Tacoma Times story from June 4, 1915:
Tacoma is facing one of the most serious municipal crises in its history.
During the last two weeks Uncle Sam has demanded a rearrangement of the local sewage system, to cost at least $500,000, and is sending one of the heads of the U.S. health bureau to Tacoma next week to make its demands explicit, it was learned today.
The city has not one cent for the work – will have no money until next year. But the threat of Uncle Sam means that this port will be put on the United States health department’s “black list” as an unclean harbor.
If the government wishes to press its demand, ocean traffic can be prevented from coming here.
The trouble arises over the fact that a sewer on 15th street empties close to the city docks, and sewage floats about the entire city channel continuously.
To rearrange the sewage system, a new trunk sewer must be built from 15th street under the city to the site of the old gravity coal bunkers, where tide currents could sweep it out to sea.
The council was informed today that Assistant Surgeon General W. C. Ruther of Washington D.C., was coming to Tacoma next Thursday to demand a change in the system.
Commissioner Woods told the council the necessary sewer tunnel would cost half a million.
The only apparent solution is a bond election, and immediate construction work.
The city council, though excited over the situation, will wait to hear the verbal message of Dr. Ruther before deciding what action top take.
Woods Wrathy.
Although worried over the outcome of the government’s action, Commissioner Woods, who has charge of the city’s sewage system, was highly incensed over the federal threats today.
“Is Tacoma going to let the federal health department come in here and run out port for us, or are we going to run it ourselves?” he demanded of the city council.
“The government is butting into the affairs of every city in the country, and now it wants to put us so the expense of half a million dollars on a mere health technicality. We can get along temporarily with our present sewage system. Why should the government come in and dictate to us like this? It’s an injustice, but we simply can’t help ourselves. We have to do what the United States tells us to.”
At Inopportune Time.
This action comes just as Tacoma is taking the lead among all American ports in export trade to its handling of war orders for Vladivostok. Already nearly $4,000,000 in exports have been sent out this month. Unless the interference of the U.S. officialdom is successful, June should be a $10,000,000 month.
The Tacoma Sun 