The Portland daily press., 1884-10-21
out of the cellar Mr.. Caldwell then accompanied
him to the voting precinct and personally saw him
deposit straight ticket of the right kind.
The Profit of Good Sewage Sys-
tenn.

The Profit of a Good Sewage Sys-
tenn.
Few persons who have not had their atten-
tion directed to the matter, and have not ac-
cess to the books and periodicals in which
the record of results is made, have any ade-
quate idea of the Importance that sanitary
questions, and especially the perplexing
problems involved in the disposition of sew
age, are assuming. Sanitary engineering is
as much distinct branch now as hydraulic
engineering or mining engineering, and only
the men who devote themselves to this spec
ialty can expect to keep thoroughly in-
formed upon the progress and lessons of the
great experiments that are going forwardin
all parts of the civilized world, especially in
England, where with regard to all such mat
ters they are far in advance Of this country.
We find in the last number OF the American
Architect and Building News, journal
which devotes much attention to this matter.
extracts from two valuable papers read in
the Health Department of the Social Science
Congress at Birmingham, Eogland. We will
quote an extract from one of these
papers, which treats of the methods adopted
to dispose of the sewage of Birmingham, the
city in which the Congress was holding it's
sessions, and which it will be seen was not
unlike Portland 10 some of the conditions of
the problem presented. This paper was
read by Mr.. Lawson TAFT, the engineer who
has been connected with the development of
the recent improvements.
Mr.. Lawson TAFT, gave some account of his practi-
cal experience in dealing with the sewage of Birm-
ingham. He said that Birmingham from its situa-
ton the highest part Of the Midland district was
obliged to adopt in its early hisGory the system Of
surface household wells ana until recently these
had an almost universal prevalence throughout the
town; indeed they exist in very large plumbers.
Closely associated, the hidden privy was construct
ed, and in 1871 there were nearly 10000 of these
centres of disease existing in the borough, their ag-
gregate area exceeding thirteen acres AS by far
the greater part of the town is built upon hills of
loose sand and gravel it is perfectly needless for me
to say that soakage from the prives the wells
was of constant occurance and is still far too fre
queDt. Of these privies about 14,O00 drained at
that time into the sewers. There about z 900
waterclosets, the contents of which, together with
all the road-sweepings manufacturers refuse, and
countless other impurities, were turned, and had
been ever since the town existed. into the small
rivers traversing its area. Up to 1871 tie govern
ment OF the town was conducted upon lines which it
is part of my business here discuss or condemn
but no one who knows the town at all but will be
able to substantiste my statement that the new
regime inaugurated by the distinguished statesman
who at the present moment presdes over the Board
Of Trade has, it were reconstructed every aspect
of our municipal life. The town has improved in
every possible way its death-rate has fallen nearly
five in the thousand, and the average age at death
has been raised six years, and the whole of these
beneficial changes are due to the Inauguration of
Mr.. Chamberlainfs sanitary policy.
If, as has been so often sald, he is a public
benefactor who causes two blades OF grass to
grow where but one grew before, how much
better right TO such praise has that public
official whose wise aud efficient adminisra-
tion has reduced the death rate of a great
city five IN one thousand and added six years
to the average length of lite of all the people!
This, ii must be borne 10 mind is besides
proporti0Date diminution of sickness, with
the misery aud costs entailed by it. This Sc
cures positive, calculable increase of the
earning power Of the population, which un-
questionably more than compensates in
pounds, shillings and pence for all the out
lay, whatever it may have been. In other
words, the money saved by improving the
public health and prolonging the period of
each PERSONS power to labor makes sanitary
Improvement an actual and immediate profit
instead OF an expense, an economy instead of
an extravaganza. Aud the experience of
Birmingham is not peculiar. The new sew
age system of Boston has already shown SIM
liar results.
The system which has been carried out in
Birmingham was not adopted suddenly nor
without the most careful consideration by
competent specialists. There was raised
first Sewage Inquiry committee, which
made careful investigation and elaborate
report. After this seven years were spent
In active investigation and experiment. The
problem was particularly difficult because of
lacL of abundant water, ''every ounce of
wafer used in the town unless obtained by
| soft water cistern has to be raised from 200
| TO 800 feet, which is very costly and pre-
cludes the idea OF water-carriage system of
| sewage. The system adopted is peculiar.
The old foul prvy vaults and priyies with
out vaults have been abolished. Galvanized
metal and tar coated pans are provided for
receiving the excreta and these are emptied
into tight receptacles for removal. The ash
es and household refuse is all collected sep
ara,ely. The ashes, etc., are burned in fur
naces constructed for the purpose, by which
| three fifths of the bulk goes off In heat and
the residuum is clinker capable of use for
many purposes and having a marketable
value. The heat of the burning ashes is
used to evaporate and reduce the excreia
collected to dry powder which brings $25
ton, aud sometimes more, for fertilizing pur-
poses 1t is found that this system of bern
ing the waste is less costly than the old sys-
tenn OF carrying it in boats to a distance from
the city aud dumping it. What especially
deserves admiration in this case is the INTEL
ligence, patience and labor directed to ascer-
tanning the best practical system adapted to
the conditions, and the perseverance, With
which the work was carried on in the face Of
much popular opposition from people wedd-
ed to the old ways and other people ignorant
of the difficulties of the problem to be solved
| until a system has been perfected which has
produced the wonderful sanitary results set
forth in the paragraph quoted above.