Connecticut western news., 1909-02-25
VANDAL SMASHES' :. THE SEWER MAIN
AND FILLS MANHOLE WITH COAL
An Unknown Party or Parties Making Strenuous Effort to Destroy Canaan's Sewer System-Breaks Tile With Large Iron Bar.


 Sewer System-Breaks Tile With
 Large Iron Bar.
 The newly elected executive committee of the Canaan fire district starts its of- ficial existance amid trials and tribGla- tions.
 The task falling to them is superin- tending by day the repairing of the damage to the sewer done by night by some party evidently bent on its de- struction.
 A few weeks ago when the mysterious breaks in the maln were discovered. many Canaanites thought them due to accidents but the latest breaks found a few days ago are clearlYand conclusively the result of the malicious efforts of someone to put the sewer :n such con- dition as to prevent it's use.
 The breaks above referred to are all on the premises of Salmon Barlow. One was found about 100 feet from his residence, two more near his barn and about 200 feet further north was found a 20 foot stretch when the 10 inch main had been so thoroughly smashed that the men who were uucovering the tile removed the pieces with their shovels. Twenty pieces of 10-inch tile were completely destroyed. Next comes 8 stretch about 50 feet long in which there are at least dozen breaks and holes. Here nine lengths are rendered useless. The holes were made by a round iron bar or drill at least one and one-half inches in diameter and 1t Is presumed that the breaks were made by the same : instrument The larger number of these breaks were made along stretch where the tile extended on the surface of the ground and where it was neces- sary to draw earth to cover it thus mak- ing it easy to exactly locate the main. 7 There was nothing on the surface of the ground to indicate the presence of holes or breaks in the pipes inasmuch as the top of bar holes had been carefully filled with earth after the bar was with drawn. By removing the surface of the ground to depth of six to eight inches the bar holes are plainly seen inasmuch as the ground is frozen and they did not collapse or fill after the bar was removed. These holes vary in depth from two to six feet, according to the distance the tile is laid below the surface.
 Wherever possible, this unknown per son has driven the bar through both the top and bottom of the tile.
 These breaks were discovered by in- serting iron rods or pipe in the man. holes and extending them through the mains until an obstruction was en- countered. Measuring the rod or pipe then located the break And enabled the workmen to reach it at once from the surface with their picks and shovels.
 This unknown party or parties, has not stopped at driving bars through the tiles, however, as one of the manholes, which IS at the edge of one of the huge coal piles belonging to the Central New England railroad, was found filled to the top with coal. It Is estimated that there must have been at least 8 half ton therein. And,- further, several chunks of coal had been pushed into the mains purposely or were carried there by the force of the sewage. A workman with ten-foot rod on the end of which was a hook, descended into the manhole and, by means of this rod withdrew some of these chunks but there is reason to be- lieve that there are other pieces of coal further in the main.
 Every effort is being made to replace the broken tile with new and again run the sewage into the septic tank instead ot into the Blackberry river where it is now flowing.
 AS we say at the outset, these breaks are not accidents. They are the work of someone who has grievance against the fire district or against tho members of the present or former executive com mlttee. A reward of $500 has been offered for his arrest and should he be apprehended the maximum, punishment should be imposed.
 Adiudped Insane