Imperial Valley press., 1908-06-27

imperial valley, Is to have immediate ly-as soon as it car be constructed complete sewer system, planned to meet the requirements of a population of 10000. The City Trustees have en- tered into a contract with Olmsted & Gillelan, sanitary engineers, for plans, estimates and engineering superin- tendence, and in few weeks, when the plans and estimates are ready, an election will be called to authorize a bond issue to pay for building sewers and disposal works. The cost of the work will probably be from $45,000 to $5O,OO0.
 Frank Olmsted, formerly city engi- Eneer of Los Angeles and for several years engaged in sanitary engineering in the cities and towns of the South west, came to El Centro last Saturday and attended a special meeting of the board of trustees in the evening to confer with the city officials on the sewer project. MT. Olmsted had look
 
 outline roughly the general plan of a system adapted to the typographical conditions. He recommended adop- tion of the septic tank system and dis posal of the water from the tank by sub-irrigation of a 40-acre tract two or three miles from the city limits.
 Inoffensive Sewage.
 In answer to questions asked by trustees and by citizens who attended the meeting, the engineer explained the principle of the system and made it plain that there are no offensive features in the treatment or disposal of sewage. The tank into which sew age is conducted by the street sewers is underground, and is so arranged that bacterial action destroys all ob- noXiouS matter. No chemical treat ment is required. From the tank, the liquors, deodorized and wholly inof- fensive, are conducted by pipes to the place of disposal and there distributed by means of tiles underground. There is nothing objectionable about allow ing the water to flow over the surface of land in quantities sufficient for irri- gation, but the sub-irrigation system is preferred
 The probable cost of the whole sys- tenn was estimated roughly at $50,00O, hn nf ntio o+ year MT. Olmsted's terms were a total fee of eight per cent of the cost, if under $50,OOO, or seven per cent if above $50,00O.
 After consultation, the board con- cluded that Olmsted & Gillelan were the right men to plan a sewer system and their terms were reasonable and satisfactory, and a resolution that a contract be made with them was adop- ted on motion of Trustee Pellet. Trus- tee Hamilton was authorized as Health and Sewer Commissioner, to obtain if possible options on forty acre tracts mentioned by MT. Olmsted as available for places of disposal
 Olmsted's Plans.
 At the regular meeting of the board last Tuesday night, MT. Olmsted pre- scented a more definite general plan and map prepared by himself and City Engineer Pearson, showing the sewerage of the city in detail and the location of the septic tank. ! He said he had been able to.fgure the cost down to about $46,O0O, but would | advise bond issue of $5O,0OO, unless conditions are such that bonds can be sold at premium.
 The plans show eight-inch sewer pipes in streets running east and west, | except that in the alleys on both sides | of Main street the pipes are ten inches lu diameter The fall Is from west to | east, and at the west end of each | street line is a flush tank, working | automatically, to force water through | the pipes under sufficient head to | keep them secured. All the pipes run