The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-11-17
The Sewage System of Providence.
Impertant Improvements Recomme nded-
Valuable Report by the City Engineer.

The necessity Of constructing a new sever
age system for the city of Providence, has for
long time sgitated the minds of its promi-
nent citizens. By the present system, most Of
the sewerage is emptied into the harbor, but
little distance from the centre of the city. and
with every incoming tide it Is washed up to
the shores, poisoning the air in the busiest PAT
of Providence, and presenting most filthy ap
pearance. In September, 1882, Samuel M.
Gray, the city engineer, was ordered by the
city council to report plans for new sewerage
system; and last February, he together with
his assistant Charles Fl. Swan, was directed
by the council to proceed to Europe to investi-
gate the various plans in practical operation
for the disposition and utilization of sewerage.
Mr.. Gray and his assistant accordingly went to
Europe in the early part of the summer, and
spent several weeks in inspecting the sewerage
systems ia use in England, Scotland. France.
Germany and other places.
Last Friday night both branches Of the city
council met in joint convention to listen to his
report 1t Is long document, containing nu-
merous appendices, and Mr.. Gray illustrated
his proposed plans with large maps charts
plans and drawings of various kinds The
council after deliberation of two hours, re-
ferred the matter to joint special committee,
consisting Of the mayor and nine members of
the city council, with instruction to report
such action as in their opinion may be necessa-
~ to carry into effect the plans recommended
by the engineer.
The report begins by citing the cities and
towns in Europe where the sewerage systems
and methods1or the disposal of sewage have
been inspected. As the result of this investi-
cation Mr.. Gray recommends, first, that in
tercepting sewers be built; second, that the
sewage Of the city be conveyed to Fields
Point; third, that it be treated there by chem
icals in such manner as to precipitate the
matters in suspension and to clarity the sew
age; fourth, that the clarified efiuent be empt-
led into deep water at Fields Point Mr.
Gray was confident that the sewage could be
so clarified that the effiuent would be entirely
harmless when emptied into the river at
Fields Point, and the publication can be ac-
complished at less expense than by irrigation.
Then, too, the large amount of suitable land
necessary for irrigation cannot be obtained at
any reasonable cost within q fair distance Of
the city. The sewage from part of the eighth
ward and most OF the ninth will not require
pumping. The sewage from the remainder Of
the city will be lifted about % feet into con-
duit, through which this sewage, together with
that from the eighth and ninth wards, will
flow to the precipitation works, where il IL
proposed TO construct tanks and erect suitable
buildings and works for the mixing
of chemicals with the sewage : The
sewage, after receiving the mixture Of
cnemlcal5, Will now into precipitation
tanks, where it will remain for short time to
cause the deposit of sludge; the clarified effu-
ent will flow of into deep water. The sud9e
left in the bottom OF the tanks will then pass
into receivers, from which 1t will be forced by
compressed air into filter presses, by which this
sludge is easily compressed into a portable
form. That this sludge possesses some value
as fertilizer there is no doubt; ii remains to
be seen whether there will be any sale for il in
this vicinity. Bearing in mind the fact that,
Al, Iros 1t he a..
the river and the cove is not taken care Of, the
city system will be useless Mr. Gray has ar
ranged to have the waste products of thesa
establishments effectually disposed of. Pre-
visions have also been made for a population
OF 100000 inhabitants within the present citv
limits together with small districts lying out
side the present boundaries, whose only outlet
will be through the city. The interceptipg
sewers, excepting the main sswer of the ninth
ward, are designed to carry 1-100 of an inch
of rain water per hour from the dis
trict drained, together with the wastes
from manufactures, ana 60 gallons of sewage
per inhabitant, including ground water. Tho
manufactures waste is estimated to flow off in
ten hours; OF the sewage, one-half is estimat-
ed TO flow off in seven hours This requires
marginal sewer, when flowing nearly full, of
seven feet, two inches diameter at the lower
end in Aliens avenue, near Corliss Cove. At
the functions Of the district outlet sewers with
the interceptiDg sewers there will be overhows
into the river for the relief OF the sewers from
the excess of rain water. An overflow will be
provided near Fields Point, to be used, il nee
essary, in case of heavy storms. The estimat-
ed cost of the whole work is $3, 500 504. VERY
few, il any, OF the sewers now laid need be
disturbed.
No system OF sewerage is complete which
fails to dispose of the sewage so as to avoid its
causing nuisance 1t is believed that il the
scheme herein recommended be thoroughly
carried out, the Providence River and its tri6-
utaries may bs reclaimed from their present
filthy condition, and that the air which is now
SO often kladen with foul gases rising from
their waters may be preserved pure and whole
some. The whole work can he completed in
side OF three years The system recommended
is in successful operation in many OF the towns
and cities of Europe.