The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-25
THE SEWERAGE QUESTION.
Many Facts MnrshaIied TO Defend
the BiIbO Canal Outlet.


the BiIbO Canal Outlet.
Editor Morning News: In an editorial
article in your paper some weeks ago rel
alive to the outlet for Savannah sewage
into Savannah river at the Bilbo canal, as
proposed by me, you ask the question if
lit would not be dangerous to the city's
health?' You also quote from Dr. Max
well of Jacksonville that the emptying of
the sewage of that city into st. Johns
river rhns, produced, a disgusting NUS
ance."
So far no one has'seen fit to reply to your
first question or point out in any way how
it would DE dang erous.
After reading your editorial l took the
first opportunity TO visit Jacksonville and
interview Dr. Maxwell. l had quite
lengthy interview with him, during which
DR.. Maxwell reiterated all the statements
contained in the article, on which Your
remarks were based, and also gave me
copy of same.
In one part of the article DR.. Maxwell
states that a sewage outlet should be
into a free, sweeping sea or a strong
flowing river" He follows this up by say
ing Jacksonville has neither a free,
sweeping sea-, or strong flowing river
into which to discharge her sewage" And
a.
that the mean tide of st. Johns river at
this point is only about twenty inches
and that the current is sluggish, being
much more obedient to the changeful
winds than to the tide controlling moon"
DIR. Maxwell also stated to me that during
the prevalence of easterly winds the tide
and brachish water were carried up the
river a distance of 2l2 miles.
There is no analogy whatever between
the ST. Johns and Savannah rivers. The
one a sluggish stream with brackish water
already greatly contaminated with de-
caying vegetable matter, brought from
the swamps, and the other, TO quote the
editorial in question, having swift cur
rent and silt bearing water-remarkabl BILE
qualities for rendering sewage innocuous."
Being asked what he considered the
best method of disposing of Savannah S
sewage DR.. Maxwell said: "A sewage farm
located somewhere on the ogeechee river
would be the most sanitary method" Pos
sibly it would but the expense in con-
structing and maintaining it would be
such that, If that were the only alterna-
tive, the Bilbo canal would still flow on
/ disseminating it's savory odors for very
many years to come.
1 asked DIR. Maxwell which stream
around Savannah was the best to dis
charge into If that should be the means
of disposal decided upon. He replied the
Savannah river, and not to think on any
account of using the Wilmington or YER
non rivers.
Whilst making inquiries in Jacksonville
l found that DIR. Maxwell stands almost
alone in his objection TO discharging the
sewage into St. Johns river.
The city already has four outlets into
the river, opposite the city, and having
recently borrowed the money are about to
extend the system and put in three more
outlets The outlets direct into the river
were originally recommended by Col
George E. Warning.
In a conversation with Mr.. Ellis, the
engineer to the bond trustees, he took
exception to DR.. Maxwells conclusion,
that the fouling of the river was due to
sewage, and advanced entirely different
views as TO the cause OF any nuisance that
may have been produced along the shores
The general opinion in Jacksonville Is
that the outlets into the river are sue
cess and no nuisance emanates from them
Whilst in that section | visited Bruins
wick to examine the outlet for the sys-
TEN of sewers recently put in there.
They have one outlet which discharges
direct into the Brunswick river at the
foot of Mansfield street, the center Of the
city, and about fifty feet from the wharf
Mayor Dunwoody told me that the outlet
is perfect and recommends the same dis
posal for any place so situated In an
interesting interview with Mr.. Charles
3 Wylly, the city engineer, ne told me
there was considerable objection at first
10 discharging into the river. but now no
one would be without the sewers. and that
there had not been the slightest COM
plant OF any nuisance from the outlet.
In the year lSSs Engineer Bowditch pre-
pared a plan OF 0 sewerage system FOL
Brunswick This was referred 20 Col.
VIM. OF this city 20 report on. Al his
request, and on promise Of one-half the
fee. ! took the plans and made up the re-
port. which he signed and submitted.
This system proposed diseharginB into
a creek "a the back Of hrunsNick. The
report condemned % principally on account
~ lack Of krade Ia the Sewers. The ciiy