668 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE, 



Turkey creek, thence curving to the right or northwesterly, to the east side of the 

 last mentioned stream, straightening it, also, in several places, and thence along 

 the easterly side of the same to the water-works. At this point I would suggest 

 the construction of a large flushing gate, so, if at any time it became necessary to 

 flush the sewer between the Missouri River and the water-works, it could be suc- 

 cessfully accomplished by utilizing the water from Turkey creek. By means of a 

 flushing gate water could be admitted into the sewer in as small quantities as may 

 be desired, or entirely excluded ; thence following the center line of Liberty street 

 to the Missouri River. This sewer will drain a much larger area than was pre- 

 viously mentioned, having added to it a great portion of West Kansas and the 

 bluff. There is much to be said in favor of this sewer. It will serve as a main 

 outlet sewer for West Kansas, which they must have shortly, and more than two- 

 thirds of our population would be benefited. In the execution of this work it 

 would not be advisable to arch Turkey creek, thereby making it a part of the 

 sewer. It will be far preferable to keep the sewer entirely separate, exclud- 

 ing the water when necessary and using such quantities as may be required in 

 the flushing process. 



The approximate length of this sewer will equal about 14,520 feet. The ex- 

 amination that I have made, not with great precision, however, but sufficiently 

 accurate to establish beyond question its practicability, indicates an inclination 

 from the place of beginning to a point near the corner of Fourteenth and 

 Liberty streets of nearly five inches per 100 feet. From this point to the Missouri 

 River an inclination of nearly three and one-half inches per 100 feet is attainable, 

 which is beyond question sufficient to serve the purpose of its construction. The 

 approximate cost of an improvement of this kind would probably be from $225,- 

 000 or $235,000, or about fifteen dollars per foot, first class work. The cost will 

 depend wholly upon the nature and class of woik. 



The other method that suggested itself to my mind, and which I communica- 

 ted to Mr. Knickerbocker, city engineer, during the summer months, who thought 

 favorably of it, is to tunnel through the hill that sepraates the natural basin on the 

 south from the Missouri River on the north. The tunnel will pass directly under 

 the city. The word tunnel, associated with an improvement of this kind, sug- 

 gests to the mind an extensive and costly work, but in this improvement there will 

 not be so great cost associated with its execution as one naturally supposes. 



The tunnel will have a capacity of discharge equal to a circular sewer twelve 

 feet in diameter, through which all sewage and waste from the houses within the 

 area mentioned will pass. There are three routes by which the Missouri River 

 can be reached by means of sewer tunnels. First — Beginning at a point south of 

 Twentieth street near Main, thence to Twentieth, following the same to Cherry 

 street. Thence diagonally under the Fair ground to Ninth street, between Tracy 

 and Lydia avenues. Thence, following as near as possible the ravine, passing 

 under Independence avenue to the river. A considerable amount of work on this 

 route will be open trench work, but the greater proportion will require tunneling. 

 Second route — It is proposed to follow the same route as the former to the corner 



