The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-09
DISPOSAL OF THE SEWAGE.
DIR. LeHardy Urges the Establish
ment of Purifying Plant


Savannah, Dee 4, 1S97-Editor Morning
News: I am in receipt of a letter from
the Pennsylvania Sanitation Company,
whose representative was here when the
question Of sewage disposal was under
discussion by city council. With the let
ter came a pamphlet with a description
of the sewage purifying plant now in sue
cessfui operation at the city of Reading,
Pa. This company is ready to put up
plant for the publication of the entire sew
age of our city, which would free it from
all its Objectionable parts by chemicals
and other means. before it is allowed to
run into the river. They offer to pro-
vide all works, completed the city paying
them a stipulated sum per annum for a
given number of years, when the plant
would revert to the city without addi-
tional cost.
Through the process used this plant.
they assert, can positively remove all mat
ter in suspension, all sediments and all
organic matter, whether animal or Vege-
table. In this letter it is stated: "By our
process we can overcome all objections
now urged by yourself and other physi-
clans of your city, and as your city is
not to construct a temporary expedient
but permanent public work this mat
ter should be given full consideration"
have not been informed upon what terms
the Pennsylvania Sanitation Company
proposed to build a plant for this city,
nor the number of years in which they
expect to have it Pc ID for but 1t is evident.
upon studying the plans, and seeing the
process to which the sewage is subjected
that after it has been subjected to filtera-
tons oxidation. etc, the eff1uent water
must be pure clear, odorless and as pot
able as any other water furnished for
domestic purposes, before it reaches the
river A proposition like this, the ac-
ceptance or non-acceptance of which may
prove so important to the future progress
and healthfulness of this city, ought it
would seem, have received the most care
full consideration of city council, even if
it necessitated the time for new plans
and new bids, for if the use of a puri-
flying plant had been decided upon and
placed at a well selected and proper spot,
it would have in all likelihood greatly
reduced the amount of excavation and the
cost of the house drainage system. But it
is evident that the great majority OF coun-
ell had determined to take the advice Of
Street Commissioner Warning; that is to
say, to carry the sewage directly into the
river, regardless of the opinion of SANTA
rians in general; of the great majority Of
our physicians; against the advice of cities
that had suffered from the effect of sew
had to spend millions of dollars to rid
themselves of the dangerous filth In
spite of a recent publication in the Even
ing Press, wherein the supervising surgeon
general of the United States marine hos
pital service, DR.. Walter Wyman, in sub
stance, says: Havana owes her yellow fe-
yer endenucity to just such pollution of
her harbor, as will undoubtedly be the
result of throwing the sewage directly
into the river, and that she will never
rid herself of that plague until her har-
Dor be secured twice a day by the admis-
sion of fresh water from the Gulf that
will remove these foul deposits, if her
sewers are extended ten miles and de-
liver her sewage in the open
seas" and in spite of the
earnest protest of their health officer
who addressed them as follows on Nov
II:
To the Hons, the mayor and aldermen
of Savannah: Gentlemen, believing that
the discharge of sewage in the Savannah
river on both TANKS of the city will cause
sickness and may bring about yellow
fever or cholera epidemic, the very thing
you are now trying to avert, by establish
ing a sanitary house drainage system, as
health officer of your city, l am required
to guard her people against disease and
pestience. For this reason. l must respect
fully inform you that l am absolutely OPP
posed 10 having the outlets of your sew
age system placed directly into the river,
because the sediments will render it
source of danger to public health In this
belief i am sustained by every de facto
sanitarian. / therefore urge upon you the
adoption of some other plan which shall
not endanger the health of our city. Very
respectfully, J. G. LeHardy.
i is yet time for council to realize the
weight of responsibility that hangs over
their head should an epidemic of yellow
fever or cholera occur because of their
unwillingness to spend two or three hun
dred thousand dollars which would surely
save Savannah from a repetition of the
calamity which afflicted her in 1876.
A purifying plant can be established.
either on Hutchinson's island, or upon the