The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1915-03-26
THE SEWERAGE QUESTION

day evening the report upon the cost
of the proposed sewer that w. E. VIE
land, the well-known Wenatchee en-
gineer, had been engaged to draw up
and submit, was read. The report SET
forth the necessity of sewerage sys-
TENS from the view point of santa
ton, and gave an estimate of the cost
OF installing such sewer system as
is contemplated for Oroville at the
present time. Mr.. Wieland, after per-
sonally inspecting that portion of the
town where the construction of a sew
er is being agitated, accepted the sur
vey and diagram as made by p. Z.
Davis, and based his estimate upon
Mr.. Davis figures. The district for
which sewers are to be provided at
the present time includes all that por-
ton OF the town lying north of the
railroad tracks within the corporate
limits, 1t provides for a main trunk
twelve inch pipe down Central avenue
from the foot of the hill to the west
to the Okanogan river on the east.
The report provides for a septic tank
al the eastern terminus, with a pump
ing plant to discharge the contents of
the tank into the river. The estimat-
ed cost of such a system was placed
by Mr. Wieland at $4,000.
So far as any action could be taken
all the Commercial Club could do was
to go on record as favoring a sewer
system. Any further proceedings that
would lead up to sewer construction
rests in the hands of the town council,
and particularly the property owners,
who will have to meet the cost of in
stallation. There was considerable
deslutory talk upon the subject, but
no one was able to enlighten the Club
on the chief and most vital point that
property owners are Interested in, the
cost per lot. Until something is def
initely known as to the cost to the
individual property owner, that prop
erty owner is naturally adverse to ex-
pressing a willingness to shoulder the
burden. In order that some light
might be thrown upon this point Pres
ident Lewis appointed a committee to
make a thorough investigation and re-
port at the next regular meeting of the
Club.
AS to the necessity of sewer sys-
tenn there was not dissenting voice,
and taking into consideration the ex-
tent of territory to be covered by pipe
lines the cost was not considered eX-
cessive, although it was the concen-
sus of opinion that the system could
be put in at somewhat lower figures
than those submitted. The estimate
OF cost was based on trunk sewer,
as stated above, extending the full
length of Central avenue, with five
laterals on cross streets from the rail-
road to the main line. This would
cover all of the business section on
the north side of the railroad tracks,
and the denser resident section of that
part of town. The cost would be met
by district improvement bonds run
ming ten years, SO that the assessment
could be met in annual payments. If
lot owner so desired he could pay in
full at once when the work was COM
pleted. The trunk line would be laid
at such grade that laterals could in
the future be connected from other
cross streets, either north or south,
whenever property owners petitioned
for such connections.
In considering this important civic
improvement, which must be provided
for some time if the town ever grows,
as we all sincerely believe it will, we
must not lose sight of the fact that the
construction of sewers is always very
expensive, and no matter how the in
debtedness is to be paid, it is an OBJ
legation that must be met some time
and met directly by lot owners. In
too many towns in this state people
are over burdened with taxes to meet
the expense of public improvements
and in some instances these taxes arc
almost confiscatory. Without stopping
to count the cost people get over zeal
Gus in their desire for street, side
walk and sewer improvements, anc
when it comes to paying the piper toe
late they see their error. However
we can hardly let cost stand in the
way of some remedy for present con
ditions, for no one can question the
necessity of sewerage system fol
Oroville. The cess pool and out house
is a constant menace to the health o.
the community and a sewer system is
the best means of protection agains
possible epidemics. In the face of tn,
great danger of wide spread sickness
and naturally resultant deaths, peo
pie should be willing to strain theil
lresources in order to provide a pre-