Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-09
A Chapter on Drainage.

ana 0eSlre 10 1nVlJ6 LDelrB anu
the public attention to one matter of vital
Importance in connection with the matter.
As stated by you in Fridays STAR, "No-
body doubts that the inhalation OF sewer
ject has so much attracted the attention Of
the medical profession and sanitarians gem
orally of late years as this All agree that
1t is the most prslihc OF all sources Of disease
in our cities; and yet, strange as 1t may ap-
pear, there is literally no supervision by
any one in this city to prevent the main
trate my meaning, let me state q case within
my own knowledge. A citizen contracted to
have built for him residence AS usual,
the plumbing was sub-let by the contractor
Soon after the house was completed the
owner had occasion to take up the concrete
rain-spout with the sewer which ran under
the basement floor. On doing SO, he found
the entire area under tie concrete flooded,
and, supposing there must be a leak in the
water pipe, tore up the concrete for q con-
siderable distance, to the supply pipe, when
IL proved to be tight. Satisfied that some
thing was wrong. although assured to the
contrary by the plumber, he then employed
another, and on uncOvering the sewer pipe
they found, just at the foot OF the soil pipe
Fading from the water closet, piece broken
ont Of its side larger than a mans hand
this hole extending down the bottom OF the
pipe and being covered by q loose piece
merely laid against il, without being even
cemented. OF course, ii the drainage OF the
house including the waste from the water
closet. ran out at this hole, and saturated
and
FLOODED THE ENTIRE AREA
under the concrete floor and walls OF the
hOuEe. Nor was that all; for he found also.
rat hole had been broken in the top OF
this pipe to connect the drain-pIpe from the
stationary wash-tubs, from which the gas
was free TO escape from the sewer without
hindrance. Moreover, there was
NO TRAP
between the street sewer and the house, nor
any to the wash tubs, and consequently the
gas from the street sewer, besides whateve,
was generated in the sewer under the build
whence, of course, it would parmeate the en-
tire building! a magazine of nitro glyceriDe
would not have been half so dangerous, for
its explosion would have been accidental
certainty.
After the pipe was uncovered, so as to ex-
pose the defects, the owner sent to the plumb
or. and told him of its condition, AMI asked
him to come and examine il: and all the sat
fsfaction he obtained was the reply that it
was 90 Id lie and refusal TO 90 near it
And this was no cheap job, for il cost $500,
and was paid for in cash, besides about 500
paid subsequently, to make good the defects.
Now the simple fact that such a job OF sew
ering could be, and was done, right here in
our midst. shows the absolute necessity of
the authorities taking this matter in hand.
and adopting the most stringent rules for Is
regulation. In this connection / beg 10 sug
gest the following points, that it seems to
me should be
EMBODIED IN REGULATIONS
to be enforced in all cases:
/. No sewer, drain or soil pipe shOuld be
placed inside of, or under, any baildiGg
where il can be avoided. OF course, in many
outside, instead of inside. then any escaping
gas VIII be dissipatPd in the atmosphere. in
stead of being confined within the building
occupants.
2. Every sewer connection should have a
Ventiiating hue or opening inst before IL en-
that may enter it from the street sewer. If
possible. this fiue or pipe should extend
above the roof, so as to prevent the gases
from entering the windows when open.
3. There should be a trap In the sewer pine,
between this ventilating fue and the insi lie
OF the house, to prevent the sewer gas from
entering the pipe under the house at all.
There will be but little or no generation of
sewer gas in the pipe in the building, because
the constant drainage from the wash basins,
Kitchen, &c, viii fill it. and keep it con-
stPntly flushed out.
4. The rain spOuts from the roof shouid all
be connected with the drain pipe OF the
house, so as more thoroughly to flush the
pipe, and also to carry Off any gas that might
by any possibility be generated in, or enter
the sewer pipe. Rain spOuts which lead
from the back buildings, or lower stories,
should be so connected or trapped as TO pre-
vent the gas from ascending them, as other
wise 1t would escape from their tops, which
being lower than the upper story windows,
would permit IL to enter them when open.
be extended from the wafer closet or its
trap ont through or above the roof, to carry
OFF al foul gases from the water closet; and
this should be so arranged as to draw p cur
rent of air from within, Outward through the
bowl OF the water closet, at all times. This
is best done by using the kitchen chimney,
either as the ventilating fiue itself or as a
means OF warming, and thus creating draft
up the ventilating flue, which may be OF
metal located within the chimney or along
side OF IL. In erecting new buildings ii would
Or IN a kyQ q Ar7n fnip MI In Eyf4
chen chimney, especially for this purpose. as
the heat from the latter would create a cur
rent up the adjoining fiue. Where this is not
convenient gas burner may be u led to
create current; though If carries well up,
and suitable cap provided, there Will
almost always be an outward current
through il, even without heat.
6. And this is the point TO which I special
Iy desire to call the attention of the authori-
ties. There should be special officer ap-
pointed whose duty II should be to superin-
tend the laying OF all sewer pipes I'm and
about buildings, TO eTd7nigle The same ,CheTe
laid, before being covered, and see that all
joints are absolutely gas tight; that they ara
so laid that they cannot come apart; that
traps and ventilating fiues are provided and
properly arranged, as above stated, and that
me WORK IN every respec: is done as II ought
10 De, so as TO render 1T safe and secure.
Z. All plumbers or others should be required
to have license before being permitted to
touch a job, and none but men of known fit
ness, ability and integrity should have a
should also be required to give bond with
surettes for faithfully performing their duties
and complying with the rules and regulp-
lions of the board in reference to these mat
tiers, with provision for revoking their IL
cense in case of failure so to do, together with
a penalty for any violation of the rules or
regulations.
Connected as this matter is with the public
health, it would seem that 1t ought to be
under the control OF the Board of Bealth. but
IL should not be left to the vagaries or whims
of any tyro or theOrist, but should be con-
trolled by fixed rules and regulations.
With such plan honestly carried ont, the
great question of sewer poisoning, so far as
our buildings are concerned, would be settled
once for all.
As 10 ventilating the street sewers, that is
very simple matter, and can be easily
effected. 1t is done in Europe, and can be
here with ordinary engineering skill and a
comparatively small outlaw. There is prob
ably not sewer In this city from which the
gas is not constantly escaping at every man.
hole or cover, as we'll as at other openings.
To say they cannot be ventilated is sheer
nonsense But enough for the present. II is
an O1fT houses. and not the streets. 1Ohere the
great danger hcS, and II is to that that 1 de-
sire to call attention at this time. IT is dis
graceful that this matter has not been at
tended TO before. In Chicago and other cities
there is an officer whose business it is TO look