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Sewers J. B. Riddle is constructing a sewer from the Riddle House to Bear Creek.
"Medford Melange," Ashland Tidings, April 20, 1887, page 3 A good sewerage system is the one thing most needed by the city of Medford. Perhaps the time has not yet arrived for the successful carrying out of a project of this nature, but just so soon as that time shows up the matter should be attended to. There are many places in the city which are breeders of disease germs and which should be subjected to a thorough course of disinfectant, and no more efficient means could be employed than sewerage, but while we wait for this our health officers should see to it that chloride of lime is used unsparingly. Editorial, Medford Mail, December 8, 1893, page 2 It seems difficult to ascertain what was the real issue in the late city election. Some think that one ticket was in favor of building a sewer to Bear Creek, while the other was against that proposition. The former was successful. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 12, 1899, page 1 At the meeting of the city council last week a right of way for a sewer was purchased through the land of W. T. Nelson, for $250. The route of the sewer will be from the school house down 7th Street to the alley back of Hotel Nash, thence to A Street and down that street to the Nelson place, where the dumping grounds will be made. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 20, 1899, page 3 Our town will have a sewer in the near future; in fact, arrangements have already been made for its construction. It will dump on land along Bear Creek, purchased of W. T. Nelson. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 23, 1899, page 3 The Western Clay Company, of Portland, has taken the contract for putting in the Medford sewer. The contract they have is the one forfeited by Frick Bros., and the city council has decided to allow them to fill the same as mapped out and for the same price as that given to Frick Bros. R. E. Smith, representing the Portland company, has been in Medford this week arranging all details necessary for starting the work and just as soon as men can be secured to dig the sewer they will be put to work. It is given out that sixty men are wanted. The city council has appointed Garl T. Jones as superintendent of the work for the town. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, September 8, 1899, page 7 Medford's new sewer system was built by the Western Clay Company of Portland. The work was begun a short time ago, and the trenches completed last week. While the system is not extensive, it will relieve the most thickly settled portions of the city, and is so arranged that it will form the main line for future additions. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 2, 1899, page 3 The introduction of the sewer system in Medford has been so successful that there is already a demand for an extension. In accordance with a petition by property owners, the council ordered a sewer constructed from D Street to the main on A Street, and the contract has been awarded to C. W. Huggins of Portland. A 10-inch pipe will be laid at an expense of 80 cents per foot. With this addition the main part of the business portion of the city is well provided with sewerage. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 6, 1899, page 3 Street Commissioner Brandenburg has a number of men engaged this week in putting in underground box culverts, and otherwise repairing the street and sidewalks on Seventh Street, near the depot. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, February 1, 1901, page 7 HOW ABOUT A BETTER WATER AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM!
The
time has come when the people of Medford must begin to figure on ways
and means for a water supply for drinking and domestic purposes outside
of that furnished by wells, and a system for carrying off of surplus
water and sewerage other than that afforded by natural drainage. The
town now has 2,500 inhabitants or over and is rapidly growing in
population. Situated as it is, the gradient toward Bear Creek is not
sufficient for the water falling during the winter season to drain off
readily, nor the character of the soil such as to quickly absorb it. In
many places depressions exist which are filled with water by every
rain, and this water stands until it disappears by evaporation, a
menace to the health of everyone in the vicinity. Nor is this all. The
water supply for domestic purposes in this town comes from wells. None
of these wells are deep--from twelve to twenty-five feet--and
consequently are dependent upon surface water to a great extent for
their supply. One can imagine the purity of that water when it reaches
those dwelling in the lowest parts of town after having filtered
through all the barnyards and other premises above them. The prevalence
of typhoid fever this fall in Medford is direct proof that this
condition of affairs is something which requires attention. Much of it
is due to impure water, and a noticeable fact is that the majority of
cases have appeared in the thickly settled portion of town east of the
S.P. railroad, while the more thinly settled and elevated portions of
the city have been comparatively free.
In some way these conditions must be remedied. Some means must be found within the next few years to secure an adequate supply of pure water for domestic use for the city. The Mail has no suggestion to offer at present as to ways and means of securing this water supply, but is ready and willing to do all in its power to secure the success of a feasible scheme to permanently relieve the situation. Medford Mail, October 31, 1902, page 2 The digging of the sewer authorized by the city council at its March meeting will be contemplated by the end of this week, excepting that portion which crosses the Southern Pacific railroad track. Up to Wednesday evening H. E. Boyden, the contractor, had not yet received permission from the railroad company to make the necessary excavations beneath its tracks, but expected to receive it at any time. Work, in the meantime, will be pushed toward completing the sewer. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, June 2, 1905, page 7 The location [at Maple and Bartlett] is about an acre of ground on which Dr. Adkins made very favorable rates and is a pretty situation for the school and in about the right place. It is the intention to run a sewer to the creek from the site. "North
Medford School House,"
Medford Mail, August 10, 1906, page 1
Thursday the city council purchased from I. D. Phipps a tract of land on the west side of Bear Creek, 40x80 feet, for $500 and other considerations. This tract is near the present discharge of the sewers and will be the site of the septic tank, which will be built at once. A special meeting of the city council was held Monday evening to take action on the matter of installing a septic tank for the impounding of sewage. The committee on sewers was instructed to proceed with the matter of installing such tank. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, August 17, 1906, page 5 An Explanation.
The Tribune stated
in a late issue that the council of this city had paid Mr. I. J. Phipps
$500 for a worthless tract of ground on the creek for the location of a
septic tank, which is a long ways from being strictly true. The city
had no rights on Mr. Phipps' premises. It was discharging its sewer
matter into a cesspool hole in the creek with no water to carry it off.
The consequence was that the conditions became unbearable to Mr.
Phipps, whose residence was about one hundred yards away. The town was
threatened with a damage suit and an injunction suit, with good ground
for complaint. A deal was made with Mr. Phipps whereby the town was to
be immune from the threatened suits and a tract of land for a septic
tank and the right of way of the sewer to the creek was obtained, for
all of which the city is to pay Mr. Phipps $500. The concessions and
immunity obtained from Mr. Phipps will be much more valuable to the
city than the small tract of land for the septic tank. That is all
there is to it.
