San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-03-08
KILLED AT ITS BIRTH.
The City Council Turn Themselves Into
Sewer Changers.
Editor San Antonio Light.

Editor San Antonio Light.
The sewer proposition, as passed by
the City Council, Kills it before it can
reach the ballot box. The "sewer farm"
project is simply an unnecessary and ex-
pensiye experiment, one not at all justi-
fed either by the natural surroundings
or sanitary considerations. The town
of Pullman, near Chicago, was cited as
successful instance OF the sewer farm
method. 1t is in no way situated like
our city; it is built on dead level with
out natural drainage; in fact, few cities
in the world are so favorably situated as
San Antonio to insure perfect and in
nOXiOus system OF sewerage without
other expense than the laying of the
sewers and use of water to flush them.
Our river is natures sewer for an inI-
mense area OF country; it falls 6C0 feet in
the course of 100 miles, dashing over
rapids and tumbling over natural falls;
its stream through our city limits is so
rapid that the sewage of city
of a million people might be poured
into it and a few miles below
would not be noticed; the sewage
of our present city could be flushed into
it twice a week without affecting the
purity of the water hundred yards be-
low the point OF contact; emptied below
Guenther's mills it would never be
noticed or complained of.
There are numerous manufacturing
cities built on rapid streams in New
England where this question has been
fully tested; one city after another using
waters Of the same river for manufactur-
ing purposes and domestic use. and
finally as q conduit for sewage; it being
proved by analysis that the waters puri-
fy themselves within q short run, so that
their chemical purity is unaffected. But
this argument is only of moment TO the
inhabitants beyond our city who may
possibly use the river water, to our city
it is OF no consequence because the sew
age would be gone beyond our limits,
carried by racer whose velocity and
force Is immense. leaving neither stain
or faint behiRd.
The river, at present, is used at every
point, after il enters the CRY, as sewer
for water closets and the receptacle for
all sorts OF filth Notwithstanding the or
dinances forbidding such pollution;
from every street crossing the river
the filth of the streets, the accumulation
of weeks. and sometimes months, Is
flushed into it at the most convenient
points. In fact, more filth in decom-
posed and dangerous condition is poured
into the river to-day than would be from
a sewer system. With a sewer system,
the river could be protected and its pres
ent pollution prevented.
Had the City Council sought practical
illustration of the action of flowing water
upon sewage, they could have found it
even here, right at home. Our two main
irrigating bitches are used as open sew
ers, receiving, at points, the discharge
from hotel water closets used by hun
dreds of persons Gaily. The use of these
bitches seems an outrage. as the volume
of water ia small and is often cut of,
leaving the beds exposed. ct the peO-
pie have ceased to complain of the pOllu-
ton, evidently experiencing no incon-
venience from this use of the bitches.
In the discussion before the Council
Cif we can call it dlscusslon) as pub
lished in the papers, not a member of
that body presented good reason for or
against the "sewer farm" idea. Al
derman Lockwood, Chairman of the
Gas and Water Committee, said the sew
age would 'fatten the fishes" in the river.
just as if eur river was a carp pond!
Alderman Gallagher said he was OPP
posed to using our historic rivers" he
could more appropriately called it "our
historic sewer" for so far as the river is
concerned, only its banks are historic.
Alderman g. has rich Imagination but
the river he gaZes on at any given point
is changed in the twinkling of an eve
it is not the same river of moment ago.
Alderman French became classical and
related an ancient fable about a mans
belly being out of order. Mr.. +. was the
mover of the amendment to adopt the
sewer farm system il the condition was
coupled with the proposition that His
Honor, the exMayor should be superin-
tendent or head granger of the aforesaid
farm it would make it more popular
with the people.
Had the Council simply passed reso-
luton to submit the proposition of vot-
ing 100000 for sewerage system, to
embrace if necessary waterworks sys-
TEN sufficient for flushing purposes, the
people would feel inclined to favor it,
but the sewer farm with its indefinite
expense, will not succeed. BLUNT.