The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-29
Sewage of Cities.

Sewage OF ClL1CS.
we published on Tuesday morning most
Interesting communication from MI. hosS
N1yAys, of Baltimore, addressed to the Sun,
Of that city, on the subject Of sewage. IL
deserved the attention Of every one VINO mas
made the economy OF life in tic least degree
4 matter of study.
Mr.. WlNAys, being = lalge owner Of real
estate i'll Baltimore, ina spirit OF Humanity
-, well rs under the guidance Of highly
practical Judgment, has put into practice
9l3u tor the disposal of oi!al and lccAl matter
~ which the aJominaElc system Of sewer
ace now popular in cities is altogether avoid
ed. For this Mr.. WISANs deserves the thanks
OF society. He declares TINT his plan works
most successfully.
When we consider how injurious to the
health of city populations the present system
of sewerage and wuter-cosets has proved to
he and how it fills the rivers into which all
the hundreds Of culverts arc emptlcd with
determination and offence, we wonder how
society has endured it so long. 1t is pcrni-
c;ous in its effects and discreditablc to scci-
ETY.. as it is a needless and lazy means CT dis
Dosing of the sewage: a mode which is hot
complete, but which returns the offence TO
plarlc the inventors Of the slort-sightcd
means Of getting rid Of it. Had society never
cmployed the system Of emptyin@ all refuse
and fecal matter in the nearest river, were II
suddenly proposed aS q better means Of dis
roSinr of that matter there would be one
General outcry Of opposition to it. Hen
could not for 4 moment entertain the scheme
10 burden the rivers with nuisanccs to send
I'D its rocking stencil to offend all who navl-
cate them. They would be Mortified at thus
abusing the rivers, such invaluable sources
of utility and pleasure, and from which they
ret tic very water that they drink!
ANY one who has Observed the small hal-
Dor of Baltimore, and there seen the paddles
Of the steamers whul to the surface the black
and offensive oozc which lies at the bottom,
can form q toerable idea of the amount OF
nuisance that, by acts Of Council and the com
mon consent Of the people, is cmptlcd into
the nearest water of Il city. 1t is Impossible
that such matter shall not make the air Of
frnsive, and shall! not also diti'usc through il
DoiSons that aillict those who inlalc them with
disease.
The builders Of fine houses lay the 1lattcr-
ing JUNCTION to their souls that the traps and
pipes that so easily take away refuse certainly
protect their families from injurious gases
that sewage generates. 1t is great error.
The gases will escape. They cannot be forced
through descending sewer to its mouth
They will escape through traps, they will
escape through crcyiccs i'll sewers, and
saturatc the earth, poisoning whole neigh
horhoods and developing malignant forms O.
disease, which spread distress and aflictior
and excite the Amusement Of people, while
none can divine the cause.-the enemy is 81
subtle and imperceptihle. II the maSnitlcen
apartments of Londesborough Lodge welF
the habitltions of these escaped poisons, iioV
can we expect the palmer homes of the hum
ble, with their rude appliances for sewage, tt
have immunity from them:
The subject is one to be kept before city
populations. We know how reluctant PEG
pie are to make great changes in their domes
tic economy rs long Us they are not forced OF
frightened into them. But the time is rapidly
approaching when both causes will combine
to bring about an entire change. Sewers
will be used for no other purpose than that
of draining the waterand keeping the ground
dry and the city healthy. The solid refuse
matter of large populations will he conveyed
to where it Gun he converted into material fol
fertilzing the lands and restoring to then
the elements of productiveness which have
been employed in growing the subsistence
for the city populations. Thus disposed Of
all bad effects are avoided, and the lands are
saved from system by which they wout
ultimately lie converted into desert.
This day is not distant, and then society
with one accord will demand that the rivers
from which the drinking.water is obtained
shall be kept free from nuisance. Now they
are not appreciated. Men seem not to know
their beauty, nor understand their utility
their usefulness as conduits of commerce
their value as sources of water supply, o.
subsistence, and of pleasure. In the alb
sence of revealed religion we think We
should probably worship the rivers. Yet
from being familiar with them, we know moi
their worth, and instead of treating then
with the respect and veneraton which is due
them we make them the bearers Of the bur
dcns of shame and abomination.
The New York Tribune heaps odium upoI
Mr.. CoNKIISG's resolution to ascertain from
the President what recommendations to Office
have been made by senator's. Itpronounce'
the resolution apetty and utterly con
temptlble." Of conrscsit is. But after all
office, emolunent, and stcaiings from thu