sue
| cessfui administration of public affairs In
| American cities is the frequent change OF
| officers, caused by the almost universal in
PRODUCTION of politics into municipal govern
ment- This is a matter much to be deplored.
WASTE OF WATER.
1.-The prevention of the lavish and I'M
necessary use of water in our cities is a
matter desiring the earnest consideration
| of municipal officers. In European cities
| 40 to so gallons per head per diem is con-
sidered sufficient for all purposes, and in
some American cities $50 to 200 gallons per
head per diem is used Where water me-
4
suit has been most satisfactory. the con-
sumption being reduced 65 to rs gallons per
head per day. Although the first cost is
| very heavy, the saving effected more than
| compensates for the outlay.
1 In conclusion, / desire to thank the
chairmen of the various committees for
their hearty cooperation during my term
| of office, and the members of the local
| committee for their earnest efforts to make
our meeting both instructive and pleasant
| / also wish to express my appreciation of
| the kindness of those gentlemen who have
| prepared the various papers to be read at
| this convention, and to congratulate our
| secretary upon the very efficient manner
In which he has looked after the interests
| of the society"
| MUNICIPAL STATISTICS.
Charles c. Brown, who was city engineer
under Mayor Denny, read the report of the
committee on municipal data and statistics.
The purpose of this committee is to secure
| a uniformity in the compilation of
municipal reports. system of uniform re-
ports was adopted at the last convention
of the society. The committee of which
Mr.. Brown is chairman. has interested the
officers of the United States Census Bureau
In their work and the department will take
up the matter next year. The uniform re-
ports system, which has been adopted by
the American Society of Municipal I'm
4 prONcLucHtS, COHsistS Oh IOrInS Tor the re-
| ports of waterworks, which have been
| evolved by adopting the recommendations
of three waterworks societies with certain
| notifications. The scheme also includes
| forms or reports on the construction and
operation of streets and sewers together
l with repairs and cleaning. This year forms
Will be submitted to the society for reports
| on the collection and disposition of garbage
| and on street lighting. These will be dis
| cussed and approved or referred back for
| modification. Mr.. Brown explained In de-
| tail that the purpose in devising this sys-
| tenn for uniform annual reports of
| that when the reports are all collected
| through the United States Census Bureau
| there will be basis for compiling statistics
| and making reliable computations and COM
| PARSONS OF city government expenses all
over the country.
The report of Secretary George w. TILL
| son. of Brooklyn indicated that the MEN,
| bership has been steadily increasing The
| number and Importance of the reports on
| various municipal subjects were called at
| tention TO by Secretary Tfllson. The re-
port OF Treasurer +. j. O'Brien, of Oswego.
| n. Y, showed that the society is solid
ing for the betterment of cities have dis
| played a becoming liberality in carrying
| on their organization. William s. Crandall,
| editor of the Municipal Journal and En-
| gineer, of New York, was unable to be pres
| ent on account of illness, and his report on
| municipal franchises was not read.
Among the delegates attending the con-
| vention are men foremost In their pro-
| fession OF engineer. President Rust, Sec
| rotary Tillson and G.. NJ. Ballard have ma
| tional regulations. Some of the visitors
Il -xhn oric rIf~hr-