Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1915-01-15
Wauwatosa Sewer System.

Inc plans whlch nao Deen previous
ly prepared by and under the direction
of Alvord & Shields. expert Sanitary
engineers of Chicago. provided for, a
septic tank system and included dia-
grams showing division of the city
into six sewerage districts. believed to
be desirable if not entirely necessary.
Provision was made by the ordinance
adopting the systein--that the cost of
constructing all sewers in street and
alley crossings and of all sewers of less
than fifteen inches in diameter in ex-
cess of the amount which should be
assessed pursuant to law against the
lots. tracts and parcels of land 'front.'
ing and abutting on any street upo.
which sewer line was constructed
should he paid out of the general sew
erage fund for its respective district.
The ordinance also provided that no
private drains should be connected
with the public sewer without per-
nit from the boara of public works
and subject to rules and regulations
provided by the Common Council for
such connections.
The plans further provided for the
construction of septic tank with filter
beds designed to be located at the
place which should be recommended
as practical to serve the best purpose
OF the septic sewer system. Full de-
tails and profles accompanied and
were made part of the sewerage plan
and the map and other matters requir-
ed by law to be fled were deposited in
the Office of the register of deeds for
public reference and duplicate copy
filed in the Office of the Wauwatosa
city clerk.
To provide funds With which to, con-
strnct the initial system the city by It's
ordinance authorized $50, o0Oin general
city sewer bonds to bear interest at
the rate of four per cent per annnm
payable seni-annually.
THE bonds were issued sixty in
number of the face value OF $500 each
and were disposed of to the highest
bidder pursuant to law they were pay
able three bonds each year beginning
IN March 1901 and ending in March
1920 but $50, 900 of this issue was sold.
A second issue ofgeneral sewer bonds
to the amount of $4,000 was authorized
by the Common Council August 1909.
A third issue to the amount of 81, GOO
was authorized by the Common Council
April 5, 1910, and the last issue known
as sewerage bonds 18th series or SIS 900
was authorized August 10, 1918. the
proceeds of which will probably be
completely used during the year 1915
in providing sewer facilities IN portions
of the city which can not be cared for
through our present sewerage mains,
but must be served by other trunk
sewer lines, because of the varying
elevations in the different sewerage
districts.
1t may not be without interest to
suggest that the engineers who de.
signed and prepared our plan were en-
gineers of national reputation, aud
that subsequent to the installation of
the septic plant at Wauwatosa, Mr..
Shields had charge of and installed
similar pants at the Allis-C Chalmers
works and also for the county build
ings in the town of Wanwatosa, as
well as at numerous other plants in
cities IN other states, and MIR. John
w. Alvord who with Mr.. Shields
designed the Nauwatosa plant, was
selected as one of the members of the
Expert Sanitary Commission to inves-
tigate and report sewerage plan for
the city of Milwaukee,, To do away
with the throwing of raw sewage into
Lake Michigan.
Ani it is also interesting in this con-
nection to know that the system hich
has been recommended to Milwaukee
is the same as the one installed in
Wauwatosa, excepting as the require
ment of the greater city demands a
more extensive treatment. But Wan.
watosa city is among the early pioneers
IN the use of the septic sewerage svs.
tenn. Shortly after our plant was in.
stalled, the Cameron Septic Tank Com,
pany notified us that in the use of our
septic tank. we we've Infringing patents
claimed TO be held by them and de
manded prompt settlement of us fol
what they asserted TO be their ola images
occasioned by such infringement, anC
upon the refusal by the city officials Il
settle, an action was commenced in tn,
United States court against the city t,
recover.