The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-20
TIE CIrY's DRAINAGE PLANS.
Rudolph Eering's Report TO the City
Council

I
Council
TIE city council listened patiently last
night to the report of Rudolph Herring on
house drainage, which Alderman Falligant
consumed an hour in reading, as the docu-
ment IS one CT great length. At the con-
clusion Of the reading. the council, on
motion Of Alderman Myers, took q recess,
70 consider tie plans at future meeting, TO
| be called by the mayor.
City Surveyor " I'm reported that be had
/ examined the Herring plans, and considered
/ them feasible. Naturally there must be
/ some difference Of opinion be said, 'to
/ the best and most economical course 10 be
I pursued in accomplishing this work. and in
/ view OF Mr.. Hsring's high national reputa-
I ton and marked ability, the latter 50 per-
/ ceptibly displayed in his accompanying
report, criticism on my part must appear
presumptiOls"
Mr.. Herring in his report upon an outlet
reviews the Investigations made by Capt
Blandford in Timber Landing creek and
Wilmington river, and the later tidal-fiow
tests made by Mr. Curtis under the direction
Of Col VIM, and says concerning Timber
Landing creek: where sewage, such as
found ia cities having a liberal water con-
sumption, can be discharged into body Of
running water Of at least twenty times its
quantity. the foul matter is dispersed and
diluted 10 SUCH a degree that it soon be-
comes entirely lost to sight or smell, and is
actually destroyed by oxidation. The
fresh water flow Of Timber Landing creek
is much less in quantity than the sewages.
The want Of sufficient dilution would there
fore soon turn the tidal part of the stream
into foul mass Of fostering matter, oscil-
lating 70 and fro, and, on account of the
slight velocity, depositing the heavier
particles along the bottom to accu-
T
cannot recommend this Outfall to you"
In relation to the Wilmington outlet,
near BOnaventure, Mr.. Herring says: at
was found that near the deepest part of the
river, and about 100 feet fro n the shore, in
other words, at point where the current
would be the strongest, the velocities were
practically less than twelve inches
per second for about two-thirds of
the tide, aud reached as high as two feet
per secondifor only a short time during the
ebb. 1t is therefore quite evident that
large amount Of sewages matter would de-
post in the river with very little chance of
being removed by the strongest ebo cur
rents. On account Of the lack
of any permanent fresh water supply, the
river near its virtual head at
the meeting of the tides. would gradually
have its water displaced by sewage and
publication would result only in proportion
to the rapidly with which the foul matter
would oxidize. From the above instructive
gaugings | am Of the opinion that only
small amount OF sewage could bs safely
deposited in Wilmington river" In recon-
mending the Savannah river as the only
safe outlet, Mr.. Herring calls attention to
| the fact that the sewage already empties
| there by Bilbo canal and other minor con-
| duits, and that but for the nuisance of the
| Bilbo canal itself, little harm has resulted
| therefrom.
| Mr. Harino save. tsTba Savannah ri,,o,
as already stated has an average discharge
| of fresh water of II, 800 cubic feet per
second. The sewage of 10000 persons,
estimated at forty cubic feet per second,
would, if discharged into the river, receive
| a very large dilution, and offers a guaran-
tee that, in connection with the tidal cur
/ rents and tidal prism Of over six fest in
| depth, the sewage will be dispersed to a de-
| gree which will render it practically imper-
| ceptible within a comparatively short dis
tance Of the outfall, whether at flood or ebb
tide"
OF the three lines surveyed legding into
| the river, the shortest is Ia, 800 feet long
| emplying near the border of Bruton Hill
| plantation, about IA miles east of East
Broad street. OF this line, Mr.. Herring says:
ut is designed on a grade which will give
good velocity to the sewage, namely feet
2 inches per second when running half full
and discharging at high tides, and the loca-
| lions WDere III emptleS into the river is
entirely safe from sanitary point ST view.
For these reasons 1 can unhesitatingly
recommend the nearest Of the above three
points at the Savannah river for an outfall
for the sewage of your city.
THE estimated cost of this outfaIl sewer,
from East Broad aud Bolton streets Tor
lane) to the river is as follows:
Sewer feet inches by feet diameter, SS8 0OO
| Overflow into Bilbo canal. 100000. 500
Outtall, bulkhead, iron pipes piling, ETC., 5000
| Embankment in rice fields. ...-........ 1900
Pile and timber foundations in rice fields, 10000
| Fourteen manholes.. Observation-Disclosures. $50
Sill $50
| Contingencies, 10 per cent ...,.......... 1,155
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ......... ...S122, 7O5