San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-08-03
SOMETHING MORE ABOUT SEW
ERS.

now before us, Gne ESTABLISHING Vi
a canal and sewerage system, there
is being brought together mass
of useful information, not only to
prevent the treatment (manage-
ment) of the same from a political
or personal standpoint, but also in
accordance to its real intrinsic
value. This brings us back to our
first expressed objection that the
time has been too short for
proper discussion Of the subject,
and that the election for bonds
had been ordered with too much
haste.
1t is useless when the advocates
of the system indulge in excessive
EXPLANATIONS and represent the
sanitary condition Of the city in
more exaggerated manner than
what it really is, and on the other
hand nothing is proven when the
simple usefulness of the system is
totally denied. Most assuredly,
the establishment OF a canal and
sewage system is great conven-
fence and of great benefit, but this is
no reason to precipitate its project,
but to give every one a fair chance
to familiariZe himself with the
subject. Sufficient information is
all that is desired by the public,
and then comes the elaboration OF
the second part: Are we able to
defray the expenses out Of the pub
lie treasury or our own private
pockets at this time?
The question whether, and how
much the establishing Of a sewer
system in San Antonio may be a
pressing necessity has not yet been
ventilated in a fitting manner.
This, at any rate, cannot be done
by comparing and using the great
est death rate of "three months" as
basis.
A thorough comparison in all its
details has been made by an au-
thority of national reputation.
DR.. John S Billings, in a num-
Der of the "Forum" from the sister
cities, Washington and Baltimore,
with special reference to death
rates at unequal (dissimilar) condi-
tions. The article is based upon
the reports of the sanitary officers
of the two cities for the year 1890.
washington had a sewerage sys-
tenn and Baltimore was without
one, both cities had waterworks.
demonstrating from minute
calculation and comparisons Of
figures regarding relative dwelling
conditions, that is, the number of
jewellers in house and per acre Of
land, a counting OF death rates Of
various stages OF life, a division of
white and colOred, and the tables
of death rates OF children, CLASH
fication of nationalities, after not
ing that the death rate is consider
able less at the most elevated
points than in the lower ones spec
tally on or near watercourses, he
finally arrives at the. to us inter-
esting conclusion, that the average
death rate in the district of Column
bia during the last six years was
23,4l per 1000; while in Baltimore
during the same period it was
22.39 per 1000. ("Washington is
considered as the cleanest city
in the United States" - Editor
Freie Presse.) But he adds
that the higher death rate at
Washington was caused by the
greater number Of deaths among
the colored people, which is O.65
more than at Baltimore.
Washington has 2Jj miles of
sewerage pipes, but many houses
are not connected with the system,
Baltimore has no system and the
largest part of the eXCrements goes
into sinks, boxes or barrels.
DIR. Billings explains: The fact
that the different methods Of re-
moval of fluid and solid matter at
Washington or Baltimore does
not show any larger conspicuous
difference in death rates is inn
portant, which calls for careful
attention and investigation of mu-
nicipal sanitary engineers, because
they hold to different opinions on
the the subject.
This fact seems to show then, as
long as the drinking water is pure
and in sufficient quantities the me-
thods of removal of the excrements
will have little influence upon the
health and sanitary conditions of
a corporation, and while the de-
posting and keeping Of Ii
guilds and solid matter in sinks
may be disagreeable it is doubtful
whether the method is directly
and positively injurious, and for
this reason other causes should be
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