The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-01
a HISTORY OF LOCAL DRAINAGE.
The First City Drainage Was Begun
AFTER 1884.

As far as Savannah and Chatham coun-
ty are concerned, drainage has been a
very slow and uphill work There ap-
pears to be not enough political grease
in that class of work.
1t required the continuous efforts of the
medical society from 1904 to 1918 to induce
the city council to pass the dry culture
ordinances, and il was only after the
yellow fever epidemic of 1854 that drain
age. within the city was fairly started;
but the moment the fear caused by the
scourge subsidized. the work of drainage
was discontinued and was never resumed
until personal interest being involved, the
first steps toward a general system of
storm water and sub-soil drainage was
started and carried on to such an extent
as to very greatly reduce the malarial
diseases which had prevailed here ever
since the lowlands surrounding the city
had been to any extent cultivated.
The epidemic of 1876 finally demonstrate
ed that the undrained condition of the
lands surrounding us was an important
factor in the causation of disease We
are indebted to the then existing state
board of health for the first steps that
were taken to drain this county in order
TO prevent the recurrence of q
yellow fever epidemic. This board
obtained from the legislature a
sum Of money, which was applied, in a
crude way, to start the work of drainage
in and around Savannah; the work was
later taken up by the board of county
commissioners.
The work done by the first board was
principally devoted to the drainage of the
lowands surrounding the city, and the
effect of this upon the health of the in
habitants of the city was very remark
able Not only did it remove the malarial
fevers from among us, but the general
health of our people was so greatly inn
proved that the energy Of our business
men soon brought our beloved Savannah
from condition nearly bankruptcy to one
of thrift and prosperity. The sluggish
ways of our people was replaced by activ-
ity, and soon savannah rose TO a high
position among the commercial markets of
the world
Had these good results induced the city
and county authorities TO continue the
good work of draining and given us a sep
arate system of house sewerage, our san
itary condition would have been proof
against an epidemic of yellow fever; our
commercial Importance and also our pop
ulation would be far greater than they
are to-day.
But with prosperity selfish motives
again took the lead. There was no politi-
cal pap in the drainage business; it was
hard work and no pay for the wire-puller;
so drainage was laid aside; the convicts
were put to roadmaking; the bitches be-
came choked and the lands that had been
cultivated under good drainage had to be
abandoned; malarial fevers, rheumatism
and other ailments soon came back upon
us.
The adoption Of a system OF sewerage
was put off from year to year. and our
Cd l. ~ 10, u
into sewers.
All efforts to get rid of the privy vaults
/ended in ordinances which were never en-
forced, because a few more or less influ-
entail owners of tenements might be put
to considerable expense If compelled to
fill up those privies and provide better
methods With the increase of the ne
gro without any adequate increase in the
producing element of our population came
the increase in crimes-and of convict la
Dor. OF course, it was to be expected
that out Of this plentiful supply of con-
victs commensurate number OF them
would be kept working around the city
keeping al the drains in running order
and cutting new ones so that all the low
lands. the damp corners and sobby places
that exist all around us, might be kept dry
from one season TO the other. But in this
we were sarly disappointed. once a year,
the old drains are slushed and that is all,
and the flatlands extending for miles south
and southeast of the city have not been
disturbed by the shovel aud the hoe"
No way has been provided for surplus
water TO run off, so that after heavy rains,
the water stagnates until il Is absorbed
by the soil or Is pumped up by the sun.
Were all these lands surrounding the city
furnished with sufficient means for drain
age heavy rains, instead OF being de.eteri-
GUS to health, would simply be refreshing
washing impurities from the surface AS
! IL Is, all this wet soil creates malaria pro-
ducing fevers, rheumatism neuralgia. etc.
For many years past the entire convict
labor has been taken to distant sections
10 drain lands. TO cut roads, TO build
| shooting ranges All useful works II *
true, but by doing this, the work previous
~ done-which had proved such a bless
| ing TO our people, was neglected, and
/ drains-as well as roads unless kept I'M
! der constant repairs, become worthless.
| Whenever a work which Is intended for
the benefit Of all is made to subserVe prl-
/ vate or party interest or public sprlt
/ makes way 20 selfish motives there comes
| an end to all progress. The heart OF the
/ tree becomes rotten TO the core, and tho
mass OF the people must suffer.
lt Is mainly TO this evil that Savannah
/ ever attribute her sluggish progress.
| Had proper attention been paid TO sanl-
| tary matters Had sufficient money been
]
| system OF house drainage, and OF sub-soil
! drainage which would have forced the re-
moval Of privy vaults and foul sewers.
/ and made our city absolutely proof against
| yellow fever epldemics. All OF these foolish
restrictions upon her commerce would
| have been unnecessary and she would
| now be- one Of the greater ports upon
| the Atlantic coast. her river would be
| filled with ships. summer and winter alike
/ ana her population count by hundreds OF
| thoueundsl
| Having received sometime ago a yer,,
| interesting and important document rela-
| tive 20 the ontcts ~ the drainage OF BUCK
| halter swamp upon the Savannah basin
/ from man who ls in a position 10 know
| whereof ho speaks" hope you win ppb-
lish it M toto. Tor IL will be OF interest 20
/ every lnhabitant Of this county.s
j. q. Lelinrdy. NJ n.
-sNoto the letter referred 90 viii De- pub
| llshcd IN Mondays Morning News
| -.
--Dotile-can you keep a sccrot7 George
/ Luton proposed 90 me last night
Jcsalo-oh. I'm 30 surprisodi Have YOU
found out what girl had just lifted hlm?-