The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-03
DECATUR, ALA.
Continued from Ninth Page.

kul. lnCluenlulll W llllb luSl libpIONc-
ment there should be q very general and
widespread removal OF trees and brush
from the whole area, leaving only fine
trees as individual specimens, with no.
where anything having the character OF q
thicket or continuous wood, save in the
tract reserved for park east Of the Som
ervilIe road, beyond Seventh street.
Concerning these items l would say:
/. ! estimate, roughly, that $50, 900 will
be enough TO secure the sewerage Of De-
catur, but in the absence OF plan, which
can be made only after receiving engineer
ing data, this is TO DO regarded only as a
provisional estimate.
II Il plan is TO be made | should be fur
nished with map OF the city having ele-
vations as indicated in my verbal instruc-
tons to your engineer. Mr.. Green.
2. | also estimate that while the COM
plete sewerage Of New Decatur will be very
costly, $4,000 judiciousy expended now
in carrying out the plan already submitted
may be so applied IA to cover all that is
now especially necessary.
3. 1 am almost inclined 10 think that the
proper and complete removal OF all surface
water is more important 10 your sanitary
condition than even sewerage. Your pres
ent gravest difficulty arises from malaria
conditions; and while yellow fever Is
thought to be greatly aggravated by filthy
conditions, there is no doubt that it Is to
DO classed as n malarial disease, and il is
doubtful whether accumulations OF filth
would suffice to establish il in an epidemic
form where malarial conditions do not pre-.
vail. 1t will be wise TO amelorate both Of
these conditions with view OF preventing
its recurrence.
There are two main natural drainage
outlets for the surface water OF the terri
tory, one being through the valley Of Dry
Creek and the other the valley that runs
10 the river past the Oak Extract works.
Minor channels. such as that west OF the
charcoal furnaces, are too obvious 10 need
description. The area draining through
the channel TO the east indicated its own
treatment sufficiently well. Its bed should
be deepencd as much rs may be necessary
10 drain one foot below the surface all OF
the moist tracts that find outlet in this d.
rection, and the bitches should have sulii-
Client fall TO deliver all that reaches them,
and within ut least twelve hours from the
cessation OF rain.
The bed OF Dry Creek, in It's present
condition. Is not low enough to drain the
low and level land and the pockets that
are naturally tributary % IL II should he
decpcned, probably six feet, and lateral
bitches connected with K should extend to
every area where water now collects and
stands after heavy rains. II may be neces-
sary TO lay an additional pipe for the re-
moyal OF surface water Ia the improved
portion OF New Decatur, for which the
present pipe is inadequate.
To deepen the ditch and do nothing
more would be wasteiul and only tempo.
rarily elective. A permanent, well con-
stricled channel Of such character that
II may be easily cleared OF It's rubbish aud
kept 10 its true grade will be best in point
OF economy and Of permanent good elect.
/ advise that the bottom OF the new chan
mel In tho lower portions OF the creek, say
10 point above the Louisville q Nash.
villo shops, should DO perfectly fiat In
cross section, five feet wide aud covered
with two inch panks. The planking
should be six feet vide and partly on the
outer six inches and partly on the solid
bottom there should be built sloping wall
Of concrete one foot high. The bank from
the top OF this concrete wall 10 the point
where II strikes the present surface
should have a slope OF one and
one.half 10 one, and should DO im-
mediately covered with growth Of
oats, Bermuda grass or some other protcc-
ton against washing. Pending the com.
plcte protection OF these banks, surface
burrows should lead the flow 10 convcn-
lent points from which u may be carried
10 the bottom OF the creek through wooden
troughA After tho bank has become well
protected, Il will only be necessary 10 10
regulate the grade near Il Us 10 prevent
considerable Accommodations running in at
n single point with a securing force. All
changes of direction should be on curves
bounded By the concrete walls. This
would involve the running Of the plank
ing In places moro than six inches beyond
the foot OF tho wall Here, and perhaps
elsewhere, the concrete should be pro.
vented from slipping by boring holes into
the planking which tho cement will enter
and form a key. Where the wall Is partly
over the edge Of the planking this win not
be necessary. II the planking IL laid level
W that the How will be evenly distributed
over Il, Il will probably, nj tho depth pro.
posed, maintain such n condition OF satur-
aiion a. 20 prevent It's rot,ing. In laying
the cross joists and the planking, care
shorld be taken 10 have all volds 10 filled
as 10 prevent any running OF water be.
meath 10 undermine them.
In this case NJ In the other, lateral
bitches should lead to all points whore
water now stands at any time, 10 "a 10 give
them drainage from their lowest places nj
a depth Of one foot below the surface. To
make plan for this work, Il will be nee.
cssary for mo 10 have not only tho profile
and location Of Dry Crock. Tor which |
gave instructions 10 Mr.. Green, but also
the location and elevation Of all low
places.
(a). There is ample evidence 10 show
that In malarial regions, woods Of the
character OF those now standing on your
territory are detrimental, especially 10
where The land isso level NJ 10 prevent tho
rapid drainage OF surface water Il II true
that trees eyapouio more water than the
natural surface does, but they cyaporaio II
from the lower soil rather than the sur.
face. and their falling leaves and branches
make a spongy surface soil particularly
we'll suited 10 retain surface water. There
Is no safety In such cases short OF complete
donudaiion and full exposure 10 sun and
wind
The wooded tracts and the wet dcprcs-
sions are not now In condition 10 produce
healthy vegetation. which u one Of tho
recognized safe cures against malaria.
Alter tree cutting and before Or after
drainage, they should be plowed and
planted TO some crop that viii cover them
well before midsummer. II this work IL
thoroughly and uniformly carried out I
believe that malaria will DO greatly re-
duced at the outset and the danger Of