Evening journal., 1905-02-01
WATER POLLUTION
WAS DISCUSSED
Residents Along Brandywine
Will be Notified to Abate
Nuisance
SEWER TO SQUIRREL RUN PROPOSED

The Board of Health held a special
meeting yesterday afternoon to discuss
the matter of water pollution with, the
officials Of the Water Department. In
addition to the members OF the board,
Mayor Charles d. Bird, DR.. Albert Ro-
bin, bacteriologist, and Theodore A.
Leisen, chief engineer of the Water
Department; George c. Rommell, en-
gineer in charge of sewers, and City
Solicitor Robert G. Hartman were pres
ent. There was a full and free discus
sion of the matter and finally il was
decided that property owners along the
BrandyWine be notified to cease pollut-
ing the stream. The State Board Of
Health will also be notified to take ac-
ton I'm order to stop contamination at
a point beyond that over which the To-
cal board has no jurisdiction,
Where Properties Drain Into Stream.
Sewer Engineer Rommell exhibited
plans and a blue print showing where
properties drained into the Brandywine
These properties are owned by the JOS
eph Bancroft and sons Company, and a
letter was ordered sent 70 that firm
with the request that the nuisance be
abated.
A resolution which provides for the
abatement of pollution in the Brandy
wine was presented and adopted.
Pollution at Rising Sun.
Dr. Albert Robin made a report in
connection with the contamination of
the Brandywine ait Rising Sun. He de-
claTed that the house of Pierre S. Du-
Pont drained into a tank which was
supposed 10 purify the sewage before
| 1t goes unto the Brandywine, but at
present the machinery is frozen.
Houses owned by c. +. Copeland, AL
fred I. and Irene DUPONT drain into
the stream. AT other points on Rising
sun road and at other points drain
into streams and thence into the Bran
dywine. The only remedy for these
large houses is to drain them into sew
ers. The smaller properties can be
drained into n sewer or the wells ce-
Imented and made tight AT Flea Park
there are a number of privies without
wells and at Walkers Banks there are
a number Of water closets the contents
of which eventually reach the Brandy
wine. He preferred the construction of
sewers in preference to using cemented
lcesspools.
Health Board could not compel the
construction Of sewers. but could COM
pei the abatement of contaminating the
stream.
DR.. Robin said the DuPonts We're in
fterested in the matter and We're willing
to do anything within reason.
Mr. Hannah said the Bancroft Com
lpany had also expressed a desire to do
Everything possible.
DR.. Robin also called attention to the
fact that the cesspools of the DUPONT
lmachine shop at Brecks Lane drains
into a we'll and thence into the Bran
ldywine.
Sewer Facilities Needed.
The secretary was directed TO write
to the property owners requesting them
10 build a sewer to Squirrel Run and
lconnect their properties with the same
as the board considered this the only
satisfactory way to get rid of the pol
luton of the Biandywine.
Chief Engineer Iseisen said a sewer
to Squirrel Run would be $500 feet Ions
and he did not think the cost would
! be over $500 a foot.
. Sewer Engineer Rommell said th'
, cost had been estimated at $4,000 &
mile. which was considerably less than
50 a foot The cost to Squirrel Run
would not be over $4,000 according t.
this estimate. Many present though
this would be cheaper than cementinl
so many cesspools.