Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-25
The sewer system.

Editor Morning Nesos: Ny meddling with
the sewer system Of Savannah is SO old that
little of the cold shoulder does not make
me despair.
AS long ago as 1869 wrote letter to Mr..
Hogg, the City Surveyor Ia copy Of which l
send for publication, if you see fit. had
reason to believe he received it, but as got
no answer, dropped the matter then; but
lately it burned afresh, so gave you my
views, as published IA yours of July OH,
18th, 18Th and I'D.
Since then have looked for something to
turn up, some indication that | had walked
up attention of those who have to pay the
piper for the dance our City Council is lead
ing US into.
have felt my boat was in q calm, and
have been whistlirg for the wind and tick
ling st. Antonio by scratching The mast, and
had only cats paw from "Citizen" until
yours of the 18th inst. quite filed my sails.
80 much discussion and serious considera-
ton has been excited" was pleasant news,
whether my articles had done the work or
not, and in reading the details Of the "Mod-
ern Sewage" l was quite pleased to find that
some of my suggestions were upheld-es-
pecially the flushing of sewers by suddenly
and also the grade Of the sewers, making
my suggestion of debouchure in Vernon
river not quite sHch wild scheme as might
be supposed, for l see that in Memphis the
minimum grade given is two inches TO the
hundred feet, which is eight feet to the
mile-iust what l showed was the grade be-
tween the Exchange and White Bluff
Church.
There is one item the Memphis system
had to bear; for l noticed that the Flush
tanks cost complete, about $45 each, in
cludiBg $40 royalty,n which the Savannah
system need not bear, for charge 10 royal
tY on my proposed tanks and the means OF
emptyiDg them.
The system in all its parts is not applica-
BILE to Savannah, but much that may be use
full may be drawn from 1t.
The ventilation OF the sewers by raising
the end OF the house pipe above the roof is
good, but hard to apply to Savannah, where
the surface water drainage connection Is so
open; yet some plan may be devised to OBJ
vlate that difficulty.
There is one thing wish to draw espe-
cial attention to, which is, whether or not
the constant flow of a small quantity OF
water will cleanse the sewers and the pipes
connected Herewith as efficiently as coca
sional flushing as above described
"Citizan" misunderstood me when he
saws: ga s. says he did not consider
house drainage when he wrote the article,
etc, etc"
l did not consider it because it might
draw of attention to what l wished to lay
before the citizens, VIZ: the benefit of flush
ing, knowing that If that was found available
in the sewers, 1t would be transferred to the
minor, yet more useful, channels, and be-
cause 1t was connected with the existing
water supply, and could not be aided by
the small steam engine and pump, which l
proposed to use for fitting the sewer tanks
and drinking troughs.
II l mistake not, the water closets Ito
handle the matter without gloves have
continual flow of water from them through
out the twenty four hours; but does 1t SUI
fee, as it is designed, to carry of the mat
tiers deposited In these closets, or does the
water trickle by and leave the deposit to
generate stencil and diseased
would like to have a few OF these sources
of wastage measured for few hours. l
fancy that one-tenth of the quantity would
flush the pipes clean, If it were applied two
or three gallons at time, whenever the
convenience was used.
Another reason why l did not consider the
house drainage, when | wrote my first arti-
Giles, was, that did not know the grade OF
the connecting pipes, or their structure; but
thought 1t probable that the branches of the
Broughton street sewer were about as scien-
tifcally laid out as Its root In Bilbo's canal.
A. s., Of Roswell.