Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-06-15
TIE BOARD OF HEALTH AND TIE
SEWERAGE QUESTION.

SouuQ dllO ScuSlUlC GiiiCAt, 40 S-s~S~--,~
at the present time to convey some MS
leading impressions. The Board Is OF
course very heartily in favor OF GOOD
system of sewerage. Il urges the lnpor-
tance of getting rid not only OF the surface
drainage, but of the contents of the cess
pools. It evidently does not believe that
the drainage canal can be made to perform
its work efficiently. But it objects to the
pumping of the sewage into the river on
the ground that we ought not " to infiict
g on our neighbors below US evils against
(which we ourselves most emphatically
''protest." This is true, and it would be
most unreasonable for this city to under
take to pump its sewage into the river
permanently. But the Board of Health
does not appear to have reflected that 1t
must be some time, under any system OF
sewerage. before the more offensive mat
tiers in our sewage are pumped into the
river at all. Thus far we have, unfortu-
nately for ourselves, obstinately retained
these matters, and have only sought to rid
ourselves of the less harmful drainage.
Even under these circumstances, however,
we have been pouring our sewage down
upon the lands Of our neighbors. The
drainage canal is at least as fragrant vio-
lation of the principle sought to be en-
forced by the Board, as the proposed
pumping system can be, and it is ex-
tremely probable that if the owners of the
lands through which that canal runs were
to sue out an Injunction against the city,
they could compel the abandonment OF
that outlet.
As regards the question of polluting the
river, it is at present one of comparatively
slight importance, as may be found by
reference to the respective volumes of the
sewage and of the river current in which it
is to be deposited. Taking the estimates
made by the engineers of the volume of
the Sacramento flowing by the city, it ap-
pears that there would be proportion of
about one pint OF sewage to ten hogsheads
of water. Now, while homeopathists
might consistently maintain that this pro-
portion is sufficient to produce serious
pollution in the river ten or twenty or
fifty miles below, we cannot understand
how physicians of the allopathic school
can hold such a theory sincerely. The
Board may argue that when all the cess
pools are drained into the river the pollu-
ton will be increased but we are dealing
now with things as they are, and at
present that kind of sewage does not find
its way into the river except by filtration.
Again, it must be realized that the pro-
posed pumping plan is not finality, but
only beginning. There will be nothing
to prevent its development when once
established, in whatever way hygienic sci
ence may suggest. Ii it is found practi-
cable and advisable to purify the sewage
before it is put into the river, this can be
done. 1t is intended that when COM
mencement has been made the entire sew
erage of the city shall be reorganized, and
that connections shall be made between the
sewers and the houses, so as to carry off
everything. But it is not practicable to do
everything at once, however desirable it
might be. The city is not wealthy enough
to tax itself for so costly system in one
year. The expense will have to be divided
and spread over several years. At present
we are chiefly concerned to obtain the
means OF beginning right. The pumping
system proposed is comprehensive and
powerful enough for extensive develop
ment, and it is calculated that the sewer
age can be gradually perfected when once
this method of discharging it has been put
in working order
1t is not pretended that the plan to be
voted on to-day is perfect. but it is con-
tended that half loaf is better than no
bread. and that since this plan has been de-
vised with full recognition Of future needs,
we shall hazard nothing by adopting it.
The Board OF Health no doubt desires only
the good Of the city, but if its members
had looked into the pumping plan little
more closely we do not think they would
have thought it necessary to cast doubts
uponits expediency, or to talk Of the wisdom
Of further delays. They say that they do
not understand what is proposed ia the
way Of sewerage, but they certainly might
have informed themselves on that head
without much difficulty. Mr.. Bassett
would no doubt have been glad to have
given them any information Oh the subject,
and if they had conversed with him half an
hour they would have learned that there is
really nothing in the proposition now be-
fore the public which can interfere with
the most thorough application of the views
they entertain.
We think experience has proved that
pumping is the only way by which Sacra-
mento can be drained. Examination also
shows that at least for some time to come
our sewage can be put in the river with
out causing even as much pollution as the
drainage canal now produces where it flows.
When the sewer system has been made
effective and complete it will be in order to
consider modes OF purifying it before it is
placed in the river At present however
the main thing is to make an intelligent
beginning, and that can only. be done by
indorsing the proposition now before the
public. Itis the one way out Of great
difficulty which offers itself, and we are
very decidedly of opinion that it ought to
be adopted without hesitation.
A DIsGRAcEFUL AFFAIR.
A carload of canned provisions had been
ordered from the East for the Arctic ex-
ploring vessel Rodgers, about to sail in
search of the Jeanette. When the goods
were received it was discovered that they