Evening journal., 1923-01-09
DRAMATICPLEA
FOR SEWER Wins
Residents of 35th St. Tell
of Illness Due TO Flooded
Cellars
ONE WOMAN OFFERS
TO TURN COLLECTOR

Illness among residents OF West
( Thirty-fifth street. between Market
and Tatnall, attributed to damp and
water filled cellars. wss given as a
reason by a delegation that today
called on the Street and Sewer direc-
tors for the installation OF sewer.
Il was pointed out that in fourteen
homes the families were compelled
TO live over either extremely damp
cellars or cellars containing consid-
cradle water.
Joseph A. Harrington. los West
Thirty-ffth street. informed the
board his wife and two children
were confined to their beds with
pneumonia, attributed by. the attend
ing physicians TO the dampness Of
the home due to a water filed cellar.
Mrs. Carrie II. Wright. is West
Thirty-fifth street, declared the
situation was acute, and that out OF
fourteen homes visited by her this
morning there was not one but what
had water in the cellar. She said one
man, on Sunday and Monday OF this
week, had purchased q new pump
with which to clear his cellar OF
water. II had cost him S45 to have
the cellar baled out the week before.
Mrs. Wright called the attention
OF the directors to the fact that
about two years ago she had appear
ed before the board In behalf Of a
one way market on King street. She
said she was much pleased with the
improvements 10 that thoroughfare.
'.Now l intend to come here until
you folks either get tired Of seeing
me or put in the sewer" she de-
clared.
Al this point City Engineer Harry
L. Maier informed the board that
the sewer extension fund was nearly
depeleted. President Johnson said
the hindrance in continuing the
sewer installations desired by the1
department. was due TO many of
the owners of unimproved land, re-
fusing to pay their share Of the
cost.
well" retorted Mrs Wright. !
you know women are better collec-
tors than men. will offer my SER
vices in an effort to get all owners
of property 10 pay for this Improve
ment."
President johnson said the direc-
tors probably would avail themselves
or the offer, as many liens were
now owed the board.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Saring, 20
West Thiry-hfth street. who were
among the delegates, also promised
assistance in getting the sewer bills
paid, should the Improvement be
made. Mr.. Saring said he had been
before the directors three years ago
with a petition for the sewer, and
subsequent visits had been made by
himself and other residents in the L
interest Of the Improvement. Mrs.
saring declared she was compelled /
TO use rubber boots TO wade to her /
heater. Should another severe
storm come or the present one last.
It would be impossible for the. fam
ily to reach the ash box 10 clean
the furnace. They also feared the
fire would be put out II the water
continued 20 rise in the cellar.
The delegation declared it heliev-
ed the water was due to surface
water backing up in front OF their
homes because the street bed of
Market street had been raised and
the water could not be drained off
by the Market street sewer.
The directors held an informal
following which Presi-
dent Johnson announced:
"Although the sewer extension fund
l,,.1-.
fund from which it will be possible
for us 10 transfer sufficient funds TO
construct this sewer. With this
money we will make every effort to
relieve the undoubtedly unhealthy
condition in your district"
Mr.. Harrington thanked the direc-
tors. saying:
while I shall be compelled 10
move my family away from my new
home, I am certainly grateful for
your promise and will do all in my
power 10 get the board reimbursed
for the amount expended"
AS the group of residents were
leaving. Mrs. Saring remarked that
she and her husband had baled 2S
buckets Of water from their cellar
during the recent storm and that
now a small boat could be fioated in
the water remaining.
Engineer Maier said the sewer ex-
tension would have TO be run from
Thirty-third and West streets 20
Thirty-ffth street. and two squares
on Thirty-ffth street. requiring more
than 1000 feet OF pipe.