The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-09
ENGINEER SwEARiNGEN MAKES
REPORT AND EXPLAINS THE
PROPOSED SYSTEM.
CITIZENS ARE CORDIAL
Of Special Engineer and Arrange
nents Are Made by the Council to
Carry Into Effect Plans Presented
and to Extend Them to South Side.

Good progress MaS made last night
toward the realization of the plans of
Mayor Logan for municipal improve
ments. A special meeting of the city
council. in which representative citi-
zcns of all parts Of the city partici-
pated. by invitation, listened to the
report of Special Engineer Swcarin-
gen upon the matter of a municipal
sewer system which he had been se-
lected To prepare. At the conclusion
of the report and its discussion, the
report was adopted and the streets
and alleys committee was instructed
To prepare "A suitable resolution of
acceptance: City Attorney Woody
was instructed To present the ease
of the city To the state board of
health relative to the use of the river
for the discharge of the sewers. and
Mr.. Swearingen was authorized to ex-
tend his plans SO as to cover the
south side. as s,on as the state board
of health has accepted the plan for
the north side, which was presented
last night.
The Cost.
While Engineer Swearingen VAS not
willing last night To give a close es-
innate OF the cost OF the construc-
tion as outlined in his plans. in re-
sponse to an inquiry from Senator
Dixon he said he would give approxi-
mate figures. II being understood
that they might be modified, as there
was some question In his mind re-
garding the cost of excavating the
coarse gravel which exists here and
which is SO different from the sub
soil at Great Falls. However. he was
willing to say that the cost of the
construction of the sewers of the en-
tire north side of the river. as out
lined in his report would not vary
much from sls9.000. Several of those
present expressed surprise that this
cost had been figured so low: 1t had
been thought 1t would be much
higher.
~ A Good Report.
The report was exhaustive and the
plans Were complete and they fully
merited the warm praise which they
called forth from the citizens who
discussed the matter. Mayor Logan
and Engineer Swearingen both ex-
planned that the plans submitted
covered the north side only and had
not been extended tn take in the
south side. as the action of the state
board OF health was in doubt and In
case OF the rejection of the eity's
proposal IL was desired to have the
preliminary expense as light as pos
sible.
The plan as submitted divides the
north side of til. city into five sewer
districts Each of these or all Of them
can be built ut once: whenver they
are built they will form IA part Of IA
complete system. Mr.. Swearingen
read his report, illustrating 1t with
a large map as he proceeded. He was
followed closely by those present and.
at the conclusion OF his reading
Mayor Logan called upon several of
those present for expression of their
views.
Opinions.
Former Mayor Keith said that he
believed the citizens In general are in
favor of the construction of sewers
as soon as possible. He was much
pleased with the report of the engl-
neer and he felt that il should be
adopted as "A whole in order that all
work done may be Il part of sys-
TEN that will be complete and cor
relative when the work is done.
Former Mayor Mclaughlin. who
was an alderman when the old sewer
system was built. said that he in
dorsed what Mr.. Keith had said: he
MAS in favor of the immediate con-
struction OF "A sewer system. and he
believed there would be an epidemic
of disease in the city If the matter
We're delayed. He shared the opinion
that the system adopted should be
general. as that which had been ex-
planned.
John r. Daily said he approved the
plans as explained and hoped for
their immediate extension to the
south side. as a sewer is badly needed
there.
r. 7. Sterling expressed the belief
that IA system is needed and that the
need is imperative. The plan sub
mitted seemed To him 70 be all right
II. ]. Rossi. former mayor OF Wal
lace. spoke from his experience in
Idaho and urged that good system
he constructed and that the work ht
done scientifically. Mr. Rossi said he
had listened with interest to the sx-
planation of the improvement-district
system by Mr. Swearingen and he
wanted to know whether this work
would be paid for in bonds or in war
rants.
Plan for Payment.
This called forth an extended dis
cussion OF the Improvement district
and the manner of handling its busi-
ness City Attorney Woody explained
the law and Engineer Swearingen
went into details. illustrating the way