The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-04-30
CITIZENS
MEETING
Details Of Sewer Construction,
Pollution Of Streams and
Finances Discussed.
OBJECTIONS TO DISPOSAL PLAN


Y. M. G. A. last Wednesday evening.
T. w. Cauldwell called the meeting
to order and named as chairman
George G. Smith, the President of the
Business Mems organization. A. Fl.
Pierson was elected secretary.
Mr. Smith in assuming the chair
stated the reasons which had occa-
stoned the call and declared that both
organizations are in favor of the move
ment for sewers. The meeting should
have been held a quarter of century
ago. There have been great changes
since the time of the original agita
tion. The natural advantages Of Nor
ristown have kept the town up, but it
should stand at the head of suburban
communities if the Improvements now
talked Of are made. The residents
have shown a great faith in the Lord
to preserve from epidemics and other
troubles, but he believed that there
are many graves in Evergreen Gene
uery which would not be there if the
town had paid more attention to san
itary matters. He said he believ d
tie people will vote almost unar4-
mously in favor Of the sewerage sys-
TEN. If defeated at the election, the
matter may be deferred for years.
Mayor Bennell was not present, but
sent letter which was read, after
which the chairman introduced G. d.
M. Cole to speak for the sewerage
commission. He said that several
questions had been asked and in an
answer to one of them, stated that
the commission believed that it would
take about two years to install the
plant. The disposal works can be
ready by the first Of December and
the trunk line and main branches and
a large share of the laterals can be put
in The first season. The second year
would see the part of the town drained
by electors and the outlying laterals
completed. The electors, he said, are
in duplicate and connected with an
indicator in the superintendent's Of
flee, and are also provided with a pipe
to the creek near at hand, so that
there would be no backing up.
The commission plans to run con-
nections to the curb line aud thought
that arrangements can be made with
the contractor to continue to the
houses. The commission had gone
into the matter thoroughly. He had
visited the plants at Madison, Wis,
Mansfield, O., and Richmond, Ind,
and received no complaints of smell
in fact, at Mansfield, the people had
made the disposal works park. In
answer to questions he stated that
the latter plant was built in 1901, the
Madison plant in 1908.
Frank Muir asked if there are any
engineering difficulties to placing the
plant further away; Mr.. Cole said only
the expense. Mr.. Muir then asked if
the commission had seen the site and
as to it's formation and the marks of
high water.
Mr.. Cole said that it is planned to
build dyke around the beds which
are located on bed clay, but near a
sand bank. 1t is designed to carry
the sewage by gravity.
Mr. Muir declared that that section
is the only one in which the town can
grow and that the same sandy hill can
be sed mile and a quarter further
down. He did not doubt that the
plant is needed, but thought the loca-
tion hardship.
Mr.. Cole said all the engineers de-
cided that the foot of Ridgedale ave-
nue. is the proper place to collect the
sewage. He appreciated the feelings
of the properly owners of that section,
but wherever the plant is located it
will make some one feel so. The COM
mission felt that it would do the least
injury to real estate in that section.
J. W. Arrowsmith said that the
plant seemed to be coming nearer
town. At the last meeting it was
stated that it is two and quarter
miles out, but now is nearer by a mile
or more.
Mr.. Williams, of the engineering
firm of Williams, Proctor & Potts
was then introduced and described
the process of publication used in the
plants like the one planned. He de-
clared that fresh sewage in pipes has
no odor. Cesspools smell because the
work is carried too far. Odors in a
disposal plant are caused either by
| faulty design or in the operation. 1t
is not always possible to design plant
exactly of the size, ETC., required, as
sewage of a town varies from that Of
every other town. He said that the
plant at Johnson City, Tenn, is al
most exactly like the one proposed,
and has no odor except at the Sedi-
mentation tank, where there is a lit
tie odor like that Of potato cellar.
The engineers estimate of 5000 gal
Ions of water from seepage per mile is
made up from observation of various
plants. Three electors are planned
instead of one, Mr.. Williams said, be-
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