At the council meeting on February 3, 1888, an attempt was made to take action. The Sewer Committee recommended that the city continue to serve at least the thickly settled portion of the city and drain it to the Topeka Avenue sewer. A 4 to 4 vote occurred on adopting the report, with the mayor deciding the issue by voting no. In exasperation, Healy moved that some committee other than Sewer investigate the matter, but that also failed.

At the February 27 meeting, a change in direction occurred. In addition to announcing the completion of the First Street sewer, the Sewer Committee recommended that the taxpayers have more of a voice in the issue. Therefore, the matter was referred to the Wichita Board of Trade to consult with the Sewer Committee and adopt a plan. The Sewer Committee also reported the sewer on First Street had been completed.

By the next month, steps were being taken. On May 26, 1888, a communication was submitted to the council from Moore, who proposed to examine the sewer plans and to give a written report for $500 and expenses. A Mr. Maddox, favoring the gravity system of sewerage, also offered his plans and statements. The matter was deferred as a motion carried for the Sewer Committee and the Board of Trade to confer on the issue.

On April 9, more letters from engineers were read. Chester B. Davis of Chicago reported he would develop a plan for $60 a day, plus expenses, and Rudolph Herring of New York asked $500 for a written report. Herring was a nationally respected sanitary engineer who at the time was a consulting engineer for Providence, Rhode Island. Although Colonel Hiram Lewis reported the Board of Trade Committee would study the matter, the council moved unanimously to employ Herring for the job.

The Eagle reported Herring’s acceptance on April 15, and he arrived in Wichita the next day. Coming directly from Atlanta, where he had been engaged in similar work, he said that all large and important cities were finding good sewerage indispensable. As a result, they were hunting for the best systems and plans engineers could define. Herring, termed "a very pleasant gentleman (who) talks sewer systems fluently," emphasized that it was vital to find the proper system for a city and then to install it with good construction. He spent the next day in the office of City Engineer Mulvey, securing data from different surveys of the city for his report.

Herring soon completed his report and presented it to the combined meeting of the City Council and the Board of Trade on April 20, 1888. He included significant details on the type of sewer system needed for the city and answered questions on the matter. He recommended the Arkansas River below the boundary of the city be the receptacle for the sewerage. Street storm water would be channeled to the river through surface drainage rather than in the sewers, although river water could be used for flushing. The key question was whether pumping would be required or whether land grade could be relied on to pull the sewerage through the system. On this point, Herring concluded that a nine to 12-inch slope per 1000 feet for small pipes and 18-inch slope for 15-inch pipes and over would be sufficient, which he found was "entirely practicable to attain" in the city, as the Topeka Avenue sewer proved with its fall of 12 inches per 1000 feet. (City Council Minutes). Herring said pumping would be more expensive because of the quicksand nine to ten feet below the surface.

The issue of flushing was next discussed. He gave various alternatives, saying the best one was to use the river to enter the sewer at planned times. Although Rosewater and Christie recommended flushing through use of the Arkansas River, Herring believed use of Chisholm Creek would be more efficient. An automatic flushing device would carry the water from the north into the system and flow south into the river. Herring's plan concluded with a detailed description of the size and location of mains, laterals, and manholes, followed by a recommended course of action in preparing for bids.

Upon hearing and questioning the report, the council passed a resolution unanimously. When the council next met on April 23, Mayor Allen appointed a standing committee on sewer and drainage, made up of members of the council representing each ward. Since no system of sewerage had yet been adopted, the matter was referred to the new committee, along with ways to obtain water for flushing and sewer rights of way.

On May 14, 1888, a number of current issues were discussed. The Sewer Committee reported that the lower end of the old Topeka Avenue ditch was blocked, causing flooding in the north. The street commissioner was instructed to open the ditch at Harry Street. Healy and the committee then entered a new angle by submitting a communication to the council from the Pacific Sewerage Company of Colorado offering a detailed proposal for sewering the city using a concept known as the Western Pumping System. Using the Rosewater and Christie plans, the company agreed to complete 84 miles of sewer within three years, and the main portion of the city within one year. They offered to pay for a comparison of their proposal to one in Atlantic City where a similar system was used. The plan called for the sewage to be pumped into the Arkansas River.

Eighty percent of the $400,000 cost of the project would be paid as the job progressed with the remaining twenty percent upon completion. The company would supervise connections to the sewer at a cost not more than one dollar per foot, measuring from the center of the street to the property line.

The reading of the contract spurred heavy debate. Healy said he had presented the contract after a large number of taxpayers favoring the trust system had submitted the proposition. After reading it, he found it not as favorable as had been represented, and wanted it brought before the council, which subsequently placed it on file. Not satisfied, Healy requested City Engineer Mulvey's opinion on the sewering of the city. Mulvey recommended Herring’s plan and Councilman A.T. Buckridge moved to adopt the gravity system, but English objected, arguing that the Pacific Sewer Company's proposal to put in 84 miles for $400,000 and insuring its success was less cost than any other system. Rosewater and Christie, as well as Herring, had agreed that the grade in the plan was the minimum necessary for the gravity system and that the Western System gave a higher grade than any other, relying on the pumping. "Let us have a certainty at a smaller price," English urged. (City Council Minutes).

Buckridge contested the remarks, claiming that the security of "'that watered sewer stock" of Pacific Sewer was worth little, and that Herring favored the gravity system. "I think we have fooled long enough about it, but let us build some sewer." A Mr. Harris, a businessman, joined in, arguing for the city to accept the bond for the Pacific sewer, "We propose to give you a bond that will be good," he claimed. To this, Healy, using the history of the sewer controversy to support the gravity system said, "The history of this thing is Mr. Moore of St Louis three years ago gave plans which did not amount to much favoring the pumping system. Next came Robinette who worked out $150 worth. Then we got Rosewater and Christie for $2,000 for comprehensive plans as you all know. Then it was Mr. Herring for $50 per day to examine all plans and he favors the gravity system. I never favored the gravity system here until I had studied it and have never changed my mind." (City Council Minutes).

English was not convinced, however, warning, "There is no chance for boodle in the open construction of the Pacific Sewer Company, but there is a chance for boodle in some other ways." Mr. Stein, representing the Pacific Sewer Company, said the bond should meet the approval of the city attorney and, contrary to Herring’s assertions on the cost of the pumping systems, said the costs would be equal to other systems. (City Council Minutes).

Healy objected to the claim, arguing that the plan would now cost $152,000 according to Rosewater and Christie. But English added, "The Rosewater and Christie plans don't guarantee to put in anything, but it's simply a report paid for." (City Council Minutes).

Mayor Allen attempted to calm the proceedings by requesting any additional speakers to come forward before closing the discussion. However, this seemed only to spark more fire as City Engineer Mulvey joined in. He said that Herring’s plan was a professional, non-biased study which supported the use of gravity, as proven by the efficacy of the Topeka Avenue sewer. As to the new proposal, he exclaimed "There was a report read here a moment ago called the 'West System’. Great God! As to his process it contains only one patent, and that is about filtering. We