Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1915-08-06
DOES The CITY
NEED A SEWER
Many Property Owners Say Such a
System Should Be Built at 0nce;
Others Say Wait
COST WOULD BE NOMINAL
Sanitary Conditions Require That Ac-
ton Be Taken in Near Future


been more or less quiet discussion of
late regarding the building of sewer
system for Boomers Ferry, the Herald
has deemed it advisable to interview
a number of taxpayers relative to this
question and we append below brief
expression from many of them. The
majority of those interviewed were
strongly in favor of building a system,
the only difference of opinion being
that some advocated waiting few
months while others stated the work
should be begun at once.
At various times different engineers
have looked over the local field and
last year an expert by the name of
Green was here from Spokane and in
company with the village trustees at
that time gave the matter quite care
full consideration. He estimated that
a system covering the entire present
town, not including the Northside,
could be built for from $4,000 to
$4,000. This would include the nee
essary trunk lines and laterals, the
building of large sceptic tank for the
disposal of the sewage and small
pumping plant to take care of the dis
charge from the tank during high
water. These plans contemplated the
building of a sceptic tank in nat
ural depression near the old Murphy
sawmill, and a trunk line would be
built from that running through the
business district and through the east
part Of town. Laterals from the
school house hill and Mahoney hill
would tap this main trunk line.
There are two opinions as to the
plan to be pursued. One is that it
should be handled by the formation
of improvement districts and that only
a system for the business district and
the residences, west of main street
should be first constructed, with the
residences in the east part of town
and the school house hill coming in
later. Others say that the system for
the business district and the east part
of town should be built at the same
time. 1t is said that the residences
in Park addition and Mahoney hill dc
not need sewer connection now, but
could connect with the trunk line later
while the sewer for the Northside will
necessarily be a separate proposition
and can not be built until water
system for that district is provided
However, these are matters of detail
and could be worked out if the citizens
decide that a system should be built
1t is apparent that the town really
needs a sewer, especially the bushes.
sections. The sewage there has beer
taken care of locally for so long {
time that the ground is thoroughly
saturated with it and it is a serious
risk to the health of the community
This same condition exists to great
er or lesser degree throughout the en-
tire older residence sections.
Another argument in favor of
sewer at this time is that the tow
is in need of and expects that ney
business blocks will probably be bull
in the not distant future. No MAJ
will undertake the expenditure of
considerable sum in a building
sewer connections cannot be hac
Another argument is that with tn
normal expense evolved the cost o
building private cess pools every yea
or two will soon equal the sewe
assessment that one would have t
meet.
w. A. Alexander is strictly in favo
of a sewer system for Boomers Ferr
but stated that he believed that tn
city should secure expert advice befor
taking any definite action. He think
that $500 or $500 spent for the SCI
vices Of a sewer expert would B
money well spent.
Mayor George R. Gray has Ion
been an advocate Of sewers and
anxious today that steps should
taken at once toward the securing I
a sewer system and stated that
thought that sewer system wou
save money in the long run to evel
taxpayer of the city. Mayor Ora
said that any report to the effect tn
he was opposed or luke-warm towar'
the sewer proposition was not tru
and that he would do all in his pow
to secure such a system although
would cost him as much if not mo
than any other taxpayer in town.
]. B. Brody said: 81 sincerely belle
that town the size Of Boomers Fer