Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-07
SEEKING NEW SEWERAGE
THE cLAN THE CITY PROPOSES
To ADOPT.

=
mates-Tl,e Probable Cost of Com
pete Drainage.
The advent Of hot weather is re-awaken.
ing the interest in the proposed improve
lncnt OF the sewerage system.
The drainage system Of Savannah is,
perhaps, as defective as any city of its
size IN the country. lit was practicable
10 empty the sewerage into the river near
the city an excellent and economical sys-
TEN could be inaugurated. The con-
tamiuation that would result to the
water, however, prevents the river
beng utilized TO carry OF
the sewerage. The present system
has its outlet in BilbO canal near the
tracks of the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway. The canal is open,
narrow and shallow. Masses of filth are
hourly poured into 1t. The receding tides
carry large part Of il To the river, but
there is always lett on the edges of the
stream a deposit. succeeding years have
increased this until both sides of the canal
are deeply covered with reeking filth.
The hot suns of summer cannot but breed
presidential germs, which the winds dis
semmate over the city. The stencil arising
from the mouth Of the sewer pOisons the air
until il is almost unbearable. The use Of
tants in houses in the city neutralizes in
a degree the offensive odors. The drain
pipes themselves have the defects that are
common to all Of the old kinds, the chief
defect being the non-p prevention Of the
formation Of sewer gas.
When Col. George E. Waring, the emil
nent sanitary engineer, was here SIX weeks
ago, ne made a slight inspection
of the present system with a
view to substituting his own system. The
city wanted the best obtainable WITH the
least expenditure Of money. Since he
returned home be has kept up CORE
spondence with City Surveyor Howard
who has furnished him with the levels of
nearly every street corner in the city.
From the data which he has Col. Waring
is preparing plans and estimates to be
submitted 10 the Councils Committee on
Drainage, of which Alderman w. b.
Nell is Chairman.
The elevation of the street at the City !
Exchange is 30 feet. This is one of the
highest points. Yamacraw is consider
ably lower.
1t is proposed to make the outlet Of The
system at Timber Landing creek, 22,000
feet from the mouth of Bolton street
sewer. A fall of one foot is desired in
every thousand. The elevation in some
places will only allow fifteen feet fall.
Three sizes of sewers have been sug-
gested by Mr.. Warlng. One is the same
that he proposed when here, viz: A
thirty-inch pipe. glazed on the inside,
from the city limits to Timber Landing
creek. This would be large enough to
carry of the house and kitchen drainage,
but the rainfall would have to flow off
over the surface. This would be the
cheapest, the cost falling within $4,000. !
A main feet in diameter, costing
800, 600 more, would carry of all OF the
kitchen and house drainage and the rain
water, except on the occasion Of heavy
storms.
The third size proposed is an s or 9
feet main, which would allow all of the
drainage to pass through. The cost Of
this is estimated at 5000, 600. The inter-
mediate size appears TO be the best and is
preferred. Col. Waring suggested that
the section lying between East Broad and
West Broad and Bay and Gwinnett streets
be drained first. Mr.. Howard has since
proposed that Bolton street be taken in
and the sewer on that street utilized. The
plans are not near completed yet, but it
is thought that mains VIII be placed under
East Broad, Habersham, Barnard and
West Broad streets. From these smaller
lateral mains will extend east and west
on either side. All of the pipes are TO in
crease in size toward the mouth. Thus.
d pipe running along BrOughtOn street
from Bull TO Barnard might be inches IN
diameter at Bull and Broughton, 6 inches
at the corner Of Whitaker, and inches
where it connected with the main in Bar
nard street.
The purpose is to provide a
pipe just large enough TO |
convey the sewage. When the pipes are !
kept full the formation Of gas is pre- |
vented and dirt is not so apt TO harden I
and accumulate. 1t is designed to place an |
automatic flush tank at the head of each /
street. These are so arranged that when I
Tbey have received "A certain amount the (
weight causes them to Overturn and |
dump the contents into the main. These
tanks cost IS or $40 each. Memphis is
drained by this system, and it is very
satisfactory. The height Of the water in
the river opposite that city varies so that
two outlets are necessary. One at a dis
tance from the city is used ordinarily, but
during floods the sewage flows out much
nearer the town.
great advantage in making Timber
Landing creek the receptacle is that it is
a tide water stream. The salt water acts
on the nth as disinfectant and deodor
izer.
All Of the physicians urge that the IN
auguSatiOn oil the new system bee facii-
taied as much as possible. The health
authorities say that there are 1000 water
closets In Savannah that have no outlet.
The health Of the citizens demands that
these be cleaned hlled up, and The same or
others be connected with the sewers.
The expense is the main question in de-
termining Wrat viii be done. The budget
This year IL $5iG, 900. Out Of this few
thousand Will bee saved. This, with what
can DE saved neXs year, If the fund Is
economically used. will raise the surplus
10 perhaps SlO,O01. some place II at less,
others higher. The intermediate size.
feet, would cost less than $lJ0,C0O and
would he large enough for g city Of roo
OA0inhahiiants. one scheme ia 70 90 ahead
with the work whom a fund To- saved. extend
u over two years. and divide the cost
between the two years. a leading Nom
Der Of Council proposes that the work he
done n section 49, % time and paid for as
completed. That is. drain the eastern
section FIRST The central next and the
western last, or vice versa II desired.
work in rho River.
Work in the river is being steadily