The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1911-08-04
Our Sewerage.

Capt. G. H. jerks has about finished
his inspection Of the Union City sewer
age system, and it is only matter OF
form which closes the end Of that work
this week, as far as the city is directly
concerned
1t is now matter OF connections and
inducements for citizens to take advan-
tage OF the Improvements This, Of
course, will naturally be rather slow.
II is the history OF all small cities that
sewerage is great undertaking, almost
impractical in many instances, but the
greatest undertaking in connection with
sewerage is TO put it in use. This propo-
sition does not always occur to munich
palities contemplating sewerage. Yet
with all that no city would have sewer
age unless it made beginning.
Some years ago Mayor Walker in
yestigated this proposition and found
the facts as stated. He inspected the
systems OF several places, principally
Corinth, and when he reported it was
to the effect that Corinth had laid the
pipes, but the trouble encountered there
was enlisting the property owners in
making connections. Very few had
taken advantage of this.
So it will probably be in Union City
unless we prove to be an exception to
the rule. A very large percentage of
the property holders in the smaller cit
les are not able to take advantage OF
these comforts. They are not able after
the pipes are laid in the streets to afford
the connection and the plumbing that
goes with it. Neither is It reasonable
nor practical for the corporation to
make it compulsory. This is the prob
lem that accompanies the installation OF
sewerage, and it is encountered every
where.
We have related these things in order
TO arrive at and to emphasize the very
important matter OF sanitation. Fortu-
nateIy Union City has now in operation ,
one Of the lest systems of scavenger
,erylce e pe found anywhere, and it is
10 strengthen and extend this system :
hat we are inviting attention to, Those
people or property owners who are not
lble to afford the expense and luxury
II sewerage can take advantage Of the
'cavenger service, which can be had at :,
nominal cost, and rather than neglect :,
his service on account of having sewer =
,ipes we would rather see the city give
/ more attention. IL is not possible at "
present to have effective sanitation with
nut it, nor will be until there is a gem
raj application Of the sewerage system :
n the homes Of Union City.
The scavenger service was introduced .
" DIR. Blanton, member OF the Board p
I Aldermen 1t was adopted less than y
go years ago and it has proved to be a y
cry satisfactory success in every way. =
| has been more than success, and U
lany other cities are taking it up after y
of the Union City service. q
Ir. Boxley is the contractor and he has
$50 been able to handle the work to the
-eatest advantage. II we were reduced
the point OF having to dispense with b
ae or the othor-the sewerage or the w
ayenger service-we would say with nc
1t hesitation that we could first do pa
ithout sewerage. This is merely sup tn
,sition, OF course. It will not be nee lei
sary to dispense with either. But it co
,es to show that Union City cannot tin
ford to neglect its scavenger service. sh
j the other hand il should be extended ex
improved. It was the intention OF
!. Blanton and Mr.. Burdick, the latter Xix
. chairman Of the committee on san by