The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-17
CITY OFFICIALS
INSPECT SEWER
party Of Five Enters system AZ
Elahteenth and BIondeau Streets
for Trip Of Nine
Blocks.
REPAIR WORK DONE
section Examined Was in Good Con.
dtion With Exception Of Few
places Which VIII be
Repaired.

trim through the city sewers is In
many respects an interesting adven-
ture but it is trying to a tall man who
has to stoop while going several tor
ruous blocks through five and six feet
arches. It is good travelling In the
main sewers, which are high and COM
modious but it's watch your step"
and YOUR head also when going
through some of the small tributaries.
Yesterday afternoon Mayor Lotion,
commissioners Hickey and Hilpert,
Street Supervisor Tigue and Gate
CITY reporter took half mile jaunt
through an outer section to insecpt
the repairs that have been made dur
inc the last several months.
The party made its way through the
lark caverns of Keokuk's underworld
without mishap, although there were
several occasions when feet slipped
and falls were narrowly averted, while
some careless heads had occasional
bumps on the top of the smaller
arches. For Mr. Mr.. Hickey 1t was one
continual stoop until the main sewer
was reached for the inlet the party
went through was mostly five feet
high and never more than six.
Wearing hip boots and old clothes
and carrying lanterns and guide poles
the party entered the sewer system
at Eighteenth and Blondeau streets
through an open sewer head and en-
erged through sewer trap at Elev-
enth and Johnson streets. This sec
ton is part of the older system and is
built of brick. The sewer was found
to be in fairly good condition through
out There were several places where
bricks had dropped out of the top but
these will be replaced and keyed in
as soon as the repair force reaches
those sections.
Much repair work has been done in
the section of the sewer through
which the party went Cracks have
been cemented up and a number of
improvements made. Near the inlet
quantity of rubbish, including what
appeared to be a considerable section
of a baroed wire fence, had been
washed into the sewer. This accumu-
lation of rubbish will be taken out so
as not to clog up the place. The bot
tom of the sewer was in good condi
ton and water, Of which there was
only a few inches. was circulating free
ly.
The way lighted by lantern glow,
the party proceeded cautiously
through the sewer. The interior was
dark and dank and there was a faint
odor of sewer gas in the air. The
swish, swish of heavy hip boots
splashing through the water was the
only sound, aside from the voices OF
the party. to be heard, for no inte1li-
gence of the world overhead came
down through the earth and bricks.
In one part of the sewer section Of
the brick work overhead, for about
fifteen feet, was hanging in danger
Gus position and appeared to be ready
to fall at any instant. The members
Of the party went through this por-
ton in gingerly fashion.
AT only one place along the nine
blocks was ray of daylight visible.
Under point between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets, just south of
Main street, an open tile led up from
the top of the sewer to the ground
above. The silver light poured
through this, blindingly.
AT place about under Twelfth and
johnson streets. the party emerged
from the branch sewer into the main