The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-20
THE CITY SEWERS.

Their Worthlessness and Their Price.
The following is extract from the annual report
the Croton Aqueduct Department for the 1884 OF
the very important subject Of our city sewerage
SEWERAGE SYSTEM SURVEYS
Under the law of 1849 which created the Croton Aque
duct Department and defined powers and duties thu
Croton Aqueduct Board charged with the consruc
ton repairs and cleansing Of all the and under
ground drains but subject to the orders and directions
the Common Council the times and places Of building
new sewers the general plan which has been may
be adopted for the sewerage and drainage Of said city,
No general plan had at that time been adopted. IT.
necessity was, however, early by this board, and
guard against the evils then apparent aud whct
doubtless would be still further increased by its neglect
the attention OF the Common Council at onc'
urgently called thereto and authority to incur the ex
pendture necessary in the preliminary work at the
early period asked for by this board both In the
annual reports and in special communications
The efforts of this board frequently repeated during
period Of fourteen years ct length met with partial sue
In tho month Of July, 1863 resolution OF the
Common Council authorized the undertaking and com
peton Of such surveys and plans might become
sary in the establishment of system Of sewerage Tho
inability Of the Common Council To provide ut that time
further but unavoidable delay In the commencement Of
the proposed work An expenditure Of was sub
sequeny sanctioned by the Legislature Of 1884 and an
appropriation Of that amount after made by
work has been carefully and steadily prosecuted
aud much progress has been made therein.
SEWERAGE DISTRICT l.
This district lies between the westerly boundary Of the
Park and Hudson river, and extends from Fifty
ninth 10 Eighty street. its area being upwards of four
hundred and acres.
The plan for the sewerage Of this district was com.
cary 'ass ano .nI % was %
nication, undor dato Of August g. 1854.
The distinguishing features Of this pIan contrascd
with the utter absence Of methods and disregard or ecOnO
my which have characterized the construction Of most OF
the heretofore built in this city, alluded to in
that communication in the following words, viz
Firat-toTbe construction OF n main trunk or outlet
for the conveyance OF the sewerage OF the whole
district TO the exterior pcrhcad ne to b. thence carried
away by the tidal currents thus lessenng II not entirely
avoiding the obvious evils caused by indefinite number
Of small dscharging their focal contents into the
heads Of slips and along the river shores to poison the
air with noxious and disgusting efnuvia"
Second-"A gradual reduction In the capacities Of the
branch lateral sewers a. they recede from the main
trunk yet each made fully equal TO the work would
under all possible contingencies have 70 perform
Thrd-sThe adoption Of such lines and grades for both
the and branch sewers will furnish the maxi
mum OF sewerage facilities, and the time involve
the least comparative cost In their construction and the
east expenditure thereafter In the removal Of sediment
therer0 the harmonious arrangement OF the several
parts making the system, as . whole, sfclcansing
II was also stated in that communication that IL
whole Of the sewerage proposed for the district
time, by doing saving could be made of at least
one-haf Of the expense that would be incurred in the
construction OF similar extent OF sewerage In the old
way. This saving In expense would be due ia part to
the omission Of all unnecessary work. and the adapa-
ton of the capacities Of the various mains and lateras
reduction in the incidental expenses under the heads
OF surveying assessing, collecting advertising printing
&C which increase 80 dsproportionaely the cost Of
sewers as well of other public Improvements when
done by piecemeal This district embraces, before
stated Of about four hundred and seven acres
The cost Of sewcrng this area according to the old
method, want Of method now controlling construc
tons would be ST. 93074 So The cost of sewering the
by the system proposed, S699 46 90, tho DIFF
saving being 81 1l3 1877 81 about sixty
three per cent That this the first authorized attempt TO
the blessings Of swell devised and harmonious
system OF sewerage for our city might successful IL was
recommended that the plan submitted be officially APP
proved the pan for the sewerage q district No l. and
that resolutions shonld be adoptcdFst, expressly for
bidding the construction OF any In said district
less In the opinion oil this board the was in
Immediate undertaking and completion Of the main
sewer and such OF tho lateral or branch sewers 10
Gated in the several streets and avenues parts thereof
I'm said district which open IN law, to such extent
in the opinion OF said board might be practicable
This communication referred 70 tho Committee
Sewers, but nasmucl, as no further action has been
taken, would here those recommendations and
respectfully but urgently ask your favorable action
thereon.
tory progress has been made in the preparation OF plans
for the sewerage Of other districts These plans when
fully perfected, will, In like manner be Submitted TO your
honorable body for approval and adoption.
Before concluding this branch OF report . sub
ec which the attention OF your predecessors has
frequently been called feel constrained say that
the disregard Of all proper principle shown In the con-
strucon Of socaled Is dscredabe to all who
have any control the subject The utter OF any
system and the daily increasing OWLS resulting from neg
ec 70 adopt any change In this respect facts beyond
Observation-Disclosures tending 10 bring disgrace upon
city In the neighboring city OF Brooklyn System Of
sewerage adopted Immediately after the iutroduc-
ton Of full supply Of water.
In the distant and younger city Of Chicago the
same enlightened foresight has been manifested by It's
public authoritics and the same vgor and promptne@
shown in is practical application
In the city Of New York the metropolis OF the New
The enterprise OF its inhabans should be the leader in
all movements tending 70 the advancement OF science
the developement OF general intelligence, and to In
crease in the comfort conveniencs and health Of its
people, what IL the progress which has been made In
work which. In sanitary point Of view is confssedly
Probably city Ia the world poss greater natural
advantages for the establishment Of perfect system OF
saS ~ % m
shores are wished twice daily by the rapid and
deep tidal currents Of two noble rivers or arms
OF the sea, every facility Ia at our command for
the prompt and eectuai removal q the city sewerage
And yet for miles along wharves the elements of dis
ease are deposited and retained Every dock receives the
contents OF sewer and from these multiplied recepiA
clcs OF rapidly sccumuating Nth there goes up hourly
noxous exhalatons, disgusting to the senses and de-
siructye 70 the health Of the whole ncs hborhood
with the experience before Us OF m chief cities IN the
Old World still spend millions In bonarucons crude
IN design, and wanting In every excellence which mo
them and has boon the In those citice we must
soon reach point when the public health will impesa-
lively demand an entire abandonment and rcconstruc
lion OF work which rccklcssly wasting
money.
Tho language OF this part Of report may appear like
reflection your predecessors II Il not intended 10
solves TO speak Of the present condition Of our
sewerage in any yelled language. The attention OF
the public has been forced 10 the subject by the
actual exp u Of injuries suffered, and depart
ment has be- called upon 10 bear the odum OF negli
gencc wh CHI s not It's own, and 10 correct which II has
urgently struggled In vain for years past
Having per d duty 10 the matter and e.
haustd every effort 10 OF the existing evils seems
only right that The public should nj length be told plainly
thai the gross want o. scientific knowldge the reckless
health, conspicuous In our sewer constructions not
Justly attributable 10 the Cfoion Aqueduct Board
IL earnestly hoped that The present Common Council
will give this subject that Intelligent consideration
which ih great importance deserves and aso will, by
their prompt action redeem city from present dis