, 1880-02-22

| 10 the Editor Of The Chicago Tribune.
| CHICAGO, Feb AL wish to call the atteut1o
OF architects and property -owners to the sub
1eet OF foul air and poisonous gases ar1sinl
from sewerage, water-closets, etc., in privat
residences and public buildings generally, b,
i which SO many lives have been sacrificed, yas
amount Of suffering caused, and which has re
| cc1ved so much attention from the press ant
excited the alarm Of the public In general Nov
| may 1t not prove to be fact that the cause Of &
part, and perhaps the greater part, Of the
| poisonous matter comes from other sources thar
those touched upon by the press and generally
supposed, or other sources than a buildings
own catch-basins and sewerage proper7
| As 1t is we'll known fact that there is more
or less leakage from sewer and gas mains lnid in
the streets, and that hundreds Of trees standing
along the parks and grounds of residences in
this city have been killed by these poisonous
gases coming In contact with their roots, there
fore Is it not reasonable to suppose that these
gases may reach the easements of buildings and
come up through the porous concrete and wood
sonous matter in connection with the leakage Of
the sewer~pipe laying Immediately under the
Aoor7 As most buildings in this city have base
nent-hoors of the above description, all poison
Gus matter coming from below would be dissern-
mated throughout the entire structure. Il it
alr tight door can be laid On tie sfoun withomt s
joints and cracks, that would be as hard and
durable Us limestone, rat-proof, and would ef-
1ectually shut of al foul olors from beneath.
would it not be better to adopt such pavement
rather than the cheaper kind which would have
to be renewed every few years, and would not
secure the aforementioned results, which are
OF vital Importance?
Although it may not be generally known, a
iafge amount OF this sanitary pavement bus
been put down In this city during the past three
years, and can be seen by any one wishing to in
vestgate.
Its value and efficacy in overcoming the terri
ole danger to which we are exposed hive been
duly appreciated By tho Boa. d Of Education.
who have had the entire easements Of two new
school -houses paved recently, and hare con
tracted to huve several more done in the same
mnnner. The Easements in the private residences
Of JIG Lombard, Esq, on Indiuna avenue south
OF Eighteenth street; OF Charles GossaEe Esn
fort} seventh street. and Of Mr.. Libby, corner
or Ihlrty-fourth street and Michigan avenue,
nave becn Hoored in the same manner The
pavement IS mainly composed
OF imported English Portland cement, and clean
washed sand and gravel. Engineers, architects,
and builders acknowledge It to be the purest, |
strongest, and most durable OF any artificial !
pa avement known to science. 1t is perfectly !
adapted to the heaviest kinds Of storage and |
wear. and. when laid over u suh-bed Of coal. I
,lnders, will remain perfectly dry and OF even
temperature with regArd to heat and cold. It's |
merits have been long known to brewers and
naltstcrs. us their business requires the beat
1oors aud ground pavement that can be pro-
,ured.
learn that the cost Of laying this payeuent
'as been very much reduced OF lite. So that it
nay come within tho reach Of Ill building in a
t-c1ass manner. EASITARY