Very respectfully, J. S. HOWARD, Mayor of Medford. Excerpt, Medford Mail, August 24, 1906, page 4 Mayor Howard has appointed T. W. Johnson to supervise and inspect the work of constructing the new septic tank. Messrs. Reinhart & Atwell have the contract for the construction of the tank, and Mr. Johnson's business will be to see that the specifications are carried out. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, October 26, 1906, page 5 Reinhart & Atwell, who have the contract for building the septic tank ordered by the city council some weeks since, have the work well under way. They have encountered several unfortunate obstructions that have delayed the work, but these have been overcome and the cement foundation and floor is now completed. The work will be in readiness for acceptance by the board not later than December 15th. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, November 9, 1906, page 5 Has Found the Leakage.
Mayor
J. S. Howard has been hard at work during the past several months
endeavoring to discover if possible where the leakage of water is in
our water system, but not until water from the sewers was turned into
the septic tank was there any accurate means presented. When the water
was turned into the tank a record was made as to the time required
under ordinary usage in filling it with water, which time was just
twelve hours. The tank holds 60,000 gallons, which would mean that
120,000 gallons of water goes through the sewer every twenty-four
hours. This, figured at ten cents per thousand gallons, the price
charged consumers by the city, would amount to $12 every twenty-four
hours, or $360 per month.
As an offset for this $360 there was collected for the month of October only $208.95, which means that the city furnished to the consumers water to the value of $151.05 for which not a cent was received. Still this is not all. The deficiency is even greater than this because that many of our townspeople have private septic tanks, the water from which does not go in the sewers. Then again there are many of our townspeople who use more or less water for stock and domestic purposes who are not inside any of the sewer districts. It is safe to say that the city loses by leakage fully $200 per month. Mr. Howard's plan for cutting out this leakage is a thorough inspection [of] all water meters, and as well an inspection of all closets where city water is used, and insist upon all of them being kept free from leakage. These inspections, he insists, should be made monthly. Medford Mail, January 4, 1907, page 4 The city is soon to undertake the laying of more sewer pipe. The sewer system of the city at present is giving entire satisfaction, but the city limits have expanded, making more sewer lines necessary. "Facts Regarding Medford," Medford Mail, June 12, 1908, page 8 The ditcher is making good progress on the sewer, in district No. 6. "Improvements Are Many," Medford Mail, August 14, 1908, page 4 HAD NARROW ESCAPE.
John Mark Was Injured by a Cave-In of a Sewer. John
Mark, a laborer, about 40 years of age, while at work excavating for
the trunk sewer line at the intersection of Seventh Street with
Riverside Avenue, was caught by a caving embankment Saturday and badly
bruised and his left collarbone was broken. He was taken to the Goode
Lodging House, and Dr. Seely was called and the fracture was reduced
and the wounds dressed. No internal injuries were apparent, and he will
probably get along all right.
SEPTIC TANK MUST BE MADE OVER FOR USEMedford Mail, November 5, 1908, page 5 IS A WISE MOVE.
At
a meeting of the city council held last night it was decided the city
purchase an acre of land below the city on Bear Creek on which to erect
a septic tank. There may be some objection regarding the price the city
will have to pay for the use of this land for this purpose, but there
can be no question regarding the matter of the city carrying out the
plan, and the sooner the better. Regarding this plan the Oregonian of recent issue has this to say:
The septic tank, the successful operation of which has been conclusively demonstrated, will do more than any one thing to improve the sanitary conditions surrounding country homes. The Country Life Commission would do well to encourage by its endorsement the general use of this means of getting rid of filth. The septic tank is a comparatively inexpensive receptacle for all the refuse of a home and has important advantages over the sewer as it is known to the city. The effectiveness of the septic tank has been proven by practical use at two large institutions in Oregon, the Chemawa Indian school and the asylum farm. All the refuse from these institutions flows into septic tanks and, after being purified by natural processes, goes out into open ditches, giving offense to no one. If farm homes were provided with this means of disposing of sewerage there would be no danger of contracting disease from infected well water and much less probability of disease germs being carried by flies to the kitchen, dining room or milk house. Medford Mail, December 11, 1908, page 4 Another Septic Tank.
Engineer
Osgood has been busy for several days past preparing plans for the
construction of a new septic tank for the city. This tank will be
located outside the incorporate limits of the city on the north, near
Bear Creek, and will be about four times the size of the one now in
use. Bids for its construction will soon be advertised for, and as soon
as the new trunk sewer line is completed it will be ready for use.
Medford Mail, January 22, 1909, page 5 Bottom Must Be Raised Two Feet before it Can Be Drained, Owing to Level of Creek. CLAIMED THAT CREEK HAS FILLED UP DURING WINTER Steps Will Be Taken by City Engineer to Rectify the Matter So That it Can Be Used. The
new septic tank which was recently constructed at the end of the new
lateral trunk sewer on Riverside Avenue is out of commission for the
time being, owing to the fact that it can be drained only down to a
two-foot level. The bottom of the tank will have to be raised that much
before the tank can be successfully used.
The fault is said to lie with Bear Creek. It is claimed that when the tank was put in that the bottom of the creek was two feet lower than it is at the present time and that at that time the tank could be successfully drained. During the winter the bottom of the creek filled up, and now the tank will remain useless until it is fixed by having the bottom raised. City Engineer Foster is at present looking into the matter and will take immediate steps to remedy it. Medford Daily Tribune, April 13, 1909, page 1  Jacobsen & Bade's Buckeye Ditcher SEVENTEEN MILES OF TRENCH.
The Jacobsen-Bade Company yesterday shipped their trench-digging outfit
back to Portland, having completed their work in this city. The company
has been carrying on operations in this city for about a year, and
during that time has dug 17 miles of trenches, 8 mies of which were for
sewerage and the remainder for water pipe.
