The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-07-27

as placed on the Upperlne protection leyee
would only be required to work at high water
In low water the Dublin Avenue machine
would work alone, forcing the water through
the flood gates, which are to be placed In all
canals crossing the ridge. We're two pipes of
the same diameter as those propose placing
under the ,Carondelet canal placed under the
New canal, one at the intersection OF Broad
street, and the other at the intersection of
Hagan Avenue the
THREE DRAINING MACHINES
Of the lower section would again prove of
great service In assisting the drainage of this
section. By the above change that portion of
land comprised between the MelpOmene tail
race canal, the New canal, Claiborne street
and Carrollton Avenue, will be perfectly
drained, while at present 1t Is subject to con-
stant overflow.
Rep-Is there any additional work re-
quired2
Mr.. d'H.-In addition to the tunnels or iron
pipes which have spoken of, 1t will be neces-
sary to dig some draining canals to quickly
connect the water Of the upper section to the
lower section where it will flow naturally.
Rep-YOu think IL these improvements
were made it would benefit the drainage of the
whole cityP
Mr.. d'H-Yes, sir; and the improvements
ought to be carried out In the following man.
ner: The building of locks and food gates in
all canals crossing the ridges. The building
of the lower line
PROTECTION LEvEEs,
and in fact the placing Of flood gates and tun-
| nels. wherever needed; to name the places
would be too long.
Rep,-You speak of these things which are
| requisite. Have any Of them been under
| taken
Mr.. d'H.-On the north part OF Gentilly
ridge there has been lock placed in the
! Peoples Avenue canal. That lock has per-
fectly succeeded. 1t prevents the high tide of
| the Lake from entering that section.
| Rnn-WhAt do think IT, will p0rt tn
complsh what you have told me?
Mr.. d'H.--It will take about $250,00O to COM
plete these works. lido not think the city will
be able to do this soon.
Thanking Mr.. d'Hemecourt, the reporter
withdrew
DR. w. G. Austin was found at his office, on
Canal street, and interrogated as follows:
| Reporter Doctor what are your views
| about our system Of drainage and its sanitary
relations with the city2
| DR.. Austin-Drainage is one Of the most
| important features to be considered in the
sanitary relations of a community. Our sys-
| tenn Is decidedly detective. The Board of
| Health, however is endeavoring to accom-
plish all the good it can under the circum-
stances. AS to O practical method of drain
age for this city and surroundings, | cannot
the serious attention 1t requires. Col. Har-
die some time since submitted plan to the
Board of Health which met their approval.
FROM CRUDE OBSERVATION
1t seems to me that thorough flushing of
| the streets might be accomplished by an
| eighteen-inch pipe running along the levee.
A supply of water could then be emptied into
the cutters independent of the present means,
| and by emptyiDg q few gallons of CarbOliC
acid into the CUTTERS at the head Of each
street
THE STREAM OF WATER
would be sufficiently strong to bring about
| thorough fumigation in its course.
Doctor the pan1IG III i'm
portant adjunct in spreading malaria2
DR.. A-Yes sir; they are q fruitful source
of disease. The rays OF the sun stir up the
noxious gases and attract them into the air.
At night these vapOrs dissolve and ndimpregnate
the atmosphere.
! The pipe which is now being laid from the
ST. Charles Hotel into the river, in order to
drain the hotel vaults, is an illustration OF
what has, to the present time, been the nature
of deposits in our cutters and canals.
At No. 132 Canal street DR.. James G.. Belden
was found and interrogated.
RepOrter-Doctor, the DEMOCRAT would
like your views upon drainage in it's sanitary
! relations with the health of this city?
DR.. Belden-Drainage is q subject of
SERIOUS CONSIDERATION,
| and would take more time than you and ]
could give 1t now Our system is decidedly
defective, but what Is the use of looking for
| anything else in
THE IMPOVERISHED CONDITION
OF the city. The experience of large cities
like London, Paris and New York has clearly
proven the healthfulness Of covered drainage.
In our present condition / strongly advocate
| q thorough flushing of the cutters, and at
| the same time am opposed to the contents
| of the cutters being thrown into the street,
| because the action of the sun upon the putrid
matter is injurious. Ny experience of thirty
two years as physician has shown me that
when
SURFACE EARTH
| has been thrown up to any great extent In
summer in the interests of public improve
ments infectious disease has almost invaria-
| bly, followed. When the New canal and the
| New basin were dug, and the groundwork OF
| the CuStOm-HOuSe thrown up and exposed to
| the sun an epidemic followed. Therefore ]
advocate that whatever improvements in the
way of canals are undertaken it should be prior
| to the first of July. Amongst the many
sources of Infection not the least is found in
our wharves. The Offal which is thrown into
the river settles under them and decomposes,
| IMPREGNATING THE ATMOSPHERE
with poisonous matter.
Our system of cutters could be materially
| improved. Owing to the irregular manner in
which they are built, flushing will not
| thoroughly clean them. Some physicians
claim that the green slime which covers our
canals is injurious. | do not think so, but on
| the contrary am of the opinion that they con-
| centrate and retain the foul gases, preventing
them from evaporating. I do not advocate
planking over the canals even as temporary
improvement upon open drainage, because
the planks will soon rot and be as Injurious as
the canals themselves.
| FxHr MORGAN EsNR ANn TEE VCEc Mo-