Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-03

II the article upon sewerage signed
"Citizen" which appeared in both of our
village papers lately, is all true, the author
ought not only TO be exempt from taxation,
but life annuity should he granted him
for his valuable services to the public. As
an excellent subject for missionary effort
and for the use of Language strictly evan
gelical," we would direct the attention of
"Citizen" to gentleman living at the
north part Of this village who has, until
quite lately, been discharglng the refuse
from his house into & hole dug in the
ground over 30 feet from an excellent well.
AMER every washing day the water in his
well was colored with soap-suds and in
other ways gave evidence of being highly
nutritious for vegetation. This gentleman
has in all other actions OF his life proved
amply capable OF managing his own affairs,
but now he has directed his refuse into the
public sewer of North Main street, lie
needs careful looking after for the Lord
only knows what he will do next. The
proprietors of Crosby Block and The
Brooks House discharge more refuse into
their pipes than do all The Inhabitants of
North Main street into their main sewer
pipe. The proprietors of those large estab-
lishments ought TO plug up their pipes and
discharge their refuse into the streets or
somewhere near their premises where "Cit-
izen" and the public can have the benefit
of it. Afler shutting up all our public sew
ers, missionaries, without reference to their
abilities in the use of Language strictly
evangelical" but possessing "a little knowl-
edge of chemistry" ought 10 be sent from
Brattleboro, the great centre of scientific
knowledge, TO convert the ignorant health
commissioners of other towns and cities to
the private sewerage doctrine as advocated
by "Citizeu," who has discovered that "all
that has been done to correct the evil, which
the present system proposes, has served
only TO increase it," Before sending mis-
sionaries away 10 other parts it would be
well to become satisfied as 10 the merits of
"Citizen's" teaching. Judging from his
language we believe he Is not in happy
mental condition, and his mind is so Sc
verey exercised by this sinful High street
attack upon his pocket that he violently
throws stones 10 all directions. Sewerage,
like every other needed thing, may be i'm
properly performed, and the present sys-
tenn may be improved. We know of no
device for lettering physical conditions
which we can say is so absolutely perfect that
1t cannot be improved. We also know that
the most important enterprises for human
welfare have waded through blood, fire,
bigotry, sordidness, and received violent
opposition from "a little knowledge of
chemistry" and much less knowledge of
the thing opposed. The testimony of "Cit-
izen' is in conflict with high authority in
the old world and in the new. Health COM
missioners in England have reported de-
crease in sickness and death rates in some
localities Of more than finy per cent in
consequence of public sewerage, with all
its alleged imperfectiOus. As we use the
same appliances as used there, and our
ideas of the whole matter are mainly de-
rived from that country, we had better
hold on to the present system of public
sewerage and make 1t better if possible.
With one or two exceptions the North
Main street sewer has been perfectly salts
factory to those persons using it.. In the
exceptional cases there was neglect 10 put |
traps in all needed places. "But," says
"Citizen," traps are deception, for when
they are opened as they are many times in |
a day these gases rush into the house in a |
greater and stronger degree" We should