The daily gazette., 1881-09-13

By HON. r. r. FARGO.

There is scarcely anything more I'M
portant to the healthfnlness OF city than
Its sewerage facilities. Many localities
have been taught ~ sad experience that
defective drainage 10 the cause of disease
and death II not Of pestllence itself. 1t is
not always found shat underground sew
ors are Q sure preventive of injurious
effects upon the public health. If i'm
properly constructed they freq aently be-
come receptacles Of the most deadly and
poisonous gases which exuds through
tho surface or escape into dwellings pro-
ducing DISASTROUS consequences. 1t In
questionable whether or not surface
drainage Is alter all less injurious to the
bealtbfuluess OF . city than under
deainage.
The most noted instance Of surface
Drainage in . large city in this country
10 probably found in New Orleans. Few
persons who have NO personal kDo " ledge
Of the matter can hardly realize that the
surface Of the crescent city Is much lover
than the river thai fows along Its bor-
ders. Standing upon the streets of the
city one has to look upwards to see the
feet Of shipping anchored at its docks.
For many miles, above and below New
Orleans, . strong levee has been thrown
I'D on either side to form q channel for
the Mississippi. The constant deposit
that IL being made In the bed Of the
stream has required frequent elevations
Of the levee, so that now the Father OF
Waters moves along inaJestically far
above great and populous city.
At . point ona mile from tho river
the natural surface Of the city Is twelve
feet below the river bank, exclusive of
the levee which 10 carried about ten
feet more. Under such condition of
things the question Of drainage becomes
q very difficult one. Underground sew
erage would seem to be an impossibility
or &C least impractical. 1t could only be
accomplished at an enormous cost In the
use Of iron conduits capable OF resist De
great pressure, and oven then great diff
houlty would be encountered In secnr-
log . discharge OF their contents. The
face drainage, has been adopted by the
crescent city. InterceptinR canals have
been constructed at different points In
the rear or suburbs Of the city and into
these receptacles the sewerage of the
city 10 conveyed BY the surface drains on
either side Of the several streets. Per.
iodicaliy, nearly every night, and In
warm weather throughout day and
night, the street cutters are flooded or
flushed by water admitted from the riv-
or, and In this manner the streets are
kept comparatively clean.
The receiving caLals being lower down
the river and the bay on the other side
Of the city, artificial means are employ
ed to carry their contents into the bayou
Lake Pontchartrain. This is done by
steam pumps and other means whereby
the sewerage IL raised aud forced to the
elevation OF tide water and thus Carried
to the sea.
The unhealthy condition Of New Or
leans In the summer season is not prop
erly attributed to its drainage system,
but rather to the impossibility of thor
onRhly draining 1t by any system. By
reason OF the low aud fat condition Of
the surface the ground absorbs and holds
the rain water that falls; and this, ahd
the leakage from the river and the gut
ters, combine to form great cesspool of
the whole city from the surface of which
the sfiuvia Of feculent matter rises and
porvades all Its borders, poisoning the
atmosphere and spreading disease. 1t lie
. marvel that New Orleans Is not more
unhealthy, when its sunken and level
surface 10 considered, lying as 1t does
from ten to twenty feet below the river,
and subject to occasional overflow by
tide water on the other.