The record-union., 1893-10-25
A FOREMOST LOCAL MATTER.

A FOREMOST LOCAL MATTER.
The suggestion made to the Board of
Trustees by citizen, that investigation
be made of the condition of the cesspools
related to business houses, is a good and
timely one. To our certain knowledge
there are recepticles of that order on the
high grade business streets that have not
been cleansed in ten years-ffteen and
twenty years, it is charged in some cases.
Such neglect is positive Offense, and
ought to be so declared by the health
authorities. In any condition, the very
best possible the cesspool is a nuisance,
an abomination and a disease-breeder,
but when it remains uncleansed for years
it becomes a far greater menace than
most people think. That which is out of
sight is apt to be out of mind, but little
reflection upon the probable contents OF
these filth pits will present vividly the
danger of permitting them to remain in
their worst condition. since, as the COM
plainant to the Trustees well said. the
manholes and catchbasins of the sewers
become vent pipes for these pools and
vomit forth noxious gases upon the
streets constantly.
When the happy day arrives that all
cesspools in Sacramento are ordered
cleansed and filled and the work is done,
1t will be sufficient cause for public re-
ioicing and celebration. 1t will mean
more good to the people than delivery
from the thraldom of a hostile army.
How this is to be accomplished is a very
simple matter.
Without intending to anticipate the re-
port of the Sewer Commission now at
work, we venture to say that the sink
ing of deep, large pits, with impervious
bottoms and sides, in the southwest end
of the city, near to the river, will secure
for all parts of the town all the fall
needed, even more than needed.
A reception tank Of this order sunk
fifteen or twenty feet, and receiving the
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than the present discharge on Y street,
near Ninth, will give fall sufficient to
carry all solid matter such as now goes
into cesspools.
For the carrier pipes will be smaller
than sewers, and located very near to the
surface of the ground, while the present
1, i Il
age only, to carry nothing but storm and
drainage water, and will not lead to the
sunken tank. Then, with all houses con-
nected with the pipes directly, and pro-
tected by trapping. the disposal of the
matter in the tanks is simply question
of method that need not concern us now
at all, as science and experience have
pointed out several ways for treating such
gathered sewage.
Perhaps nothing quite so amusing has
been given TO print of late as the recent
proposition of worthy citizen to have
all lot and house cesspools condemned;
then to have the city sink four new cess
pools in each alley to the block. These
to be connected with all the houses in the
block, and then at stated periods the city
to have these community cesspools
cleaned out and the contents carted off.
A more preposterous idea was never ad-
vanced than to sink 1000 new cesspools
in our very porous soil, to further poison
the earth crust beneath our feet, and null
tiply the dangers that already menace us.
Besides, such plan means for cesspool
construction and connection alone great
many thousands of dollars expended, for
what at best would be a makeshift, and
could not be endured as permanent sys-
tenn.
The one great problem that will con-
front the new Board of Trustees will be
this of sewage disposal. The levee, water
and street propositions are disposed of /;
the debt is taking care of itself as we'll as
we could expect. and it will presently be
extinguished. There remains only the
sewerage question, and that ought to be
grappled with boldly and as first task.
It is the judgment of the people that
this should be done. We need, therefore,
first-class Board of Trustees to handle
the subject; we need an incorrupdble.
Embossed, free-handed board, that there
shall be no stealing, favoritism, or pay
ment of political debts through the use of
the new sewerage system.