Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1902 — City Sewers. [ARTICLE]

City Sewers.

Accoiding to the reports in the papers a petition was filed for a seWef in Make-em-sets diteh. Thia matter should be canvased thoroughly by the people and the City Council before the final decission is made. The sewage of more than half the City of Rensselaer would be carried into this sewer provided the city should adopt what I conceive to be a thorough system of sewerage adapted to the requirements of the city within the next 25 to 50 years. When I say “thorough sewerage" I mean sewers competent to carry a flood of water such as fell Monday, July 7th, 2| inches. In the opinion of many, the size of the proposed sewer, (24 inches in diameter) will not be sufficient It should ba not less than 36 inches. Another thing, if the sewer is built so as to dump all sewage into the river, at the mouth of Make-em-self ditch it would create a nuiseuce that might cost the city a pretty figure in damage suits. Should the dredging of the river and the cutting out of the rock through the city find enough running water to keep the channel clean, that would simplify the matter very much. We do not know that the artisian well and the springs known to be in the rock and those that may be found then will afford water enough to cleanse an open sewer through the city. The future residence as a rule will have to be furnished with bath room and water closet to keep pace with modern sanitary methods, every such residence should have competent sewerage within easy reach. Without a thorough system oi sewerage all would not be fairly dealt with by the city. The poor man should have his sewage carried off as well as tjie rich. Hu property should not be taxed unless he derives an equal benefit with his neighbor, though he does not live on the main sewer. The sewage should be carried down tie river to the deep water beyond the farm houses of W. S Grant and J. D. Babcock. A thorough system of sewerage would cost a considerable sum of money. If the proposed sewer cannot be built in connection with the river improvements in order to avoid the rook south of Weston cemetery the sewer should be built west from the Front St. crossing west on Jackson to the ditch west of Mrs. Zard’s property and thence to the river and down the river as before mentioned.

I do not wish to hinder public improvements and- will not if thorough work is done. There should be no temporizing and faulty improvements made by the city or in its name.

There are two sides to this question and it should be decided to the best interests of all concerned, hence the necessity of all understanding the subject thoroughly.. I. B. Washburn.