The New York herald., 1869-03-06
OTHzI LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES.
On Sewerage.

On Sewerage.
The committee OF the Legislature appointed to in
vestgate the sewerage system Of this city resumed
proceedings at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday.
rhe first witness called was Mr.. Theodore WestJn,
OF the Croton Aqueduct Department. and his evi-
Of the Assembly, Mr.. william Hitcnman, was next
called. He testified as fonows:-
have been resident OF New York for thirty-eight
years; know something about the sewerage system
Of this city IN 1885, was clerk in the ofice OF the
Common Coun H. also clerk TO the committee on
health on roads, on streets, and think was also
at the time c.erk of the committee on sewers; at
the time speak OF there was no particular system
for sewerage adopted; 1t was adopted on applica-
tion being made to the Common Council; the system
SO cel WAS simply naSr tSs ssres Sscen % o ms
Common Council; 1t was not al thaS line
usual for the property holders to be
notlfed when assessments were to be made, for
them To make Whatever objections they desired II
they had any; since tnat time IL has become the
sr 20 r, noy ~ prUpeT o"w Of manv Instances
where sewers are laid down regardless whether
property owners In their vicinity are benefited
or not; there IL such an instance now In Eighty
sixth street: Ia my opinion the tiles used by the
Groom Aqueduct Department are altogether too
small; they are only, believe twelve inches In
circumference; have known instances where the
contents the tiles were driven back INTO the houses
ra wn M ey y aa ON the o. ss
cases think illegal assessments have been made on
property owners; there was test case In the courts
about II years ago, but what decision was given nc
the time do no! nov remember; think Lhe present
system could be improved upon by making certain
SINKS at given points where the solid matter coald
deposit itself and allow the water to freely; the
solid matter could be removed by well applied means;
there ought be Of these sinks In every sewer
age district: taken as whole do not believe tle
present system could be mach Improved upon with
out revolutionIzing It altogefner.
Mr.. Worthen. sworn-I aln the engineer OF the
Board Of Health; consider the present sewerage
system adequate to the necessities OF the city, but
90 not think 1t complete sufficiently extended
marsy districts in the lower part OF the city are
not well enough drained at present, which want
tSa Sat m te nth about the piers d 70 any very
great degree increased Dv the act that the sewers
empty into the river at their termination the hitn
there Is caused more by decomposition Of the various
matter washed ashore ana falling into the river from
the piers.
Theodore Weston recalled--The necessity for the
transfer OF the drainage Of the Seyenynintn street
sewer to the Seventy fourth street one was very
great the seventy ninth street sewer commences at
the river and runs westwardly To the Filth ave-
nue.; 1t formerly took nothing but the drainage i'm
mediately ad AGENT TO IL ON the lines OF the streets
under which 1t passed; 1 tnlnk about 1851 sewer
was butt by order OF the Common Council in Third
avenue from Seventy-trst street to Seventy-nintn
street, also from Elgnty-fourth TO Seventy-ninth
street, that portion OF the first mentioned extending
from Seventy-l0drth To Seventy-nintn street was
connected with the Seventy-ninth street one Dy
grade OF about two aud nalf leet higher tnan the
lowest yard 1t was To drain; IN other words the
drainage IN Third avenue had TO run uphill; the
Seventyninth street sewer two years ago had no
otner connection than tnat and was sufficient far
as IL was concerned To carry of all drainage: IL was,
however considered for Its prospective uses inade-
Quatc and therefore II determined TO utilize one
In Third avenue from seventy-ninth to seventy
fourth street.. which determination was fully car
lied out: this change was considered beneficial to
the property owners la Seyenty-ionrth street and
they we're consequently assessed.
lsaac B. Coleman, sworn-l am civil engineer
and contractor; have been engaged In constructing
sewers since the lst Of June last; have also done
work on The new reservoir; the outlet OF the sewers
have been wording at Is from North river 10 Sixty
sixth street AMI Tenth avenue; there witness de-
scribed the extent OF the sewers IN the district
covering 1893 icetl the sewers are OF brick and
pipe; the DricK being four feet OF internal diam
eter. the pipe ~ from twelve, fifteen TO eighteen
inches; the BRICK sewers two bricks
Ia width: have never heard the system complained
OF, nor have ever heard OF any dinicuity arising
from the sewer pipes. the Croton Aqueduct Depars-
melt furnish contractors win the pipes used
know OF no instance wnere imperfect pipes were
laid down: the pipes are always Inspected ut the
place where they to be lad before they used
qualify Of the ppes don't know what percent
age, II any, the Crotou Aqueduct Department
make in selling contractors the pipes. whether or
not the present system OF sewerage Is adequate Is
purely mathematical question, to which l would
not give direct answer unless after making correct
calculations. In my opinion every inch larger than
Is necessary 10 carry or the maximum OF water In
the pipes Is great mistake because when taxed to
its maximum The contents are all driven out, but
when the pipes are large and only hall filed there Is
not HuincIcnt current TO carry away the contents:
In other words a small pipe with good current OF
water ls letter tnan large ppc with a poor cur
after they were laid; don't think they would break
unless they were rotten; ald Ihave taken up pipes
That have been under ground tor nlty years aud
never found one rotten.
Esbert n. Parcnlld, Mr.. Cceman's asso late in
business, was next examined but his testimony was
oniy cOrfoDoratvc OF the lattef's.
lhe committee then ADJOURNED TO tomorrow at