The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-13

sewage disposal plant.
While sanitary board members
have divided into factions and quib-
bled over policy and personnel, one
whole unit Of the Indianapolis sew
age disposal plant, in which tax
payers have $2O7, 900 invested, stands
incomplete and unused at Sellers
Farm, three miles southwest of the
business district.
The unit is the dehydration plant
the third and final step in sewage
disposal. Engineers do not agree
as to whether this plant, as it now
stands, can be utilized.
Work was stopped upon it when
the other units were completed, and
the city had spent a total Of ST.
659,819.31.
Engineers said that further ex-
pertinent was necessary. No expert
ment has been carried on since.
Millions Of gallons of raw sewage
flow straight into the river. Sludge
the solids extracted from the mil
lions of gallons treated in the first
two units of the plant for two years
has been carted into a corner Of
Sellers Farm, until today it covers
approximately twenty acres, in some
spots twenty feet deep.
Profit Was visiOned
The dehydration plant was in
tended to convert this sludge into
fertilizer, which could be sold at a
profit which would pay for operation
Of the plant.
About the time America entered
the World War, cities south OF In
dianapolis along White river were
clamoring for the blood OF Indian
apolis. Raw sewage from Indianap-
oils was flowing down White river
through the other cities, endanger-
ing public health.A Several cities
fled suits against Indianapolis.
1--WE will build plant which will
treat this sewage so that the liquids
will be turned into the river pure
enough 70 drink, and the solids will
be turned into fertilizer, so valuable
that it will pay for operation Of the
plant" Indianapolis replied.
Special legislation was rushed
through the General Assembly
Charles H. Hurd, Merchants Bank
Bldg, was named consulting en-
gineer to design and supervise con-
struction of the plant. Bond issues
were started and on April 5, 1918,
plans were adopted.
Given $4,000 Salary
Hurd started drawing his salary
Of $4,000 year in April, 1919, and
continued to do so until October
1928. From October, 1928, until 1927
he drew half pay, $500, because the
designing practically was finished
After leave Of absence, he returned
for brief space in 1925, and re-
ceived $1,000 in final payment, early
In January Of this year.
Meanwhile, Hurd was drawing ex-
penses, including salaries OF a stah
of assistants, which during the con-
etruction period totalled $153,581.
While stories Of the marvellous in
novations at the disposal plant were
broadcast, construction went on. II
was announced, with much cere-
rnony, that the plant was in opera
ton May %, 1925, more than two
years ago.
Miss indianapolis, declaring she
was pure at last, invited the folks
down to see the new plant. Miss
indianapolis did not take the folks
over to one Of the beautiful new
buildings. She keeps it under locl
and key. Even a newspaper mar
has to have connections" to gel
Inside that silent building-the de-
hydration unit.
Plant In Three Nuts
The plant, as designed by Hurd
lEas in three units:
/. A building wherein part Of the
bolids were removed from athe raw
Sewage, delivered by the gigantic
interceptor sewer from all sewers II
the city, except those Of the extreme
north section. IS
2. The activitated sludge plant
wherein by injecting sludge into thu
sewage one set of bacteria destroyed
the harmful germs, and wherein BY
settling process the solids finally
were separated from the liquid. Tht
LIQUID went into the river as pure
water; the solid was to go to thu
third step.
3. The dehydration plant.
Russell MacFall, sanitary boare
president, who was not member
of the board when the plant was de.
signed and bond issues authorized
said that no engineer yet had shown
him way in which the dehydratior
plant could be utilized.
Hope Voiced by Engineers
Engineers identified with con.
etruction say that they believe tina
someone, sometime, will discover
means of treating Sludge at a profit
They declare that Milwaukee sue.
cesSfully is drying sludge, but they
suspect the process is so costly thai
It Is further drain upon taxpayers
instead Of helping pay for plan
operation.
Chicago is trying out differen
method.
Meanwhile, the plant upon which
i. 10000 was spent before engineer
and the sanitary board discovered
that it might not be what was need
ed stands gloomily idle.
Next--Why millions Of gallons
Of raw sewage flow past the ST.
10000 disposal plant into the river.