New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-20
sustained by the COOL sense and the seu-re-
spect of majority of the people OF Aew-Jersey'
PHASES or SANITARY SCIENCE.

PHASES or S1NfIdhJ oCiCNc6s
One of the complaints urged against sanitary
engineers by practical plumbers is that they
cannot agree upon fundamental principles anu
are altering their requirements from year 10
wear. The plumbing laws and sanitary regu-
lations of the building departments IN large
cities are ordinarily framed by this new class OF
sanitary en- gineers occupying an inferno date
place between the architects and the contract
ors. Not only are there wide discrepancies IN
practce under these various codes, but In inc
same locality there are constant changes III tie
theory of sanitary science. house that is
built in accordance with the approved specih-
cations of the most competent engineers VIII %
condemned within five years by the same au-
thorities as faulty in its sanitary Appliances.
For example, the ventilation of drain-pipes mas
been one of the chief objects kept In view by
the experts. The first suggestion was 10 carry
a small tube from the vertical drain-pipe to the
roof. the shining of the walls of the conduit
being theoretically prevented by the admission
of air. This tube was speedily enlarged until
il was of the same size as the drain-plpe. Then
the argument was used that it was useless to-
ventilate a pine at one ond only, and that ID
order to send a current of air from top 10 bot
z,ntal dran-pipe under the basement to the
outer wall. Having provided for conp'ete
circulation of air in the drainage system, the
engineers . used for b cath but already they
have resumed operations at the root. Ihey are
now enlarging the soil-pipe at the upper end In
order to facilitate a draught, and probably
before long they will he introducing additional
appliances at the lower end and IN the middle.
In ike manner there have been variations OF
opinion regarding materials. Earthen pipes
were condemned and east-iron pipes recon-
mended AS absolutely safe. The engineers now
complain that cast-iron pipes ordinarily leak ut
the Joints under q head of water, and that the
interior surlaces facilitate the formation OF
sewer Innings. WTOught-iron Is regarded ny
the highest authorities rs the best material ior
drain-pipes indoors. At the same time materi-
ais and characterization are considered snDOr-
dinate in i'm n0rtance to the efficient cleansing
of wastc-pipcs 10y gallons OF water discharged
with considerable velocity. DIR. George f..
Warning, ir, in the current number OF Inc
American ATchiicct, says that flushing is tue
walchword of the best sanitary science oil the
prcsent time. and confesses that he has little
fait,, in the universal specific Of trap ventilation
~
the drain-ppe with its volume of mir and gases
by means OF water-seals and other devices,
simple and complex, from the atmosphere oil
the house, has been one of the chief aims OF the
sanitary engineer. A thousand and one traps
and mechanical distractions have been III
vented for this purpose, and at least hundred
of them have beer pronounced absolutely safe
Inv competent authorities. In every house
erected under the new sanitary codes wash
stands, sinks and hoppers on every nocr' anu
the main drainage pipes, are required To he
trapped. and the cost of plumbing In this ana
in other respects has mora than doubled during
the last fifteen years. Yet here is Mr. WarlDg
one of the leaders of sanitary science, hurting
ont his want OF faith in these costly appliances
| The system of ventIlatng traps, he says, Is at
landed with dangers equal to those which 1t is
intended to remove, and mechanical traps are a
makcshift also, which become seats of decom-
position unless they are kept constantly under
the eve and copiously flushed.
Its a singular fact that in spite of the thou
sand inventions in plumbers appliances, and the
countless safeguards which sanitary science
| has devised, the best advice which one OF the
most accomplished engineers has to give to
house builders i. to have as little work of this
sort as possible. Mr.. Waring applies the
mathematical rule to plumbing, and AYERS that
the danger increases inversely IA the square oi
the distance. Given four times the length oil
lateral pipe or twice the number of stationary
wash stands or sinks, and the danger ls either
sixteen or four times as great. lie would there
fore cut on all wash-stands and baths from bed
rooms, and dispensing with every lateral pipe Of
any length would concentrate in a single bath
room on a floor all tie water and drainage APP
plances. thus making simplicity the main ele-
MINT of RnIntY.