Medford Mail, May 14, 1909, page 5 Bear Creek to Be Bridged
MEDFORD,
Or., Jan. 22.--The necessity for connecting the sewers of the east side
with the main running down Riverside Avenue to the septic tank north of
town compels Medford to build another bridge across Bear Creek, under
which the sewer will be carried to the main trunk line. This is opening
up much of the stretch along Riverside as business property, and one of
the deals of the past week, the sale of Dr. Adkins' residence property,
with a frontage of nearly 300 feet on Riverside, is the result, the
consideration being $15,000. W. H. Brown, the purchaser, will improve a
portion and subdivide the balance.
Sunday Oregonian, Portland, January 23, 1910, page 2 WILL LAY SEWER MAINS WHEN JOB IS DONE
The
Jacobsen-Bade Co. have not commenced on their new contract for water
main and sewer construction, but will be at work in a few days, as soon
as they have completed their Central Point contract.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 19, 1910, page 5 The council ordered a 10-inch sewer laid on Sixth Street from Ivy to Riverside, deep enough to drain all of the basements being constructed under new buildings. The work is to start in the immediate future. "Special Election Called on Charter Amendment," Medford Mail Tribune, July 13, 1910, page 1 STORM SEWERS.
Editor, Saturday Review:
At this time, when storm sewers for Medford appears to be one of the chief subjects for discussion, it may not be amiss to present a few facts concerning the matter: In the first place, why has it become necessary to protect a large portion of the city lying west of Bear Creek from the water of storm floods by installing expensive storm sewers? We say, "Why," for most of this territory was until very lately protected by nature; for Gordon Creek [Elk Creek?] ran through the city almost along its western boundary. By "Gordon Creek" we mean that watercourse that leads away up in the foothills on the old Griffin Ranch and comes down the Crane [J. A. Crain?] place, along the east part of the Orchard Home, through the Nickell Addition, crossing West Main Street between Rose Court and Rose Avenue, and thence north through the city, crossing the railroad west of the old distillery tract, then to Bear Creek. [The 1893 and 1898 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps show the distillery on the southeast corner of Central and Jackson.] The city east of the Gordon Creek was protected from its waters by a low summit [along Columbus Avenue], a short distance east of the creek and running parallel with the same. The Gordon Creek has a watershed of several sections, and in times of winter storms carries a large volume of water. The grades some years ago on Main Street were laid so as to protect the city from these waters by using care not to cut through the summit and thereby prevent the waters of the curb to be diverted down Main Street as they are at present. When the grade of Main Street for paving was run by those modern engineers, the protecting summit was cut through, thereby diverting the whole volume of Gordon Creek down Main Street and through the town, and thereby creating a demand for a storm sewer, for which there was no necessity under the natural conditions before that unpardonable blunder was perpetrated. This Gordon Creek had been running in its natural channels from time immemorial and its channel was there by prescription, and the parties buying property through which it ran knew of the encumbrance when they bought the property and bought it cheap because of the conditions. And now a City Council which must certainly have been asleep has permitted the channel to be filled up and its channel to be diverted from Main Street of the city and now wants a storm sewer built down Sixth Street at a cost to the adjacent blocks. Ye Gods, is justice blind.--A storm sewer twenty-four inches in diameter will not carry one-tenth of the water in time of flood! The City Council have called an election for August 2 to vote on amounts to give them more power to repeat such blunders and charge the same to local people. A MOSSBACK.
The Saturday Review, Medford, August 6, 1910, page 3
ASK PHIPPS TO PAY $800 FOR HOLDUP
City Attorney Neff filed answer to the
amended complaint of I. J. Phipps against the city of Medford in the
sewer case Monday afternoon. The city, as defendant, maintains that
after a
permit had been given by I. J. Phipps to construct a sewer through his
property across Bear Creek, the complainant sold a large quantity of
gravel and sand from the bed of the stream, making it necessary to
build trestlework across the stream rather than lay the pipe on the
bottom of the stream, as originally planned. This, it is claimed, cost
the city $800 and made danger of the sewer proving an impediment to the
winter floods possible, as, if the pipe had been laid on the bottom of
the creek, as originally planned, the floods would have flowed over it.
The city demands that Phipps reimburse the city $800 to cover the loss
occasioned by his action.City Files Answer to Amended Complaint and Demands Damages for Violation of Contract and Sale of Gravel, Necessitating Sewer Be Placed on Trestle. Bridge Agreement.
The city admits the agreement to build a $2500
bridge, but maintains that investigation proved that a bridge could not
be built for that sum and that the city did not have the additional
funds necessary to complete a bridge. However, the answer explains that
the city intends to levy taxes in December that will include the amount
necessary for the construction of a wagon bridge at this point and that
a permanent structure will be built during the coming spring.City Attorney Neff further argues that the sewer across Bear Creek is high enough to allow all but an unusual high water to pass underneath, and maintains that the sewer is being constructed so that the trestlework can, in case of emergency, be drawn from under the sewer and the pipe and contents be precipitated into the stream, thus protecting property owners on each side of the stream from danger of damage. The sewer is only a temporary structure, the answer reads, and will serve during the coming fall and winter not over 50 homes. During flood time this amount of sewage will be carried away by Bear Creek without difficulty. Medford Mail Tribune, September 13, 1910, page 1 WORK RESUMED ON TRUNK SEWER
The
city engineer, Harry E. Foster, has men at work on the sewer across
Bear Creek again. The injunction brought by I. J. Phipps did not delay
the construction work over a week. The trestle and sewer will be
completed by the latter part of next week.
The big storm sewer down Sixth Street from Oakdale to Bear Creek is completed from Apple Street to the creek. The ditch in which the pipe is being laid is over 12 feet deep. Medford Mail Tribune, September 18, 1910, page 1 STORM SEWERS NEEDED.
The
present unusual heavy rainfall following a deep snowfall is producing
flood and high water throughout this section. Much inconvenience, but
little real damage, is likely to follow.
