The Detroit times., 1914-09-25
HIGHLAND PARK
SEWER In CITY
STILL OPPOSED
Same Objection Raised After
Strong Claim is Made For
Connection
WOULD OvERBURDEN
CITY SEWER, is CLAIM
Decision on Sewage and River
Pollution is Further
Barrier

] The question OF whether or not the
village OF Highland Park shall be
permitted To connect its sewer sys'
tenn with the new Morrellst. sewer
built by the city Of Detroit. provoked
a remarkable flood OF oratory at a
protracted session OF the council COM
mittee on sewers Thursday morning.
| Seventy-five men. representing the
village Of Highland Park, the Detroit
Golf club and residents OF that por-
ton OF Greenfield township through
which the proposed sewer connection
would have to be build, appeared be-
| fore the committee.
The matter was taken under adj
visement In order that tie decision
OF the international commission on
sewage and river pollution, which
will meet in Detroit with representa-
tives OF the common council and the
heads OF city departments, next Tues
day morning, may be In the hands OF
the committee before the petition Is
either rejected or denied.
| The petition, presented by Donald
Thomson, president of the village OF
Highland Park, some months ago,
asks that permission be granted FOR
a connection between the Highland
Park sewer system and the Morrell-
st. sewer, Highland Park to pay the
city of Detroit the sum or $4,000 for
the privilege OF connection, to pay
the cost OF constructing the two-mile
stretch through Greenfield township
from Highland Park city limits to
| the point OF connection and to grant
to the city of Detroit complete SUI
pervision over the entire system.
Attorney Edward Henderson, rep
lresenting Highland Park, John b.
Corliss, head Of the Detroit Golf club,
Homer Warren, Frank L. Klingen-
smith, representing the Ford Motor
Car company; Robert Oakman, rep
Presenting the Greenfield township
property owners; Aid. James Vernon,
Mayor Oscar b. Marx, Corporation
Counsel Lawson, Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Barlow and City Engi-
neer Mccormick delivered short adj
dresses before the committee, either
urging the acceptance or rejection OF
the petition.
Attorney Henderson urged the val
ne OF the connection from humani-
tartan standpoint, showing the dan
ger OF infectious diseases as a re-
suit Of Highland Parks lack OF prop
er sewer facilities.
| Mr.. Corliss told of the work be-
ing done by the Detroit Golf club,
and insisted that 600 taxpayers of the
city of Detroit, members OF the club,
would be benefited by the sewer
system. Mr. Warren spoke along the
same line.
Mr.. Klingensmith told the commit
tee OF conditions at the Ford Motor
Car company's plant last spring wnen
shutdown Of weeks duration was
caused by flooding from improper and
inadequate sewers. He pointed out
that 10000 Of the company's 10000
| employees were residents of the city
OF Detroit, and that the Ford Motor
Car company had daily payroll of
$4,000, which went into the pockets
OF Detroit workmen. A shutdown Of
even few days duration meant a
great deal In money to Detroit. he
said, and he urged that the petition
be granted for that reason, IL for
no other.
Mr.. Oakman said that that portion
OF Greenfield township which he rep
resented was anxious to annex itself
to the city OF Detroit, and had al
ready voted to do SO, but was pre-.
vented by inadequate state annexa-
ton laws. He declared that. under
the agreement, the village of High
land Park obligated itself to build a
sewer through that section. saving
the city $205.000, which Il would
eventually have to pay should that
section come into the city.
Mavnr Morv AAnlaraI A..
the matter was one fraught with
great problems he was In favor OF
allowing the connection IL some plan
could be worked out whereby High.
land Park should pay an adequate
share OF the cost OF maintaining the
sewer, thus relieving the city taxpay-
ers or some OF their burden and com
pelling those who benefited from Il
to make just return. He suggested
an agreement such as that under
which, Detroit furnishes water to out.
lying sections at double rates.
Aid. vernon, Corporation Counsel
lawson and Assistant Corporation
Counsel Barlow led the fight against
the connection.
Aid. Vernon pointed out that the
Morrell-st. sewer was overtaxed nj
present and that the COMMITTEES owef
1t to the taxpayers OF Detroit not r.
jeopardize the interests OF home
owners along the route of the sewer
Corporation Counsel Lawson. n a
heated speech, declared that the civ
OF Detroit owed Highland Park moth.
ing. The international Commission
on river pollution would undoubtedly.
he said, order some other method OF
caring Tor the city's sewage than
dumping II into the Detroit river. De.
troit would, therefore. be put In the
position of having to care for the
added expense OF caring for the
sewage OF Highland Park at greatly
increased cost while the village citi-
zens would have none OF the burden
to bear. The city OF Grand Rapids
had already been compelled to build
a septic sewer system, and he insisted
| that there was no ground for belief
that Detroit would not have to do the
same thing. Judging from the reports
OF the deliberations of the interna-
tlonal commission. which has already
collected great mass of evidence
upon this very question.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Bar
low declared that an appeaI From,