Baxter Springs news., 1917-08-16
SEWER PLANS UP
To State BOARD
Utilities Commissions Must
Approve Before the City
Council Can Order
Improvements

waiting Tor approval at the once
OF the State Board OF Health at
Topeka. So far not a word con
cerning the plans has been heard
from that body. 1t is thought
that this long silence is due to
the fact that probably the
members of the board are on
their vacation and that as soon
as they return the matter con-
corning the sewers for this city
will be taken up and some defn-
ite conclusion reached.
The first ordinance, to make
the whole town a sewer district
for the "Out fall sewers" had
been drawn for some time, and
it was introduced in the city
council and passed upon by that
body last Tuesday night. This
was done with the expectation
that the State Board of Health
will return the approved sewer
plans this week.
The plan submitted to the
State Board of Health was drawn
by w. L. Moore OF Joplin and it
is stated on good auth ority that
he is showing a saving to the
city Of from $4,000 to $1,000.
In the former plan, submitted by
Rollins of Kansas City, the north
western part of the city was left
out but Mr.. Moore's plans include
all parts of the city. The sewers
will find an outlet in the Spring
river and that this plan is ap-
proved by the State Board of
Health is shown by the following
communication to the secretary
| of the board by c. A. Haskett;
Dear DR.. Crumbine:-
ION last Thursday | investi-
gated the proposed sewer system
at Baxter Springs, Kas., at the
request of the consulting engineer,
Mr.. w. B. Rollins of Kansas
City, to advise him if possible
whether or not in my opinion a
sewage disposal plant would be
necessary.
ut is proposed to empty the
sewaOe from Raxter Springs into
Spring river which has drainage
area at that point of approxim-
ately 1890 square miles, princi-
pally in Missouri, although the
stream drains the cool mining
district in Crawford and Chero-
kee counties in Kansas and the
lead and zinc districts of Joplin
field. The sewage from Colum-
bus, Pittsburg, Girard. and
Galena, Kas., and Joplin, Webb
City and Carthage, Mo-, is all
emptied into this sCream or it's
tributaries but there is plenty OF
water at all times to dilute it
sufficiently so that no nuisance
is caused at those points. AT
Baxter Springs the stream is in
fluenced to some extent by the
power dam of the Empire District
Electric Company at Riverton, a
few miles above; but even at
times when the dam at Riverton
is holding most of the water back,
there is a sufficient flow Of water
at Baxter Springs to dilute any
sewage which might come from
that place.
"The location of the outlet is
in a somewhat isolated point and
while there is a main highway
crossing perhaps a quarter OF a
mile below on the river. There
are no houses in the immediate
vicinity except those houses in
the extreme northeast portion OF
the city of Baxter Springs.
These houses are separated from
this point by approximately 300
Yards, and are situatad on the
bluff above the river.
"There are no cities below
Baxter Springs taking water
from the river between this city
and the junction with Neosho
river, and in fact there are no
cities situated along the river at
all.
"Since there was no apparent
chance of causing a nuisance nor
was there any danger of pollut-
ing a water supply, the only
point, that ofpolluting apopular
swimming hole on the river, was
not considered sufficient justifica-
ton for the construction OF a
sewage disposal plant. Accord
ingly, ! advised Mr.. Rollins and
MrT. Conner, the president OF
A. or,,,,ofl fhot- We WOuld not