TYPHOID CAUSED BY MANHOLEThe storm calls attention to the need of a storm sewer system in Medford to carry off the surplus water. Medford is built upon a flat. In pioneer days, before Bear Creek cut a deep channel through the valley, at times the entire townsite stood under water. It is impossible to give the streets grade enough to drain the flood waters. They will answer for the ordinary rain, but not for floods. The townsite is too level. The sewer system already constructed was not intended for storm water. The first storm sewer was constructed this fall and is not yet completed. It relieves the territory it drains, but only emphasizes the need of more such sewers. Until it was built it was impossible to drain a basement in the city. The most difficult of the many problems the city administration has been compelled to solve has been the extension of public improvements without municipal funds. Mayor Canon devised a way whereby the water mains were extended and has made a good start on a storm sewer system. A city cannot be built in a day, and Medford has been crowding into two years the improvements that most cities take years to make. Medford Mail Tribune, November 28, 1910, page 4 THREE CASES AMONG WOODS LUMBER COMPANY EMPLOYEES Sample of H. E. Foster's Skill As City Engineer-- Sewage Overflows with Every Rain Among
other marks of the professional skill of City Engineer H. E. Foster,
head of the public works department in Mayor Canon's cabinet, is the
manhole from the sewer passing through Fir Street at the Woods Lumber
Company corner.
Whenever there is a rain this manhole gets busy and has an eruption. The material that comes out is designated politely as sewage, and there is little chance for a mistake in its identity. The air in that vicinity at such times is stifling, and the peril to human life is great. The Sun learned from a prominent physician yesterday that as a result of the overflow of this manhole three persons employed by the Woods Lumber Company had been taken down with typhoid, one of them a young woman stenographer and bookkeeper. This is another case of the sanitary sewer being used to carry away the storm water, with the result that irreparable harm has followed. There are other such overflows in the city through manholes by reason of Foster's style of engineering, and various cases of typhoid can be traced to them as the direct cause. Medford Sun, January 7, 1911, page 1 WANT CONNECTION WITH SEWER MADE
Property Owners Urging Enforcement of Ordinance Which Provides that All Must Connect with Sewers as Health Measure. Now
that hot weather has set in, property owners in various parts of the
city are complaining of different cesspools and outhouses and are
preparing to ask that the city officials compel all to connect with the
sewer mains on their streets in order to do away with offensive odors
and fly breeding places. In many portions of the city the nuisance is
becoming very bad, and many complain. There is a city ordinance
requiring that these connections be made, and different property owners
state that they are going to take the matter up.
Medford Mail Tribune, July 16, 1911, page 6 TO TAKE OUT SEWER ON NINTH
Street
Commissioner Baker will have a gang of workmen engaged tomorrow in
taking out the old sewer pipe on Ninth Street from the alley near Front
Street to Riverside Avenue and replacing it with a new line.
The old line was all right, except that the discharge end at the trunk line was a very little higher than the intake, and very little success has been achieved in efforts to compel water to run uphill Mr. Baker is also having deep sanitary and storm water sewer connections made at the city hall on Sixth Street. The pipe here is being put in at a sufficient depth to permit of basement drainage for all of the city's property on this street. Medford Mail Tribune, September 19, 1911, page 2 TO BUILD NEW SEPTIC TANK
The
city dads are considering building a new septic tank to replace the
present one on Bear Creek in which to dispose of the city's sewerage.
The old tank was built four or five years ago and is said to be too
small for practical purposes. The new tank will be much larger than the
old one. It will be of concrete. The city engineer is now engaged in
preparing plans for it.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 3, 1912, page 8 We have found that contrary to the generally prevailing impression, no sewerage is drained into Bear Creek; that only the overflow taken care of by the storm sewers empties there; and that the sewerage has been adequately disposed of, until the present by the septic tank provided for that purpose, and that upon completion of the second septic tank now in process of construction, the future in connection with this problem is well taken care of. "Sanitary Survey of Medford Made by Greater Medford Club," Medford Mail Tribune, May 11, 1912, page 6 NEW SEPTIC TANK READY FOR USE
The
new septic tank just completed in the city on the banks of Bear Creek
north of the city will be placed in use within the next few days and is
expected to properly care for all of the sewerage from the city.
The tank is of concrete throughout and is a third larger than the old tank, which was of wood and caved in a few months ago. The tank is divided in three compartments to regulate the flow and is built according [to] latest data obtainable under the supervision of Olen Arnspiger, city engineer. Medford Mail Tribune, July 17, 1912, page 3 The city council awarded the contract for the building of a sewer on Dakota Avenue to W. W. Fristo, at the rate of 73 cents the foot. "Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, October 21, 1914, page 2 New sewers laid during the year totaled 1400 feet at a cost of $1200.12, bringing the total of the sewerage system to 27.54 miles, representing an outlay of $209.606.82. "City Pavement," Medford Mail Tribune, January 1, 1915, page D8 Sewage disposal is another serious problem for the immediate future. Our present plan is inadequate, and during the summer's low-water season the condition of Bear Creek below the plant is a menace to health. If the surplus water from the city reservoir were permitted to flow down Bear Creek below the plant the condition would be greatly relieved. The surplus water, being picked up above the sewage plant for irrigation purposes, and thus kept out of the creek channel, leaves the holes of the channel to become stagnant pools and a health menace. Investigation of sewage disposal plants has been made, and a proposed bond issue for this purpose must in time be submitted to the people. E. M. Wilson, "Mayor Wilson Announces Policy and Appointments in Inauguration Address," Medford Mail Tribune, January 7, 1931, page 7 THAT BEAR CREEK SEWER
During
the past week a number of ranchers and property owners owning property
or living adjacent to Bear Creek north of Medford have come to us
urging that we again publicly call to the attention of the city of
Medford the deplorable condition of this creek due to the unsanitary
method of sewer disposal that is permitted by said city of Medford.
