The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-08-01
Middle st. Property Owners
Secure Attorney to Stop
Sewers i'm River.
MAY GET AFTER old SEWERS
Attorney Holds ALI Sewers May be Re
moved from the "Creek' if Proper
ty Owners are Insistent-Right Of
Old Bailey Canal in Question Now.

The death kneIl has been sounded for
sewers entering in the Kenosha River
as on Tuesday people owning property
on Middle street secured the services
of an attorney and instructed him to
bring suit against the city to enJoln
the members Of the council from build
ING any more sewers with the under
standing that they would find an out
let in the Kenosha river. The proper
ty owners win seek perpetual injunc-
ton and it is thought that the city will
have no defense to the demands of the
people as it is asserted by attorneys
that the state law prevents the use or
the river as a dumping place for sew
ers At the present time the council
was considering plan to build a sewer
on Caledonia street which was to find
it's outlet in the river, but with the in
junction suit pending it will be neces-
sary for the city council to provide
some other outlet for the proposed
sewer.
For years there have been complaints
on the part of property owners along
the river against the sewers entering it
and it is possible that these people will
take some steps to appeal to the state
board OF health with view Of forcing
the city to remove sewers now running
into the river. They have suggested
that the city Huild q trunk sewer that
wiz take care Of all sewers now run
ming into the "creek. F" Such plan
would bring grave engineering prob
lens and there is some doubt if it
would be worked out.
Sewers have been running into the
river ever since the building Of the old
Bailey Canal" way back before
Southport became Kenosha and this old
canal is still running into the river and
carrying drainage and sewage from
many pieces Of property in the bust
ness district of the city. There has
been objection to this old ditch in the
past, but the property owners have
never made any formal demand for the
removal Of it.
Some time ago the state health de-
partment made an inspection of the
river and at that time the city was
given no order to close up the canal"
and it is not thought that this would
be molested at this time North of the
bridge there are many sewers entering
int the river and some of these are
used by property owners who are loud
est in their protest.
1t was thought that much of this
protest could be removed by the build
ing of the big concrete sewer proposed
by the N. r. Allen 5 Sons Company
but this plan has been bitterly opposed
by the property owners and they have
carried their protest to the federal of
1icials with the result that it is high
ly improbable that the government Of
1lcials would give permit to close up
the river even if the council and the
Allen company could agree on the
terms.
Should an effort be made to force
the sewers out of the river it would be
necessary for the council to build a
new sewer system for the north side of
the city and it would be necessary for
the property owners to find an outlet
for scores if not hundreds of private
drains now finding an outlet in the
river.