The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-27
INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING.
Providence is Without an 0flcer All
Large Cities Have.
THE NEED OF SUCH AN INSPECTOR,
The Plumbing business should Be Re-
stricted by Legislation, for Poor
Piece OF " ork Greatly EndAngers the
Health and welIbeing.

Seven points constitute the charter OF
health in a house. IL must present no
facilities for holding the poisonous parti-
| cles of disease. 1t must have every facil-
ity for the removal of it's impurities AS
| fast as produced. 1t must be free from
| dampness. 1t must be well filled with
| daylight. 1t must have an even temper
ature. 1t must have supply OF pure air
| aud that steady without currents, and 1t
must have pure water.
How many homes in this city have
| proper charter and how soon are steps TO
| be taken To make sure that these impor-
| tant points receive intelligent legislation
| by the city governmeptp IL would seem
as IL the period in the history Of the city
had arrived when the plumbing trade
should be regulated by legislation, since
good plumbing ana drainage are neces-
sary to perfect the development and
health OF all The value Of these factors
cannot be over-estimated In establishing
health and happiness. When plumbing
is improperly constructed IL IL like a
mine which buried beneath the house,
may explode at any moment sending the
inmates to destruction.
Many families in this city live in i'm
pure atmosphere, unconscious, perhaps,
Of the lurking evil that threatens their
well being.
Providence is the only city of any i'm
portance that has not placed plumbing,
ventilation and drainage in the
Hands OF an Inspector.
Our nearest neighbor, Pawtucket has
done so. In Chicago it is claimed that
the death rate has been reduced IRON 70
per thousand in 1878 to 1S. AS a RESULT of
the efforts of competent inspector of
plumbing
There are many persons who, when
they have decided to build house, en-
gage a firm to do the entire work Many
OF them, il they wilt watcn the work rs
| it progresses. will find that the plumbin
Is done, as IT was In u house now being
built in the northern part of the city for
prominent business man. A prominent
builder was engaged to erect the house.
He In turn sub-let the plumbing, actu-
ated by only one motive, TO save money.
After the work had been in progress for
some time the owner saw a number
of defects in the plumbing aud
sent an expert to investigate.
IL was found tnat the soil pipes were
extended through the roof close to, and
in front of the attic windows, SO that
during warm weather, wien the win
dows we're liable To be open, there would
be constant current Of sewer xas driven
into the house. In iointing the iron SOIL
pipes the molten lead was run. but there
| was no evidence that caulking tool mad
been used, 50 that by taxing hold of the
upright stack Of soil pipe it could be
moved back and forth four or five inches,
demonstrating that there was sufficient
play in the joints to allow Of al en-
trance of sewer gas into the house.
In several instance where the sC-called
plumber had cut the soil pipe in getting
out his measurements he had broken "a
triangular piece out OF the end OF the
pipe, from the apex Of which break a
ciacS in the iron extended upward three
or four inches. This fracture was upon
tue back side, next to the wall, when
would conceal 1t from view. In two in
stances enough of this triangular break
extended above the receiving hub to
allow OF inserting a lead pencil into the
pipe. There was barely one quarter Of
an inch or lead run into these joints 1t
was also planned TO connect the back air
pipe from the water closet trap
with the kitchen chimney by means of
galvanized spiral pipe, with the result
that what sewer gas aid not escape from
the spiral pipe on its way to the Chin
ney would in case of a down draft In
same come into The house through the
kitchen range. The owner on seeing so
Much That was Faulty
in the plu m bing above the ground came
to the conclusion that it would be wise
to examine The drain which extended
across under the cellar bottom or the
house. When this was uncovered, 1t
was found to be of earthen pipe, the
| joints OF which were partially covered
with a sort of cement aud sand mixture,
| which had so little adhesive power as TO
admit Of the sections of the drain being
separted with as little resistance as III no
cement whatever had been used. Upon
removing the section of pipe, Jagged
projections of cement were iound at the
| bottom of and on the interior of the
earthen pipes at their juncture.
The result or this would be, OF course,
| to obstruct the flow Of sewage through
| the pipes on its way to the sewer and the
| consequent stoppage OF the drain. This
| In conjunction with the poor quality of
| the cement used would soon cause tho
| soil under the cellar bottom To become
| sewage-sodden and the noxious gases
arising therefrom would find their way
| up into the house through the porous
| cement OF the cellar bottom. All OF this
| earthen pipe was removed and ex. ra
| heavy iron soil pipe substituted.
Cases of this kind eau be found every
| day. A house In the western part of the
| CITY was found where the family were
obliged to stop all waste pipes that were
| in the house and fill the bowls and sink
| with water to prevent the sewer gas from
entering the house. This house rents for
| $40 month aud during the winter the
| Plumbing vas so poor that IL was
An Utter Impossibility
| TO keep the pipes from freezing. An In
| spector would obviate this.
| There Is no reason why Providence
should not have an inspector OF plumb
| ing as well, as Pawtucket, Boston and
other cities. A number of years ago an
| attempt was made TO have one appointed.
| but for some unknown reason tue matter
was pigeon-holed. At n recent session of
the city fathers n similar resolution was
| referred TO the committee on health, and
| as Alderman Burrows is chairman of
| that committee excellent results are
| looked Tor. IL an inspector is appointed
| these regulations bearing on the subject
should be adopted. so that the citizens of
| Providence might not be imposed upon
| by the poor work Of poor plumbers.
| An inspector would be greeted with
| open arms by firms dsng good work, and
| OF course the matter will be opposed by
firms employing unskilled labor. Ii i.
| not an uncommon sight To see boy OF
12 or IA years Of age doing plum binq
| work m many OF the houses now In
process OF construction, the only foreman
being the carpenter or the contractor,
who knows nothing of the principles OF
Il -.