While we have not made a strict survey of the conditions now existing,
yet we feel justified in the face of the information at hand to most
earnestly urge upon the new city administration the abating of this
dangerous menace to health.The water in said Bear Creek or sewer at this time is so filthy that it is a disgrace, especially so when same is permitted to go unchanged after the matter has been brought to each succeeding city administration, and it would seem that now is the time to begin to urge upon this administration the utmost importance of immediate action in abating this nuisance. The sewerage disposal of Medford has long been a source of menace to many citizens living north of Medford, and were we to have a health survey in Jackson County that was not influenced by politics, the city would find itself facing serious charges from the health department occasioned by the unsanitary conditions of this sewer disposal into Bear Creek. Excerpt, Pacific Record Herald, January 29, 1931 The citizens' budget committee recommended "that no time be lost in construction of a new sewage disposal plant, pointing out the imperative need for such improvement to be inaugurated, before the hot weather sets in, as the present septic tank contaminates Bear Creek in the summer and makes it practically an open sewer." "New Lights on Main St. Urged on Councilmen," Medford Mail Tribune, March 4, 1931, page 6 NEW SEWAGE PLANT TO BE BOUGHT HERE
Purchase of a new chlorination plant for treatment of city sewage until
construction of the contemplated new sewage disposal plant was
authorized yesterday morning by the city council of Medford at a
special meeting. The chlorination plant will cost about $1,900 and will
take the place of the small plant which had been borrowed from the
water department of the city.
The purchase was made on the insistence of the city health department. The new plant, which is to be selected by the health committee headed by W. W. Allen, chairman, will use about 240 pounds of chlorine a day at capacity, whereas the capacity of the present small plant is about 75 pounds a day, an amount deemed insufficient to care for the sewage problem in warm weather. The cost of the chlorine is about 10 cents a pound, which would mean $24 a day if the plant must be operated at capacity. It is believed the cost will approximate $500 a month, however, during the summer season. Dr. L. D. Inskeep declared that the system of handling the sewage problem would be adequate until construction of the new plant. A bond issue will probably be brought to vote soon on construction of the $215,000 disposal plant, held to be a pressing need of this city. At present Bear Creek, into which the sewage flows, is virtually dry, and a drastic sanitary condition is arising, with the threat of lawsuits hanging over the city. The present purchase is temporary, necessitated by the delay in construction of the large plant. Medford Daily News, May 23, 1931, page 1 A written communication was presented to the council from C. E. Peyton, asking for $1250 damages to his land along Bear Creek near the city's septic tank, because of a pipeline breaking and flooding his corn patch with raw sewage to a depth of several feet, which not only renders the land so covered useless for agriculture or grazing purposes, but creates a very offensive stench at his home nearby. Mr. Peyton was present in person and told the situation in detail. "Damage by Sewage at City's Door," Medford Mail Tribune, June 17, 1931, page 1 DISPOSAL PLANT SET TO OPERATE
Sewage To Start Through Today in Official Test Medford's
new $120,000 sewage disposal plant will be formally opened and "tested"
today, according to plans of city officials late yesterday, marking the
first completed step in a campaign to not only purify Rogue River, but
to protect the health of the Rogue River Valley.
Started about eight months ago, the new disposal plant, built by R. I. Stuart and Sons, has progressed rapidly. Yesterday workmen were hard at it to install filters and gauges, the last finishing touches. Purification Immediate "Purification of the water should start immediately," City Superintendent Fred Scheffel said. "It will take a month or two for the sludge tank to get in operation, but the water coming out of the plant should be immediately purified. It will take about 24 hours for it to get filled up." K. V. Hill, engineer for Greeley and Hansen, designers of the plant, is supervising the final work and will make tests today. Samuel Greeley is expected here Thursday. Costs Medford $86,000 The $120,000 system, of which Medford put up bonds for $86,000 and the Public Works Administration about $34,000, will be one of the most modern in the United States. The Medford bonds will be repaid in 10 years by taking six percent of the present water assessment. An average of 35 men have been employed since the work started eight months ago, greatly relieving the unemployment situation in Medford. Porter To Officiate If plans as made yesterday work out, Mayor George Porter will throw the switch that turns the sewage into the new plant. City officials are planning a quiet ceremony to mark the huge step in civic progress represented by the plant. "The bad odor of Bear Creek will likely persist for a month or two," Scheffel said, "because the old sewage has caught on roots and vegetation growing along the creek, and it will take time before it decomposes, but later this fall the bad odor should all be gone. Next summer you'll see a different Bear Creek." To Change Vegetation "Grass around the old septic tank formed a regular jungle," Scheffel said. "Sweet clover, ordinarily six or seven [inches] high, was 10 and 15 [inches] high. The entire growth of grass along Bear Creek that is characteristic of open sewers, and such as we see along Bear Creek, will change in a year or two to natural grass again." No definite hour was set for cutting the sewage over from the septic tank to the disposal plant. Medford News, July 22, 1936, page 1 INSPECTOR SAYS DISPOSAL PLANT IS GOOD JOB
R.
H. Corey inspector for public works projects in Oregon, Idaho,
Washington and Montana, was in Medford early this week inspecting the
new sewage disposal plant which is now ready for operation. While in
this district Corey also inspected the Ashland Normal gymnasium and the
Kerby school house.
Corey said that Medford has received an excellent bargain in its disposal plant, and complimented engineer Hill for his good work. Medford News, July 24, 1936, page 1 DISPOSAL PLANT WORKING WELL
During
the month of December Medford's new sewage disposal plant functioned
very effectively, it is shown in the report submitted by John A. Clark,
superintendent. The effluent, or treated sewage, is of sparkling clear
water as it enters Bear Creek, free of all noticeable suspended organic
matter.
Relative stability tests show that the effluent contains enough dissolved oxygen to more than satisfy the small oxygen demand for a period of at least 20 days. Results from the sludge or solid matter standpoint have not been so satisfactory, he reported, due to a minor breakdown in November, which caused loss of use of the digester for 10 days. The lower or oldest portion of sludge in the digester is now completely digested, however, and will soon be withdrawn to the drying beds. A beautification program at the plant is now under way, with 10 youths working under auspices of the national youth administration, Fred Scheffel, city superintendent, reported. Brush is now being cleared along the banks of Bear Creek and the road serviced. Shrubbery will be planted and the ground leveled for seeding. Medford News, January 15, 1937, page 1 Flies Cause Cost of Sewage Plant to Exceed Limit
Problems
are always arising to plague City Engineer Fred Scheffel, and sometimes
he's in quite a quandary as to what to do about them. Take Medford's
sewage disposal plant, for instance.
