The record-union., 1896-07-30
IMPORTANCE OF THE DRAINwAY.

1t is urged against the outfall drain
age proposition that temporary devices
can be availed of to get rid of storm
waters the coming winter. and the out
fall drain be omitted until a complete
sewerage system can be constructed.
This begs the question. Any temporary
expedient to be applied the coming
winter will cost a good deal Of money.
To rent pumps of sufficient capacity,
transport and set them up and con-
meet them with open canals or channels
to relieve the south side of the city
will require an expenditure probably
equal to half the sum for which per-
manent sub-drain and pumping plant
can be put in, even assuming that
temporary plant will give the neces-
sary relief.
Examination convinces us that a
temporary device will not give suitable
relief. The ''S'' street sewer is not
only insufficient in capacity, but it is
largely broken, choked and obstructed.
1t will not carry the water, and the en-
larged drainage of the city; it is not
connected with the other drains as it
should be if it had sufficient capacity.
To repair that sewer and make new
connections, cut new channels for open
drainways and enlarge old ones, and
sink basin to collect the waters for
the pumps, take the land necessary or
rent it, would entail a cost not justified
by economy, when a permanent plant,
a large outfall with inpouring connec-
tions, can be made for so small sum
as 5000
1t must be borne in mind that we are
not now considering a new sewerage
system, but simply and only an outfall
drain sufficient to receive and convey
flowing south, and all the waters car
ried by the sewers we now have;
means to gather these waters in
sump on land to be acquired as a part
waters over the levee.
It is not possible to collect the waters
and lift them out by surface processes.
That is a matter which it requires no
engineering knowledge to understand.
The south side will be a lake after
storms all winter and until late in the
spring, no matter how many pumps
are set up at the river front, unless the
waters are collected. as will be done by
this six-foot outfan drain.
1t is to be a perfect circle six feet in
diameter. with eight inch walls and set
so deep that at the highest point the
connecting sewers win pour in, not
meet an opposing flow at right angles
as at present. AT Sixth street, where
two pipes are now choked by the effort
to carry the winter waters, the new in
let will pour down into the new drain,
over five feet from its bottom, and even
at Seventeenth street the inlet will be
above the lower hemisphere of the
great drainway.
In the bottom of the large drain there
is TO be a half-pipe of vitrifed stone
ware supported by cement bases. BY
this means, when the volume of water
is small, it will be confined to the diam
ster of this half-circular conduit, and
the velocity of the current thus main
tained. In food seasons the volume of
the water will half or more fill the
whole drain, and the velocity be still
maintained It will be seen, then. that
no matter what the sewerage system we
adopt hereafter this drainway will al
ways be a necessity to carry surface
and storm waters, while If a separate
sewerage system is adopted. as ii
should be, the sewage will be carried
in smaller condufts to the point where
it will be treated or discharged
There are no two opinions concerning
the economy and value Of a separate
system To mingle storm waters and
sewage in a permanent system is bad.
and everywhere condemned as unecon-
omic. So, then, we shall always need
this outfsu drain We have one now on