Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-10

AIRING y THE BIG SEWl
The storm damage was repaired and new
sections replaced those which were split,
but year after year following the same
thing happened, though the damage In
later years was not so disastrous.
In 1892, one year after the double lizard
sewer was built, Mayor Bemis appointed
Andrew Rosewater city engineer again and
the city voted sewer bonds in the sum Of
$40, OO0. The new city engineer then be-
gan Investigating as to the best method OF
relieving the congested sewerage condition
on the north side, the lizard sewer being in
tended to drain the large area of 5000 acres.
After looking over the ground thoroughly
he built two sewers with a fall to the
north, the outlet being in a creek which
flows through Miller park, the sewerage
volume making the creek quite a re-
spectacle stream. Even with the building
of these two north sewers the lizard sewer
was still found to be too small and some
thing else had to be done.
The old sewer was loo low and the grade
too flat to make the charging and ex-
tending of 1t advisable, so in 1901 the city
engineer drew plans for the building of a
new sewer to extend from Fifteenth and
lizard streets in a southeasternly direction
through the Union Pacific grounds to the
river, a route similar to that now being
taken by the big main. These plans were
gone over thoroughly and finally accepted,
with some alterations. by the council and
approved by the railway officials.
Before the Union Pacific approved them,
however, several heated conferences were
held by the officials of the road and the
engineer with the council.
Prior to the drawing of the last set OF
plans the Union Pacific wished the council
to close a number OF streets and alleys on
the bottoms so that is could enlarge its
shops. Mr.. Rosewater entered emphatic OBJ
~jections to this. holding that the city should
not make the concessions asked for unless
the Union Pacific would agree to give the
right-of-way through its holdings for the
sewer and in addition to pay for the con-
struction of that part Of the section which
would pass through its holdings.
Horace Burt was then president of the
road and he threatened to move the shops
from Omaha to Grand Island If the council
would not close the streets and alleys, de-
claring that he would never agree to a
contract binding the company to pay for
the building of that part of the sewer which
would pass through the shop grounds.
This declaration did not discomfort the
city engineer and he called the president
attention to the fact that practically all OF
the land on the bottoms to which the
Union Pacific holds title was secured on the
explicit understanding and contract that
In the event the shops were ever moved
from Omaha the title to the land would
revert TO the city.
"If you want to move your shops ID
Grand Island and give the city a prop.
erty valued at over $1,000 900, why. go ahead
and move" said Mr.. Rosewater.
President Burt said no more about NOV.
ing the shops and in a few days he signed
the contract under which the road is nov
building its section Of the sewer.
Following this the plans were changed
somewhat so as. to keep the sewer or
higher ground, the final adoption OF the
plans being in 1905.
In 1907, under resolution OF the city
council. the city engineer advertised fol-
bids for the construction OF the NORTH
Omaha main sewer. The lowest bid was
made by James Jensen OF Omaha for $l2S,
500. City Engineer Rosewater believed the
bid to be far too high and advised the
council to reject It and readvertise. De.
spite this advice the council accepted the
bid and voted 70 award the contract. Thi,
then went to the mayor for his approva
"A1 $50 ~ 80 WV Nb1N SAAAA
advising him to veto the proposition, a.
the price bid was excessive. Nothing being
heard from the mayor, the engineer wrot,
him again on the day of the next meeting
OF the council and authorized him to de,
duct from the engineers salary the full
cost OF readvertising for bids IL the city
failed to save at least 5000 by such {
move. This second letter resulted in tn,
veto OF the contract by Mayor DahIman
When It came up In meeting of the council
that evening the members of that body
failed TO pass the contract over the execu
tive.
Members Of the council then declared
that hey would never favor the buildinl
OF the sewer, but in the spring OF thii
year owners OF property in the northern
part OF the city called upon the council
and demanded relief, showing great los.
OF property resulting from the inadequat,
system In their section. The council coui,
not withstand these demands and au
thorized the readvertising Of bids for tn,
construction of the sewer. These bid
were opened on July s last and the pro
posal of j, J. Hanighen, the lowest, wa.
for considerably less than $1,000. or $685.
less than the bid made by the lowest bid
der six months previous. and he wa
awarded the contract.
The mouth OF the big main sewer nov
being constructed will be ten feet below
the head, a fall OF two and one-half fee
being maintained throughout about hal
of 1t and q fall Of three and one-half fee
throughout the remainder. Its capacity viii
be N0,0O00OO gallons every twenty-four hours
Eight small sewers now built will empt
into the North Omaha main. These are tn
NNhiCaRO SaVar. fuO feet f0nr inHhaas IN
California sewer, three feet six inches; tn
lizard sewer. eight feet five inches, an
five smaller sewers The contemplate
Burt street sewer. which Is planned I