The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-25
City Engineer Brooke Replies to Mr.. Van
Blene's Structures.
OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM EXCELLENT
Splendid EIenlth Results Since its
innugUrnttOn-'r System Thor.
oushIy Explnined-Thc Criticism
Strongly Condemned as without
Foundation In Fact.
Norfolk. va. May q. 1897.

Editor Of The Virginian:
II Is not my intention to enter into
discussion as to the practicabiity OF the
synetetlcal system Of sewerage devised
by Mr.. Van Beine and his cu-lnborers
but propose to guard the public mind
against the verbose deductions they
have drawn from mistaken premises
and uncolnprehended facts.
The system Of sewerage used in Nor
folk was adopted for the purpose of
rapid tranSference OF sewerage from
the user to the outlet. 1t Is water car
rage system, and to accomplish the de-
sired end grades had to be established
such that starting from the furthest.
end of the sewer lines nowhere would
there be 81 grade of less than thirty
three and a third -hundredths per
cent, or in other words q fall Of less
than one foot in three hundred. and
even then to assist in the cleaning and
securing effect Of the discharge, auto
matte flush tanks were placed at the
end Of every lateral. The consequence
has been the acquiring Of such a velocity
OF flow that sewage discharged from
even the most distant premises In less
than one hour has been conveyed to
the sewer well and thence Immediately
into the "antiseptic" salt water spoken
Of by Mr.. Bene. The sewer pumps have
worked incessantly from the day they
were started and the flow to the well and
through the pumps Is continuous and
not intermittent, as assumed, therefore
there Is no retention of garbage and
other effete matter" in the sewers, and
the deduction Of "stagnation and decom-
position" falls to the ground.
Again. under the system Of plumbing
regulations here every connection with
the public sewer has to be continued
untrapped Of full size to a point above
the highest part Of the roof. Connected
with this. which Is called the soil pipe,
every house fixture has to be properly
trapped, and moreover have its trap
perfectly vented to prevent espionage
The effect Of this Is to induce q current
OF air down through the ventilated
1nanholes, through the lateralS, and out
at the highest points of the soil pipe,
the houses being protected by the traps
and vents. II is Impossible under such
circumstances that there should be "ac-
cumulations Of poisonous gases" and
the generation Of pressure in the sew
ers. Should Mr. Beine take the trouble
to have cubic inch OF air anywhere
In our sewers compared with q like
quantity of air from the outside, have
no doubt but that he would find it far
freer from the much abused microbes
than the latter, and In the absence Of
such comparison the assumption OF
poisonous air escaping into our midst"
Is purely gratuitouS.
Again. as to the risk OF epidemic dis
eases and blood poisoning" prognosti-
Gated by Mr.Van Beine. The vital record
OF Norfolk will show continued and re-
markable falling off in the death rate
subsequent to the introduction Of the
sewers. and any intelligent physician
Will tell him that if there has been a
tendency anywhere within our limits
towards epidemic conditions it has oc-
Cured In un-sewered lo4llities
am at loss as to whether or not MI
Van Beine really expected his supposed
remedy for imaginary evils TO be taken
seriously and can but feel somehow that
there is vein Of humor underlying the
project. However, as the public may
not view 1t in this way would be false
to my duty to this city should l pass
unchallenged this wanton attack on it's
reputation. as set forth In the head
lines of the article in your paper, which
headlines I pronounce without founda-
ton In fact. 7 go further, and unhesl-
tatingly say that such a libel on our
good name. unless it is the result Of
gross ignorance, is deserving Of the pro-
nounced condemnation of every we'll
wisher OF our community.
Very truly yours,
w. IT. BROOKE,
Civ oin