Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-27
r,.,Dc.o,,ou of shockoe Creek.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch'
"Greek ls not so ennobling a STUDY as
TINT nj Sewerage. Popular Science Mon
monthly. -.s 90
"a few eddies produced by means OF
sr,lflcisl obstacles placed In the cohuuct
secure Immediately a complete MIXTURE "a
the lime with the foul water. .--,..o,
As soon as the Lime-water Is lntrouuceu
the waste waters almost Wholly loae
their offensive odor, ana cease '"
Ter The slightest danger from noxious eN-
relations No difficulty is offered by
me composition of the sewer water. Oh
adding to them Lime-water in the proper
,io, Of 90 crammes Of lime-yes, even III
he smaller proportions Of 200 ana 10
grammes--to a cubic metre OF water
complete precipitation was promptly pro-
duced. Al the end Of four or five hours
the water became clear and hmpld
on. b. Aubrey ViteO-Ibid.
Go to the intersection of Shockoe creek
and Broad st. especially when 1t Is stlll,
at night and as Monsieur Duhain In OLD
times, said at the Mayors court ABOUT
his neighbours back yard on Main ST.,
you never shall smell such a stink.
The bad odor continues in less degree
all the way up to Brook Avenue.
II the health OF Richmond does not suf-
fer from this cause, common decency
does.
We havegiven the above quotations
from a distinguished scientist, VINO con-
Quoted experiments for the purpose Of as
certaining the best practical way OF dis
injecting the sewerage Of Paris. See Pop
ular Science Monthly. Vol: XVIII i. 500.
Shockoe creek may or may not produce
disease in those who live in crowds near
its lower portion, but there can be no
a.. hot q 80 IN N gH -
the salubrity of the city. Filth must ne
cessarily produce disease and the nose.
and the other senses, and the common in
stlncts Of humanity give warning equally
with chemistry and the microscope.
The taking in of food the decomposition
and assimilation of food, the casting Off
Of excreta, are processes coincident 10 all
life. The excreta are always Injurious TO
health and the ptomains, and the disease
germs that frequently accompany the ex-
creta are direct poisons, often producing
fatal disease. Shockoe creek is the chlet
receptacle of the eXcreta Of the SICK ana
the well OF Richmond.
There is a fall of 50 feet from the Loco
motive Works to James River and II
Shockoe creek was Strengthened ana grad
ed. the sewerage instead of meandering
and depositing corruption on its banks
and flats. would rush to the river with
sufficient velocity to scour its path and
to hurry away everything Objectionable
before II has time TO decompose or in
feet the air.
The time may come during the next
century when Shockoe creek win be arch
ed and covered by beautiful street or
boirievard-and nothing could contribute
more TO the health of the city. In the
near time the spade and a few timbers
here and there would give velocity to It's
now stagnant filth and hurry II away.
But as we do not expect any work TO
be done ON Shockoe creek and being struck
with the simplicity and inexpensive. and
according to the experiments OF the dis
tinguished scientist, effectual treatment
OF sewerage by means OF lime, l wish 10
make public Vitets report, hoping that
our city Legislature will at least test the
value OF his experiments by q small out
lay and an early application OF his plan
for the purpose OF disinfectlng shoekoe
creek Ill. Ii.