Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-02-17
SEWAGE IN MAUMEE RIVER.

City Solicitor Denman of Toledo,
gives an opinion Of interest to Perrys-
burg.
In q communication to the board of
public service Mr.. Deuman says:
"The point Of vital interest in the
matter has been whether the city
council can pass a regulation or or
dinance prohibiting the citizens along
the bank Of the river, including the
villages of Maumee, Perrvsburg or
any other point within 20 miles of the
corporate limits of the city, from dis
charging their sewage into the river
and at the same time our own city
continue to discharge its sewage into
the river at points below the intake,
and | am convinced that we cannot
do this"
He continues saying that there
seems to be but two courses open.
First Council may provide against
the discharge of sewage into the river
10y any and all persons, at the same
time itself discontinuing the practice,
or
Second-Tt can allow the disposal
of sewage to remain in it's present
status, and locate the water works in
take at some point beyond the point
kpown as, or determined to he, the
limit Of backwater in the river.
81 am informed" says the solicitor,
that this point is probably near Mau-
NEE, at the first rapids in the river.
The situation, as we see it, is that we
must either prevent all sewage going
into the river within our jurisdiction,
by other persons, and refrain there
from ourselves, or we must put no re.
stlictions on other people or towns,
and then selt ct point for the water
works intake least Objectionable from
pollution by sewage or other putrid
substances"
The recent decision of Judge Nor
ris has been frequently discussed by
the public servers, and they haye
come to the conclusion that it would
not be polite to attempt to enforce
their rights insofar as preventing the
draining of sewage from towns above,
into the river.
They will, therefore, locate the new
intake within short distance of the
Doyle Kumler tract, and take achance
on eliminating all objectionable mat
ter through the mechanical filters to
be employed, aud they feel certain OF
success.-Toledo Times.
By the above it will be seen that at
last somebody has come to Il sensible
conclusion that Toledo is not entitled
to control the Maumee river just be,
cause her people have been drinking
the water from the stream for the
past thirty years,
This will give the towns of Perrys,
burg and Maumee greater encourage,
ment in their efforts to establish sew
er' and water works. Heretofore To
ledo has opposed the up-river towns
In their efforts to establish these i'm.
provements with the claim that nc
town had the right to empty sewage
into the river from which the cit,'s
water supply was taken. This law. il
law it be, must have been passed by
those whG knew but little of the con
diIions along the river, as it is well
known fact that the back water of the
river reaches as far up the river as
the first rapids above the Perrysburg
bridge, and therefore Toledo's oVl
sewers dump into the river a greater
supply of foul matter than could
possibly come from these small towns
aud that the city sewage is WASHED
into the city water works intake by
the back-water which sets back in the
river every day.
1t is pleasure to know that at last
there has been found a man in To
ledo who has sense enough to see the
true condition of things, and honor
enough to acknowledge what ht
knows to be right.
One of the great objections to es