The record-union., 1891-05-25
NAME AN ADVISORY BOARD.

The City Trustees could do nothing
this morning that would more conserve
the interests of Sacramento than to name
say fifteen intelligent citizens known to
be devoted to the interests Of the city,
and request them TO examine into the
several plans proposed for the drainage
of Sacramento. and for the proper and
economic disposal of our sewage.
Certainly such committee can be con-
stituted; there are good men in plenty
who will serve upon such body and
deem it high honor to be member Of
it. 1t will involve no city expense, and
will result in giving the Trustees within
the next three months data of reliable
character, upon which they can proceed
with official action.
The two questions to be put to this adj
visory committee may be thus stated: l.
What is the best system fer drainage and
sewage disposal that is adapted to the
local conditions? 2. What would be the
probable cost, and what the bsst ways
and means of meeting the same?
Before such committee the RECORD
UNION is prepared to lay the details of
the drainage and sewage disposal sys-
tenn by chemical precipitation, as prac-
ticed in the city of Worcester, Mass.
That city has nearly $1,000 population.
and sewage of the worst order, because of
acids and salts used in the many manu-
factories. Yet within year it con-
structed a publication plant at a cost of
less than S62, coo, and operates it with the
old sewer system for less than So, 800 a
year, and expects with another year s
experience to bring it to a much lower
| cost. That city has more than seventy
! five miles OF sewers, and is constantly
constructing more.
The city of Bradford, England, with
100000 population, by chemical precipi-
tation, disposes of its sewage at an an
nual cost of $4,000, but its drainage or
surface waters are carried separately
Similar statistics can be cited from Bir-
mingham, Aldershot, Rugby, Leighton,
Leeds, Bromley and other towns and
cities. The precipitation and purifica-
ton process is easily adapted to Sacra-
mento; it is the most economic and the
works are capable of being most speedily
constructed. But whatever system is
resolved upon, it will be an act of wisdom
for the City Trustees, since that body has
not the time, and cannot have, to make
! the necessary inquiries and ascertain the
experience of other cities, to ask public
/ spirited committee TO gather the neces-
sary data, and thus prepare the subject
for understandable consideration.
In the meantime how the money may
be accumulated to pay the cost of sew
| age disposal system without taxation
has been clearly pointed out. The
RECoRD-UNIoN on Saturday showed
! that it can be had, and in the light of that
exposition to hesitate to create sewer
age fund without taxing the people will
be the hight of wisdom. 1t should be
here added that the Museum association
has given notice that it is prepared 10
pay premium of $3.50 and 500 for the
two best plans for sewage disposal for
Sacramento that may be su omitted, and
that there is reason to believe it would
very gladly submit the award to the
body it is suggested that the Trustees
shall select. We have, there ore, already
stimulus for engineers to present orig
inal plans or for adapting new or tried
systems to local conditions.