Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-07

In fourteen squares in the northwest part
OF the city there were 153 privies and ~
closets.
The report of the inspector shows that for
the nine years ending June 30. 1891, there
were 42.l91 full or overflow privies reported
U,i5J boxes with leakage, and G6S old and
dilapidated boxes. In one year, 1892. there
We're Az, boxes noted with leakage. 1t is
difficult TO ascertain the extent to which the
saturation of the soil takes place in this
way, but the above facts demonstrate that
the saturation with exerementitious matter
is necessary result of such conditions
2. Every report of the engineer DEPART
ment of the District government contains
statement as to the relaying of pipe sew
ers. In the year 1892 there were 1854 lin
car feet of sewer pipe which were taken ND
and relaid S,43S linear feet of obstructed
sewers were replaced. These sewers were
faulty In gradient, alignment, and because
OF defective joints, allowing the intrusion of
tree roots, and in quite a number of cases.
they we're of insufficient size. They We're
all laid under contracts made with the
board of public works, in 1S71-74" Report
upon the sewerage of the District of Column
bia. by board of sanitary engineers, June,
1900
All pipe sewers laid prior to 1874 REQUIRE
to be replaced by those of suitable construc-
ton, with joints protected by concrete, 1t
reed not be added that such defective sew.
erage conditions permit the saturation of
the soil with fecal matter.
3. A third cartse which prevents thorough
OF TIE SOIL aqdS TO the dangers
from saturaton with sewage is found in the
fact that from the foot of Capitol Hill west
erly to the Potomac river there Is long
nat area only few feet above high tide
To the north and east the ground rises: the
soil of the lower area is moist, that of the
ele yated territory is composed of compact
gravel clay and loan, and is coroaratively
dry owing to the absence of slope, and,
therefore, of securing velocitics," I'm the
sewers in the south and east, accumula-
tions take place in the sewers which are
added to by the entrance of tide water. In
the Tiber creek sewer these DEPOSITS reach
ed two to three feet in depth and several
thousand feet in length. reaching nearly to
the present District building. The daily eff
feet of the entrance of the tidal current
into the sewer is to prevent the complete
emptying Of the drains and in times of food
great quantities of noxious sewage is car
ried into CELLARS and Easements.
III The drinking of the infected water of
wells has long been known to be mode of
propagation of typhoid fever. II the soil of
the city is receiving a considerable portion
of the excreta of typhoid cases; IL much of
that soil is badly drained. and wet with re-
turn ed sewage, is ii possible to avoid the
danger Of the fouling of well water?
In that low section of the city in which
there is the most imperfect drainage in
which the soil is most contamina ted by the
defective sewerage there are many thous-
and inhabitants with 1904 prVies drinking
the water from 40 wells
In the southern region, with l97 fatal
cases, there We're 40 pumps, now reduced
to 81 in the northeast 81 fatal cases and ~
pumps, now reduced to %; In the middle
al ea 179 deaths, 40 pumps, now ~: in the
northwest, III deaths, "a pumps now ~
CThe number of pumps here given is taken
from map published by District Commits
s'oners in 1889, and list furnished MAY. 1894 \
In Georgetown there were - deaths with
IS pumps. by May list 10 by map It can
be assumed that where there are the largest
rumber of pumps there is the largest con-
sumption of well water; that we'll water is
rsed most largely by the poor. and in those
quarters of the city where the water and
sewer connections are fewest: and that po-
tomac water is used chiefly where the water
and sewer connections are most numerous
We know that water from the 80 pumps
existing at the report OF 1850 was largely
Used by the people living on the 426 squares
in which the 626 fatal cases occurred The
number OF wells here given may not be
strictly correct errors have been found
in the map Of 1889. 1t is. however, approx
riately correct.
Even by those having access to Potomac
water. well water is largely consumed on
account OF its being colder during the hot
months Of the year.
The object of these consideration Is to
show that the soil underlying the city is be-
ing constantly impregnated with human ex-
crementitous matter and with all micro-or-