Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-09
SEWAGE SYSTEMS.
SOME OF THE METHODS FOR IT'S
DISPOSAL.
Statements Concerning the Epura-
ton of Sewage by Irrigation
and Agriculture.

As the question of the disposal of our
sewage in Sacramento is one of the princi-
pal points for consideration and attention
in connection with present movements III
sanitation, and involves the adoption, IN
the near future, of some complete system
for the successful removal of all sewage
matter and drainage from the city limits,
all light that may be thrown upon the
question by the experience OF sanity en-
gineers and health authorities of other
cities and countries, may properly be ex-
amined. While we have already cited
numerous eminent authorities which hold
TO the theory that the water Of rivers, into
which sewage runs, soon purifies itself, and
that the sewage does not render such river
water unwholesome for domestic use, the
reverse of this is also held; and, in order to
give the readers of he RECORD UNION the
benefitof both sides Of the question, We give
below an able paper. by Henry j.
Barnes, NJ. D., read before the Suffolk
fNass.) District Medical Sociely in April
last and published in the Boston Medical
and Surgical Jom3sa5 It is as follows ~
Many ofthe cities and towns of Massachusetts,
rs well rs those throughout the country, nave
in the near future this question to dispose OF IN
a scientific and practical manner. Political econ
omy and the public health demand already III
many communities attention to TINS subject. An
epidemic Of typhoid fever III nelghborlng
town would be very dangerous menace to the
health OF the citizens OF Boston in consequence
of the water supply OF the latter belns me re-
ceptacle for the drainage and objections OF the
inhabitants OF the former. \ beautiful lake III
the vicinity OF Boston IS made so filthy by
large sewer dischaTgins IN 1t that twice pub
lie cry of reprobaton has been raised against 1t.
The valley of one OF our large rivers has been
rendered almost uninh2Dituble by the drainage
Of large inland city. u is now said that the
citizens Of Chicago are much OF the time drink
ing their own sewage as q result OF taxing wafer
from Il lake with which their sewerage system
connects and we may add that the city which
is not troubled by its system of drainage is the
exception and not the rule.
THE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION BY SEWAGE
OF wells, springs, rivers, and all ponds used for
domestic purposes are so generally recognized
that no attempt is made TO collate the many
many calamities which have betallen cities
towns, villages, and families through Ignorance
or Indifference as TO what disposition is made
Of the refuse matter OF dwellings and we must
also acknowledge that a comprehensive system
of diSpOsing OF sewage must be lnaugurated III
the near future, both in towns and by every IN
dividual hamlet The present methods OF gath
ering in cesSpools or subterranean channels,
which discharge in manner to jeopardlzc
health and comfort OF ourselves and nelghbors,
must be abandoned for a system which shall dis
pose of and purify the sewage in a practical
manner, or We must give up some Of our large
rivers for sewerage systems, or construct at
enormous expense metropolitan systems, both
of which have proved unsatisfactory or failures
in Europe
London's metropolitan system. which dis
charges in the maritime Thames about twenty
one miles below the city, OF which SO much was
expected and cited rs TN example, Boston might
initiate, has proved far from what was antici-
Dated. The sewage, instead of going to sea. or
being diluted 10 an extent which would render
IL innOXiOuS, is deposited by the tides above and
below the mouth Of the sewer in such quantity
rs 10 cause great cry OI indignation from the
Inhabitants living along the banks otthe river,
and numerous petitions TO Parliament asking
for relief have been presented
TOrquay and Brighton draining directly into
the sea have experienced similar results, aud
their systems are pronounced failures The
once beautiful bay Of Naples Is to-day ree6
ing pool OF filth. recitation of the many eE
amples of pollution OF rivers both in Europe and
America and the attendant evil, is unnecessary,
but the following list of English cities where
the Courts have enioined drainage i'll rivers sUg-
EeSt what we may anticipate in TINS country ::
Banbury, Blackburn, ChOrley, DouCaster Har-
rowGate bennington, Merthyr-Tydfl, Rugby
Funbridge Wells, Warwick, Kendall, Birmins-
ham, Bolton lie Mcors. Bradford, Coventry
Leeds, Halifax and R0chdale.
ROYAL COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
In 1870 the Royal Commissioners reporting on
the pollution of the MeTscy and the Ribblc
stated that sewage discharged IN running
water is not materially changed for many hours
b. oxidation" This they demonstrated by the
following experiment: volume of filtered
sewage from drain of London was mixed with
nine parts of pure water Analysis Of this
mixture showed it to contain per 100000 parts
.-17 parts of carbonaceOus matter and 81 parts
Ul nltrOgenouS matter. II was exposed each
day to light and air, shaken and drawn by small
SlDnOnS a
feet from vessel to vessel. At the end of IS hours
there remained 80 parts of Carbonaceous matter
and IS parts of heterogeneous matter, indicating
loss of but II parts OF carbonaceous matter
aud % parts of heterogeneous matter. At the end
OF 1872 hours it had lost but . per cent. OF car
bouaceous matter and 3}l% perscent. of nitro
c,nous matter This experiment was made in
q temperature of $50 F., and designed to show
3Ee change likely TO take place in the current OF
q river running at the rate of one mile per hour,
aad carrying 10 per cent. OF sewage. Ihey
concluded there was not a river IN England long
enough to dispose of d moderate amount ofseW-
age through oxidation.
{. Babut du Maris says " It has been proved
t'at the water of rivers does not lose material
amount of azote nitrogen in Il run of over 800
zl.les. And the Prussian Government has conse-
puCutly forbidden the pollution OF rivers ana
s.8pOrts by the discharge Of the detrltus of
C.ties.' The effects of
INPERFECT SEWERAGE SYSTEMS
Are 'Orcbly portrayed IN paper printed in the
3Js-1R hedicql and Surgicqi Journal Of February
% and March l, 1883. In that paper DR.. Morton
Prince collates many epidemics OF typhoid fever
20. M cISe ~ ~ - '' IA t.i
L'ls 9'ate i oioLg ne az 800
laes OF typuolu can Seai' 4iu cFSL5 oly
= :. - = = ~ IL - - = .,1
So ~ iso 7os ';l iI{nstNtad NJ NJ
liant Mass i'm 1881 and thoroughly repOrtpd l,v
FrDes; Bowditch paragraph from page 2i6
or the supplementary Report of the state Board
OF Health 1SS2-s3, would properly introduce the
question discussed in this paper rs the success
fil epuratfon of sewage b. irrigation aud agri-
culture depends upon where and to what eN-
tent nature provides in the soil for the ellnina
ton of filth Mr. BoWdltch SAYS after noting
the Improvement in the sanitary condition Of
the town the wear following the epidemic.
"While the conclusions rs to soil re
covery may be derived from insufficient
premises perhaps calling attention 20
The subject may lead 10 the discovery Of
facts warranting systematic research in this di
rectiOn may be OF great sanitary value DIT
Farmland wrote in May ISL d" There are in
nature powerful agents FOR the destruction of
disease II cannot be doubted: otherwise the