Cost of operating the plant is about $3000 a year more than it was estimated that it would cost, and now he's faced with getting that cost down. Acids to Blame Reason for the additional cost is not so much the domestic users of water as it is industrial concerns in the city that use acids in their work and flush the acids into the sewer. Packing houses have been forced to use acids in cleaning fruit, but in the past two years most of the fruit packing houses have installed equipment that neutralizes these acids before they go into the sewer. When raw acids go down the sewer and get to the disposal plant, they disrupt [the] normal process of treating the sewage and run up cost of operating the plant many times over. Another of the main sources of trouble, Superintendent Scheffel said, is the cannery and the catsup factory in Medford. These two plants turn their acids into the sewer and greatly increase cost of operating the plant. Half of Expense "In fact," Superintendent Scheffel said, "cost of treating sewage from these two plants approximates the entire cost of treating all the domestic sewage in the city." The cannery and catsup factory are not entirely to blame, however. Petition Real Cause A few years ago, they dumped their refuse into a huge vat, where it dried and was sold to farmers for hog feed. The vat drew flies by the billions, and residents living close to the cannery presented a petition to the council asking that the cannery and catsup plant be enjoined from putting their cannery refuse in the vat and thus drawing flies. The two industries were glad to cooperate, and the cannery installed huge ball grinders, at a cost of more than $1000, and ground up their refuse and dumped it in the sewer. That brought about the present situation of costing the city a lot of money to treat the sewage with the acid in it. The neighbors got rid of the flies, however, even though it did cost the cannery and catsup factory a lot of money. Furthermore, they used to realize a revenue from the refuse they sold to the farmers. Now they do not. Medford News, October 15, 1937, page 1 Our Sewage Improvement
Medford
voters should, in the light of common decency, support part of the city
improvement program which will be voted upon at a special election to
be held June 12. The rest of the program could better be held up for
"post-war" building.
This newspaper has consistently insisted that proper care of municipal sewage is necessary if a municipality is to call itself a civilized one. When Medford dumps untreated sewage into Bear Creek, allowing that sewage to pollute the waters of Bear Creek and of Rogue River for the entire length of the valley, Medford does not live up to the standard of a decent and civilized municipality. And that is what Medford is doing now. Therefore, we feel that support of the proposals to improve the Medford sewage disposal plant, and improve the sanitary sewer system for the east side of the city, are mandatory. We cannot imagine anyone voting against them, except persons who have absolutely no sense of decency. Medford News, June 1, 1945, page 4 CONSTRUCTION OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL
PLANT ON BALLOT Proposed Sewer System To Replace Inadequate Facilities; To Cost $313,000. Two
of the civic improvement projects to be included in the special bond
election June 12 are a necessity from the standpoint of health and
sanitation, according to city officials. These are construction of a
new trunk line sanitary sewer and enlargement of the sewage disposal
plant. The trunk sewer would cost in the neighborhood of $78,000 and
the plant enlargement about $235,000.
The proposed sanitary sewer would run the length of the city from the South C addition to the disposal plant and would serve certain south side sections now without sewer connections. Several blocks of houses and business places in the vicinity of Bear Creek cannot connect with the present trunk line because they lie below its course, according to Frank Rogers, city superintendent, and the new sewer would serve these. Line Overlooked
At present the west side trunk
line is greatly overloaded, especially in certain seasons, it is
stated, making it necessary at times to bypass the sewage directly into
Bear Creek under the Jackson Street bridge. During heavy rains and
flood periods, many residences in certain areas have sewage backed up
into drainpipes, and "spouting" sewers are a common sight on the
streets. Construction of the sanitary trunk line would relieve this
overload on the west side.An overload of about 100 percent is now being forced through the sewage disposal plant, according to the city superintendent. As a result, at certain times it is necessary to dump raw sewage into the river and at no time is the sewage processed the proper length of time, he states. Built for a capacity load of 1,200,000 gallons of sewage daily, the plant is now forced to carry from 2,000,000 to 2,500,000 a day, and when the figure rises above this, the sewage is simply bypassed into the river. To Provide Digester
The unsanitary conditions have
brought remonstrances from the state board of health from time to time,
and the condition should be corrected as soon as possible, city
officials declare. The sum of $235,000 will not only enlarge the plant
to the point where it will handle present and future sewage disposal
needs but will also provide a digester large enough to handle garbage
as well if in some future time this is found necessary.Medford Mail Tribune, June 5, 1945, page 1 The ballot measure passed. Sewage Disposal Plant Considered at Camp White
Possibility
is seen here that Medford's sewage disposal problem may be solved by
use of the Camp White sewage disposal plant, and that use of the plant
may also be spread to include Central Point and the Berrydale area.
The sewage disposal plant at Camp White is one of the best in the Northwest and capable of handling sewage of 35,000 people. Medford's sewage disposal plant is now inadequate for the increased population. Central Point has recently voted $80,000 for the building of a sewage disposal system, and the Berrydale section, which is as thickly populated as the average city, has none. Cost of making use of the Camp White plant would be about the same as the cost of increasing the Medford plant, officials point out, because it would be necessary to lay a pipe to the plant, on the banks of the Rogue River. But in so doing, Berrydale and Central Point could hook onto the line, thus dividing the cost. Plans for such a program are still in the formative stage, as there are unknown factors, such as whether or not the Camp White plant will be declared surplus, and the possibility that Camp White might again be used by the Army. City fathers at Central Point look with favor upon joint use of the Camp White plant, and so expressed themselves at a recent council meeting. What Berrydale citizens think has not been determined, as there has been no concrete proposal that Berrydale come under the plan, but those advocating such use of the Camp White plant can visualize the prevention of a serious pollution problem in the Berrydale section if a sanitary district could be formed there. Medford News, August 23, 1946, page 1 COUNCIL OKEH'S BIDS OF THREE FIRMS ON SEWERS
Bids
of Werner and Jeske, Eugene, F. W. Riddle, Springfield, and S. S.
