Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-26
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net.
The Utilization of Sewage.
There are two methods of applying sewage
used in Europe, one known as the 'Uipe and
hose" system and the other the "open gutfer"
plan. In the first, pipes are laid TO the fields
with hydrants at intervals 10 which hose are
attached from which the water is spread over
the crops. Without going into details we may
drop this plan at once. Its great expense, the
liability to choke and freeze, the labor involved
in its use, and the destructive force and dash
given TO the wafer will prevent its general use in
this country. The open gutter system is cheap
er, more easily applied, demands less care,
and is not liable to damage by freezing or flush
ing.
There is nothing like actual examination. Go
and see thing in operation, and then you will
know what you are talking about. Come, let
us lake the cars at Chariug Cross, London, run
down to rural Croydon, and see the sewage farm
near the town. A quick half hour lands us at
the old town. A four-wheeler secured, we ride
through the crooked and narrow but very clean
stteets, and presently come TO the open county.
We might well pause TO examine The quaint old
town and the exquisite country, but time for
bids. We must leave it all, wondering why a
sewage farm should be located amid lovely
villas, stately country residences and wide parks
and gardens. We drive under double row of
grand old English oaks, and look over the sunny
fields where the men are cutting grass the like
of which we do not see at home, or piling cab
bageS into mountainous wagon-loadS ready for
Covent Garden market.
Our driver volunteers the information that
this particular road is known as the Lovers
Walk" Here the sentimental youth of Croy-
den come to see the gardens, the fields and
each other. Just here the horse is pulled up,
and the driver demands his two and sixpence,
with the information that this is the sewage
place. Queer, isn't it? The sewage farm for
lovers walki We get out and indulge in a
agrNint cuiA ,rf rtsn ID a1,,
ers and other fragrant delights,-not hint of
the full stream that flows from the town to tile
farm
We enter the cabbage-feld and stop at the
wagOn'load to examine the great size ard go.
ldify of the heads. Such Jolly drum-headS
would be the envy OF d Boston housekeeper
Half one would do for family The soil
where the plants stand is porous, gravelly
loan, and seems wet as if there had been re-
cent shower. The path is a tride muddy, and
we take to the grass on the sides Of the way,
and soon come to a great field of lettuce See
in@ man at work, we steer for him, and find
he is the foreman. He volunteers TO show us
about and leads us into field where a party
of men are cutting some enormously heavy
grass. Presently, we reach a gentle RISE and
mounting the bank, find ditch about FIVE feet
wide, filled by a rapid stream of black water
Huge weeds cling TO the bank, and the grass is
lush and greeu-black, as if the stream had eX-
CT ed luXuriat1t growth. Our guide explains
that this is the Carrier" that brings the sewage
into the farm. 1t flows three miles through
brick pipe, and just before entering the farm Is
turned into the brook.
Here we feel called upon to sniff again. Moth
ing, save the sweet summer air. The foreman
resentS our sniff "Oh, mol There is nothing
bad about it. Mayhap If carrier stands dry
for few days in warm weather it must he
tritle unpleasant. You see, sirs, the ground IS a
disiniectant, and the sewage is weak"
We follow thp stream nlOnu th,4 p1Up nj tltp
field, wondering if the weeds do not drop their
seeds into the water eyes," replies our guide,
'they do that, and the water is full of seeds
but lOr' bless you! we can take care O that. It's
nothing to the weed seeds in stable manure"
Presently we reach the extractor" This is a
huge iron water wheel, turned by the current,
and having strainers instead of floats. The
power is obtained by small wheel of the ordi>
nary pattern, and the great extractor, as large
as Sound boats paddle-wheel turns slowly
round in the current fishing out floating matter
OF every kind and depOsitng it in a heap where
it can be removed, and, mixed with sand, sold
as solid manure. These works are enclosed in
brick building and require very little attention.
