The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-29
LOCATION OF
FILTRATION PLANT
PROFESSOR BoLLEY CALLS At
TENTIoN TO SOME IMPORTANT
MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE PLANT-PREsENT SITE uN-
SUITABLE IN MANY WAYS.

Every citizen in the state Of North
Dakota, especially of Fargo, is vitality
interested in the water filtration plant
of Fargo. Now that we are to con-
struct a modern plant let us not only
be sure that II is right in form OF con-
struction, right in management but
also properly located with reference 10
sanitation. said Prof. II. L. Bolley OF
the A. c. ct is better that we should
wait several more years than that we
should make a mistake now. There is
no good reason for great mistakes with
regard to sanitation at the present
time. It is we'll known what filtration
means. 1t is we'll known what ultra
ton may be expected to do when pro-
perly handle. 1t is also well known as
to what sort Of location the plant
should be placed in with reference to
sanitation.
"Our people of the state and our
people in Fargo know now that 1t Is
unsafe to drink the water of the Red
river as it is run through the pipes or
the city, They therefore. do not need
further schooling in that matter, but,
If after a new plant is built 1t is wrong
in any of it's features, then will come
the epidemic because the people will
be off their guard. Even though the
plant is of the best ~and is run in "a
scientific manner, it is well that it
should not only furnish pure water
but that it should be located SO that
there should not be even a suspicion
in the minds of the drinkers Of the
be- H.
the best possible Fargo wants to
grow as a city. 1t should grow. And
Mr.. Tyler in his note in The Forum
sounded a warning which Is worth
needing. Whether disease will come
from the cemetery or not is not so
much the question as to whether a
large number of people will continue
to believe so.
"The thoughts Of Judge Amidon,
Judge Engerud and others may be
matters of sentiment but surface drain
age of streets, common filth, sewerage
and bacteria are realities, entities
worthy Of the consideration of a prac-
teal city council, worthy Of real bust
ness consideration.
Leaving out of consideration wheth-
er we would occupy a large part of
one of the most beautiful natural
parks in the northwest, make prepara-
ton to run railroads into it for haul
ing of fuel and other materials, etc,
can any person who is conscientiously
interested in the life of the citizens
Of Fargo and the people who visit it,
again recommend the location Of the
water works and filtration plant at the
Al. -
where, whenever the river is gorged
a portion of the works is flooded,
where, unless an intake pipe is carried
for miles it must continue to supply
to the filtration beds mass of street
drainage, surface drainage, and where,
within a few years, it must of necessi-
ty be down stream from the entrance
Of several large sewers, at least one
large trunk sewer extending from east
to west in the neighborhood of Tenth
or Eleventh street south. Either the
intake pipe must be placed up the
river beyond the natural entrance of
such sewers or those large sewers must
have a bend made in them and be
brought for their exit to a point north
of the intake pipe. Has anyone any
warrant that the city of Moorhead win
not empty sewers Immediately oppo-
site the intake pipe or south Of 1t
within the next few years? Is there
onyone who does not know that sur
face drainage of the large portion of
the southeast portion of the city runs
directly into the river above the pres
ent intake and above the present water
works site? Is there anyone, whether
he be a bacteriologist or only a SEN
timentalist, who likes the idea OF
drinking filtered drainage waters of
a large city even though the germs
are thrown down by a coagulating
process and washed out as best an
intelligent person can do in washing
the filters?
"As a citizen of Fargo and state of
North Dakota / would ask, is 1t wise
to try to save $4,000 to $4,000 in order
to plant the waterworks in an dnsani-
tary place? l suppose there are a
number of taxpayers who would like
to know what the city has done with
the site on the Darling farm 1t pur-
chased a year or two ago.
''Why not use that site which is To-
Gated naturally, which is so high that
it is always above all possible food
ing and which is now and will be for
long time on the outskirts of the
city, SO close that the intake pipe
could be taken south of the cemetery
If desired without great expense. !,
for one, cannot see that it would be
wise to locate the plant in the park
using up large part Of the only
natural beauty spot in Fargo and at
the same time laying the city liable
to expense in the near future for the
construction Of sewers and intake pipe
far in excess Of any expense which
would be necessary to locate the plant
far enough south of the city to guar
antee q sanitary location where the
dust Of the city will not be continually
blowing into the open windows and
doorways on the filter beds and were
1t will be reasonably possible to place
the intake pipe above the boundary
lines Of the two cities"