The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-11
The House Drainage System.

The city council has adopted a house
drainage system, and tomorrow night it
viii decide in what sections Of the city the
work of putting down the drainage pipes
shall begin. There is not much doubt,
however, that the sections east of East
Broad street, known as Old Fort, and west
of West Broad street, known as Yamacraw
and Robertsville, will first be given the
| benefit Of the system These localities are
regarded as the danger points, and it will
be deemed advisable, probably, to afford
them protection at the earliest possible
moment
The system adopted is one devised by Col.
Winn, the city surveyor, after inspecting
the house-drainage systems of several cities.
1t has been submitted to a number of local
engineers, and, it is understood, is regarded
by them as satisfactory. 1t will require
about twenty-eight miles of pipe, and
will cost in the vicinity of $780,
600 In this estimate ample al
lowances are made for Unforeseen
expenses, so that there is no probability that
the cost will be greater than the sum named
The sewage from Yamacraw and Roberts
vile will be emptied into the river, and
that from all the rest of the city will be
carried eventually to Timber Landing creek
For the present, however, that of the sec
ton east of East Broad street will be drained
into Bilbo canal.
1t is probable that the system will not be
applied TO the whole city this season, be-
cause Of the inability to meet the necessary
expense. The effort will be to complete the
system in the sections east of East Broad
street and west of West Broad street
this season, and in the main portion of the
city next season.
The disposition of the council is to meet
the expense of the system out of the general
taxes. If paving improvements are sus-
pended for couple of years, this eau be
done with only a slight increase in the rate
of taxation. There is no doubt a very con-
siderable number of taxpayers who would
favor such an increase in the rate of
taxation as would insure the completion
of the system this season. They argue that
the system, being a protection against dis
ease, cannot be completed too soon. 1t cost
the city nearly $4,000 to guard against the
fever at Jacksonville this year, and an
epidemic Of fever here would cost the city
many times as much as a house drainage
system.
There are no doubt many who think that
the existing law, which provides that prop
erty adjacent to the sewer pipes shall bear
two-thirds of the cost of the system and the
city the balance, ought to be taken ad-
vantage of. IL it were, the system could be
completed this season, and property owners
would not feel much poorer The great
majority of them would scarcely miss the
amount they would be taxed. Indeed, it is
doubtful if they would be required to pay
much more than if a direct tax
were levied to do the work this season.
The council has not finally decided how the
cost of the system shall be met, and it may
| give the plan of assessing adjacent property
| further and more serious consideration.
| While there viii be regret if the council
decides not to do the entire work this
season, there will be feeling of satisfac-
ton that a drainage system has been
decided upon, and that the work upon it is
to be begun at once.