Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-24

A Better System ~ Sewerage Needed
Nobody doubts that a good system OF
sewerage would be Of incalculable benen'
TO this city, and nobody would oDlec' y
such a system if it could be oOtalheU
without cost. Indeed, II some PhilsAl-
tbropie capitalist should offer to supp!
the CITY with Just such system Oh sew
erara AZ is needed. free Of cost, the ofier
would 10 accepted at once, and, that too,
without a dissenting voice. That being
the case. il NAV be safely assumed that
better sewerage system than we now have
Is badly wanted.
ANY attempt, however, to adopt a new
and better system is sure TO meet with
opposition. Some Of those whose property
is connected with the present system VIII
raise objections to any change, because
they think that change will cost them a
few dollars, and many Of those whose
property is provided only with vaults
don't want any system, because
they don't want to bear the expense oil
the Improvement. Any attempt, there-
fore 10 place such sewers in the city as
tbera ought 10 be is certain to meet with
opposition.
But was there ever any public improve
ment in this or any other city which en-
tailed expense on property owners that
did not meet with opposition! If the OBJ
iectors were consulted and allowed 10
have their way public improvements
would come to a stand still.
1t is asserted that the present sewers
are faulty, costly and dangerous to the
publjc health. They are not properly
constructed for sanitary purposes, and
hence are not what are needed. The ex-
pense of making connection with them IS
from five to ten times as great
as the expense of making connection with
a new aud much better system. They are
dangerous because they allow the sewage
to leak into the ground and poison 1t.
While the present system has caused
great decrease in certain kinds OF dis
eases it has caused an increase, it is
claimed, owing to its defects, in other
kinds.
Those who have made study OF the
present system and the proposed system
say that the cost Of the new system to
property owners viii not be greater than
the annual cost OF repairs Of the old
system. If this be true, it is difficult to
see what reason for opposition to the
new system there can be, provided 1t is
all that it is claimed to be.
The Council has this question of a new
/ sewerage system under consideration. 1t
was presented at the last meeting, and
will, probably, be taken up for action at
/ the next meeting. There are many
/ reasons why the sewers should be in the
lanes rather than in the streets, and it is
easily demonstrated that small sewer
pipes will answer a better sanitary purpose
/ than large brick drains do. If the Council
/ proposes to act fayorably in this matter
/ there is no time to be lost. The earth
can be turned up with safety only in cold
weather, and cold weather is not far on.
There is nothing that contributes SO
much to the prosperity of a city as health
! A healthy city, having business adyan-
tages, attracts capital and people. Good
drainage is absolutely necessary to good
health. Since the work of draining the
neighbOring swamps began, the clty's
health has greatly improved.
In the event that a new system of sew
erage is adopted, care should be taken
that the sewers are constructed strictly
in accordance with sanitary and scientific
rules. Bad construction may render a
| good system Of no account.