The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-01-18
MASH In SEWER
CT.FALLSP PAYS SIS
FLOOD CAUSED WHEN DRAINS
CLOC-TAKES 48 HOURS
TO CLEAN OUT
Great Falls Tribune)

N0IGdI o4lo 1A1DNACy
Persons engaged in the some
what hazardous, albeit profitable,
business of manufacturing intoxi
eating liquors will greatly accom-
modate the city of Great Falls by
not dumping mash in sewers, for
this practice has cost the city
from $50 to S75 for labor, clogged
a sewer in First alley south and
flooded Easements, John L. Gillin,
street commissioner, said Satur-
day.
The clogging of the first alley
south sewer between Seventh and
Eighth streets vas discovered
Thursday when the basement of
the new Chevrolet Motor sales
agency building at Central avenue
and Eighth street was flooded.
The water in some places, accord
ing to Commissioner Gillin, was
eight inches deep.
Dumped in Sewer
Operations to correct the con-
dition were started at the sewer
opening at Seventh and Eighth
streets and it was later ascertain
ed that the clogged sewer was
due to the dumping of whiskey
mash. When the cleaning work
was completed Saturday, it was
estimated by Commissioner Gillin
that between 20 and % barrels of
corn, used in mash, had been re-
moved from the sewer at an esti-
mated labor cost of from $50
to S75
The operations were continued
for more than 4S hours before the
sewer was functioning properly
and the continued fermentation of
the mash after it's removal from
the ducts was such as to send a
distinct moonshine odor over a
considerable section in the vicinity
Of Central avenue and Eighth
street. Pumps were used by the
street department to keep base
ments free from water until the
sewer was cleared.
They Wasted a Lot
1t is felt probable that the mash
was dumped into the sewer at the
First alley south and Eighth street
sewer manhole and the dumping
operations probably covered a
considerable period of time. The
rapid accumulation of fermented
corn gradually acted to create a
deposit that could not be removed
by the stream of water clearing
the sewer.
Under former government regu-
lations pertaining to distilleries, it
was stated it was necessary that
six gallons of whiskey be produc-
ed for every bushel of corn. The
experts viewing the accumulation
of mash estimated that not more
than three gallons of whiskey was
removed per busheI, which would
result in an economic loss of about
$500 on the part of the careless
and thoughtless distiller who en-
piled the mash into the sewer,
although no estimate can be made
as to the amount of mash carried
through the sewer into the river.
The loss to the Easements as a
consequence of the sewers clog
ging was not great.
No Action Possible
Due to the fact that city officials
are unable to determine who de-
posted the mash in the sewer, no
action can be taken to secure pay
ment for the labor charges and
for damages. If this person was
known, it was stated, an action
could be commenced and the city
reimbursed for it's trouble.
Under the circumstances, how
ever, it is urged by city officials
that moonshiners in the future
select better adapted dumping
places and discontinue the prac-
tice of using sewers as a means
of removing evidence Of operations
not permitted under the law