The record-union., 1891-06-19
THE SEWERAGE QUESTION.

At the citizens meeting held Tuesday
night, to consider important city needs,
an impression prevailed that before any
determination can be had of what system
of sewerage and sewage disposal ought to
be adopted, more light on the subject
must be shed in this particular section of
''the footstool." To this end it was sug-
gested by gentleman of intelligence and
business capacity that it might be neces-
sary to send for one of the best sanitary
engineers of the East and have him come
here and study local conditions and tell
us what to do and how to do it. That
this might cost 50, 900, or twice that sum,
but it would still be wise to do it, in order
to secure the very highest order of in
formation upon the subject.
A year ago the RECORD UNION sug-
gested to the Trustees to name fourteen
or fifteen citizens and request them to act
as an advisory committee, to take a
years time and collate ali information
desirable as to systems of drainage and
sewage disposal. We held that as the
knowledge is free, and as elaborate re-
ports have been made to other cities stu
ated as is this, and as there is no royalty
payable upon the facts ofsanitary science,
such committee could, in a few months
time, tell US all that would be necessary
to knowupon the subject prior to employ
ing an engineer. Three months ago we
renewed the suggestion. 1t fell upon
deaf ears. Now, however, when the city
is in close quarters, and that threatens to
happen which the RECORD UNION feared
would take place, we are told that we
need information and must procure it at
heavy cost.
The truth is, the authorities have reso-
lutely and for years refused to be in
formed, and we very much doubt if it
would make any sort of difference with
the retrogressionists of the city if all the
sanitary engineers of the country came
down upon US and told us what to do
and how to do it. We would still have a
class of objectors and doubters who
would manage to hinder progressive
spirits.
But the idea of the citizen who sug-
gested importation of an engineer is not
Objectionable, and his proposition moves
in the right direction, only it should
be reversed. Instead of sending for a
sanitary engineer to come to US, let US do
as Worcester did-send one of our en-
gineers familiar with the local situation
to views systems elsewhere and report to
us how we can adapt some one of them
TO Sacramento. For all information upon
upon the subject is of record. It may be
said TO be exhausted, indeed, and there is
therefore no need to go to heavy expense
to bring here an expert to advise US.
Worcester sent her City Engineer to
Europe TO view systems of sewage dis
posal in actual operation. His report
really covers the whole field of knowl-
edge upon the subject, except that relat-
ing TO the pneumatic system OF forcing
out the sewage to point of disposal
That system he did not consider, because
it was not desired at Worcester.
Let the Trustees of this city select q
proper person, or two of them, and let
them go to the East and examine, say,
the system adopted at Chicago by the
Armours, at Worcester, at Pullman, in
cities of the Middle States and at the
South. On return such agents will be
able, with the whole worlds knowledge
upon the subject of record and open be-
fore them, TO tell US precisely what is
adaptable to the local conditions.
OF course we know already that we
cannot have q ,gravitation system except
by lifting to pipe line leading to tide
water; that sewage farm is out of the
question, and that it is undesirable if il
were possible. That chemical precipita-
ton is about the only means known that
fits our case. A new system of sewers is
distinct need, one, it is true, that ought
to be supplied, but one upon which no
foreign expert opinion is needed. So far
as that is concerned, we can have all the
information obtainable without going to
the expense of bringing here foreign
sanitarian. We have In our midst suf-
ficient ability to handle our sewerage
problems. after inspection of other sys-
TENS in practical operation in Eastern
cities situated similarly to this. What
we need to do is to avail of the expert
ence of others in the light of the knowI-
edge that is free to all concerning the
facts of sanitary science, which, like the
discoveries in medicine, are not patented.
By sending our experts to examine the
application of these facts in other cities,
we can avail Of all the best that exists; II