LOGAN DEMANDING FLOOD RELIEF
Residents Plan ‘March’ on City Hall to Press for Adequate Sewers
Philadelphia Bulletin, August 18, 1938

Logan residents, mopping up after the worst flood in seven years, today discussed plans for a “march” on Mayor Wilson at City Hall to demand adequate storm sewers.

The section is without prospect of relief from overflows following heavy rains, said officials of the Bureau of Engineering, Zoning and Surveys.

“However, it is doubtful if any sewers would have carried off the tremendous flow of water in Logan yesterday afternoon,” added an employe who visited the scene.

He explained that a “cloudburst” at 5 o’clock over Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Germantown precipitated a flood along the streets leading down to Logan in addition to the heavy rain that was falling there.

Residents and shopkeepers on Courtland st., between 10th and York road, reported the flood swept streets with force sufficient to tear up paving.

Bureau of Highways officials said the city has been without money for sewer construction since 1929.

City Council has authorized the use of $1,000,000 representing half of an emergency loan, with Federal WPA funds, in projects designed to improve the water supply and sewage systems but it expected this money will be used on the water project and the sewage disposal plant, leaving nothing for sewers.

Mayor Wilson has urged the creation of the Municipal Authority with power to issue bonds on self-sustaining projects for a total of $100,000,000, one of the items being the construction of storm sewers in Logan. Councilman Arthur P. Keegan has proposed that City Council deal directly with the Federal government, recalling that the municipality has the right to issue bonds on self-sustaining projects.

Four more deaths attributed indirectly to the heat brought the toll for the four days in this area to 14. There were two more drownings and four persons were injured by lightning.

The rain which continued at intervals until early today also caused some flood damage in Germantown, Chestnut Hill and West Philadelphia neighborhoods.