Recommends A New City Hall

RECOMMENDS A NEW CITY HALL.

Mayor Luick says money should be raised.

THE CLEANING SYSTEM was thoroughly gone over at board of public works meeting.

At the meeting of the board of public works Wednesday Mayor Luick asked for more light on the work of cleaning the streets and sewers. He did not kick - he only wanted information so that he could explain the situation to the people who complained to him. He said that when he signed orders, here were a number for cleaning the sewers. There were citizens who thought it unnecessary to go around and clean the catch-basins so often, and that one man could do the work as well as three. They wished to be economical, and were anxious to reduce expenses as much as possible. Mr. Keech explained the question at length. At the corner of Main and Liberty sts. a load of dirt was taken out of the man-hole. One man did the work of shoveling up the dirt, and another pulled it up. The third, with a wagon, hauled it away. He had suggested the use of barrels so that as soon as the wagon got back they could load up. This was being done. Two men must do the work.

Mayor Luick asked why the street commissioner and one man could not do the work.

Mr. Keech said the sewer system was like a watch that needed watching. When the board had taken up the sewer system many of the flush tanks did not work; some emptied too much water, and others not any. There was so much iron in the water that if not watched, the tanks would clog up. There were 260 man-holes and 130 flush tanks in the sanitary sewer system, and 215 receiving basins, 87 catch basins and 61 man-holes in the storm sewer - a total of 753. Not every man would like to follow this work. One man's stomach turned. Mr. Keech said he would not do the work for $10 a day. (A gentleman present suggested it was like cleaning out out-houses).

Street Commissioner Ross said he thought he could take a couple of laborers and do the work. It was only necessary to clean out in the spring and fall.

Mr. Keech said if the matter was put into Street Commissioner Ross' hands, the latter would have to see that the system was cleaned many times a year. Mr. Funkey, who did the work, received $1.50 a day when working, as did the helper. Mr. Funkey, who was under the direction of the city engineer, had discovered stop-pages and remedied them, thus saving the city thousands of dollars. Mr. Keech said he was willing to put up the Ann Arbor sanitary sewer system against any in the county. They could be proud of the system laid out by Prof. C. E. Green.

Mayor Luick said he was not finding fault - he simply wanted information. A citizen had called his attention to cleaning the pavement during the last snow.

Mr. Schleicher explained that if it was not done, the streets would be like a barnyard. The men went around and took up the horse droppings. If it was let go, the streets would be in a terrible condition.

Mayor Luick suggested that the city should raise money for a city hall, greatly needed.