The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-23

Branch. and travelling due north NEE,
water al Tanners creek.
or course the ENDS o. The c,Jlvcrt!; are
10 DE closed during The building opera
tons baf4
AS q preliminary measure. AIR. MAJ
the"s 1indS the height of the river hi
hoth ends or the proposed culvert, at
nlSh ana low wafer. The culvcrt, which
Is cylindrical and whose vertical section
IS Il semi-ellipse wiih concavo base
must be accurately level and is placed at
Il depth below low wafer mark so that
even at low tide about inches of water
remain in 1t. The incStinable adyan-
taTe OF this, being that tho whole length
or the culVertS is autonla tically washed
throughout IT'S entire length by the ac-
ton Of the tide.
Now there are Two high and two low
tides in a day. Accurately speaking. \
day and about fifty minutes:
ihus -FOUR times daily will a cleansing
operation take place, which as regards
DcrfectncEs, could not even be initiated
BY human labor
And he!c might ii:ly intcrpose a word
rs to a very simplest hyd:oEtatic law;
1t Will clear away any doubts in The
minds OF those whose pursuits have de-
Dared mem from knowledge OF the
, science, and show them how the tide
would wash the sewer and why.
II number Of vessels be filled 10 a va
rlous helghts with any one LIQUID as
water. and then be put freely INTO com
munlcation with each Other, the LIQUID
would rail- in some, rise III others until
the level OF the surface in all .s the
same.
Thls is accurately true, whatever be
the distance between the vessels. IT is
also irrespective Of the weight, volume,
original heights of the Liquid or shapes
Of the vessels
Apply this reason TO our culvcrts
open at both ends, al low tide AS The
water rises il fills the tunnels Hundreds
OF causes prevent the tide a one end ris-
lnS quite equally with the other. 4 flow
IN one direction or 4 series OF movements
Che more the hetteD is the result. All
the contents of the sewer are being NOV
ed ana stirred up 5 the water in il tends
to rise to the level Of The river outside
In addition to which the fresh wafer
from closets, etc. in thousands of places
gong on continually. mark you. from a
higher level than the river itself causes
an increased flow in the culve:ts When
I ne eide GIBBS, the sewerage must fall into
the river at either end. In connection
with the culvcrts arc the drain pipes
proper. These can be Of metal, or in
ueed any material usually put to that
purpose.
These latte. are in direct communica-
lion with our houses, sinks. cutters, etc.
Furthermore i, is not remotely necessary
to relay the drainage system Of Norfolk,
lof MIR. Matthew's informs me that fter
building the culvcrts with proper fore
sight and care, the present system can
be led TO discharge into them to a great
etent. Again Norfolk and its neighbor
mood is so flat, so free from indullat lion
in the lay Of the land, that the building
Of the culvers. their depth, position and
distribution IS matter Of simplicity az
far as engineering goes. II would seem
ihat no place conld be more suited ION
geographically 10 the imp, ovcment he eur-
gests. The cost would be nominal also
Thus instead of assuming that tho
system Will require TO be new, Ii Is ,hn
mode Of distribution only: The outln,
| which need be so described
TWO POI MIS- OF INTEREST.
| And here TWO points of interest arrest
| our attention.:
Firstly, as have said elsewhere Inc
culve:;s will he washed right lh,nuah
loul t!Hles Il daya This is not strictly
| true, nut was an easy method Of present.
| ing the matter In realiSy ii will be 4 con
! slant backward and forward motion Of
| the sewer. y gradual process of
| cleansing which in effect is equal ia .
thorough securing four times daily. ,rhn
tides do not stop: there is no line of de-
| ma!cation Or halt in Natures Dcrnntu,1
| MOI ion.
! Secondly. The so-called river watar
circumscribing Norfolk, is ,eally sal, va
| Ter. 1T is sea wa!"r or almost so chem
| icaily speaking. 1t is well known thni
me constituents OF this liquid exercise
se!HailVe or antiseptc action on
| puteSciblc organic matter.
I :