The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-03-20
ANTI-SEWERAGE.
A PRACTICAL LETTER on STREET I'M
.PR0vEMENTS GENERALLY.
Detective Street Work in the Past, and Opposition
TO the Sewerage Proposition.


Editor San Antonio Light:
According to Shakespeare, we grant
title to the most high, infallible and hon
orable Captain Smith, who indicted the
LIGnT for spreading the LIomT's infor-
nation, an endeavor that merits a
thankful reception. III we are yet in n
republican form of government the press,
as a public teacher, must remain I'M
trammelled. Any person drawing sal
airy ina public position he occupies is
the peoples servant. He has to bear re-
monstrations and cannot claim an infal-
lible predominance over his constituents.
And the readers of the LIGHT long for
more light of instructions, as to how TO
decide between the rights and wrongs.
This Indictment would likely have been
dropped, If the grand jurors were cogni-
zant of the damages done TO the people by
sinking of streets and sidewalks under
the mud-pools during rainy days, and in
which water -stagnates, breeding
malarial diseases. II deaths occur
to an alarming number, attributable to
streets mud, indictments may likely
be rendered against him and others
concerned in spelling the streets, for it
will cost the city S5O,OO0 when compelled
TO fill up and raise again these sunken
streets uniform with the rises and slopes
of the natural ground. Have high
streets, high walks and 10 inch gutter
depth for street water to drain Off.
The house builders, for instance, are
legally held responsible to do every
thing in a good, substantial and work
manlike manner. An alike RESPONSE
bility is In demand by the constituents
of the city government as value re-
ceived for the salaries and homage paid.
The same is obligatory to the city
authority in controlling and demanding
guarantee for all works, services and
duties, to be done in the most efficient
and substantial manner possible, as
value received for the cost prices or
salaries paid for.
1t is to be hoped that the question on
sewerage is dropped, irrespective of the
various professionists' sayings, and the
vote against the loan" be carried,
because by no money and less credit on
hand we cannot extensively dig and
spoil our streets. Maintain some fame
of San Antonio's health, and we
cannot be SO bad as to produce
by sewers exhaling gases to an
occasional plague over our location.
These contemplated closet-sewers
used in sea port cities), are to spill off
these deposits in modern closets of
hotels from rich mems houses on prin-
cipal streets, led to the river, contami-
nate that water unfit even for animals to
drink. The outer streets cannot have
such underneath canals, but must pay
for this aristocratic speculation. Ac-
cording to the rough estimates of these
most honorable experts, these sewers
cost only S350,0O0. But all public works
cost when complete four times Of their |
original estimates, hence ST 100000. We |
hold that the common privy-retreats
not over six feet deep in the outer
thinly settled town are admissible, while
at the centre and in thickly built streets
their privies have boxes with rollers I'M
derneath, fitted under their somewhat
higher raised seats, and side door on
hinges hanging down when closed. A !
barrel of dry earth on hand kept inside
Of which some at evenings is spread
over the contents Of the box, to prevent
odor.. When the box is nearly full, the
door is opened, the box drawn out, put
On cart or country wagon to take it
away, fresh box put in, and the door
closed.
To Introduce this box system, the city
ought to offer 10 per cent. tax reduce
lion to those household privies best ar
ranged. KREIscHK.