The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-26
COLLEGE SEWER
CAUSES DEBATE
Property Owners Make Strong
Protest Against Possible
Nuisance.
AUTHORITIES DO NOT AGREE
City Engineer Boiling Fears
Contamination of City
Water Supply.

For three hours by the clock last
night, the Council Committee on Pub
lie Buildings. Properties and Utilities
conducted an inquiry into the Rich
mond College sewer project, summon
Ing 10 testify before IL "A half-doSen
officers of the city and State and
number of private citizens. When the
plan had been discussed dry, the com
rnittce found itself unable to agree
on the plan submitted by the college
authorities and voted to refer the
whole matter for report TO Il subcom-
mittee composed of Alderman Mitchell.
chairman: Alderman Powers, and Coun
cilmen Mills and Radcliffe.
The committee had before II an or
dinance prepared by the Richmond
College authorities and the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railway Company. and Of
fcred for adoption, permitting Rich
mond College to extend Il siXinch cast
Iron sewer from tho plant near the
junction OF Westham Creek and the
canal, along tho Chesapeake and Ohio
right Of way to n point opposite the
eastern extremity of Williams's Is
land. The proposed sewer, under the
ordinance. would empty into the north
channel of tho river just below the In
take of the Settling Basins.
PROPERTY OWNERS
RAISE OBJECTION
Strenuous objections to the plan
wero filed by l.. ]. Willis, George Cole
Scott. l.. X. Victor. and other owners
of property located near the discharg-
ing Point of the proposed sewer. II
Was objected chiefly that the flow of
water through the north channel dur
Ing the dry season would not be suf-
ficicntly strong to wash away the de-
post from the sewer and that It's col
lection on the rocks and In the pools
would create nuisance and threaten
the purity of the city's water supply.
city Engineer Boiling went into the
sewer problem at some length. indl-
eating clearly that he could not give
his approval to tho plan outlined In
Levy, on the other hand, thought that
the plan adequately safeguarded the
city water supply. and was inclined
TO make light OF the objections raised
by the protestants as to tho possibility
of causing n nuisance.
Richard Mcsser, sanitary engineer
for the State Board of Health, gave his
approval to the college plan. and told
the committee that he saw no danger
in II to the city water supply. Super
intcndent Davis. Of the Water Works,
thought that the sewer as outlined in
the ordinance. provided 1t Is correctly
constructed and regularly inspected,
would not place the water supply in
jeopardy.
COLLEGE HAS MADE
CAREFUL. SURVEYS
Lieutenant Governor J. Taylor Ely
son and President Boatwright, Of Rich
mond College. spoke for the college au-
thorities. They gave assurance that
the plan submitted had been determined
upon after a careful study OF the stu
alton, and that II the proposed sewer
would In any way cndanEer the purity
OF the city water or offer discomfort to
tho citizens OF the community. the coll
lcce would be the first To oppose IT,
Engineer j. A. Johnston, who pre-
pared tho plans for the sewer, went in
detail into the question OF drainage to
show that tho plan submitted was the
most practicable and the least open To
objection. Henry l.. Beck disapproved
OF the type OF sewer proposed. but
thought that as n temporary arrange
ncnt it WAS probably tho best that the
college could do mt this time.
The hearing was held In the Council
chamber. and attracted q large attend
ance. Chairman Mills made il clear
that he favored recommending tho plan
proposed In the ordinance. but the com
mttee WAS divided Upon tho motion
Of Alderman Mitchell, the matter was
referred for report to a subcommittee,
which viii consult with all parties af-
fcctcd and make an effort to find a sub
stitutc plan upon which all factions can
unite.