The record-union., 1891-06-11
THE SEWAGE QUEsTION-A RE.
VIEW.


VIEW.
When the RECORD UNION awakened
public attention to the imperative need
of Sacramento for a corrected sewer sys-
tenn, and for the absolute necessity for
immediate provision for disposal of the
city sewage, it did so with expectation
that opposition would be evolved, and it
has not been disappointed. When, after
waiting vainly for officials to propose
some plan for disposal, it presented elab-
orately the details of the chemical-treat-
ment system, so widely approved in Eu-
rope; when it sent to Worcester, Mass,
and procured and published history of
the success of the system in that city, it
anticipated that doubters and obiectors
would arise, and it mas not been deceived.
The class has been heard from that is
content to continue going to mill with
stone in one end of the bag Some of
these people tell US that while new sys-
tenn would be an excellent thing, that we
have got along" well enough for forty
years, 1t will therefore do no harm to
let things go on'' as in the past for a
time yet. Still others exclaim that the
cost of proper sewage disposal is too
great to be borne at this time; and third
order of retrogressionists deny absolutely
and fatty that there is any need at all for
any extraordinary expenditure; that we
have right to drain through the drain
age canal and upon the people below the
city, and that it will be time enough to
act when we are enjoined from using it.
since we can fight the case for years by
employing shrewd lawyers
The replies to these people are obvious.
and so patent that it is really not neces
essary to elaborate them. All sanitarians
who have knowledge of the situation
agree that we do need Immediately rad
ical sewer-system reform; that we have
got along" with the old system is no
proof that we can do so in the future.
since the present conditions are infinitely
worse than any of the past, and consti-
tute menace to public health. The cost
is not nearly so great as is assumed by
opponents of reform, and there is not
need for expenditure of the entire cost in
one season. The city undoubtedly has
right to drain through the drainage canal
the natural drainage waters, since the
fall Of the land is in that direction. and
The patchupapf araa ,,at,,r,Il~- l:
through the low lands. But we have not
the right, and no lawyer will be found
who viii venture a contrary opinion. to
pollute the natural drainage flowing
down upon these low lands. These re-
marks cover all the objections raised.
Alta meeting held few days ago by
invitation by the Mayor, the City Health
Officer DR.. c. B. Nichols, in an incisiye
speech really emphasized all the REcoRp-
UNION has said upon the subject. He
said great deal more however by enter
ing with elaboration into details that
should not have been startling, since
they are really ancient. In this detail
the officer, with commendable COURAGE
told the meeting that the demand for
reformation of our sewage treatment sys
tenn is so imperative that even a davis
delay is menace; that should an epi
demic wave Of pestilence sweep this wav
IT would have open invitation by the con-
dtions here, and would empty our
houses; that the cesspool system is bad
and should be abandoned, and that we
are storing up wrath against future that
may break upon US at any moment
That IN view of the menace of choked
sewers, and sewage accumulation lust be-
low the city, coupled with containing
ton of the subsoil of the city, no man
should be found so inhuman as to con-
slider dollars and cents as against the
life and health of his wife and family-a
statement that as humane truth it is
humiliating should be necessary.
The meeting was deeply impressed by
these remarks, deliberately, coolly de-
hvered, and without any of the wild
eyedness' of the alarmist. For publish
ing portion only of the remarks of the
Health Officer the press of the city has
been taken to task in the Improvement
Association, and told with lugubrious
gravity that it did very, very wrong to
give Sacramento such black eye; that
these things, if they are facts, can be
talked around among the people, but
should not be published abroad. All of
which is simply bosh. The press of the
city has more at stake than the Improve
ment Association; its existence depends
upon the prosperity of the city; the I'm
provement Association is a body that
may or may not continue, it may or may
not prove worthy of confidence. 1t has
done much good and we deny it no
praise that is its due, but its office is not
TO advise the press to suppress the truth.
The direct method of dealing with the