An extended review of the plans proposed
and the experiments made thus far is given in a report presented to the
Board of Health and Vital Statistics, last May, by Engineers Spielmann
and Brush. Ten years ago Mr. Arthur Spielmann, on being directed by the
City Council to prepare plans and estimates for a contemplated sewer in
Ferry street to the western boundary of the city, reported adversely
to the project, believing that such a sewer would fail to answer the
purpose of its construction.
There were but two ways, he thought, of securing the end desired: First,
by raising the grade sufficient to give a good drainage; second, by
making reservoirs and forcing the drainage matter out into the river by
steam pumps. The first method he found impracticable on account of the
cost of filling in so large an area and of raising the large number of
houses already on the low ground. The second plan was recommended as
being much cheaper and entirely practicable. Substantially the same
position is taken in the report of last May, wherein it is alleged that
the superior economy of a pumping system has been sufficiently attested
by several eminent hydraulic engineers who have since investigated the
problems involved. On a small scale the efficacy of the pumping system
has been practically tested, first, in Meadow street, between Ferry and
First streets, and more recently in the southern part of the city, where
a number of property owners have kept twenty-five acres free from water
(except during storms) by means of a private pump.
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