Mr. Mignault. You have no idea, have you, as to what it would cost to install a purification plant?
Mr. Irving. I have not the slightest idea. While Mr. Paterson was telling you what could be done I was interested in reading a few remarks that were made by Col. Waring in 1872, when he suggested our sewerage system. He said:
Many of the objections that hold against the system of water sewerage in most towns are inoperative in Ogdensburg. Not only can the whole city (except a small district near the river) be completely drained by natural fall, but the foul drainage will flow directly into a river that will carry it at once away—a river so large that there is no danger of action ever being taken by cities farther down the stream to prevent the contamination of the water. Indeed the only considerable objection that I can think of against carrying out a properly executed system of sewerage in Ogdensburg is the one item of its wastefulness. Properly deodorized and applied to good agricultural land, the night soil of a town of 10,000 inhabitants would be worth at least $50,000 annually. This shows that the item of wastefulness is worthy of the consideration of all thoughtful persons, and there is no doubt that at some not very distant day its force will be realized and the wasting of sewage will be stopped.
Mr. Mignault. What is the name of this local river that enters here?
Mr. Irving. The Oswegatchie.
Mr. Mignault. What is your indebtedness?
Mr. Irving. In 1914 it was $515,000, including the water board debt. The water board debt at that time was $68,250. In computing the bonded indebtedness of a town the water bonds are always excluded.
Mr. Mignault. Has there been any material change since then in your financial situation?
Mr. Irving. I presume that the issues would be about at a standoff. There have been some few small local bonds issued.
Mr. Powell. Does your water system pay its way?