New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-10
NOVEL SEWERAGE At ORANGE.
A SYSTEM COMPLETED WHICH Is EXPECTED TO
SERVE FOR 60 600 PEOPLE


The Incorporated town Of East Orange y. j., has
Just completed a system Of sewerage treatment that
presents novel features both in the details Of
construction Of the pipe lines and in the process for
rendering the refuse matter innocuous and dposng Of
1t. The engineering problem was decidedly com
pick one. The town covers an area Of about six
square miles It's general typographical features
succession Of rolling ridges running north and SOUTH
while the natural drainage is by thrce distinct water
sheds. To devise a system Of drainage and sewerage
pipes that should collect the sewage matter from
the entire territory and concentrate it at definite
point the outskirts Of the town Tor deodorization
and treatment seemed at first mpracticable
scheme
The agitation of the subject begun early in 1883
and, under the lead of the Township Improvement
Association engineering experts engaged to study
the problem and prepare plans In May. 1e5G,
of plans prepared by G. P Bassett adopted,
and he placed in charge Of the work. which has
since been pushed steadily TO completion The
system is what IS known the small pipe, hush-tank
system. -Four main trunk laid through the
natural valleys or depressions They vary in diameter
from twelve twenty four inches, and tapped
each street intersection by short laterals Of smaller
diameter running transvcrscly. With these
laterals the house connections are made.
at the extreme end Of each lateral is constructed
automatic flush tank ingeniously contrfved so 10
discharge 200 gallons of water In solid body into the
same pipe once IN twenty four hours. For the clear
of any obstruction that the flushing fails dis
lodge, manholes constructed 300 feet apart
the entire line and a clever arrangement of ioinied
iron rods with scraper attached IS used.
About one-ffh OF the township, that part lying
east of the Grove-st. hill. lay at such low grade
that was found impossible to conduct the sewage
to the disposal works by gravity alone. a separate
system was therefore provided for this section con-
centrating in central collecting vault, from whence
10 IS forced by an otto sewage pump through a line
Of iron pipes the Grovest. hill and into the main
system With the exception of this short line, all the
sewers built Of vitnded draln-pipes cementcd at
Joints, the diameter Of the small laterals into w9ch
the house connections lead being eight inches and
that Of the trunk carrying lines from twenty
four inches.
But it Is the treatment of the sewage matter
at what are termed disposal works that the greatest
novelty in the system exists. The disposal works
are located at Greenwood ave, and comprise about
fourteen Of ground much Of formerly having
been the bed of old historic mill pond. The
Second Riyer,' tributary Of the Pas sale, runs
along the westerly side. The buildings
Of considerable architectural pretenslons looking at
first sight like old feudal castle or medieval mon
astery They built Of blue trap rock laid in rock
faced irregular ashlar with red The main
building is massive, with wide. low Norman arches
battemcnted parapets, and al the corners heavy oc
tagonal tgrrets surrounded by high pyramldal roofs
To the north stretch away the settling tanks, the
building being of similar architectural design, and
pierced by panes Of lancet-shapcd windows
The tankhouse is divided by a longitudinal wall into
two great settling tanks. each thlrtysix fee, wide by
IL feet long, and each Of them IS subdvided by trans
verse walls into three compartments These two tanks
are used alternately, being drawn off and cleaned
while the other Is filing The sewage matter entering
the works through the main sewer first passes through
what is technically termed salmon LADDER series
Of interlockng and alternating projections from the
sides the Into the sewer at this point runs
small but steady stream Of deodorizng and disin-
fectlng chemicals The effect Of The salmon ladder
is to thoroughly dslntegrate the sewage and mix the
chemicals with 1t. 1t now passes into the settling
tanks, filing successfully the three compartments.
The solid matters settle to the bottom and the liquid
now entirely inodorOus-nows out through the irri-
eating channels over the surface Of the adjoining
grounds. Here 1t speedily sinks through the earth
to the underlying network Of tile drains, and from
thetce passes into the Second River.
The solid matter collects in the bottom Of the set
ting tank and when the deposit IS of sufficient guam
my, the Inflow OF sewage Is changed 10 the other
tank the sulernaiant water Is carefully Slphonsa
From here It Is drawn up by vacuum pressure INTO
the cast-iron receivers and al the same time mixed
dicut SIN further cut and disiniegraie the gfasy
clements and hocculeni matter rendering
When the receivers full the flow f. reversed and
the matter forced throu Oh coarse bags arranged
a. Innings on the interior OF series Of corrugated slid
Ing disc OF iron tightly bound together by a screw.
When tho last remaining water + forced out IN this
press under an average pressure Of $50 pounds the
Inch. the press Is opened and The Fesduum, now IN
the shane Of circular cakes Of Chocolate color and
having a slightly pungent aromatic Odor is taken
ou ana packed away IN casks 10 be sold fertilizer
The revenue from this IL is believed Will pay
the ent r cost OF running the disposal works The
age system j. calculated 20 Dis pose OF the refuse
from a population Of 80 900. This IS four times the
present population Of the township To cover the
township completely sixty miles Of sewers VIII b.
necessary. The system it stands comprises
only about twenty seven miles Of pipe The cost OF
the entire system has been about 1870, 900 OF this
amount 5000 was Npcnded for the plant at the
dis posal works and $4,000 for the pipe lines. Tho
funds were raised by the Issuance OF sewer loan
bonds. which were foated al from 4 TO 5 per cent