The record-union., 1892-11-17
THE COMMITTEE OF ADVICE.

We again call the attention of our mu-
nieipal authorities to the wisdom, econ
omy and foresight of raising the commit
tee of inquiry and advice on drainage,
suggested in these columns few days
ago. 1t will cost but trife; it will give
without sending engineers abroad or
wasting time in debating propositions
that have, under trial, been settled else
where.
When this committee of inquiry re-
ports in the spring we will be in posi-
tion to know precisely what Sacramento
is financially capable of doing to prop
erly drain the city and dispose of its
sewage. If any citizens committee or
self-raised organization undertakes the
inquiry it will not answer the purpose
nearly so well. The thought that prejudice,
self-interest, bias, may have had to do
with the matter, will arise. But let the
Board of Trustees ask an engineer. a
financial expert, a sanitarian. a mechanic
and the City Superintendent of Streets
during the next three months to examine
the plans and reports of the successes and
failures of other cities similarly situated,
in the matters of drainage and sewage
disposal, and 10 report these results.
Such a committee, with clerk to con-
duct its correspondence, would gather in
three months all the plans. surveys,
drawings, estimates, reports of financial
and sanitary results, from every city in
the Union and Europe that is located
much as is this. 1t would have at command
complete details of the exhaust system.
the chemical deposition system, the sew
age farm method, etc.-all this at no other
cost than for postage and the time of one
clerk.
We submit that it is a simple PROPOSE
tion, and one comporting with the dignity
of the Board of Trustees. San Francisco
has done something of this kind. She has
created Board of Engineers and Scien-
lists to examine her present sewer sys-
tenn; to examine into those of other cities.
and to report by way of advice its opin-
ion as to what San Francisco ought to
have in the matter of drainage, and what
will be the probable cost.
This matter should not be DELAYED
another week. We are increasing in
population. The late vote proves that
we have fully $4,000 people at the
lowest estimate, and with more proba-
bility of $4,000. AS the city builds up the
more difficult and costly will become the
work of putting in sewer system
meet for our needs. If it is fact that
we are now paying just about twice what
we should pay for the disposal of our
sewage, the facts in detail should be laid
before the Trustees speedily, as a mere
matter of economy. The three members
of the board cannot give the time neces-
sary to make the inquiry, nor will they
claim that their board is so constituted as
to fit it properly for the work. 1t has
upon it three business men, but no en-
gineer, no sanitarian, no mechanic.
The board will, therefore, do itself
credit and honor by calling to its aid the
capacity that resides in others to examine
the scores of systems in use in sewage
disposal, with a view to reporting what is
best Even if it makes no recommends
tionJthe facts such a committee of advice
will gather will be of infinite value to the
Trustees, and greatly aid them in meet
ing and settling problem that is upon
us, that demands solution and that will
not be put aside any longer.