The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-07-14

occupied OF sne oaify. On 'ne sur
rounding hills over which the storm
water flows arc open privies to which
90 esyeoial attention bad been given,
aud the contents of which must be
carried by each recurring rain in.o the
valley aud thence into the ravioe
Your committee, in continuance OF
their duty. examined fbe barracks.
which they found defective 10 location,
| 10 construction, in ventilation and in
its system of sewerage. Moisture is 40
essential element in the process of
organic decomposition 10 the soil By
| which mysterious aud dangerous pro-
! ducts are evolved, heat aud moderate
supply of air being necessary to this
process In the construction of a
dwelling the sanitariau adopts the most
! efficient means for excluding
dampness from the foundation walls
| and from the basemen. floors, for pro-
tecting the soil from impurities aud to
| render it dryer by underground drain
age and by opening the out flow. 10
| prevent the pollution of the ground air
It is Of Importance, and it is to be &C
| couplisbed by removing rbe eonrce of
contamination !; by facilitating the Da-
tural process Of purfcation and by re-
liesipg the over taxed powers of the
soil, by drainage and storation.
10 the second place protective meas
Eures must be resorsed to for additional
security. Be it remembered that eel
lars as usaally constructed do not con-
sti.nte barrier to the escape of air
from the sub-soil, and this is especially
SO in buildings which are heated artia-
cially, 10 which case there is superad-
dedia suction force created by the as
cending rari6ed air. While it is impos.
sible to prevent the asration of ground
air. it caa BY suitable devices be dI-
verted into other aud less hurtfnl chan
Dels, and its dangerous Influence mini
mized.
Tie foundation walls and the base
ment flooring of the entire building
should rest upon bed of impervious
material, and should have ventilat-
ing chamber under the entire surface
of the ceIler floor separated from the
basement by an intervening pavement.
The chamber should be connected
with chimney fine to carry off the
ground air which rises in autumn,
winter and spring During the sum
mer when the ground air sinks cur
rent of fresh air hurries downward
and rises to the heated surface outside
of the building
Your committee failed to find that
these ordinary sanitary requirements
for the protection against ground air
and moisture had been met in the
construction of the dairy and the
barracks In the matter Of ventila
tion. there is no adequate arrange
ments in the barracks to get rid of the
stagnant air charged with carbonic
acid gas which must abound to an in
;urius eveent in such an unscientifcal-
" constructed building with it's hun
dreds Of inmates In addition the
water closets are improperly located
and ahonid not be within
the main building, for the
piping for The disposal Of
excretioa ia liable to be dersnged
by the gradual subsedence of the
building, and by other causes, which
may loosen the joints and allow the
escape of sewer gas Assuming the
number of inmates of the barracks to
be 800, the aggregate amount of said
excreta for IL months would probably
be seven tons aud about $4,000 ga!
Ions of urine.
To secure the continuous and rapid
removal of this excreta and to pre-
vent pollution of air aud soil by their
temporary detention, is an interesting
problem in sanitary science. To &C
complish this purpose the sewers
must be perfectly tight throughout.
so that whatever enters may pass to
the outlet without leakage. The
movement throughout the sewer must
be continuous from head to outlet
without halting to purify. Besides.
the sewer must be perfectly ventilated
so that accumulated gases may not
form and force themselves through
the traps to the dwellings. Adequate
means must be provided for inspect
ing and flushing the sewers, the size
and form of which must be perfectly
adjusted to its flushing appliances,
that the usual dry weather flow may
be made to keep it free from silt and
organic deposits.
The following conclusions have
been reached by your committee:
First.-Tbat while it is not improb
able that there has been some mala
rial fever at Clemson, it 's unques
a.