The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-05
The following is as well worth reading
Richmond as in Philadelphia
Sewage Farms.

SeN"hS
At the present time the citizens of the
Twcnty-Second ward, Philadelphia, use the
Schuylkill water; but few years ago they
were supplied from small stream known as
Crcshiem creek. The water WAS once pure
and of excellent quality, but factory on its
banks made it in time unfit to drink. AT
length the proprietors Of the factory, by the
aid of waste steam, had all the woOl-wash'ngs
and dyc-water pumped to near elevation,
where it was led In open bitches along the
soping faces OF the land, and thus what was
before poisoning the peoples drink became
Il source of agricultural fertility.
Philadelphia has bought large tract Of
land for public park.-not because she need
ed quite SO large park, but because she wish
ed to control the factories and other estab-
lisbments which were poliuting the drink
ing-water of her citizens. The buildings have
been purchased at q heavy outlay, but 1t IS
now seen that the point aimed ut Will not DE
gained. Something else must be done. Way
not adopt the hint which the example of the
mill-owncrs of the Twenty.second ward suS-
gests? ...... ...##
10 the dulIest intellect it must seem absurd
to send our ships to the coast of Peru for
the excrements of birds, and to other far-
away parts of the world for other varieties
of plant food, while the very waters which
carry these vessels down to the sea are so
thoroughly impregnated with the richest OF
fcrtilizing materials that few but mere suck
ing fishes will live therein, or to hau! away
from our commercial houses barrels of deli
cately manipulated ingredients which are to
make plants grow with wonderful luXulli.
ance, while the men who load this material
have to stand up to their boot-tops in sub.
stance us rich as any the barrels contain. We
endure the most reckless waste OF valuable
firm material, have our drinking-water poi
soned, risk the contagious diseases which
filth either fosters or engenders, and yet we
have farm lands and farm people anxious to
turn for us these noXiOus materials into
cheap and wholesome food, without any
genius who seems capable of showing liz
how to do it.
In city built on plain but little abovs
the level of two rivers there might bt
some engineering skill of high order re-
quired before this material could be sent back
to the agricultural districts without much en-
pelise, but surely the sewage Of the cities and
towns higher up the river might be turned
to great profit by the farmers and gardeners
below them without any very great eXpcndi
ture of brains. 1t Is only necessary to know
that water will run down hill and by pro-
DtI uIECCtlDE vi W CuiiN utSu htlIOo I.
price would be willingly paid which in Il few
years would pay profit on the first cost OF
the culverts and work necessary to the
sewage system. The Schuykill water would
be pure, and the commissioners relieved Of a
very bad dilemma.
This close relationship of the manure and
sewage OF cities with the wants Of the agli-
cultural districts will s0ou force itself on us
rs it has done on the people of England.
The city of Birmingham has recently appro.
priated a sum to purchase one thousand
acres on which to pump the sewage OF that
city. Many places already have these works
in successful operation. The city of Learn
ington recently had grand jubilee at the
opening Of their works. These cost them
$4,000. Their farm also embraces one
thousand acres This has been at once rented
by a wealthy fiarmer, who paid to the city
the cost of the land, and Is to give 1000 Il
year for thirty years. The pumps in these
works raise the sewage material one hundred
and thirty.two feet before it flows to
the farm through pipes by its own gravi-
tating force. One million and half of GAL
Ions of liquid are raised every twelve hours.
in many of these sewage farms, operated by
the cities, all kinds of garden vegetables are
grown; but in this place the whole tract Of
1000 acres is to be put into grass aud de-
voted to the fattenins of cattle bennington
is a little place no larger than our Manayunk.
If it would pay n little English town of this
character to engage in a sanitary scheme like
this, would it not pay our little towns rs
well! 100.
At any rate, If it would not pay the people
of Manayunk, Reading, and other places, we
who have to drink their refuse have e dou-
bic interest IN such nm experiment, and might
allow our park commissioners to do it ioi
fhem.-P Philadelphia Press.