The New York herald., 1875-11-21

4 li. II U.s.,
system Of It's delivery in consequence of the embay.
ment Of the sewer mouths by piers and the low level
The very general opinion entertained by our citizens
that in consequence OF the vcnage OF the bor-
derng The CITY, and Of the ocean AZ Sandy Hook, that
IL Is only necessary TO discharge the sewage into the
rivers for Il 70 be borne away TO tho ocean Is wholly
faaclous except 20 portion Of the matter held 10
i solution; that ia suspension subsidies q long time
before u reaches the bar at Sandy Hook,
i and owing TO the following cause Six miles
outside Tie bar Is the nearest point al which any matter
\ Ia suspension can be deposited In solution dissi-
pated without being returned to within the barwith
the next dow Of the tide From thence 20 Forty second
street (Which Is taken as the point of the discharge
81 the sewerage Of the city, is % miles; the average
velocity Of the now OF the tidal for this
Is about two and half miles per hour, and assuming
aruGe oi eht matter IA suspension TO DC delivered INTO
the North River at Forty street the FIRST of
the ebb 4 VIII not reach tho point Of miles outside
ofSsudy HOOK az II gains but about five miles per uae
uItu has been borne forward and backward tor dis
tancc Of $50 miles On the other hand t was deposited
nc first OF the food Il will be borne backward ana
forward, IN like manner for a distance of 24O miles
The elements Of an estimate 81 the extent Of the de-
pOs or silt and noxious matter harhor from the
discharge of furnished IN report upon
the sewage OF cities by tho River Pollution Commis-
soners Of England, whence appears that y ne Or
were To- Of solid matter and "a % of matter Ia sus-
pension IN every 100 900 parts
DREDGING.
The dredging of our slips necessary operation 70
meet the requirements of commerce; but the manner
N which the silt is disposed ol-tha - ~ usch sng
u INTO our lower bay-is an operation pregnant WIN
results opposed 70 the navigation Of the bag and
harbor fatal 70 the depth q water % the bar az
Sandy Hook that the further continuance Of the opera
ton should be forthwith arrested
VALUE or SEWAGE.
The value OF sewage fertilizer, results from the
presence therein Of ammonia which furnishes the
essential elements OF nitrogen together with the sub
ordinate properties Of pnOsphatos aud alkaes.
The experiments Of Lebig and others have deduced
that the excretons OF man for period Of one year
are sufficient FOR the production Of 500 pounds Of wheat
The volume or the fertilzing qualities OF the sewage
q city when collected Is held TO be equivalent 70 one
ton weight per annum for each member OF the popu.
aton sad the value q y IN the city OF London % lar
back as 1850 was estimated at S.. II per ton.
vESrLAr1oS os SEWERS, DRAINS AND SOIL PIPES
The ventilation OF our sewers, drains and soil pipes,
under existing constructions, Is restricted wholly 70
holes, which open to the air at the level 81 the
streets and the mouths Of the sewers the river
front which latter in low locations, like Canal,
Ferry, Roosevelt and some other streets are SO low
taat The tldewater nows into and chokes them ana
consequence their ventilation is arrested and the
nov of the sewage suspended FOR great portion oi the
day,
The connection between the waste and soil pipes Of
building and the street made through brick
tile dram with insufficient seating and packing ana
frequently there bot one connection or several build
ingA
The joints Of these pipes not only very frequently
insufficient their connections but the pipes from in
sufficient support recede from their connections and
Is consequence, assures opened, which admit of
the escape Of the gases from the sewer into the build
insufficient dexure afford the head Of water necessary
resist The pressure OF tho air in sewer the mouth
81 which IS open 10 fresh wind
Thus the traps have, mean, depth Of water or
resisting medium Of about l5 inches which presents
resistance of by y 6I inches OF water equal pound
equal O542 pounds which, for square foot equals 10
pounds which IS equal 70 velocity of wind Of nearly
10 miles per hour or that due to shgh wind ~ conse-
quently al this pressure the gas driven
through the In trap and then escapes INTO the
dwelling Added 70 this there is another operation Of
