The Detroit times., 1913-01-18
PUMPS HURRIED OUT TO
RELIEVE FAIRVIEW FLOOD
Continued from page sne).

water, which Is causing all the
trouble, would have drained down 10
Jefferson-ave., and the residents on
the side streets would not have had
their easements flooded. AS II is, the
old sewer cannot drain of the water
rapidly enough and the water in
the laterals backs up into the base
ments"
OF the sewer committee for two
years. heard Hearers explanation
and said he was correct
The old sewer committee and the
council were TO blame" he said. We
let the real estate men have their
own way when the engineer and
Haarer told us 1t would be a bad
thing 20 do"
Mercier explained TO the commit
tee that the two sections OF the new
sewer were not connected because
the old sewer cut across the level on
which the new one would be built.
He said il would take six days TO
complete one end OF the core" or
connection, and three weeks 10 COM
pIete the other end.
AT this point, James J. Brady.
member OF the water board. said he
had investigated the conditions and
that a mistake had been made in dis
mantling the old pump at the foot OF
Corners creek before the new sewer
had been completed.
THE first thing 70 do" said
Brady, Ifs TO get pumps out there
and pump the water from the eel
lars. | found case on Marlbor-
ough-st.. where a woman was i'll IN
bed and there was four-days-old
babe suffering from cold. | took
matters into my own hands. had the
sewer blocked and a pump put 70
work pumping the cellar dry so that
a fire could be started and the home
warmed
Remember to have the city engi-
neer check this contractor on the
time he now says IL will take &c
complete the connection, six days
for the short section and three
weeks for the long one"
81 didn't say six weeks" exclaimed
Mercier. who was chatting under the
fire OF the committees questions
abou, the time it had taken to build
the sewer.
And didn't say you did retorted
Brady. you have these people
hoodooed, but you can't hoodoo me
You evidently don't want TO be check
ed up on this work"
I'D Ike to see you check me, re
piled MerCer.
"Pd like TO have the job" rejoined
Brady.
The water department has 13 OF
IA pumps available for this purpose.
continued Brady. II am going TO give
orders at once TO have as many AZ
possible placed work out there
II don't know whether or moi
II have the authority TO dc
II, but am going to bloch
those lateral sewers TO prevent the
water rushing back and then pump
out the cellars and give those SUI
fering- people some relief. We must
stop talking and get TO work. The
temperature Is dropping every min
ute and when IL freezes the people
will suffer for lack OF fire. The sew
leFs-eaf, -Ieft=Aleeked- until the
water flows away. There Will be
some inconvenience, but that can''
be helped now"
Brady put on his coat as though
going TO work and after half hour !
discl. ssion between City Engineer Nc
ICormlck. Mercier and employees oil
the u. p. w. the committee directed
Commissioners Haarer TO engage all
the pumps he could and as quickly
as possible to carry out Brady's sug
gestiCn. The water will be pumped
out onto the ground and will be left
10 freeze or find it's way gradually
TO Jefferson-ave. Fire engines Will
probably be called on to assist in the
work.
/ Il. r. Hudson, head OF the Crosse
Pointe Lumber Co, appeared before
the committee with Brady. The base
ment of Hudson's house on Chalmers
ave. was full OF water. and Hudson
had 10 remove his family down town
I tie gTtr ttat-tit-re- are-f6- houses on
the street and the basement OF eacG
one is filed with w4er. Aid RutteI
said he knew OF several Instances
wheT., there are sick persons In
houses where it is impossible TO build
fire.
McTcier told OF the difficulties In
building the new sewer east OF Con
ner's creek. saying that half the time
he had to pump out seepage and thai
his workmen we're forced TO lay OF
at times until the seepags could bs