The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-12-15
County and City Official Press.
Friday, December Is.
SEWERAGE AND HEALTH.


the innoccnts," AMI we canno, deny the
soft impeachment There is no more Ger
tain check 10 immigration from abroad
and to local prosperity As well-as
the reputation, whether deserved or
not, Of insalubrity.
We now cite the following corrobora-
tive testimony OF this score from late
California exchanges:
"The prevalence Of contagious dis
eases is leading many prominent men
to give their most earnest attention to
the subject Of proper sewerage Every
where the matter Is being discussed
one Of the best essays on the subjcc.
being presented by Mr. f. &. Sessions
. fsw days ago to the Oakland City
Council. He SAYS:
1t IL conceded by the ties. and latest
authorities that the indispensable requi-
sites At success liz sewer are, first, that
the Aow Of the sewage from its receipt
to its delivery at the mouth of the sew
er shall be continuous, complete and
securing, and secondly, that the sewer
shall be properly ventilated. A recog-
nised authority says nnventilated sew
erAare more dangerous than steam-en-
gines without safe, y-vslves; that in
order to secure such ventilation. open
ings must be left in the sewers that as
IN additional protection to dwellings,
vsnGilAtlng shafts. or some other device
l0oking to similar end, should be prd-
vidsd In each dwelling. by means Of
which sewer gases. condensed by the
suddenly increased discharge OF water,
by changes Of temperature, by the wind
or p rise of the tides covering the
mouths of sewers, or from other cause,
may find ready escape into
The open air without syphon-
ing or forcing water traps. That
typhoid fever. diphtheria, scarlatina aud
other xymotic diseases are frequently
caused, and always aggravated. by ex-
posture to that most deadly poison.
sewer gas. The system of sewerage
adoptsd by the authorities of this city
was devised by competent Board of
Esuineers. and seems to have been uni
formly successful 80 far as the removal
Ut sewerage matter is concerned. 1t
seems to the, however, that 1t Is def
cient in respect 10 ventilation. The
mon1hs OF many sewers are below high
tide aud open in direction Of the pre-
vAiling winds. Wherever there are man
holes they are covered with planks Of
Iron there Is consequently no escape
Cor ete gases except through the house
connections. As to the construction of
house drainage, architects, builders and
PLANNERS, with few exception, pay no
attention whatever to the ventilation of
waste pipes. u subject of great impor-
tance. no matter how we'll ventilated
maS BE- the street sewer. After some
considerable inquiry. feel confident in
stating that there probably are not over
twenty five or thirty buildings in Oak
land that have any provisions whatever
for the escape of sewer gases, which
are being constantly generated in their
own waste pipes. OF forced back from
the main sewer
Tho Sacramento Record Taiea also
hapdles the subjee, well in the fol-
tQxinE editorial
"Thsrc seems reason 10 believe
that diphtheria exists IN epidemic
form in several parts of this State At
the present time, Opinions differ con-
earning the influences which render
this disease epidemic. some authorities
holding that peculiar atmospheric agen-
ciss prevailing Ut certain periods pro-
dispose the system to its attack: while
othees maintain that il Is due always to
defective drainage and the consequent,
gsoesNtion and dissemination Of poison
Gus gasses. The truth will probably be
found "a Ire between these two opiu-
ions Diphtheria. like typhoid fever.
II a sy,ne,ic disease. and though. like
It's congcners. il often operates far from
III breeding place. there can be no
doubt that It's action is qGickened and
ito scope enlarged by the presence II
malaria in the atmosphere. from what
ever causes arising In San Francisco.
physicians testify that many of the
cases are attributable To the escape of
sewer gas into apartments through
thosc most dangerous Of modern inven.
tons. standing wash-places and water
closets. Through them the sewer gas
rises iato the sleeping apartments. aud
frequently Of late years the spread Of
typhus. typhoid and cholera has been
traced directly to this cause, In coun-
try pisces, like Dixon. the pre,iispos-
ing caase is found in anemp,ied
cesspoels aud aecaying garbage heaps
bat ia all cases II is highly probable
that peculiar atmospheric conditions
Also operate IL spread the disease. The
ono efficient remedy IS cleanliness. for
although diphshcr,a may. and often
does. stack those Who ohsrve tue laws
VI health carefully. II Will always an.
pear that soaae quarter IA tho neigh
forhos,d has been neglected. and has
fnsukhei food ior the disease Ma
tAfious diseases. whea once they tcAame
epidemic, know aa ,;isslee;loa OF pef>oas
but attack the clean aud enesean alike
Tia ~ suela seaSeus that the Ignorance
aud sqaslor II shc poor avenge them
upon the apathy and indifference IT the
rich. and i, Is ,hFoash these bitter ex-
rrTienees. communities lesru tha. there
Is nothing stronger than rs weakest
p4Fk Drainage 10 California Ass
alNnys been neglected. or provided for
eolsiy aud lne6cicasls. Hitherto
- &Ase eecaps l<vsje ati1g 1pidsnici
~