New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-08
SEWAGE AND IT'S UTILIZATION

We propose TO resume the subject "i drainage
and the utilization Of sewage, at the point
where it was temporarily laid aside in these
columns several months ago. In general terms,
it may be said that London, Liverpool and
EdinbuTg-always IN advance Vt New-imk IN
every poin, Of municipal re.orm-bave abund-
antly proved that the sewage Of large cites Is
worth all the necessary cost Of it, utilization.
SAYS Prof Lebig: 'Of all the elements oi The
fields which in their products in the shape oi corn
and meat, are carried into tho cities and there
consumed, nothing, or as good as nothing, re-
turns to the fields. II is clear that II these
elements were collected without loss and every
year restored 10 the fields, these would then
retain the power 20 furnish to the cities the same
quantity of corn and meat; and il IL equally
clear that. if the fields do not receive back these
elements. agriculture must gradually cea.e. In
regard to the utility of the avails of the sew
age Of towns g. manures, no farmer, and scarcely
an intelligent man has any doubt" II Is only
Of late years, however, that farmers iuliy
realized in practical way 40 simple Truth ms
that land must receive again, by artificial dress
ing those elements which crops have withdrawn
from il: and, even now, many q shiltlesS abuser
Of soil allows his manure.heap 10 lie uncovered
To the washing OF all the rain that falls, uncon-
scous that he is wasting what might become
wheat and grass To have changed all
this il one step gained and a greater
one will follow when it's generally understood
that, ia place Of expensive dressings, tho sew
age Of great cities may he employed, instead OF
being suffered to become source OF disease.
The fi.ct il al that is yet placed ont Of reason
able controversy; precisely b. what methods
and 10 what degree sewage may be utilized, -
not determined. Consequently, We DO not eA-
pcct to do more at present than give the most
salient and practical facts, obiainable from
some of the latest English Pamphlets relating
to the subject. Better drainage and modes OF
dealing with sewage form part OF our pressing
municipal reforms; and, when attention Is once
directed to the problem Of utilization, practical
experiment will do more than disqnisition.
In passing, however-as comparisons arc some
times instructive as well as odious-wc quoto n
paragraph giving the organization OF tho Metro
politan Board of Works, under whose authority
the new systcm Of London drainage has lately
been completed of which we gave sketch
some time ago. In New.York, CORRUPT COY
eminent sells the lives of the population to three
contractors; in London, this ID the mode OF
management:
"Under this net London Is divided into 70 districts
The CITY of London aud the larger parishes each form
ing one district and minor parishes bei,g united "a
form district. The rate pnyers OF each parish ~ dis
trct elect from among themselves pre- 9rbod lumber
Of rct,resennt yes To form ytslry or district board
who manage tho district drainngS Iayinp. hThiing
sn other ocs inproveIsoutS and the,e district boards
W YES r1es select from tbr body more members
(proportiounte to the population and saient OF tbs dis
tIictj TO form the Metropolitan Board which consists 81
- MEAL ers presided over by Chafnas and has con
troll over tbs main sewers the Thame, cmhanknen
new streets and all metropolitan Improvements. aud
makes BY laws for the direction md control Of the diff
ferent ,osries and distIict boards v "rrr n.
We gave, several months ago, general out
line Of the immense wo<ks thon very recently
completed, BY wDch, all existing sewers in Ion