In the building the odor is strong. Outside
not trace of anything disagrceable can be
found
On leaving the works we visit a field of young
lettuce, just set out. The ground is damp,
though we can walk on it easily. The hundreds
OF tons OF sewage that flowed over it the night
before had disappeared utterly, leaving every
thing perfectly sweet and clean. The plants,
though just set, look fresh and vigorous as il
they had no real or fanced objections to their
bath
Could we see the flooding going on? Yes, the
waterman was at the other end of the farm and
we could easily find him. Crossing the road,
we enter another part of the farm, and come to
fields loaded with heavy crops of potatoes, cab
bage, grass, lettuce, and other vegetables We
find q the carriers that GurpOuO6
field, and as 1t is flowing full and strong we fol-
low II to see where it reaches the land. Soon
we come to a crOss-carrier, and notice the brick
culyerts and wooden gates used to divert the
life.giving current to the various fields Where
the carrier runs straight it is merely french
dug in the ground. The brick work at the cor
ners and at the gates is to prevent the current
from eating away the bank. AS we 90
on we see at some distance to the left great
flock OF rocks and other birds flying round and
round IN the air as il greatly excited over some
thing. Guessing what it means, we hasten on
and presently find the gates so arranged that
the black brook is turned off to the left. We
follow the stream aud approach the circng
birds. They DO not heed us, but with much
noise settle down in a field Of grass. There
seems to be hundreds OF them, and we see gullS
ducks, smpe and all manner Of small fry flying
or walking about on the grass in quarresome
confusion When we reach the field the cause
OF THIS strange gathering becomes apparent. We
md an old fellow at work spreading the sew
age, and the water makes great pools and shall
low ponds IN the grass. The waterman has
huge sheet IRON spade that he thrustS into the
carrier and so dams up the brook The water
rises rapidly and flows in a thin sheet over the
edge and trickles through the thick grass The
birds come as near as they dare, and wade,
fight and fish in the spreading water
We mount the fence to view the performance.
and proceed to pump the waterman Is it not
disagreeabe work. "Naw," in a very broad
English. Do the birds always gather in the
flooded fields? "Alwers" Where does the
water 90 to? "Soaks away ter the drains. Nav.
hap ye know the farms undetermined with
tiles. Gurus bout them drains. After a field
has been flowed, the drains run pure water-ft
to drink" What if all the water does not sink {?
1T don't awers. Part sometimes flows away
inter the river yOnder." Don't the people OBJ
lect to that? NAV. Time the sewage has run
over an acre or two, it's clean. Folks drink out
that river, and our drains run into it. faint
pad at all. The loom cleans it nice" Do you
| nave heavy crops of grass? "0h, laws Wis! a
| power OF grass. Hank ye last sooner were a
| dry one, it were. These farmers round Ter say
| our craps no better nor theirs. They'S no wuss,
| leastways. Weel, l was a saving last sooner
was power dry, and the grass was light every
where but 'er. We had the water We see and
| It were hot. Oh, lords alivel how things Grew
| we luke all the prizes at the shows and the
| farm made an awful power of money, it did"
DO you spread the sewage in winter? "Yis-
| thin like; so it won't ice up much We must
use all the town sends any way. Say, wud We
mind gimmin me Shillin' for telling yez?"
How much longer he could eabbe on we can
| not say, so we stop him with the expected shil.
ling, and depart. This little visit has, we think.
settled few points. A sewage farm is not a
nuisance Sensitive lovers roam over its water
| led meadows, and genllemen's villas stand next
| door The crops are luxurian,, thrifty and
healthy In drought the farm may be indie.
pendent Of the rainfall. We have seen how
easily the sewage is spread, one man spreading
five acres in a day. No horses, teams, or ma
nure carriage is required, and beyond the market
horses mo stock is kept on this farm. The ex-
pense of carriers and gates is not great, and a
very small force can manage a large place.
Boston Advertiser.
Abbott will sell personal property for Z. Knowl.
ton in New England Village TINS morning at 9,s
O'Clock.
I,ItQ