The record-union., 1892-09-01
The Special vent-Pipe Again.

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: You will remem-
Der that something like year ago wrote
number OF articles on the sanitary and
plumbing question which were published
in the RECORD UNION at that time.
Many who read those articles thought l
was right in my theory; in fact, nearly all
thought SO, so far as known, consequently
| dattered myself that there would be
change made when our new Board of
Health came into power, but up to this
time there has been no change made for
the better so far as | can see; at any rate
there has been no change made in the
most important part, that is. the ques-
ton OF special vent-pipe; and still our
death rate goes on asFit did before. Our
old rate of deaths before this special vent
was instituted was for forty years, up to
two years ago, 80 per month; for the last
two years our death rate has been 40 or
more per month, last fall 1t was Is one
month, last month it was over 40. Per-
haps this don't mean anything, but 1
think it means great deal.
l read the article In the RECORD UNION
of the Doth inst. on the sanitary question,
which was very good so far as it went,
but the writer ignored the special vent
pipe altogether. Should the cholera ever
get here (which / hope it never WILLY,
for one shall always believe that this
special vent-pipe had more to do with it
than any other one thing, or all others
combined. Why not? Just imagine
every cesspool and sewer in the city
tapped with a or 6-inch pipe leading
direct to the top Of all the houses in the
city, would not more or less of the nox-
ious gases from those places escape to
that point? Certainly they would; not
only that, being heavier than the natural
flor, Of
bedrooms and lower atmosphere which
we breathe; yea, it is doing so now right
along from day to day, and the more of
these places you open the more unhealthy
the city becomes.
What earthly use are these pipes any
how? No one is benefited by them ex-
cept the doctors and plumbers. Beside,
it costs the owner of houses from S25 to
$50 for every house built, yet this would
be nothing if 1t was of any good, but it is
not; it is absolutely worse than nothing.
L receive pamphlets every week-some-
times half dozen-from all parts Of the
United States-on the sanitary question,
plumbing sewerage and house drainage,
ventilation. etc., and have yet to learn
of single city or town in the United
States where this special vent-pipe sys-
tenn has been introduced. Many scientists
claim that much of our plumbing at the
present has too many vent-pipes Be
that as it may, it is certain and sure that
the special one should be abandoned, and
the sooner the better for the health of the
city. The doctors may call me an old
crank, as one of them did the other day
when talking on the subject, but they
will find l am sound on this question,
and / hope so before it is too late, for the
cholera is bound to come here if this sys-
tenn is kept up.
Why can't these doctors and law-mak-
ers be consistent? For instance, here
they make law that no rain-water con-
ductor leading from roof of a building
shall lead direct into ceSspoel or sewer
Why make such law as that? For the
very best reason in the world; because it
would convey all the noxiouS gases from
those places up to the top of the building,
just where it should not be allowed to go
The next set of officers after taking their
seats pass another law just the opposite,
and say that the property-holders shall
put in a special vent-pipe leading from
all cesspools consequently from all sew
ers) to three feet above the roof of the
house. which, of course, will do just the
very same thing as the other. Every
outhouse or water-closet should have a
brick cesspool four feet in diameter and
at least six feet deep, ceiled up tight over
the top, supplied with a patent water
closet and all necessary pipes, traps and
vents leading above the building the
same as is done inside of buildings, and
where there is sewer near there should
be an overflow pipe leading to it.
All scientists know that gases from
sewers and cesspools after passing
through the water which is in the trap of
the closet becomes somewhat purified,
and, consequently, much lighter than it
was while laying in the cesspool or sewer,
so it will be more easily carried off into
the upper atmosphere; but where these
gases are allowed to escape through a
free and independent special vent-pipe or
other outlet it won't do so because it
comes out with all of its impurities, and,
consequently, is heavier than our natural
air, and will drop downward.
cannot quit this subject without call
ing public attention to the old City Jail,
one OF the most unsanitary places in the
city, not excepting Chinatown. 1t would
not cost more than 5000 or s., 500 to put
this building in a perfect sanitary condi-
ton. All that needs to be done is to tear