The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-17
Inspector BemiS Reads
Interesting Paper.
Sanitary Plumbing a Promo
ter Of Public Health.
Subjecting OF Work TO Official In
spectlon a Safeguard.

of his department. An abstract is as
follows:
The subject upon which am TO speak, !
Plumbing and House Drainage, has |
come to be regarded as one OF the most |
important features in the construction or
homes Sanitary science must enter into
the plans Of the architect and the work OF
the builder and when it does not then
the sslutary plumbing law steps in % pro-
tect human lives from the consequences OF
what has been rightcously termed "crimi-
nal Ignorance, or criminal neglect
Ten years ago the plumbing and drain
age of "A dwelling or building received
but tithe of the consideration which Is
given TO those essential requisites today at
the time Of construction, but the dlsemi-
nation OF disease germs and microbes as
elucidated by the hacteriologist throughout
"A building, by reason OF imperfect plumb
ing and the Introduction OF specific forms
of disease resulting from inadequate pro-
visions for the removal OF the refuse
material has emphasized the Importance
of perfect system of sanitary plumbing.
Sanitary plumbing is that work which
Is designed 20 secure health, in addition 10
the common conYenienccs which all
plumbing affords, and without this the
| inmates of building are always subject
| TO sickness and disease
| The function which house drainage and
plumbing performs is the removal of
waste organic matter from the vicinity
| of houses, where its retention would DO
| harm, TO a distant point In fresh or
unputrcfed condition. The diseases which
| a correct system of drainage and plumb
| ing are most distinctly capable OF con
| trolling are typhoid fever, cholera and
4 diarrheal diseases, and we are told by
sanitary experts, that the dried diphtheria
germ may, from faulty plumbing or dry
| traps in the pipes De blown into rooms
| along with sewer gas and thus the dis
| ia icnfp1 without
tact with an infected person.
The chief faults in the plumbing OF
| dwellings consists in unnecessary multi
| plication Of fixtures, with its accompany
| ing complication OF work; leaky joints OF
| soil and waste pipes; broken ana leaky
| drains; the coating Of soapy or greasy
slime attaching TO the walls of waste
| pipes; the partial or utter absence OF ven
| tilation; defective methods of trapping;
| untrapped openings for the drainage of
| cellar floors leading tO the house sewer; (;
| accumulation of grease IN traps under
| kitchen and pantry sinks, lack OF flushing
in all parts OF the pipo system, resulting
in an accumulation of putrefying slime,
| cOncealment of all work. ana the bad
workmanship of hidden parts of the
plumbing; untidiness Of the spaces under
fixtures; injudicious location of water
closets and bathrooms and in particular
\ the faulty position of the closet for SER
wants use in out of the way corners with
out light and air.
One Of the most dangerous qualities of
the insanitary house Is, chat IL does not
always produce at once definite and
virulent disease such as typhoid fever or
diphtheria though such is often the result,
but without doubt, IL slowly and insidi-
ously causes illhealth and general languor,
which incapacitates for sustained effort,
and to which women are especially subject {
from their greater confinement in the
house.
In suggesting few important qucs-
tions of practical value TO the householder
might say that plan OF the system of
pipes i'm the house Is always desirable, and
The plumbing work should be exposed TO
view, or easily accessible
The fixtures on the different floors
placed over each other so as 20 avoid
hor zontal soil and waste pipes.
Pipes should be air tight as shown by n
uroper test The continuation of the house
drain outside of the house TO the sewer or
cesspool must be properly laid.
Each water closet should have a sufficient
supply of water discharged with sufficient
force when emptied completely to
scour the traps and branch waste pipes.
| All objects should be excluded from the
water closet which are likely TO obstruct
the pipes.
When a fixture is not in use for some
time arrangements should be made To pre-
vent the water seals in the traps from be .
ing broken by substituting oil for water,
and should be so arranged as 10 resist
siphonage.
The law under which the appointment
was made provides for the licensing of
all plumbers by the commissioners of
public work on recommendation or the
Inspector, and bonds amounting TO 5000
are required TO indemnify the city for
injury TO any person caused by The street
being broken up while work was being
| done
There are In the city of Providence dur
ing the present year l0l licensed plumbers
and as drain layers. Before beginning
work on any job these men are required To
file plans OF the work 90 be done. Ordi-
narily they consult with tho Inspector be-
fore tho plans are figured for the purpose
of asccrtaining If there is anything obicc-
1 tionahle TO the department.. The plans
| are left nt the Office where they are eX
nmincd by the inspector, and IL they are
in accordance with the law thCy are
! approved The plumber is then notified
| by printed postal and the plans are filed
away in cabinet for that purpose. This
cabinet Is subdivided, n space being pro-
| Vided for each plumber and drain layer.
over which T. posted his name. porma-
nent books of record arc kept for refer
ence.
After a plan has been approved by the
ipspoctOr the plumber goes to work with
the construction Of the soil pipe and the
| biNilfn Illus VI wan u illtrs dilh blt Nl'-
partment is notified when this portion OF
the ioh l. finished. The inspector VISIT the
place and a water test is made II the test
Is satisfactory the plumber Is again noti-
fled and the work Is continued, II any de-
fccts are found the plumber is required "a
remedy them before this work is covered
up Mhon the job is completed the depart
iEent is again notified and the final test
is made On the final test every fixture j,
tried, water discharged through all pipes
and an examination is made for leaks.
IL everything Is all right "a certificate i.
sent to the plumber showing that tlt
work has been done In accordance Will
the law Invariably the master plumber,
are quite willing to fix up any little defect
Ina the work that may have resulted from
q lack of knowledge ON the part of the
! workmcn, and there have bccn but few
instances where it has hcUn necessary tU
revoke license for noncompliance with
an urdcr from the inspector to iix up DC
. fcctivc work In case Of n plumber doing
work i'm n building without filing plan