The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-08
SETTLED BY THE DOCTORS
THE BILBo CANAL SEWER TO GO
OVER UNTIL FALL.

proves tie Excavation for the
sewer and the Upturning of the Soil
During the Summer Months-Noth-
ing Further Likely TO be Done at
Present Toward closing the Canal.
The closed sewer to take the place Of the
opea. Bilbo canal received a set back yes
terday at the adjourned meeting of the city
council.
The meeting was held in the mayors
private office, and it was the first meeting
of council at which the press has been ex
cluded. Mayor Schwarz had the doors
closed, and declined TO admit the reporters.
Interviews with members of the council
after the adjournment brought OUT the fact
that there was no reason for the refusal t.
admit reporters, as there was nothing TO
conceal, the meeting being council meet
ing and not a caucus.
The meeting was held for the purpose of
conferrlng with the physicians of the city
to learn from them if they deemed it an un-
sanitary thing to excavate for the closed
sewer, aud let the upturned soil along the
open canal bank remain during the time the
masonry of the sewer IS being constructed
and during the summer months.
The following physicians were invited to
a
George h. Stone, William Duncan, j. c.
LeHardy, George c. Hummel, B. S. Purse,
r. III. Nichols, j. ID. Martin, NJ. l.. Boyd,
w. w. Owens, B. f. Sheftall, II. II. Groth,
Louis Knorr, III. F. Dunn, Passed Assistant
Surgeon Brooks and Drs. Corson and Rich.
There was not a full attendance of all the
members of the medical fraternity invited
but the greater part were present. The
sanitary commissioners, Health Officer
RrTtnn
also at the conference.
THE DOCTORS AGAINST IT.
All of the physicians except DR.. Owens
agreed with the sanitary commissioners
that it would be an unsanitary policy to
upturn the sell and let It remain during the
warm weather. and DIR. Owens said that If
the excavation Is to be below the specific
level of the canal where the soil is affected
by the putrid waters of the canal it would
be a mistake.
DR.. LeHardy went further than any
others. He opposed the closed canal to
carry the fecal matter into the river,
which he said would be taken up the river
for distance of seven miles by the tides 1t
is an unsanitary act, he said, to discharge the
sewerage in the river within the city limits,
TO be arrested by the docks on both sides of
the river, and contaminate the air. II it
must be discharged in the river, it should
remote outlet It would be better to
cast the fecal matter away, deodorizing
and disinfecting it. 1t would be better, he
said, to let the sun get on it and not let it
go out into the river to be collected by the
wharves on this side and by the Instructions
on the other side.
TOO LATE TO BEGIN THE WORK.
Both DR.. LeHardy and DIR. Num- stated
that thus far this year there has been an
excess Of temperature of 800 over the same
time In any corresponding year for the last
eighteen years. The soil along the route of
the proposed sewer is permeated with foul
matter, and to turn it at all would be
risk, and certainly risk that, considering
the open winter, should not be attempted
this late in the season. DR. LeHardv
did not confne himself rigidly TO the ques-
ton of excavation, but went beyond it and
said that the sewage or faecal matter must
be taken farther away, and he opposed the
discharge of the sewage at the proposed out
let of the closed Bilbo sewer.
DIR. Mum was seen by MORNING NEWS
reporter after the conference. He said that
IN his remarks he opposed the upturning Of
the soil at this season of the year, and be
asked, why didn't uheT hegin in OctoberTn
When asked if he opposes a closed sewer. he
replied that that is another matter altogeth-
er from which he had been called upon for
mis- opinion. and he added, at is the uues.
ton OF excavation that l object to at this
season of the year"
DIR. STONES PLAN.
DIR. Stope shared the view of the other
physicians that to upturn the soil at this
time would be risk. and it was only a
difference of evils whether the open canal
should remain, or whether the soil should
be upturned and permitted to remain
during the summer. He regarded it as
always injurious to sanitation to turn the
soil at this season, and especially in the
neighborhood Of cities. To a MORNING
NEWS reporter DIR. Stone said that the
proper solution is TO have an artesian well
at the head of the canal to flush it, and to
resolve the facial matter into minute parti-
cles by the current, 50 that it might be dis
charged into the river in solution, and the
more certainly carried out.
Drs. Brooks and Brandt expressed them
selves to the same general effect that il
would be an unsanitarv thing to disturb the
putrld soil In the immediate vicinity of the
Bilbo canal.
DIFFICULT TO CLEAN.
Alderman Falligant, in replying to the
remark by Capt John +. Wheaton that the
precipitation of the Bilbo canal is not ra-
moved, said that he cleaned out the canal
before the warm weather set in last
year, and he is not certain that
portion of the foul matter taken
from the canal is not still on the banks. DIR
Falhgant said that at points where the bot
tom of the sewer will be near the surface
level it will be necessary to bank il IN for
protection, and underlay the sewer for
foundation, and necessarily the same soil
must be moved, and this would have 70 be
done during the time the masonry is being
constructed or else sand must be hauled from
great distance and resultant expense for
filling in.
After hearing from the physicians Alder.
man Cam said in view of the great weight
of sanitary authority against excavatIne
for the closed sewer at this season, he would
not press the matter at this time.
TO WAIT UNTIL FALL.
1t is understood that the matter will re-.
main dormant until November, when the
closed sewer viii again be agitated and
doubtless the work inaugurated
Alderman Cam said. after the MEETING
that the closed sewer presents temporary
sanitary improvement, and will probably
be adopted in the fall. The proposed outlet
farther down the river, he SAYS. will cost
$l25,000 to $3.50, 900, and with the pressing
demand for increased facilities for supuly
ing the city with water it is safe to say
that the present drainage system, with the
closed sewer improvement, must be made
to answer until the addition of other taxa
BILE property in the southern limits. to come
in for taxation fOur wars haDca will q x,zoII