The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-31
rADL1eANr REPLIES TO wAR1No.

It's Defects.
Editor Morning Ne,cS:: The very sum
mary manner in which MIR. George Z. War
ing through letter addressed to his Sa-
vannah champion, DR.. j. e. LeHardy. at
tempts to cast distrust upon the correctness
of nv statements concerning his work, more
especially at Memphis, and upon my criti-
cisms concerning his proposed work in Sa-
vannah, lends peculiar halo to his confess
sion that ''this system (Memphis) has been
greatly improved in detail since its intro
ductlon at Memphis. That is exactly what l
have persistently stated. When first put
down. it was what Mr. LeHardy calls "a
closed system"--such as he advised for Sa-
yannah. The result of the closed system
was that when from too excessive
accommodations of water the main
mtlet drains proved to be of insufficient
ccpacitu, overfiows or backings of the con-
tents occurred and there being no outer
escapes except the insufficient general ter
minal pipes, these polluted fluids found
their vent into cellars, kitchens, etc, TO the
dismay and disgust of the householders.
This is one Of the conditions greatly i'm
proved in detailn since Mr.. Warning first did
the work. What Mr.. Waring deserves
credit for is the establishment of ''the sepa-
rate system" for house drainage. In so far
as he made it "a closed system" it proved a
failure. My information was that Mr..
Waring in a series of papers announced his
ideas concerning "a closed SYSTEM" which
ideas were SHARPLY overhauled and con-
demued by distinguished sanitarians and
engineers, both in this country and Europe.
He, however, put down the closed system
in Memphis, and it proving failure, the
improvements in ats details since Gust as
said have greatly benefited it. These inn
prorementS in its details are just what
am contending for in Savannah. Now, as
to some other defects in his original work.
his pipes acre too SnGlt-and there also his
calculations were at fault.
His plans for this city originally $50 the
late MIR. Howard informed mel provided
for an extensive use OF our streets, instead
of the lanes, and Mr.. Howard agreed with
me as to this being serious defect.
Another defect of his plans las an e1lgi-
ileer stated to mel was that his pipes were
too near the surface For reasons we'll
understood by engineers and sanitarians,
this is very serious defect Now, let us
see what is false Ito use Mr.. Warnings
rather violent expression). Does he claim
that the general Memphis system as notU
iIleprOUed, outside of his automatic flush
tanks and its being separate system, h IS
ANYTHING in it belonging to 1.-The Warning
SYSTEM as differing from or superior to the
general principles of sanitary engineering?
| do not think Mr.. Waring will make so
preposterous q clam. Thus, as | have
given him credit for his originating ''the
separate system, and he only claims further
that he inuented the automatic flush tank, l
do not see that he should lose his temper
and make such fierce sounding declaration
about things being false. Maj. Winn will
soon return from Memphis, and the citizens
of Savannah will have an opportunity of
learning further through him whether the
criticisms | have maze on Mr.. Warnings
work there (his original 1UoTk-not the i'm
provements since made by the local au-
thorlties) have not bean fair, scientific, and
i'll every respect truthful, in so far as | was
able to secure information. | certainly am
willing to do Mr.. Warning, and every one
else, full justice, whether such a course
leads to praise or condemnation.
The life and welfare of Savannah
makes it matter of very
little importance whether Mr.. Warning or
someone else provides the plans finally
adopted, the great facts commended for by
me being that these drains should be
placed an our lanes, and that a better flush
ing system is needed for this city than Mr..
Warnings flush tanks afford. In hedUy
grade falls the flush tank system does
better work than it can do where the grade
falls in the great body of the city are more
or less limited and need a much heavier
body of water and more continuous flow to
secure good flushing. Without good flush
ing the whole system of house drainage is
q typhoid breeding pest.
If the lane system, with its magnificent
flushing arrangement proposed by me, both
because or its economy and its
conformity with the laws of SAM.
tary science, should be approved by other
engineers than Mr.. Waring, and by
engineers who rank higher than he does, l
dc not see why we need follow Dr.
LeHardy's plan and ito ourselves to Mr.
Warnings coat tail. The mere fact that
certain individuals, whether in council or
out Of it, do not choose to give me credit
for the study land scientific engineering
study, too) which [ have given to the sub
Ject, is no reason why Savannah
shouldn't benefit by my plans if competent
engineers pronounce them feasible. Sup
pose council asks Mr.. Rudolf Herring, the real
ly distinguished engineer, whose great work
IN Philadelphia, G icago, and now in New
YORK, stamps him as competent judge,
TO come down here and look over these
plans. Suppose council goes further and,
instead of members of council assuming TO
express my ideas for me, let me eTpresS mn
0lCn ideas as to my plans, both as to their
eogmeering and sanitary value Then let
us have fair, just, impartial Judgment.
In conclusion | have just this to say:
That if Mr.. Warnings plans are so changed
as to give my lane system; if his automatic
tanks are extensively left out and mn
DETER flush system adopted; if, instead of
putting his pipes about three feet under
ground, they are put five to six feet. as adj
Vlsed by me, so as to secure a better fall for
the house-drain; if my plans for top open
Tugs IN the lane pipes are adopted instead
the lateral openings of Mr.. War
lngs which he claimed in one
OF his letters, would prevent churning. de-
oeioPment Of gases, ETC., however that
Iihignt be; if, instead Of following the Tim
Der Landing plans, or the Bilbo outlet
plans my own plan of crossing the rice
lands to st. Augustine creek should be SEN
sloly adopted if instead of q closed system,
.he sanitary system provided for by man
HH9ieS, ventilation openings, etc., should be
IoHowed, as | have contended for; if all
LheSe things are done, as they probably will
ue, Dr. Fdltigdnt aCW hare secured the
99oophon Of everything cOntended forby
nm, whether council chooses TO call it ''the
"arlug plan, WITH VARIATIONS" or not.
MT. Waring claims that his original
plans in the Memphis system provided for,
moahoLeS, but that these manholes were
ig4u out as measure of economy" l
SHOULD like to know upon what grounds as
an engineer, especially as sanitary en-
slneer, he can justify the leaving out of
.nese necessary adjuncts of the system,
"nen The safe working of the system was
|,rtoSotuety dependent upon their presence?
so eI.aillly as engineer ne was responsible
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