The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-02
HOUSE DRAINAGE.
Some Suggestions in Respect to the
Subject.

Subject.
Editor Morning News: Having learned
through your columns that the commits
sion on house drainage will meet this
week to decide upon the disposal of the
sewage of the city, would ask the privi-
lege of discussing this important subject
in your valuable paper.
House drainage and the proper disposal
of sewage is one of the most important
sanitary measures of any city, the health
and energy Of the inhabitants depending
greatly upon 1t. This subject is therefore
one of vital Importance TO every citizen,
and should be thoroughly understood by
those in authority before adopting any
particular system. To the magnitude OF
the work, the difficulties to be encoun-
tered, and the responsibility involved. may
be ascribed the seeming procrastination
of the numerous city councils, who have
had it under consideration during the last
twenty years During this period num-
erous attempts were made to decide upon
plan one was submitted by the city
engineer. The advice of sanitary engi-
neers of great repute was sought and OBJ
tanned. Our present city engineer was sent
to investigate ana report upon the differ
ent systems in use and asked to submit
a plan. which he did. Many surveys
were made in order to find a suitable out
let for the sewage. Water works were
built to supply the power necessary to
remove the enete matter from houses but
no plan has yet been decided upon, and
we are using the storm water drains for
sewers. thereby Jeopardizing the health
of the city. 1t Is then to be hoped that the
house drainage commission will adopt ana
put into execution a plan peculiarly
adapted to this city and climate.
In order to further this object respect.
fully submit the following suggestions:
To quote Waring: Public control OF
the sewerage should begin in the dwell
ing" This may not seem right to many,
but as no one should be allowed to use
hts own to the injury ofothers, 1t is plain
that all house drainage should be under
the control of some competent authoaify
who will see to it that every mans house
is so regulated that it will neither have
an injurious influence over his neigbbor
nor become the nucleus of some possible
Most Of our houses have about them
some defects which are doubtless The
cause Of many cases Of sickness and some-
times of death These defects mus.
sooner of later be abated by some strict
measures thoroughly carried out
The cause OF much filthy accommodations
IN the plumbing Of houses Is caused by an
insuficiency of water to flush the system
waste pipes from closets and sinks but to
flush these water is turned on from a nine
only one to one and a half inches In di-
ameter This is not right, we should try
rather to flush these pipes with a column
of water of larger diameter than that of
the waste pipes; the waste will then be
rushed to their destination much more
quickly, and in this climate it is very i'm
portant that all sewage shall reach the
point of discharge out of the CITY in al
least one hours time to reduce as much as
possible all chances of decomposition tax
ing place in the sewers.
I am in favor of adopting the smallest
size of pipe for the Sc wers. The rainfall
being at times very great, this should NOT
be allowed to so into the sewers at all.
When no rain water is allowed to go into