, 1880-12-12

Z,
T
sss - 1s,,
pd Ion xl6 yos % zig sas5ess Yoa say sss
ha!e 1to M e IT,
ss 1as
dons knov wat Iae @ cSs1% n the ns
ssa you "? i H,
also sent the following note to Mr. Daven-
| port, who has immediate charge OF the work Of
the Department which touches this question:
q t DeoattSt%t '' d ! F,tsa.t pTa.s; siS: @lli ~
as1 Ff9y
of ths et7 YoS 5a,. esRsc;. 5S
ssxe S.xs not7 q When Tess the fss IN,
far as you know Or believer 70 Has there been any
ss % 4H
questions fully and e1PsIy s
To which received the following reply:
Homer u Public lVork.-DEAn SIR In reply 70 quss
present. ante tae fcs~ns s rospsctfui1 subnit,ed
as ny thc S f9 r h As @ o f1I t
sewernxe Department g, In The ysar 1s when , The
Hsafd St sewafuss e comm,*ioners mi iha nsi beasd
ST. T. y 5s Ss
nesr( 70 prepare pIan q dralnAgs for ih!s ciiy.
he Y M Tss, Mr. .a 4xxs
uons Governing private dra1axe u the public
practical experence N thts subject the present Eues
lily yoars rules a' IN
From the foregoing I think you should be sat
Justice. The pith Of the entire article as against
mc is In the statement that the Department OF
Public Works had always exercised absolute
at its head, trfD had 0ftercd a change lest there
might be trouble or the giving OF otense to
Officers IN charge Of these matters % t6at have We
ordered no change whatever Ia the long-estub-
lished rule OF tho Departments in this regard,
statemcnts,-proof showing that what IS the rule
and practice now has been the rule and practice
ali along, and thnt If am to pc blamed It is not
for departing from the rule or ordering a |
change In 1t, but for alherinR 1t as found It,
and III constituting the laws on the subject as my I
r. se a fFoo ts
year 1873, Mr. Den2ettc Williams. who was tho |
chief Of the Sewerage Department. and who had |
the former chief OF tho Sewerage department !
for fifteen years preceding the appointment OF
Mr. M ,,!;,Ias Williams, says: It IS prcsunabie that
ticc Of the Department concerning this question,
and the proper construction of the laws under |
which he was acting and underwh Nr. Clarke !
had acted nnd under which am now acting, for
they arc the same:
The present method Of private drain supervision,
.hiie vas,!y better than none, really amounts to
tle more than keeping record Of where drains arc |
ala ana to s Par. y Of soHs
ent and ucculnplishmenr it i mainly pTot@cftSn Of
ht pubic against the admission Of substances
Sf IT. f ipn n s TO
uch ~ 70 insure Immunity from the Of
aa s .f from e 10
'fths Of tho nunbcF are laid during Of the
eaE Even If 1t were possible to huve intelligent
vuo'e time the draining and plumbing for each build
~ WAS osng done. unless The city exercised moro
ore. but lrtIc would De ynlned In he inreres1 Of
ealth. The custom Is to allow the owner or drain |
ayer - a. 81 It nrac,icnliy amounts TO- almost free
o fur as relntes to the exclusion Of certain sub |
t1nces from the sewers
The above il Il plain statement Of the truth. |
1actty as 81 | understand it. This IS the Depart
leut Of Public Works, and it exercises uofurther |
ontrol over private drains tban Is necessary to
rotect the public sewers from injury That
here Is need for legislation and better system
Or the laying and ventilation OF private sewers |
, escnpe the evil effects Of sewer gas IN private .
ouses and blocks built with the Intention Of
enX rented. But the system has nut vet been {
cvised, nor have the necessary laws been | .
assed TO uphold and enforce it. q
When such system shall be inaugurated that |
~ W H., ne sanitary measure I presume no one
the Department Of Public Works to attend TO. |
1ess 1t shall hereafter be determined to nut | g
i the work Of tho city in this Department b
CHARLES s. WALLER. \