The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-09-03
CITY SEWER PROBLEM
Engineer Files Report That i
Accepted by Council.

fACSCPlCu W IVuHClls
The city council met Friday even
ing to receive the report of the Iowa
Engineering Company upon survey
Of the city with relation to the -
tablishing Of permanent sewer sys
tenn in Oskaloosa Mr.. Arthur Cox
Of the company, was present and
made the report to the council He
had with him a map of the city
wherein were drawn the proposed
sewers and the explanations made
following the reading Of the report
occupied the greater part of the
evening. After discussions and ar
guments and following many explain.
atoms, the report was accepted and
approved and the company will now
proceed with the plans in detail and
have them completed as soon as pos
sible.
The new plans will do two things
for the city. The new sewers will
relieve the congestion of storm water
and prevent the foods that are now
invariably the result or a fall of wat
er of any considerable amount. The
plans contemplate the removal Of all
of the storm water by separate sys-
tenn Of storm sewers. One of these
storm sewers that will provide a re-
lief for the congestion in the bust
ness part of the city and the one that
will be constructed first in all prob
ability will have its main on Third
avenue and empty the flood waters
in the natural drainage southwest of
the city. Another thing new to the
city will be the providing of man
holes in the system whether sanitary
or storm.
The engineer states that the pres
ent system is very defective in con-
struction, it is too small to accom-
modate the storm water and the sew
erage of the city which it is now
called upon to do, and it is more than
ample for the accommodation of the
factory refuse and domestic waste.
The preliminary report as rendered
the council is in whole as follows:
Engineers Report.
To the Honorable Mayor and Coun-
Gil, City of Oskaloosa, Iowa.-Gentle-
men:-The undersigned, Iowa Engin-
eering Company of Clinton, Iowa, in
accordance with contract with the
City OF Oskaloosa, has made a pre-
liminary survey of the City of Oska-
loosa for the purpose Of reporting on
a plan of sewerage for said city here
by submits the following preliminary
report:
Physical Features.
The main part of the city is stu
ated on q relatively fat ridge extend
ing from the southeast TO the north.
west and drains from this ridge in al
northeasterly direction towards the
Skunk river, and in a southeasterly
direction to the Des Moines river.
The main ridge is intersected by an
other ridge extending In northeast
erly and southWesterly direction sol
that while the drainage Is ultimately
into the two rivers mentioned above,
the drainage in the city is actually
in four or more different directions.
The levels show that there is ample
fall available for the construction OIL
with self cleansing velocities;
but they also show that it is not pos
sible without excessive and unwar-
ranted expenditure to bring the sew
ers into one outlet.
Outlets.
Therefore to drain the city as built
at present, at least four main outlet
sewers will be necessary. These
may be designated by number and
description as follows: No. Forest
outlet, to which will be
joined the proposed outlet sewer
back of Penn college, together serv-
ing most of the northern part of the
city. ...... -.... ....
No. 2-Lincoln Park outlet, serving
the southern part of the city.
No. 3-Spring Creek outlet, serving
a small portion of the eastern part orl
the city, draining towards Spring
Creek. ~a.-
No. 1.-THE Packing House outlet,
being the combination into one out
let of sewers in L street and those
now discharging near street and
Fourth avenue. The outlet sewers
now in use correspond very nearly
to the above, but when the question
of sewerage publication presents it.
self these outlets as they now exist,
must in part be relocated and re-
constructed
Systems Proposed. .a.
In view of the fact that it is only
a question of time when all the sew
age of the city must be disposed of
by other methods than the primitive
one now in vogue, it is recommended
that all of the sewers be hereafter
in separate systems.
This contemplates the separation
of storm water sewerage from sewer
age proper, i. e.-oIte set of sewers
to carry storm water only; another
set to carry only sewerage proper, as
refuse, household
wastes, etc. Sewerage proper on ac-
count of containing a great amount
of filth and decomposible matter can
no turned I1ntreatad into natural