Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-09-04
This weeks edition of The
American Is 1900 copies.
ssDAY. SEPTEMBER 4. 1907.
The sewer Question.


The natter of vita. importance to
hs cts of Ellsworth is just now oc-
aapy the attention of the city gov
zneat, as il has as intervals for
many ears past 1t Is the question
81 seB srage.
TAs matter was brought up this
arae trough complaint Of the condi-
gH sf the drain or brook which
Water street just below the
pssse ice. There is no doubt bu: this
Jeala in frightful condition at this
5lls. and menace to the health OF
kose Aving or doing business in the
ie5aisy.
This brook, which in it's upper
reaches fingers ont into several
BRANCHES, drains practically all that
tea OF the residential part OF the
5 oper lying north OF Main street,
allG $50 the business section. For
uy years sewage has been de-
posted in it, and from time to time
int OF its condition has been
a@s So long as it was kept clear,
Beers vas sufficient run Of water to
5reTeHt it becoming serious nui-
asBce
Tbs yrouble just now is caused by
Eae licking Of the drain near Water
street.. The issue seems to be, who 10
eeapon,ible for the keeping of the
1Eaia elear-the owner of the pro-
gertg or the city. The city disclaims
cespe sibility on the ground that 1t
hss Ever recognized 1t as a sewer
leaa, and he's never given permission
r say house owner to enter it with
Eain or sewer pipe. The city has
aads repairs on the drain several
ase, even on private property, bat
crescent board Of aldermen claims
a0as not constitute ecognition
q the drain as . sewer.
s the matter now stands, the city
,9TsrHment has voted to order all
aapse owners enjoying into the
sewer 20 discontinue doing so. This
yoAld necessitate the building of
cesspools at many places, which would
sgsn become more serious menace
& tins public health than the drain
even IA its present condition.
Il now transpires that the city it.
eeii is an offender in the matter Of
terminating the brook, the over
flow rom q cesspool at one of its
ssooihouses running into it. This
apparently unimportant little fact
may in itself have an important bear
ing on the question OF whether or not
the city has recognized it as sewer
d. ain.
At Monday evenings meeting OF the
city government Aid. Stuart intimated
naively that in ordering house owners
to discontinue the use of the drain for
sewage, the order was not to be taken
too literally. 1t was not intended to
force them to build cesspools, but to
arouse them to some concerted action
through which it would be possible for
the city to convert the drain into a
sewer.
Whether or not the steps taken by
the city will lead to this conclusion, it
seems to be the most feasible and
economical plan for sewerage Of that
portion Of the city that can be sue-
gested. The brook is natural water
course, and there are no grades to be
overcome. II the city, through the
CO. operation OF owners of land
through which the drain runs or by
condemnation proceedings, could Sc
cure the right to enter upon the pro-
perty and construct and perpetually
maintain a sewer, it could be done at
comparatively small cost considering
the number served, and this cost
would be largely borne by the house
owners whom it convenienced. Kept
clear of underbrush and debris in
open places, and piped where neces-
sary, the drain would become bene-
at rather than menace to the city.
Ellsworth always has been peculiarly
free from malignant diseases, due
largely to its ane natural drainage.
1t would seem now to be matter of
policy as well as economy, to take adj
vantage Of one OF these natural
arteries Of drainage to provide sys-
tenn OF sewerage which would serve
no small part of the most densely
settled portion OF the city. South of
Main street there are other small
brooks which could be utilized in the
same way. The east side of the city
would thus be provided with system
OF sewerage which would be sufficient