San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-02-18
SEWER COMMITTEE.
The Result OF This Body's Labors cppo
sltion Of the Mayor

| of San Antonio:
GENTLEMEN Since pOpulOus cities all
| over the civilized world find il necessary
for the protection of public health to
provide means for the removal of such
| injurious substances as must necessarily
accumulate wherever many people live
closely together. the question whether
similar measures should be adopted BY
| the City of San Antonio, and if SO, which
measures and to what extent, has, by
your honorable body, been submitted to
this committee.
You are, no doubt. aware that none Of
! the members OF your committee have
any special knowledge of such matters
but we have endeavOred 10 obtain the
best and fullest information accessible.
and, after careful consideration, We adj
wise the adoption of the system of sewer
age proposed by the City Engineer In his
report of July -, 1885, so far as it refer
to the removal OF sewage.
Storm water, unless it falls in such
! quantities as can not possibly be carried
of by sewers, except of excessive size,
has never injured our town to any ssTl-
Gus extent. and it scarcely ever remains
ON the surface long enough 10 become
dangerous to public health. We can not,
therefore, at the present time advise the
expenditure OF large sum of money 10
carry ii off. On the other hand, We are
fully convinced that the health OF our
population will be largely benefited if
we remove the refuse of dwelling. com
monty called sewage, and the only ques-
tion therefore is. whether or not the
benefits to be gained will out weigh tue
cost.
Epidemics are now b lieved or rather
known to originate and spread through
injurious substances or bodies intro
duced into the human body with the
food we eat, with the water We drink
or with the air we breathe. Govern
nent will or should now be called upon
TO prohibit the adulteration Of food.
therein following the examples already
set by other civilized countries.
Through our excellent system of
water-wOrks we are amply provided
with as pure and wholesome water as
can be obtained, and if We succeed in
purifying the air We breathe, We shall
then be as well protected against an I'M
due rate of mortality, and against cpl
denies in particular, as We can possibly
be. Air in densely populated cities is
contaminated to a serious extent by yaTi
Gus causes, such as the decomposition
of the excrements OF the human body,
and in order to purify the air, such
causes OF contamination must be re-
moved.
1t is true that this city, occupying such
large extent of territory. is not as yet
very densely populated; but this cOndi-
tiOn of things will change with every
vacant lot that is taken up. and we would
not gain much in a peCuniary point of
view, while we should certainly lose in
health, were we to postpone the meas
ures which are now contemplated and
which sooner or later must surely be
adopted.
TO sewer the entire city would, in our
opinion, be too great an undertaking at
the present time.
When gas was fret introduced here
beginning was made with the central
parts of the city; so was the centre ofthe
city first provided with water from the
Waterwo rks, and so should it be with
the sewerage. From the gas and water
first provided for the centre, the outly-
ing portions of the city. although they
were taxed, can scarcely be said to have
derived any direct benefit.
Whereas epidemic, although most apt
to originate in the more densely pOpula-
ted parts Of town, are certain to spread
to the suburbs, and If we avoid an epi-
demic by sewering the centre, the entire
population would have been benefited.
And there are other advantages to be
shared in by all.
Our city has heretofore been looked
upon as resort of health, sought annual
ly by hundreds of individuals and peo-
pie of delicate health from all parts of
the country; but the want of sewerage
is now by very many believed TO out
weigh the advantages of our balmy eli
mate, and if we do not build sewers our
city will soon cease to be looked upon al
particularly healthy. Let us build them
and people of means, of delicate health,
or wearied Of the winters Of the North,
will continue to come in increased num-
beers; many of them to stay, to invest
their means, to occupy our vacant
houses, or to give employment TO our
mechanics in building houses of their
own, and soon to help us TO bear that
burden which we shall have laid upon
ourselves to induce them 10 come.
1t is therefore 10 be hoped that those
who do not happen 10 reside on the
streets now proposed to be severed,
will not on that account refuse to be
taxed to a moderate extent only, as we
shall show hereafter.
As to the system of sewerage to be
adopted, it is clearly indicated by ma
ture. as long as sewage cannot be util-
lied it must be carried into the San An
tonic river.
Running water, as 1t is well known,
pGrities itself, aud in the opinion of this
committee the sewage Ofthe city can be
discharged into the river at some suit
able point below the populated part of
town without detriRent or danger to
any one.
But in order to be able to utilize sew
age hereafter, should ii be thought adj
yisable. the city, if sewerage ia adopted.
should at once acquire not less than 200
acres Of land conveniently located near
the point of discharge.
We therefore advise the building of
the three mains and all the lateral Sc wers
recommended in the aforementioned
report OF the City Engineer, and more
plainly to be seen on the maps accom-
panying said report. The total cost of
said system of sewers. including the re-
pairing of Walnut street ditch and the
overflow on Grand avenue is. in said re-
port, estimated at S336,570. 1t may, per-
haps, more safely be estimated at the
round sum Of S350,000. This sum, we
tske 1t for granted, can be borrowed at a
rate OF interest not exceeding per cent.
per annum, and II 2 per cent. is set aside
annually for sinking fund, the interest
and SINGING fund in all requires s per
cent, on S3j0,O00, which is $4,000 per
annum.
The quantity of water required to
flush these sewers is, in q subsequent re-
port Of the City Engineer, estimated at
10000 gallons per day, and the San An
tonic Water-works Company engages to
furnish for sewerage purposes, as much
as 100000 gallons daily, if required,
l. -. T.. - I'M