Mullen, Seattle, for three major Medford sewer projects were accepted
by the city council at their regular meeting last night.
Werner and Jeske gained the Camp White trunk sewer job with a $150,200 offer; Riddle the Bear Creek interceptor sewer task with a $37,273.20 bid and Mullen the southwest Medford trunk system work with a $65,269 bid. Proposals of 10 contractors were opened at a meeting Monday and referred to A. D. Harvey and S. C. Watkins, consulting engineers, for tabulation. Councilmen made the awards on the engineers' recommendation. The successful bids totaled $252,742.30 compared to the $268,924.20 overall offer of Werner and Jeske and the $296,995.50 engineers' estimate. It was reported last night that negotiations are under way for the final right of way for the trunk from Medford to the newly acquired Camp White disposal plant. Councilmen last night approved construction of a sewer on Valley View Drive from Hillcrest Road to the north line of Williams subdivision, then east 180 feet, north 300 feet and east again 180 feet. They called for hearings on November 16 on proposed sewers on South Park Avenue, Catherine Street to Belmont Avenue and King Street between Belmont and Stewart avenues. Medford Mail Tribune, November 4, 1948, page 1 WORK STARTS ON SEWER SYSTEM
Work
started this week on construction of the southwest Medford trunk sewer
system. S. S. Mullen, Inc., Seattle, is the contractor. Deadline for
completion of the project is July 31.
The work started at the Cottage Street bridge. The new sewer line will run down Spencer to Mayette, then swing westward to Twelfth. Medford voted $100,000 in bonds last July for the project. Medford News, January 28, 1949, page 1 Disposal Area at Camp White Given to City by WAA
A
letter of transmittal and contract conveying to Medford 996.32 acres of
former Camp White land, "more or less," has been received by the city
administration from [the] War Assets Administration, Mayor Diamond
Flynn announced today.
The communication included notification that the deed will follow. Medford is getting the property, which surrounds the former Camp White sewage disposal plant, on a 100-percent discount basis and subject to government reservations over a 20-year period. To Be Studied A meeting of the health committee was held on the matter Saturday, but the WAA document has not yet gone before the complete city council or legal department for study of terms and conditions and official recognition, Flynn reported. Medford's city administration desires the land for garbage disposal and isolation purposes. Official notice that the city's application was approved was contained in the letter. The application previously was approved verbally. Fair value of the land is set at $12,917. This amount will decrease at the rate of five percent per year over the period of 20 years. No money is being paid for the property on the 100-percent discount basis. However, during the 20 years Medford, if it wishes, may purchase the property outright by paying the existing fair value. Similar Contract The contract proposed is similar to that now existing between the city and WAA for acquisition of the Camp White sewage treatment plant. "Medford is fortunate to have a disposal plant and dump ground which will serve for years to come and which, because of their isolation, will not be objectionable to residents," Flynn declared. The mayor said that several requests have been received for grazing rights on the land but that the city administration will be unable to negotiate such agreements until the WAA contract is studied further. Flynn reported that a city-wide cleanup may be suggested when the council convenes June 7. At that time complete usage of the Camp White property and the program of its availability to the public may be outlined. Medford Mail Tribune, May 23, 1949, page 1 New City Sewage Disposal Plant Trunk Line Open
A
project which began three years ago was completed at 9:20 a.m. today
when sewage from eastside and southwest Medford started flowing into
the new trunk line to the Camp White treatment plant.
Workmen opened the siphon at the Medford Corporation bridge just north of the city and at the same time cut off the bypass into Bear Creek. No more raw sewage is flowing from Medford trunks into the creek, City Engineer E. N. McKinstry stated. To Close Old Plant He said that it is contemplated that the old disposal plant on Biddle Lane will go out of operation at the end of this week, at which time all sewage will be directed into the Camp White line. First Medford sewage to be processed at the new facility was to reach the treatment plant about 2 p.m., about five and one-half hours after the siphon was opened, McKinstry said. In August 1946, city officials began preliminary negotiations with [the] War Assets Administration for the plant. Formal application was made in July, 1947. About a year later WAA approved the transfer subject to a vote of Medford residents authorizing city acquisition of the facility and a $400,000 bond issue for construction of a trunk sewer from Medford to the plant. This authorization was granted in an election on July 16, 1948. Werner and Jeske, contractors, were awarded the task of constructing the trunk in November, 1948. Their work was completed on schedule. Specified deadline for finishing the task was July 31 this year. Medford Mail Tribune, August 1, 1949, page 1  The Camp White sewage plant comes on line, August 2, 1949 Medford Mail Tribune. Central Point Begins Joint Sewer Line Use
Central
Point, June 30--Central Point began joint use with Medford of the
former Camp White sewage treatment plant this week as the final
connection with the Medford to Camp White trunk was made.
Checks are being made to ascertain that Central Point's new pumping station and pipeline are functioning adequately, City Recorder Arden Pinkham said. Construction of the station pipeline began early in February, and actual construction was completed more than a month ago. Delays in arrival of machinery and meters held up operation. Medford Mail Tribune, June 30, 1950, page 1 Gas Leak Found, Fixed Thursday
Medford Mail Tribune, January 17, 1958, page 1 Crews
of the California-Pacific Utilities Company early yesterday afternoon
found and repaired an explosion-causing gas line leak at Canon Ave. and
Eighth St., company officials have announced.
Early yesterday morning at least four storm sewer covers on Eighth St. were blown off and others were disturbed after an explosion which city officials said was caused from an accumulation of domestic gas in the recently completed sewer line. One window was reported broken, but there were no injuries. Gas company officials said a one-inch line at Eighth St. and Canon Ave. was broken at a pipe coupling. They said apparently it was damaged when the storm sewer was installed and was not noticed at the time. The principal blast occurred about 3:20 a.m. yesterday and was followed by a series of smaller explosions when sewer covers were blown off along the sewer line. 41 Take Tour to View Sanitation Problems in Area
The 41 members
of [the] "See It For Yourself Tour" of the proposed Bear Creek Basin
Sanitary Authority area literally followed their noses to sewage
disposal problem areas in Jackson County yesterday.
