The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-17
THE DOCTORS FAVOR 1T.
THEIR OPINION OF THE SAVANNAH
RIVER As 4 SEWAGE OUTLET.

Provide an Outlet for the House
Drainage system by Implying the
Sewage Into the River Below the
City-The Savannah River Fully
| Capable of Carrying on the CIty's
Sewage, They Say.
The subject OF house drainage will
probably come before the city council
/ at its meeting this afternoon in
| some shape. Mayor Myers is expected to
announce the appointment OF the house
/ drainage commission. in accordance with
the ordinance TO that effect. which was
| introduced and passed four years ago.
| The subject Of house drainage is being
/ generally discussed. The report Of Mr..
/ Percy Sugden. civil engineer. upon the
/ BilbO canal and the construction of a
sewage outlet from the Bolton street
sewer to the Savannah river. which was
published in full In the Morning News
day or two ago. was generally read
and commented on. a Morning News
reporter called at the Office OF several
physicians yesterday and obtained their
opinions on the matter The list could
have been much larger. 1t Is believed
that a large majority Of the physicians
Of the city indorse the plan outlined by
Mr.. Sugden. OF those seen, not one op-
posed 1t. though several had not taken
time TO read the report.
DR.. X. b. Harris when asked for his
opinion, said: Il have always cOntended
and always Will contend that the Bilbo
canal should be made a covered sewer. A
sewer of 6xs would be adequate to carry
of the entire sewage of the city. The
outlet should be somewhere near For.
Jackson. about the Five-fathom Hole.
where there IS deep water and strong
current. This would require a sewer of
about two miles in length. The sewer
should be made 10 carry off the storm
water as well as the sewage and SHOULD
be eggshaped, smaller at the bottom so as
to give the most velocity and keep the
sewer clean at all times"
DR.. J. d. Martin said: THE I3ilbO canal
has been an eyesore to me all my life.
l am heartily in accord with the propo-
sition of Mr.. Sugden. 1t is thoroughly
feasible and undoubtedly the least ex-
pensive plan that could be adopted. The
plan TO drain TO the Vernon river is TOO
expensive to be considered. There is no
danger whatever in emptying the sewage
into the river. The river is amply able
to take care of 1t without danger to the
health of the city. New Orleans empties
its sewage into the Mississippi river and
then uses the river water for drinking
purposes. Not only this, but several cities
above New Orleans empty their sewage
into the Mississippi"
DR.. George II. Stone: II am strongly
opposed to open sewers. The Bilbo canal
should be covered over and the open sewer
carrying the filth of the city right past
the city be done away with. l would
prefer TO see the outlet of the sewerage
cref Of he
city than the present mouth of the Bilbo
canal but If the city is TO continue the
use Of the canal as an outlet 1t should
certainly be covered over. Its present
condition is menace TO the health OF
the city"
DR.. j. G.. Keller, who does a great deal
of practice aboard the ships which visit
the port, was asked his opinion on the
subject. II have read a portion Of the
pamphlet" he said. land approve of the
plan as far as outlined. The canal should
certainly be covered over. In my prac-
tice among the shipping people 1 find the
canal very offensive and consider IL the
cause of a great deal of sickness on
board the ships lying in that part of the
river 1t would greatly improve the health
conditions should the canal be covered
over. The river is capable of carry
ing off all the sewage of the city, pro-
vided the sewers are large and properly
face at high tide.
DIR. F. T. Lincoln, VINO also does large
practice along the river front, said: Il
have always been In favor of the Savan-
nah river as an outlet for the sewerage
system. The plan proposed by Mr.. Sugden
for covering over the Bilbo canal and pro-
viding an outlet for the sewage is an emil
nently satisfactory one. The amount of
sewage that would be poured into the river
in comparison to the volume of water
would be SO small as to be of no conse-
quence. l would be willing to drink the
water regularly taken from within two
hundred yards of the outlet. The amount
of ammoniacal matter in water which
renders it UNFIT for drinking is .OO5. but the
amount of ammonia carried down by this
sewer by actual calculation is far less than
this and consequently would not unfit the
water for drinking purposes"
Dr. l.. A. Falligant said that he had not
studied the plan proposed by Mr.. Sugden
as yet. Il have always held that the Sa-
vannah river is the proper outlet for the
sewerage" he said.
DIR. j. Weichselbaum said: II have on a
number of occasions tested the Savannah
river water and found 1t free from or
ganic matter. / am satisfied the discharge
of the sewerage into the Savannah river
as suggested by Mr.. Sugden. cannot do
any harm"
DR.. T. b. Chisholm: ct have read Mr.
Sugden's report on the sewage of the city
and approve of his plan as to the dis
charge of the sewage matter into the Sa-
vannah river. 1t will be beneficial to the
health of the city.
DR.. Sidney ]. Lanier: II have always
considered the Savannah river a safe out
let for the city sewerage. And, with the
Bilbo canal converted into a closed sewer.
the city drainage would be perfect and
safe"
DIR. c. H. Colding: II have looked over
Mr.. Sugden's methods of relieving Savan-
nah by a proper system of drainage 1
believe that If Bilbo canal could be made
a closed sewage canal, by giving it a suffi-
cient fall to carry off the waste water and
sewage, 1t would very much add to the
health of our citizens, and at the same
time remove a revolving nuisance, and an
eye sore to every one who has TO pass over
it now. The Savannah river, is, in nv
judgment, the proper place for the sewage
to be emptied so that 1t may soon find its
way to the sea.
DR.. J. L. HERS said: 81 have read with
much interest the propositions made by Mr.
Sugden for the proper drainage and an out