Arizona republican., 1909-04-02

present sewer, are at present connect ed with it simply because there is no way to compel the owners to connect with the sewer system of a private corporation.
 Proportion of Phoenix Covered by
 Present Sewer System.
 A little less than one ninth 1-9) of the corporate limits of the city of Phoenix is covered by the present sewer system.
 An examination of the topography of the city shows that the present sewer system cannot be extended to cover much more area, but that the farm could be utilized for the sewage disposal from a gravity system cover ing the entire corporate limits. besides keeping the laterals and mains to any desired depth.
 The necessity for holding the sewer farm for sewage disposal is evident Many cities and modern plants are thus handling their sewage. notably Los An geles. Pasadena and other California municipalities.
 But il is generally conceded by sew age and city health boards that great care should be exercised to avoid sew age irrigation of vegetables berries and other fruits, which grow near the surface of the ground and are to be eaten uncooked.
 Stock feed. however. such as alfalfa and grains. are not so liable to be germ infected being cut above the ground and thoroughly saturated with and protected by constant exposure to the direct rays of the sun, natures best disinfectant and most active and eff cient guardian of the public health in this valley.
 General Remarks.
 Further: It appears by the topo- graphical map herewith that Seventh avenue is the natural location of the new projected main trunk sewer. which would drain fully two-thirds t2-3) of the entire city. and even be available if the future so demanded. to receive lines from Alta Vista, Los Olives and Homewood-in fact. all the country to the north. tSee contour map. with proposed layout)
 Tn addition to the facts above. the present business section of Phoenix could be connected with the main trunk sewer at am time. at very little additional cost. and at much better depths than are at present available. Meanwhile. the present system could be used as a temporary independent unit. paying for itself. while the gen eral sewer system was being construct ed. or until it was deemed wise and economical to connect as above stated. and that, too. without danger of delay. litigation. or equally expensive inter ference with and interruption to the City's business. by torn-up and more or less impossible streets during the period of construction which. at the shortest. would be many months and. possibly. a year.
 Tn sewering more of the city. the major expense will be the main run ming from the disposal farm to the severed district.
 The Financial Side.
 Should the city of Phoenix by proper ordinance require all houses south of and tributary to the Center street con duit and all houses within the present sewer district to he connected with the sewer. and all cesspools and outside closets to be abolished. the present rev enues and receipts could. we believe. be increased very materially and in q few years more than trebled. And what is of even more vital importance. the city would be protected in large degree from Infection. disease ar pos sible epidemics Not only this but such official action would forever re- move the pestilential Cdors which now. at times. pervade certain districts of the city. endangerinE the health, com fort and enjoyment of. many of our citizens.
 The Phoenix Sewer and Drainage company's books for 1908 show, ap- proximately:
 Cash receipts. S11000: Expense ac- count, $500; interest on bonds. SS2,- GOO. at 6 per cent. s4.920. Total $6.420. Balance to profit, s4,5SO
 4 Conservative Estimate of What
 May Be.
 With only 327 houses out of 1,203 in the district connected with the sew CT system, it is not unreasonable to assume that, after the city ordinance before mentioned becomes effective,