The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-29
OR BETTER DRAINAGE.
n. DUNCAN'S VIEWS ON THE
DRAINAGE QUESTION.

DRAINAGE QUESI4ON.
Timber Landing Creek as an Outlet
Instead of Bilbo Canal-A More Per-
feet Drainage System One ofthe City's
Greatest Needs--A Chance for Reform
in Charges for Permits to Make
Sewer Connections-The Matter to
be Brought Before the Council.
No one takes "A greater interest in the
sanitary affairs Of the city than DR.. Will
lam Duncan Of the sanitary commission.
DIR. Duncan saws that the health of the city
next year, and It's immunity from epidemic
diseases. viii largely depend upon the drain
age system. He thinks a more perfect drain
age is essential to the sanitation of the city,
and in an interview last night, he discussed
the dra image system ut length.
Have you read the article published in
the MORNING NEWS with reference to a
more perfect system of drainage for the
citYg" he was asked.
Il have he replied land have been much
interested in the matter for several years
mast. II is a fact to be deplored that there
never has been any systematic plan of house
drainage adopted by the city. As conse-
uuence there have been a very large num-
Der of private sewers which have been con-
structed very imperfectly, and many of
them are defective, allowing the escape Of
sewer gas, and are injurious to the public
health"
col WARNINGS PLAN.
"Some three or four years ago, said the
doctor, "a committee of council, consisting
of Aldermen Thomas, Nell and myself,
looked into this subject and by authority
of council employed the sanitary engineer,
Mr.. George Warning, to draft plans and
specifications for more perfect system of
house drainage. At that time it was
thought best that the outlet for all house
sewage should be through a sewer extend
ing from Bolton street, the present outlet,
10 Timber Landing creek, and not through
the Bilbo canal Mr.. Waring was not able
10 arrive at an approximate estimate of the
cost of such a sewer, for the reason that he
found that there were quicksands near
Timter Landing creek, and near the Catholic
cemetery, not knowing whether there were
quicksands or not, and if there were, the
extent of them, he was unwilling TO make
any estimate. In addition to this the esti-
mated cost for the city portion, about $780,
600, was so great that the committee, for
the time being, abandoned any further
efforts in that direction"
us there any objection to using Bilbo
canal as the outletY
NEW OUTLET PROPOSED.
81 think it preferable" DR.. Duncan said,
ITO adopt the outlet at Timber landing
creek if the engineers advise that there is
sufficient fall from Bolton street, and the
sewer can be constructed, but if they think
otherwise, then / would say that the Bilbo
canal might be adopted as the outlet. Prior
to our having artesian water the objections
to emptying the sewage into the Bilbo canal
were manifestly greater than they are at
the pres Mt time"
''In view of the prevalence of yellow
fever in Florida this season and its appear
ance at other places, don't you think it of
Importance that a more perfect system of
house drainage should be adopted without
delayY"
~ think that there should be as little de-
lay as possible in adopting the most perfect
system that can be devised, not only as in
part protection against yellow fever, but
especially for the better protection
of the health of our people gem
orally. With good water, a good
quarantine, perfect system Of house drain
age and consequent abandonment of privy
vaults and arrangements for the burning of
garbage. offal, etc, Savannah will compare
favorably with any city, north or south, in
the measures adopted for the protection and
preservation of the public health"
INSPECT THE PLUMBING.
sis there anything else that you can sug-
gest which would be Of advantage to the
city in matters looking to the better protec-
ton of the public healthP'
II think that there are several other i'm
provements which will naturally follow
from time TO time when the more important
ones which have heen mentioned shall have
been adopted. Principally, might men
ton the examination and inspection by the
city engineer of every piece of plumbing
work above or underground within the
corporate limits of the city. There is a
great deal of defective work of that char
acter which is very prejudlcial to the pub
lie health.n
do you think that council will take up
this question Of house sewage at an early
datew
fOf course | cannot say what council will
do. In general terms, think l can safely
.ay that they are all much interested in
everything which pertains to the welfare
of the city, and that they will no doubt be
governed by their best Judgment. The
adoption of well considered plan Of house
sewage and its consequent accomplishment,
involves very large outlay of money.
think that council will be willing to make
the expenditure, but as a prerequisite
think that they will require that it shall be
no experiment, but determined with mathe-
NAUTICAL accuracy, that the plan is the best
that can be deuised, and that there shall be
no waste Of the public funds.n
EXoRBITANT CHARGES.
Abiding to the present plan of charging
a fixed sum for permit for tapping sewers
and private drains leading to sewers, Dr.
Duncan expressed himself opposed to it. He
thinks that a modification Of this rule
should be had and he does not doubt that
council will correct it. In fact he said he
would bring it TO the attention of
council with a view OF amendatory legisla-
ton. He thinks it wrong, and is therefore
In favor of correcting it. His attention
was called to the fact that for the mere per-
mission of tapping a drain leading to
saver, $31 80 was charged for three small
houses, and DR.. Duncan said that no such
sum should be exacted.
rpYrD NTrU