, 1879-06-01

tried in London, and pronounced fa;1r,a
Since the adoption Of tho new system =.
sewer-ventilation in London, there has basa
no complaint from any quarter, and m H.
position to change.
The advantages Of tEis plan are eas;r,,
enumerated. They are: CDThorouehnass.
(2) ine1pensiveness; (s) simple adaptation
to our present sewage system.
There is one way, and only one, in which
the noxious character Of sewer-gas can bo ia
shoyed- This is by mixing it with tha A.
mosphere. Chemists have been unable n
ascertain precisely how sewer-gas is formed
or in what its poisonous nature consists, But
two things they do know: That it cannot
be evolved in large quantities in current ~
free air, and that its poisonous nature is yerv
| largely destroyed when it is diluted with tha
| atmosphere. The ventilation of the savsr,
by means Of the man-ho1e traps operates; IN
the first place, to prevent tha formation Of
| sewer-gas, and, in the second place, to ren.
der. innocuous such gas as does generate
and escape into the streets. If pas
| forms at q certain point, and escapes
! through q man-hole, an equal quantity
of air must be drawn through another man.
hole to supply its place. Theoretically thera
is, Of course, an objection to the escape Of
sawer-gas at SO low level as the street snr.
face, but practically this objection is removed
by the fact that the gas escapes SO gradually
| as easily to be taken up by the atmosphere.
! It is better, at any rate, that tho sewer-eas
should pass into the street, where it meets
with constant currents Of pure air, than into
the chambers of house, where 1t remains
often undetected until it has accomplished
serious mischief. But if there were no other
argument in favor of the present System than
that it prevents, to q large extent, the forma-
ton of sewer-gas at oil, its utility would be
established
Another argument in favor Of the man.
hole traps is, that they can be put in at CON.
paratively small expense. One correspond.
entin yesterdays paper Was made to estimate
the outlay at " something less than $780,
000." This is either misprint or an error
Of the writer's. " someth,ngles than GEO.
600 j" would be much nearer the truth. The
coverings are of cast-iron, and cost about
dollar each. Comparatively little labor Ii
required to put them in, and this labor Is
| largely that Of regular employees Of the city.
possibly So for each covering would be
large estimate. The total cost cannot there.
fore be much above SIS, 1000. .>..
The third advantage of ventilating in this
| way is, that it does not disturb tha sewer
system It might be that perfect ventilation
could be procured IN other ways, yet with
such serious alteration Of the plans on which
the sewers have been constructed as to b.
ine1pedient. These yentilators can be putin
lianywhere and at any time, without refer
ence to the size Of the sewers
or their position These yentilators, niore-
| over, do not interfere with any private
| arrangements that may have been adopted.
The connection Of private drains with Kitchen
hues, and the running of soil-pipes above
the roofs Of houses, will make assurance
doubly sure. These safeguards will not be
at all interfered with by street ventilation
On the other hand, without street ventilation
they are apt to be insufficient for tbs pur-
poses for which they are intended. If the
mouths Of sewers are choked, as they some
times are in this city, by rise in the river,
no power on earth can prevent sewer-gN
from penetrating houses which are connected
with the sewer system. Recent illustrations
Of this fact have been afforded in this city,
where some of the houses provided with tho
best appliances for carrying off sawer-gas
have apparently suffered most.
TIE TRIBUNE WAS the first newspaper in
this city to advocate the present system Of
venti1ating sewers through street-openings
Dr.. De WOLF recommended this plan in his
annual report Of 1877, and has urged it ever
since. He finally succeeded in wripging IN
appropriation from the Council for the pur-
pose. Two or three thousand openings have
already been put in, and others will be sup
piled as soon as possible. It is pleasure to
be able to say that the efforts Of the Health
appreciated by the best class Of citizens and
property -oWuers. The Health Department
is constantly requested to furnish nsw opsn-
ings in some Of the best residence quarters
Of the city. One large property~owner-
Mr.. 3. P. HUTCHNsos-offered to put
the openings in ct his own expense rather
than wait any. length Of time for the
city to do it. This is q mates,
however, in which private enterprise will
not be required Nobody will have to wait
long. We regard this undertaking as the
most important the Health Department OF
Chicago has ever entered upon. When COM
pleted it Will be tho best work, not only OF
Dr.. De Wo1F, hut Of the Health Depart
ment, from its foundation to the present
day.
Who is BARNuM2 4 candidate for Judge on
the Democratic ticket. How did hs happen 20
secure the nomination. Nobody knows 10
offered, it Is said, to defend MYERS, Of the Bee
hive Bank, for nothing. which shows that be Is
man Of generous heart. But how will the
swindled depostors In that rotten concern ro-
gard this sort Of generqsity! He claims credit
it is said, for remarkable decision Of tia ID
prculc Court, which, II unreversed: will forever