The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1895-03-29


because the matter is not oxidized aud thus
converted INTO harmless compounds in a proper
way In some localities the pores in the
ground have become el0gged up with the
teachings, neeessitating the repeated digging
of new cesspools for Il single dwelling.
1t has been estimated that the daily amount
of seNag e thus percOlating through the ground
upon which the city is built, equals from 20O,-
000 to 250000 gallons. Most OF this quantity
seepS away TO issue again at lower level
either as springs or at the brooks. A small
portion remains as solid matter in the cess
pools and requires periodical removal by ex-
cavatiOn.
The seepage contains faueh organic matter
in solution and suspension. aud spreads over
the territory lying lower than its source
When it re-appears it isielarified perhaps. but
not purified. It raises the ground-Water level
domestic use. The lower levels of the city are
occupied by the poorer classes. who are there
fore particularly exposed and injured by the
sewage percOlatlng through the gravel from
the higher grounds.
Sewage when stored inresspools may not be
injurious to health, ii nc Special disease germs
are contained therein: Gut these are likely to
indus for propagation sfnd expose the sur
rounding soil water ant air TO dangerous pol
buttons.
The constant rising and falling Of the level
of the sub soil water is apt to cause a similar
pulsation of the ground air held between it
and the surface. This air coming in contact
with the foul substances and disease germs,
left in the soil by the recadiDg water. are ex-
hailed into cellars and houses during its next
rising. In winter the wsrm AIR OF the house
has an almost constant tel dency to draw the
cooler air from the soil around and below the
cellar INTO the building.
The injurious effect, therefore, of storing
exerementitious matter in cesspoOls by pol
luting the air in and asonnd the residences
must be evident. and this fact IS being gener-
ally and clearly recognized in all cities where
this custom has prevailed. Notwithstand' ing,
however, the health rate OF the city Is fairly
10 in1
favorable Typographical conditions. But
these very conditions. as the city extends. VIII
produce contrary effect, and. in the manner
stated, are especially liable to endanger the
health of the people residing upon the lower
areas.
That weD-planned system OF pipe sewers
which at once can receive all the excrementl-
tious matter from the houses ana carry It
rapidly to proper outfali, would have pene-
fetal effect in your city, rs it has had elsewhere
must therefore be evident. Both from sani-
tary and economical point of view such a
change must be recommended TO your citizens
as Offering more advantages than the continu-
alton of the present mode of dsposlng of The
organic wastes OF your city.
y Al similar argument can be made with refer
ence to the waste water from kitchens, bed
rooms and bathrooms. Such water can be no
less dangerous to health. The organic matter
held in solution from the washing OF clothing,
of our bodies, and various other objects for
which the hOuSe-water is used, Is also likely to
harbor and carry disease germs.
Sewers will permit this house-water to be
swiftly carried away, both in winter and ia
summer, before it deconlposes and pollutes the
ground and air around your dwellings with
dangerous effiuvia.
While the sanitary aspect thus clearly points
to the advantage of a sewerage system, eco
nomical considerations equally point to pref
erence for the same.
II costs on an average not less than 500 to
construct a cesspool, and many are said to
have cost from $50 to 500. The inhabitants of
Morristown have therefore already invested
from 100000 to $S0,0OO in this manner, and an
equally large amount w be required for the
same purpose as the soil clogs up.
IT has been stated, further, that the annual
cost of cleaning is not pnconsider l. Is
reported that for single house from $50 to
$3.50 have been paid for this purpose and it is
said that in the whole city about $1,000 are now
annually spent therefor. If this amount is
capitalized at per cent. it represents capital
of 100000, which added to the original outlay,
makes the cost OF the cesspOol system from
$3.50 600 to $lS0,0O0 for the present population.
If we assume a population OF 20,0OO, the cost
would be fairly represented by at least S30O,OO0.
A system of sewers including means for puri-
fying the sewage for the same population will
cost less, as will be seen later on.
1t may therefore be said that the present cess
pool system is neither sanitary one nor is 1t
even economical as compared with sewerage
system. In the following shall therefore in
dictate some outlines fer the lattera and It's prob
able expense.
or the two general systems used in cities.
namely the combined and the separate"
there can be no question but that for your con-
ditiOnS the latter should be preferred. IL Is
confined to the removal of sewage, whereas the
combined system includes the underground
removal of storm water, which, in your case,
would require not only an unnecessary ex-
pense for the larger sewers, but also the event.
ilal publication of larger quantity of polluted
water The storm-water in your city can here
after be kept on the surface. and be disposed
of for many years In the same manner IN winch
it is disposed of to-day. without inconvenience
ing the inhabitants, OF epdangeflng property.
Sewage, as received and carried by sewers
is not to be- compared with the contents of
leathlnv cesSpoOlS, from which the liquids
have to a great extent soaked away. 1t is
practically dirty water has a slightly turbid
appearance, and, in America, contains on the
average only about one part OF organic matter
in one thousand parts of water. This fact is
the reason why the water carriage method OF
sewage removal has been so successful. The
quantity of water used in a house and dis
charged through sinks, wash-stand, bath-tubS,
ETC.. is sufficient to transport all suspended or
floating matter through pipe sewers, Il they
nave proper slope and size, and to deliver it
at any desired distance from the CITY. me
ordinary supply of water is therefore approx
mately a measure of the amount of sewage to
be dealt with In Morristown it is reported to
be about sixty gallons daily per head Of popu-
lation. This would be about 60OOO0 gal
Ions for 10000 persons, or 100000 gal
Ions for 10000 persons. 1t is proper, of
course, to make liberal provision for the
future and the latter figure may be sufficient
in the present case.
The next question to be settled refers TO the
matter of finally disposng of the sewage. We
can mention five possible ways:
Itmay be discharged into the Whippany River.
Dilution of sewerage which disperSeS the small
particles of organic matter and brings them into
contact with theoxygen of the water and the air,
is a common and quiet satisfactory way Of max
ing the sewerage inoffenSive under favorable
conditions. But it has been shown from expert
ence that under conditions like those prevailing
in your case 1t would take flow OF about cubic
feet per second 10 dilute the sewage OF 1000 per
sons provided no dams existed TO hold back the
its agitation. This requirement rules out the use
Of the Whippany River. because In the summer
the now would not be sufficient to dilute even the
present probable quantity OF sewerage. More
over there are dams in the river which might
cause additional undesirable results.
Another method of disposing of the sewage
would be TO carry it TO tide-Water through a
trunk sewer which mfg hit also gather up sewage
on fine way from other towns, as for instance
Madison and Chatham. The length OF such a
sewer would be over rs miles, and II we roughly
estimate its cost at So per foot we would have to
expend quarter OF milli0nd0llarS for this sewer
alone. quite an unnecessary expense in this case
A third method OF disposal would De TO precipi-
tate the suspended matter IN The sewage 0y ad-
ding to 1t certain substances such as lime. sui
phate OF alumina or sulphate OF iron. Their ef-
feet is to cause cOagulation OF the organic mat
ter and to carry the same downward and thus
clarity the sewage. Chemical analyses have
shown, however, that under fairly good treat
ment only about one half OF the organic matter
can thus be removed. The process Is, however
advantageous under certain conditions which,
however, do not prevail in your case. The annu