Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-05-01
DRAINAGE
With Reference TO Malaria IN POpn-
Ions Dintricfh.

With Reference TO Malaria IN POpn
Ions Districts.
| Editor G zstts g. Journal: In order that al
opinion upon zach subjects be enter
tanned, 1t should emapate from m expert
| Without asserting my claim as such y
may demand attention to my vie 3, al
| one interested in the wealth and pros
perity of New Castle by personal sssooia
| ton throughout the greater part of thit
century, aud by family interests extend
ing far back in the past, and on into the
future.
When my father practiced my pretes.
sion there, during the early part of this
century, iew Gf any) failed to experience
ague in some form as it has been recently
manifested in that locality. This is an
important fact in view Of the long inter.
val comparatively destitute of this pest,
and the recent development of an slarm-
ing prevalence OF all that class of mala.
dies which necessarily attend an increase
Of population where ague depends on
imperfect drainage. The peculiarity of
the malaria OF the Pontine marshes, neal
Rome, resulted from the same cause, and
one who crossed those marches after
nj ht was seized with chill, from which
death-but no reaction or fever-re-
suited.
The mere drainage of the low land that
enciroles New Castle is about to be- accom-
plished, as matter of rural economy
alone, at the cost of several thousand
dollars. By the co operation of the city
authorities, this effort can be utilized as
the natural and most perfect and eco
nomioal vent for the sewerage of the city.
The opportunity thus afforded of making
New Castle the most healthy city of this
Peninsula, by the use OF her natural ad-
vantages and with most economical
expenditure in sewerage, seems to oOm-
pei me to at least suggest tbs hygienic
application of the project actually con-
templated.
AS with an individual, 30 with city
the accumulation of business and of gold
diminishes in value in geometricsl pro.
portion, as malaria increases. II 30, the
first step as to economy is In relation to
health. Indeed, this is the "sine qua
non," as the poorest man with good
health is infinitely more wealthy than
the millionaire without it.
The peculiar advantage which New
Castle possesses in utilixing the tide
twice every day in cleansing, not only
her atmosphere but her sewers, oapnot
be ,exoslled. The cost of the acre OF
land, which, converted into reservoir.
might receive millions OF gallons at every
tide, would be less THAI that OF uL,
epidemic OF either OF the soourees re
ferred to, and of which agus is the least.
This reservoir, which should be situated
in the rear of the city, when filled BY
subterrsnean adits or tunnels, enciro lug
the city, into which bitches, drains and
sewers should empty, being fitted with
gates to be opened at high tide until the
reservoir is filled, then closed and vented
only at low tide, would sweep the mouth
of every sewer and rush the filth into the
middle of the river, precisely on the
same principle that the sand which
formerly accumulated opposite Augustine
marsh is now swept awa7, and the outlet
of the flooded marsh deepens at every
tide, both within and outside of the
original bank.
After praoticing medicine in New Castle
and studying its hyRienic relations sug-
gested the plan above indicated to resi-
dent physician. He then proposed its
publication ; but, impressed with the
prevalence Of false notions as 10 economy,
was discouraged. Now, since the city
fathers contemplate the radical import
ance OF sewerage which the lazy tide fails
to remove, and plan published which
ID as "the play OF Hamlet with Hamlet
left out" am tempted, though at the
risk Of apparent officiousness.
II there were no mar hes to produce
malaria, either above or below Nsw Castle
or if it would not pay to drain them for
other reasons, still the above would be
the most economical and perfect closca or
vent for the sewers of the city. But,
when there ia chance to reduce the cost |
OF sewerage by using the same cloaoa 10 |
drain the back water from the marshes |
(through bitches teru inatingin the cloaoa
by sluices) and reduplicating the amount |
of water which washes out the elosca, it |
seems inexcusable parsimcny, folly and |
want of foresight, to delay sewerage,
when the consequences mast decimate |
this generation and double the taxes OF |
the succeeding, apart from the check
given to the price of town lots-an in |
evitable loss to both the city and in
dividuals far exceeding the cost of the |
arrangement.
One Waterman would be required, as at |
a canal lock, to vent the reservoir by |
opening the doors of the oloaca at every |
low tide. The enormous rush OF water |
wonld, as at Augustine, deepen the oloaoa
and sweep the bottom OF the river for |
many hundred yards. "Verbum sap. sat"
SIGMA.
~The writer, being employed by the city |
council of Baltimore to select the best water |
supply, in 1854, and preferring the present |
abundant stream, quoted in his pub
ished report, the sentiment "Mil-
lions for defense-not one cent |
for tribute" paraphrased, Millions for |
the necessaries of life-not one cent for lux.
1ries' should be the watchword of our city |
See page 65, report on supply of |
water for the city of Baltimore printed by
James Lucas.