the elements by the agency Of which the traps in soil
and waste pipes may become wholly imperative; thus,
when the leader from the roof Of building leads into
the drain common il and the soil and waste pipes
q fuil charge Of the leader by the now from
heavy shower OF being superior in the height
81 s column that Of the traps of the soil waste
pipes Will exhaust all pipes and traps connecting with
IA aud consequently these pipes will become the
means Or open communication between the sewer and
the space into which they lead until they are
again flushed with water, which, even in an occupied
dwelling, may occur between ten O'Clock = M and
eight o'clock A Nj or after an interval of hours
anu with an unoccuped building this communication
may remain open for months aud years
In order, then, - meet the requirements Of this
ciy u the matters o drainage, sewerage and venla-
tion and in the least expensive manner consistent
with the ends 70 be attained, iurther submit
That all sewers to be laid hereafter should have uni
formty Of design and materials for like locations and
service and that they should be constructed in the
\ best practicable manner
That they should have sufficient capacity only to
admit Of tho location therein Of the water and gas
\ mans and telegraph wires, but OF such height and
width as would afford such space around and between
these pipes as would enable them readily be repaired
4 or replaced when necessary.
That tile joints of the manhoes leading TO the
should be closely fitted 70 preclude the escape of
the gas therefrom; that pipe 'connecting with
the drain pipe should lead from below the lowest trap
in all sou pipes roof or the building which the
soil pipe is located in order lead OH gases from
the sewers 10 the upper
That tie traps OF oil soil pipes should be supplied
with q small jet Or xater-a minute wll suihce-to
replace that lost by evaporation by the exhaustion Of
the water leader ia the referred to- and by
the capillary exhaustion of fragment OF piece of
CLOTH rag string being arrested within the trap
and hanging over II into the soil pipe
That the foundation Of oil sewers should have sep
srate construction drain, for the purpose Of freeing
the earth Of It's water Oi gravltaton-
That the collection Of the sewage Of this city could DO
attained By The construction Of common receptacle
for the discharge 81 the sewers from every four or
streets, from which Il could be withdrawn by the
engine OF floating vessels, and rom them empted into
lessor vessels aud tanks for transportation preparation
and distributon.t
That in order TO withdraw from the earth in the
lower portion of the ISLAND such water Is embayed
BY subson d rock clay and an impermeabe bulk
head the thread Of is course that be required
~ such parties may be designated b. the Board Of
Health AZ operate steam engines n these locations;
that they should sink shaft or gtriHed clay pipe or
cast run-one foot il diameter will be suiiccnt--to
depth of twenty feet from tho level Or the curbstone
and they be further required exhaust the water
herefrom discharge 1 the sewer; and
70
awarded them.
That 70 effect The dredging necessary and ia
order deposit IL beyond any INJURIOUS effects 10 the
bay aud harbor should be delivered into steam hop
per scows and transported BY them TO raise the level
ofthe marshes IN the vicinity, or borne without the
bar ii sandy Hook, and At such distance as would
preclude any rehux 0f the matter within the bay.
Scows ~ this description alike TO those constructed
Tor the suez Canal DO made 70 transport 300 tons
l2 20 pounds) of silt IL speed Of miles per hour
The advantages presented BY such a system ars as
i0uows.-
FirSt-An enduring structure of drains and sewers
opposed to the existing faulty designs and pershable
4 constructions
Sec0fd-The perfect drainage Of the land, sewerage
Y and ventilation 0f the dwellings.
Tlrd-The facility With winch leaks in the water and
gas mains and pipes could be discovered and repaired
the protection given 70 the telegraph wires and the per-
fcct security gwen TO the and service pipes Of
water ard gas from tho effects Of continued cold
weather.
II Fourfh-Economy or cost and maintenance 20 the
city and the gas and telegraph companies in setting
aside the necessity Of the street pavement being re-
pcaLcdly broken up % lay aud repair water and gas