Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-07-07
THREE MILES OFLuaUuD DEATIt.


authorities, the foremost one, or that prescr.-
ing its claims NEST strongly throug Oh the evil
dence of the senses, is undoubtedly the canal
nuisar CO. Next 70 it, on the testimony OF the
same senses of sight and smell, is our misera-
bic old market building. But the canal mike
ITSELF so detestably conspicuous every day of
the week, and Is pecially at this feafsd season
when ats reeking fltn Is fostering under the
fierce rays Of the sun, that il can undoubtedly
take the first place in the rank of CITY nuis-
.nees 10 be aoated. We are glad, therefore, to
$50 II al Mayor Bowen, in his Message, recon-
eads prompt and vigorous set'on to deal
with 1t. His plan Is very much the SINE "a
mat heretofore adyora ted IN thee columns l.
p TO harrow the canal and cover il in IT,
the pisn recommended by the best engir eering
talent called in 10 examine the question: here
tOiore and lately confirmed by the Executive
COMMITTEE of the Smith. onfsn Institution.
hraded by General DeIafieId. The report of
thls committee Is an important and in structiye
document, and deserves thoughtful considera-
tIOi- The committee Is positive in its opinion
mat the proposed grant of the canal to a pri-
Nate corporation would BE- a grIevsus injury
70 the Inhabitants of the city, and would de-
TEA. the much-desired object Of both Congress
snd the community OF securing the health of
the city.
In any event, no sewerage matter, the COM
mlttee says, should be allowed to enter anu
pfeH canal rhdterer, within the limits of the
District OF Columbia. This is a point upon
which II lays particular stress. At the present
time the Washington city canal is an extended
cesspoOl, the bottom Of which Is below the
level of low water, the surfLce varying with
the slow and gradual rise and fall of the tide
without any current TO act upon the bottom or
OF sufficient velocity to move insoluble pom
derous matter thar IL received into it, The
savage from the water-closets, kitchens,
laundTles, stables, cattle pens, and street gut
ieTs Is now received into this immense trap,
there 70 remain, without power of any kind to
carry IL into the river or other place to protect
the city against its pernicious effects and in
husnces. The existing sewers now enter this
reservoir so much below low water as to have
caused half their entire height TO be closed
by deposit and as A consequence filling every
such sewer with poisonous matter in TO the CITY
TO the level Of the intersection of the water in
The canal with ;he inclined plane of the bottom
OF the sewer. This mass cannot De removed by
sny means now available. On the supposition
that the cans lreCeiyes the sewage from a popu
idtion of only 5000 of the IN habitants of the
city, the estimated annual cubic mass that is
thrown into the canal is not lie than 3 nHDO
cubic feet or al the rate of IL bic Ieet Der head
per aLnum of solid and iuid human excreIueut
This ieeal matter has tor some yesrs past been
Accommodating in the canal, in proportion to the
extent and number of sewers constructed from
um- TO time. without any power of removal of
he solid parts, and only a slight power for
moving the fluid portions backwards and for
wards. there being no continuous current 10
force even the uld and soluble parts into the
Potomac or Eastern Branch. From the ex-
.Ts<. A.
OF Chemists and engineers, we learn that open
S"wers, as the car al in this city. evolve gasses
very prejudicial TO health. Observation has
shown that the death rate i much greater
smong the population along these open sewers
Than IN streets removed but a short distance
from them The signs OF animal life visible TO
the naked eye in small rivers. after receiving
sewage Matter, consists of myraids OF minute
worms, characteristic Of all sewage water.
and may be regarded as the last remains of
animal life which can survive in such a To-
e,iiy; and even these die on in summer The
putresence Of the organic liquids and deposits
an the open sewers and bottoms and beds of
streams In all weathers, and the evolution of
noxious gases therefrom, leGd TO the sensible
CONTAMINATION of the surrounding atmosphere.
and consequently decreases the purity and
hraithiness of the air, and the discharge of
sewage matter into streams and small rivers
pollutes the water by the mixture of much or
sanlc matter IN state Of active putresence
livery gallon Of sewage " Ill disc barge from =.
TO y cubic inches OF putrid gas per hour and
ne REFRIGERATION continues for weeks When
ever TINS gas escapes from privics, cezspool=
"i sewers, 1t causes disease and finally sets up
Pntrid form of fever, which is exec iingly
fatal Every effort Is made elsewhere I, pre-
vent the diffusion of these forted gases into the
houses and public ways, while in Washington
we promote the evil TO an inc llc uIa BILE extent
ana danger in that vast fermenting vat the
city canal The specific gravity of sewage
gases Is lighter than that OF the atmosphere
Generated III large volumes in the canal. and
iIwrr END OF as well As IN the sewers, il as
cends the sewers 10 escape at every higher
level, and creates the pestilentiaI influences
heretofore referred 10. We had some experience
IN Tins city in 1867, causing death and pro-
longed disease among the inmates of one Of
our hotels. Thus the deletsrious gases ascend
sud the poisonous liquids descend. making the
Ventilation OF the sewers IS important as con-
Neying away the solids and liquids to insure.
ihr lealtn Of the city. IL Is now a well -estab-
lished fact, deduced from the medical Stats
;ISs Of the English armies In India and of our
HiUiy IN Its marches during the past two years,
that cholera Is propagated ma My by atmos-
Phcfee Cohtamlnated and poisoned by the ex-
orr nent cf cholera patients. In this city the
aEsl would be the reservoir for sucn matter
hTst 20 be contaminated by travellers from in
i-tted districts so'ourning temporarily AZ the
h''-i-, ali the sewers from which now or are
hereafter to empty in The canal.
The committee Is of the opinion thar the
canal a. % now exists, Is a great cause for
cT.sting and propsgating disease, and should
NJ The earliest possible moment Or flled nm
sHd GiSceD iinued Tor use a. a sewer and reser-
NJ'r foT ehCremsnt and vase waters of kitch-
~ns, water closets, laOndries and other sources
Of Communicating matter, and is also of the
opinion that II the proposition of granting the
citJ rights 10 this canal be confirmed the evils
hrfein eel forth cannot be efficiently corrected
oy ANY means left in the power of the public
Suihoritiss, without mourning a heavy expen.
dituTe 10 purchase rights and properly now
proposed 10 b. given away.
The committee proceeds 10 point out in very
: igorous terms the probable evil consequences
" our existing system OF sewage, as a result OF
ming the canal as a cesspool and reservoir for
ths LEGAL matter. from whence IL cannot be- re.
moved by any existing means. Ii also shows
that the AR and water from the |
canal are contaminated by the sewerage of the |
city, Aad produce fatal diseases tending 10 wiz.
ST der ma hat fha