The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-25
Sewerage.

THIS question Is growing III liLpoItauCe
in this country as the large cities increase
in population. Owing to the vast amount
of oflal and filth discharged into the
Thames in London the waters Of that river
became infused with noXious and I'M
healthy odors to an uncomfortable degree.
As they flowed by the Parliament House
they emitted such a volume Of offensive
| eXhalations that the Commons and House
Of Lords had at times to suspend their
sessions. Inquiry was instituted by Par
lament. and the most able engineers have
been engaged for years in arranging and
completing plans for disposing Of the vast
amount Of refuse matter constantly accu-
mulating in that great city.
After the most elaborate investiga-
ton OF the subject, these engineers gave
their opinion against the system of drain
age by underground sewers. Such recep-
tacles ofiilth in a large city, they contcnded,
were continually generating noXious gases,
which were injurious to the comfort and
health Of closely packed communities.
They have made great progress in the sys-
TEN of surface drains for all fluid otlal
suitable to be conveyed away, and of re-
ccptacles for all other descriptions Of filth
and oiial, where, by the use of proper
agents, they are rapidly converted into
fertilizers, and sold or employed on the
grounds owned by the companies who have
undertaken the work Of thus disposing of
this matter. The manure thus obtained, ii
is believed, fully pays all the expense OF
transporting the refuse out OF which Ii is
manufactured. In this way is returned to
the earth that which it produces, and
this continued fertilization saves to agri-
culture vast amount formerly thrown
into the river to become an intolerable
nuisance.
The subject is particularly important to
all river cities. There is a limit 10 the
capacity of such streams as sewers. II
burdencd beyond this with the filth Of
cities they Indignantly throw back upon
the people who thus bctoul them the
abominablc nuiSanccs with which they are
overwhelmed. The vapors of q river thus
misuscd are intolerable to all who arc near
them or upon them, and very injurious to
the public health.
| The agency Of steamboats, and railroads
is increasing the size Of cities with such
rapidity that this subject must become
one universally important; and we suggest
it as proper theme for the consideration
Of engineers and municipal authorities
generally. II we may suppose that this
city will ultimately have to resort to the
system Of surface draining, and the CONVEX
sion of what is now offensive sewerage mat
ter into fertilizer, it would be better to
improve the city with this. view than TO
pursue a costly system Of underground
sewerage, which may be in time necessarily
abandoned. 1t is exceedingly convenient
to get rid of filth by running it all into the
river; but that way Of disposng of it is,
VIC apprchend, rather too easy to be con-
sistcnt with that apparently providcntial
order of economy which seems to require
direct and efficient mode Of combating
and diSposing Of dirt and filth. Evasion
won't do. Lay it in corner, and it will
return to plague you-pitch it in the river,
and it will rise to offend you. But destroy
that which is deStructible, and convert
that into manure which may be useful in
enriching the earth, and you do that which
is best for comfort, health, and &"