The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-11
THE SEWER QUESTION

Public Meeting Held to Discuss the
Sewer and Septic Tank Question
in Mitchell.
Thursday evening in response to
an invitation by Mayor Hitchcock
about twenty-five citizens assembled
in the city hall to listen to a presen-
tation of the sewer and septic tank
question as applied to the conditions
in this city. To have these questions
presented in a thoroughly capable
manner, the mayor invited City En-
gineer. Parsons, of Marion, Iowa, to
present the situation that was over
come in Marion and offer some sug-
g%estions on the conditions as he
found them in this city.
Mayor Hitchcock called the meet
ing to order and made a few re-
marks on the conditions hat nov
e t here with reference to the
Sc. 81 and septic tank matter and
what it was hoped to do in the flu
ture to relieve the sewer and the
establishing of a storm sewer for
carrying off the water of heavy
rain falls.
Mr.. Parsons said that he first want
ed to compliment the city on the
splendid improvements that have
been made here since his first visit
to Mitchell several years ago, and
which he regarded as indicative of
the progressive spirit of the people
of the city. And in building he said
he wanted to impress upon the peo-
pie the real importance OF making
the sewer facilities for all time. Mr..
Parsons took up the sewerage Ques-
ton and related the details Of the
experiences his town had when II
first started the septic tank. and the
success with which 1t met In per-
forming the functions intended. He
said that old tank did its work we'll,
and that about a year ago a new
septic tank on improved principles
was established in Marion, not, how
ever, because the old one was use
less, but because it was intended to
add 10 miles of new sewer and that
it would be as cheap to install a new
tank as to run the sewer to the old
one.
The new tank, Mr.. Parsons said,
was constructed into three separate
and distinct apartments, so that they
could be used singly or all together.
To this septic tank was added a dos
ing tank that serves the purpose of
throwing out the sewage at certain
periods and running 1t out on the
filter beds. He stated that the pre-
sent septic tank is situated within
100 feet of a residence and that it
does not give off the slightest odor
and is not at all diturbing to the
people living in the immediate vi
entity. He explained the method Of
nature in consuming and destroying
the refuse flowing into the septic
tank, which is more or less familiar
to our people. The filter beds, placed
a little distance from the septic tank,
offal.
Taking up the situation in Mitch
l oil hn cold fhof no hn1 crnnt tho
day with Mayor Hitchcock and sew
eral members of the council in lock-
ing over the conditions in a general
way as they existed in Mitchell. Mr..
Parsons said he found nothing in
the system hat was out of the ordin-
airy to prevent the septic tank from
doing it's proposed work. He offer
ed the suggestion that a new septic
tank be constructed at a point where
the hospital terminates and
then to install filter beds beyond that
in the vicinity of Firesteel creek. He
suggested the idea of putting in what
we can of the system now and add to
above all things build on a perman-
ent basis.
He suggested that a storm sewer
ought to be installed in Mitchell OF
sufficient capacity to carry off all sur
face water and to keep it out of the
septic tank. He said that too much
water coming from the surface had
the effect of destroying the powers
of the bacteria which consumes the
refuse coming into the tank, and
that it usually takes some time tc
restore them to renew the powers Of
destruction. He believed to ell
inmate the storm water from the
septic tank that it ought to and viii.
perform the functions for which il
was intended. The storm water, he
said, carried too much of the min.