Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1922-06-09
SEWER SYSTEM
IS RAPED BY COLFAX
Lengthy Article i'm ColfaX Gazette
Lays Blame for Present Sewer
Condition on Lethargy of CITY
Administration

contained a lengthy front page story
on the visit of the county seat dele
cation to Pullman to inspect the To-
cal sewer disposal system, which they
allege is a menace TO ColfaX Ex-
cerpts from the story are as follows:
For the past two years COlfax and
Whitman county authorities have
been endeaForing TO induce the Pull
man city officials to make their sew
age system adequate to the needs of
the town. These advances have
been met by ready promises on the
part of The Pullman authorities to
remedy the situation
However the nuisance existed all
last year and during the past two
weeks there has appeared on the sur
face of Cooper lake in south ColfaX
scum OF sewage deposits and an un-
mistakible odor, giving unrefrut-
able evidence of continued procrasti-
nation on that part of Mayor Gentry
and his council of Pullman
When the Colfax delegation ar
rived at the septic tank the deposit
was entering the river direct from
the tank. but according to the state
ment of j. K Smawley. who lives
midway between the tank and the
outlet into the river, since March /
up to about an hour before the ar
rival of the ColfaX party the sewage
was being deposited directly into the
river without having passed through
the purifying p process of the cess
pool. The waters of the South Pa
louise have never been noted for crys-
tal-like qualities, but comparison
between the water above the sewer
outlet and that below is not unlike
that of mountain stream and
Spring Flat creek at flood time.
What it would have been had the
party arrived two hours sooner is
beyond conjecture.
Some two years ago Mr.. Smawlev
instituted a damage suit for $4,000
against the city Of Pullman. he al
leging to have sustained damages to
that extent on account of the con
dition of the sewage system. Mr..
Smawley stated Friday that after
his case had gotten into court he
agreed to waive damages, provided
the city would take steps to remedy
the situation and abate the nuisance.
This he stated, the Pullman author
tiles agreed to do but to date he has
received no substantial relief. Mr..
Smawley has a beautiful home. with
substantial buildings. but the stencil
eminating from the tank and the out
let into the river make it almost i'm
possible as a place of abode. For
that reason. he states that he is un-
able to dispose of his property to
other homeseekers and it is upon
these grounds that he bases his claim
for damages. He stated Friday that
it was his intention to break the
truce existing between himself and
the city of Pullman and press the
suit with vigor
Following the inspection of the
sewer n1apt tho Co,fo, tt
called unon Navor cont, Who
Acknowledged the condition - 10
worse than no had ir,ooinod nrion
to his visit to the plant just before
the 5~rivar cf tho Co1fov da,oaa.;l.,
He rofar,rd +bo,, - p,oranaau \, ~
Snvder head IF the donortr,out -
sanitary noa,raori,o at t1- a(,,ls.oo
MIR sr,do. .,liscl,ir,a5 ,,,,. ..a..,....
.biIfn, in the mote tra ...4a.5 .,.4
earlv in the .yoar rooo f,,,au..r..'.,,l
FIRST controvers,. roo,,.l:.., 49,. "a
condition nf rho p,fl,,,. ..,,...,. ......