The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-18
CULVERT WASHING.
Reply OF the President orthe Board OF lie alth
TO the Chsmber OF Commerce.

Reply OF the President orthe Board OF lie al,t
to the Chamber OF Commerce.
The following is In reply to communi.
cation from the secretary OF tue Chamber
OF Commerce, who. as directed, called the
attention Of the Board OF Health to sug.
gestion in the annual report Of President
X. K. Bankenship that the water from fire.
plugs shall be freely used In cleansing cul-
vertS:
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
RICHMOND, VA, June II, 1884.
Your note received, also the resolution
OF the Chamber adopted in furtherance OF
the views OF the president. The practice
referred to by him has been and is now
being adopted by the Board OF Health. A
thorough cleansing Of the inlets TO the
sewers has been carried on, and is now
being prosecuted vigorously, a special
force being assigned to this duty. Many OF
these inlets after each storm become chOked,
and until the sand and dirt Is removed
no water will pass into the culverts.
This force is supplied with special
cart, and the material, as far as possible, is
placed directly into it and removed. After
wards the inlet and the sewer IS flooded
and the street washed. In all cases OF onen-
sive odors in the removal OF this material
disiniectant is used. In your commune
cation you use this language, "instead OF
being cleansed in the present offensive
way" In regard TO this, 1 respectfully
mention that the course adopted here
Is the one general in all cities. IL
you or the Chamber will suggest bet
ter one the Board will gratefully accept
tI,o an1 IL 4rnpficnBip onnnf
il. In drg seasons the Board has sent
around Il section OF hose, and also the
sprinkler, and flooded the inletS and
thereby the sewers-where the inletS could
not be reached by the hose we turned on
the water from the lire plugs, and allowed
it to pass along the cutters. 1t is not as
serted that this has been sufficiently done,
but passing over the city, without partial
ity for any section, the force allowed
maniiestiy insufficient-has done what was
practicable. For several years the water
department has extended liberal license in
the use Of the city water for this purpose.
We had chiefly referred t. the limitation
as regards family use FOR pavements and
houses.
What the Board OF Health needs to pro-
perly utilize the water privilege. and has
earnestly applied for, is the advantage OF
more hose and hose-carriage. This we
have thus far been unable to procure. The
water department not being supplied with
these materials could not furnish them,
neither could the Fire Department.
Respectfully, j. &. CABELL,
President Board OF Health.
Many members Of the Board, doubtless,
in joining the president in his recon-
mendation OF free Use Of water lin dry
season s. in the culyerts, had in mind
the horrible stencil that was made, on q
very hot day, on Main street between
Eleventh and Fourteenth, by men bucket
ing the vile deposits OF the sewers into the
street, and allowing the watery matter
thereirom to stream down the cutters.
That that sort Of thing was promptly
stopped at the public outcry is to the credit
Of the Board.
The material that DR.. CabelPs depart
ment needs to make it efficient he ought to
clamor for, in season and out OF season,
until he gets it. The people are willing
enough to spend money in this direction.