The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-17

The Sanitary Engineer, which is
high authority in matters pertaining
to sanitation, presents a word of
caution against the practice of going
into the construction of sewerage
works without first securing compe-
tent plans for their proper construc-
ton. The Engineer says:
The construction of public works
of this class has become a special bus
mess with number of energetic
men who have entered upon it pure
ly as mattar of business, and by
the aid of capital are enabled to con-
struct works at less cost and with
less risk to town authorities than
has ever before been possible.
Such firms have been operating
for several years in a small way, but
within the last two years their num-
Der has greatly increased, and now,
the whole country is Systematically
canvassed by them and their agents.
The principal factor in each firm
is generally manufacturer of some
speciality in the form of patented
pump or pipe. The town which is
selected as the field of operation is
worked up by contractor, who pro-
poses to furnish water or drainage
for a stipulated sum, and if the pub
lie authorities will not pay for it
entirely, a company is formed and
the privilege of charging the citizens
and the town for service rendered is
acquired.
We have nothing to say against
this mode of procedure, under prop
er considerations. Good water and
proper removal and disposal of sew
age are so essential to the health and
prosperity of any community, that
the construction of works to afford
them is to be encouraged every
where.
But there is one danger attending
the system. The number of men
who are competent to wisely advise
on the selection of sources of water
supply, and the mode of disposal of
sewage is small. The questions in
volved and the problems presented
are rarely easy of solution in an eff
fective and economical manner.
They require the Judgment of an ex-
pert civil engineer just as much as
questions OF law do the judgment of
a lawyer or those of disease do that
of a physician. Civil engineering is
the product of a high degree of civil
liZation and has not yet attained.that
full recognition which will yet be
accorded to it. Its branches are so
various that the mastery of all OF
them by any one individual is an
impossibility, but the development
of the several branches has been so
recent that the pursuit of each is not
yet understood by people in general
to constitute special profession or
calling. The average citizen or COM
mittee man is still prone to imagine
that rural surveyor who calls him
self evil engineer is competent to
tackle the most abstruse question in
| hydraulics, or that q self-complacent
contractor who on the strength OF
the successful accomplishment of q
piece of construction sets up as 8
designer of works, is a safe judge OF
what is best in any case demanding
sanitary or engineering skill.
The result is too often that works
are built on erroneous designs and
as the designer and builder has only
the one motive, to do his wOrl
cheaply and at profit to himself, il
is badly done. Such cheap work is
almost invariably dear at the end.
There is only one way for cor
poration, either public or private, tC
secure good work-and. that is tC
get a good design and to see that il
is faithfully carried out in every de
tail. Never trust to a guarantee
of man who offers to build anC
equip works for a dump sum" OIL
his own plans and free from profess
ional supervision. 1t is better Il
pay a little more for a preliminary
examination by an impartial man o
experience, who has no axe to grinC
and for inspection during construc
ton by person skilled in that pur
suit. Money will be saved in tn,
long run by needing these sugges
tons.