Most frequent comments were "Why doesn't somebody enforce present state laws against this pollution?" "Now that it is almost too late, it looks as if something will be done about this problem." "It's a wonder this county has got by with this problem as long as it has." "Phewee." The tour ran an hour over the three hours originally planned. It covered such places as the Talent sewer plant, Suncrest Bridge area, Lithia Drive-In Theater area and some homes along the old U.S. 99 in the Talent area, Starlite Drive-In Theater area, Crooked Creek at Walker the Weeper's trailer sales, Oakdale Drive and the 600 block of Lozier Lane, Thunderbird Market area, Central Point pump station, Medford sewage treatment plant. Ran Out of Time
Because of lack of time some areas had to be
commented on briefly or bypassed. Bypassed areas included the White
City sewage lagoon, Gilman Road sewage lift station and Hawthorne Park
at Main Street.The tour was sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Medford Chamber of Commerce and Junior Chamber of Commerce, Izaak Walton League, Bear Creek Basin Sanitation Study Committee and health organizations. There were two representatives from Medford and one from Gold Hill. Almost all of the sponsoring organizations were represented. The League of Women Voters had a strong and active representation. County Judge Earl M. Miller told the group that residents of the 31 precincts involved would be voting Aug. 30 on creation of a Bear Creek Basin Sanitation District. The proposed area would range along the Bear Creek Valley floor and exclude Jacksonville, Medford, Phoenix, Eagle Point and Central Point. The City of Talent voted by resolution to be included. The other cities' governing bodies resolved not to be included. If the district is approved residents of the 31 precincts would vote for five persons to act as a board of directors. They would be elected at large. This means they could all come from one precinct or could be residents of five different precincts. Overall cost for the sanitation improvement project would be $9,500,300 and would cover four phases. The first phase of the sanitation system construction would come in 1967-68 and would cost about $2,855,000. The fourth phase would be completed in 1970-71, Miller said. Vote Only on Formation
The county judge emphasized that on Aug. 30
residents of the affected area would be voting only on the proposed
area for consideration as a district.The touring group, traveling by Evergreen Lines chartered bus, first visited the Talent sewage treatment plant, built in 1936 to serve a maximum population of 700. Les Wierson, project engineer for Cornell, Howland, Hayes and Merrifield (CH2M), noted that the Talent population has increased considerably since then. Due to inadequate sewage treatment facilities, restrictions have been placed on the Talent area's further growth. The master plan requested of CH2M by the Jackson County Court would eliminate spot development of treatment facilities. Wierson explained that the solids in the treatment plant pile up, so they are carried into the sewage flow and back into the plant. The sewage is not chlorinated mechanically, so that much of the waste is discharged into Bear Creek without chlorination, he said. Leo L. Baton, district sanitary engineer, said only a portion of the Talent sewage runs through the plant. State law does require chlorination of all sewage waste. The City of Talent is taking steps to take care of this situation now, he said. A broader new state law, which becomes effective Sept. 1, 1967, specifies that it is unlawful to put any untreated waste into the state's waters. The original law was designed to regulate discharge of sewage from houseboats. Baton admitted that he covers seven counties and finds it difficult to enforce such sanitation laws. The entire State Sanitary Authority is woefully short of enforcement personnel, he said. Baton said at one time Bear Creek had 170,000 steelhead fingerlings. This year there were only 1800, and 600 of these were killed. He indicated discharge of sewage wastes into the stream removed much of the life-giving oxygen for the fish. On to Phoenix
As the bus moved through the Phoenix area, Baton
pointed out that the south Talent area and much of the Phoenix area has
an adverse draining area for sewers.Phoenix is tied into the City of Medford sewage treatment facilities through the South Bear Creek Sanitation District. Sewage disposal problems are especially bad around the hill areas above Phoenix, and around Griffin Creek and Wagner Creek. Many times homes are built on rocks, and the sewage is discharged directly into the creeks without septic tanks, it was stated. The Medford sewage treatment plant had such a tremendous overload last year that only 50 percent of the sewage passing through its system could be treated. Only 9 percent of the solids were removed by the plant, according to tests taken. A brief stop in the Jefferson School area showed how sewage was coming onto the ground surface near the nice homes in that area. The shopping center complex was finally hooked into the Medford sewage system through annexation to the city, Baton explained. He told how the Lozier Lane area has good soil only 12 to 18 inches deep. This makes for poor septic tank drainage. Rain raising the water table complicates the problem. The group saw how the Central Point sewage treatment plant was started and never finished. The pumping station was abandoned when Central Point hooked onto the Medford system. Baton pointed to major bypasses which allowed much of Central Point sewage to flow into Bear Creek directly. Back at the Medford plant, Jan Niehaus, new Medford sanitation plant manager, explained its operation. His assistant said addition of more filters would greatly improve the Medford plant operation. A recorder showed that the plant was then processing almost 8 million gallons. It was designed to process 2½ million gallons of sewage. Filters Would Help
Addition of two more filters would enable the
plant to process sewage waste from a population equivalent of 40,000 to
50,000. It now serves a population equivalent of 35,000. It now has a
hydraulic capacity of 11 million gallons.While the bus passed by the White City sewage lagoon, the CH2M engineer explained that a lagoon operation requires an acre for a population equivalent of 175 people. All sewage plants and problem areas visited had strong sewage odors. It was explained by Niehaus' assistant that the odor at the Medford plant was due to septic tank cleaning companies' dumping wastes near the treatment plant. However, Judge Miller said, this would account for only part of the odor. Medford Mail Tribune, August 17, 1966, page 1 Voters in the Bear Creek Valley Tuesday authorized the forming of a Bear Creek Valley Sanitary Authority by a vote of 1,369 to 311. Fourteen percent of the 11,937 eligible voters within the proposed boundaries voted. "Sanitary Authority Formation Approved by 1,369-311 Vote," Medford Mail Tribune, August 31, 1966, page 1 Last revised May 5, 2013 |
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