The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-02
FAV0RS WARNINGS PLAN.
ALDERMAN THOMAS VIEWS ON
THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

EDIe Quiet LOT Inc Guys Sewage
The Present Drainage System Defect
i've and Inadequate - Aide man
Thomas Thinks the Prce of Permits
for Sewer Connections Not Unrea
sonable.
The question of house drainage has beer
attracting great deal attention for somt
time past, and the proposition of the county
commissioners to aid in the work by having
the chain-gang do the excavating, has lee
tie city to revive the consideration of the
| Waring system, the details of which are or
file in the city's archives, ready to be taken
up and more critically examined by the
members of council than they were when
| first submitted.
| The views expressed by DR.. Duncan in
the MORNING News Of last Saturday have
| led to u discussion of a system of house
| drainage, and there seems to be a general
belief that the time has come when SO i'm
| portant an adjunct to healthful santa
| ton shall be adopted. There is also well
defined opinion that the Timber Landing
creek terminus for the drainage of the
southern part of the city is very desirable
one, but there is also very general opinion
that quicksands will make it a most
expensive system, some of the ex
cavations along the line of the
proposed sewer being placed as deep as
thlrty-four to forty feet, especially in the
neighborhood of the Catholic cemetery.
where the excavations must go down very
deep, but it is claimed that running the
sewage 50 far from the city proper, and dis
charging it in the salt tide water, will, from
sanitary point of view, amply repay the
city for such an expenSive system of drain
age.
FAvORS HOUSE DRAINAGE.
A MORNING NEWS reporter obtained an
interview yesterday with Alderman ID. r.
Thomas, chairman of the street and lane
committee. Mr.. Thomas talked very en-
tertainipgly and instructivelY upon the
subject He recognizes the necessity of
thorough system of drainage. He said that
he had read, with interest, the interview
with Alderman Duncan. Taking up the
subject himself, Mr. Thomas said:
''As member of the drainage committee
three years ago gave the matter of house
drainage consideration, and had the state
law on the subject amended by the addi-
ton of two sections-one empowering the
city TO use private land and water ways be-
yond its limits; the other making property
owners liable for continuing a nuisance if
they fail to make connections with the syS-
tenn of drains and discontinue the vaults
when notified.
IMPRESSED BY THE wARING PLAN.
"What did council do with the Warning
planW Mr.. Thomas was asked.
'My recollection is that Col. Warnings
plan and Specifications, although not criti-
cally examined, in the main impressed us
favorably, and that his estimate of the cost
was about $137 900. In consequence Of hav-
ing to dig as deep as thirty feet through
soil of an uncertain character, / thought
100000 might be nearer cor
rect The offer of the county
commissioners to do that portion of the work
largely reduces the cost and makes il posi-
BILE to estimate more definitely the outlay
to be made by the city. To reply more
particularly to your question, the city coun-
Gil in 1885 did not favor so large an expendi-
ture, and the further consideration of the
subject was discontinued. Since that time
I have been fully occupied with other
duties, and have had ne opportunity to re-
view what was then done. OF course | have
often been reminded of it, and time has but
served to strengthen my conclusion
that such comprehensive plan for the en-
tire city is essential for convenience and
health, and would ultimately prove an
economy. The sooner undertaken the bet
ter and cheaper, as aside from the para
mount advantage of further improving the
health of the city, large sums of money are
being spent that will be practically useless
when the change Is made.
SEWERS AND DRAINS IN BAD CONDITION.
THE present sewers used for surface and
house drainage, as well as many house
drains, are unsuited for the purpose because
of their character size and want of grade,
and there are large areas in the city without
sewers. The present outlets at West Broad
Barnard and Whitaker streets are unsightly
and prejudicial to health in the neighbor-
hood of their outlet West Boundary street
sewer was cleaned out three years ago and
ls now full of sand. Duffy street sewer was
full of sand and was cleaned out in June IL
was bad time to clean out a sewer, but the
work was necessary. River street sewer
was emptied of sand last winter The Bar
nard street sewer from Liberty street south
is very old and defective, aud is partly of
wood. Then we have many poorly laid
and defective sewer pipes under ground,
especially those made here some years ago
After heavy rains frequently as MANY as
six breaks in a day are caused by their Civ
ing way. The sewers and many, perhaps
most, of the pipes are too large for
house drainage; the former cannot be
thoroughly flushed except by heavy rains
the latter not then. The trickling streams
of water are insufficient to wash them out
The same quantity of water applied to the
proposed system of pipes, although perhaps
inadequate for satisfactory flushing, would
accomplish thrice the good it now does"
SEWERS AT THE TOP OF THE GROUND.
rs it true that some of the present sewers
can be extended no fartherp
Eyes, sir. Several sewers, notably that
at the corners of Barnard and Anderson
streets and West Broad and Duffy streets,
cannot be extended because they are
already up to the surface"
"How would the new plan affect the
pockets Of property ownersP'
1T would be much cheaper" said Mr..
Thomas, ito individual property owners.
Many Of the present pipes could be used
again. but not always in the same lane as
now, although all of the pipe would have to
be relaid. The work can hardly be COM
pleted or paid for in less than two years"
What do you think of the complaint
against alleged excessive charges for per-
mits for making sewer and drainage con-
nections n
DISCUSSING THE PERMIT SYSTEM.
Until recently the cost for sewer connec-
tons was Sl4 for one house, $24 for two S34
for three and S44 for four houses-that was
$40 for each house, 81 for petition to coun-
Gil and s. for the time of the city's inspec-
tor supervising the connection. | secured
a reduction to 81 so for one house, $2l 80
for two, S3l 80 for three and SAL so for
four houses, and / do not think the charge
unreasonable for the drainage Of houses, I'M
less it should be determined, for sanitary
considerations, to amend the ordinance and
allow connections without cost after thou