The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-22
GEORGE E. WARINt1.
Letter From the Great Sanitarian.
He Discusses the Present Condition
Of Memphis Sewers.
The Report of Superintendent Hart
ford Very Carefully Reviewed.
How Defects in the System May Be
Remedied
The Mischief That Results From Neglect
Tho Staff of the Engineers
once Too small-Good
Advice.
40 lhe EdItor Of rhe Apnoal.

have received from your Office clip
pings from Engineering Ners, containing
an editorial concerning the Memphis sys-
tenn OF sewerage and extracts from the re-
port OF Mr.. X. +. Hartford, superintendent
OF sewers, to Col. Meriwether, City Engin-
Ger. l have also before me Mr.. Hartford's
complete report.
Possibly this discussion is not entirely
free from an element OF personal bias, but
that aspect Of the case can have no inter-
est for our readers. 1t is, however, OF
great interest 10 all who have the welfare
OF the city Of Memphis at heart, TO know
whether or not, and to what degree the
structures under consideration are we'll
founded; the extent TO which they should
modify the feelingof satisfaction and pride
yonr city has taken in the fact that II was
the first TO construct new system OF sew
eragc, which has since been widely and
successfully adopted in many other parts
of the country; aud wha: steps should be
taken TO remove defects Of the existing
sanitary system, or its administration.
The omission Of manholes, on which
great stress has been laid by my critics,
was not contemplated when the plan for
the work was first made. II WAS only an
enforced measure OF economy. The appro-
priation for improvement was small and il
was important to save as much Of It as
possible for the needed work OF pay
ing the streets. For this reason man
holes on lateral streets were omitted
and the main sewers were kept as small ms
il was believed would suffice for present
and immediate future requirements.
Whatever sentimental interest the ques-
ton Of novelty may have, il is hardly
practical one, and vii, occupy your space
only TO say that in suit for the infringe
ment OF the patent on this system the de-
PENDANT has been able TO adduce no single
instance in which rain water was excluded
from sewers, nor in which automatic flush
tanks were used for cleansing the branches
OF system of sewers. Having made a
very thorough examination OF the system
myself. / am able 10 state positively that
both OF these conditions were first applied
in your case. The various reports oil Mai.
r.-llumphrcys, Col. Meriwether, Mr.. Ross
and DIR. Thornton have concurred, with
substantial unanimity, in the expression
OF unqualified approval OF the successful
working OF the system, save for the diff
Guilty with the flush tanks. due in a slight
] degree 10 imperfeclions, which have been
y remcdied in more recent construction else
where, but chiefly 10 the fact that when
Wolf River was carrying full burden Of
mud that mud was deposited in the supply
pipes and prevented the pipes from rccciv-
ing their quota OF water without which
they were useless. and the further defect,
due 10 a much greater water waste than
there had been any reason 10 contemplate,
that some OF the main and sub-nain lines
were too small for their work.
So far a. the main sewers below Monroe
street are concerned, they have been per-
manently relieved by the construction Of
the new outlet TO the Mississippi on the
line OF that street Mr.. Hartiord's report
Becms 10 make II evident that some other
lines also will have TO be relieved soon,
though Il Is not impossible that some Of
the over-charging indicated in his table Of
depths NAV be due 10 distractions, break
age VI the pipe or some other defect. For
example, the west main, at the time OF
gauging, was running full and the water
stood two inches or more above the top OF
the pipe In the manholes from MADDEN
avenue north OF Vance street TO the corner
of Gayoso and fernando streets. be-
lievc that the twelvo.inch pipe above Her
nando street has fall OF TO 400. This
would make It's discharging capacity. run
ming full, ll5 cubic feet per minute. The
fiiteen-inch pipe below fernando street
should have n fall Of ! 10 600. i believe
=. Il Is In this upper reach that the ilattening
OF the grade 10 which Mr.. Hartford refers
occurs. But, even II II has the full fall OF
/ 10 600, Its capacity would be only l0l
T.. Ne IIargf.rN fanUl
II 20 be running six and one-half inches
deep, n little more than half full, 30 that II
could have been discharging not more than
ninety cubic feet per minute. This would
indicate that some sort OF obstruction pre-
vented the twelyc-inch pipe from dis.
q charging 20 much ~ II should by about
twenty-five cubic feet per minute. Still,
after making all allowances, II Is obvious
that this main, and probably tho east main
as we'll, are now doing more duty than
ought 10 be required Of them, aud thai
some iudicious modification OF the plau
should DO mado--probably In the construc
ton OF auxiliary mains. l am not quite
clear that the error In grade In the wes
main Ii sufficient TO accountior the setting
back Of the flow In the twel,e-inch pipe a
far M fernando street, but II Is not i'm
possible.
Concerning the sewerage oil south VEN
phis, there Is no question II should hay'
lis outlet directly into the Mississippi
River This was originally contemplated
should Il ever become necessary 10 sewel
that district Mr.. Hartford says; III VI
have been taught anything by our expert
ence, II 10 the fact that nero lines OF pip
Ing do not make system OF sewerage.
II he means 20 cay that the sewerage o
Memphis Is mere lines Of piping" and e
imply In his next sentence that Il was no
carefully designed In detail, shall natur
ally DO excused u differ with him, and J
Atake Occasion 10 say that very great car
we given TO the designing Of all the detail
Of the work as originally constructed.
With what Mr.. Hartford said about au
lom,iic lushtanks, am in full accord
For such system, regular and reliable
Gushing liz necessity beyond all else, an'
such OF the original nushtanks ~ canno
be made 10 work properly with their origi
nai siphons should be supplied will
,iphons that would make them worl
properly. As 10 the depth Of sewers,
tnsc IL a naed for oraafor lonih In dia