The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-03-16

onseveral occasions the Guthrie club,
in discussing matters Of moment TO the
capital city, have considered the sub
'ect of sewage OF all things, Guthrie
needs a system OF sewerage, or q drain,
for the accumulated refuse. Sooner
or later this matter must be seriously
considered, since the health and well
fare OF the community rests On proper
drainage. This sui sct Of sewerage
for towns and cities for carrying of
the surface waters and the liquid re-
fuse by an underground system OF
drainage has commanded the attention
OF the best minds almost since history
gives any account OF the human race.
The comfort and health OF the
thickly populated places in Egypt,
Rome ana Greece at very early
period became, n1xs TO their wars and
acquisition Of power and territory OF
the most trRns,endent consideration
and invited the attention Of the ruling
powers TO the best means OF securing
them. Under Tarquin the Elder,
about $50 years years after Rome was
founded, n system Of underground
drainage was insugurated and carried
to completion by his successor. 1t is
said that this subteranean sewer OF
TaTquin, by which the surface waters
and the liquid refuse from houses was
carried III and discharged into the
rivers, was fifteen feet WIDE by thirty
feet high, and that the masonry was
OF hewn stone laid with cement. Con-
nected with this main aquaduct we're
innumerable smaller couduits, or
pipes, through which the impurities
from houses and elsewhere in the city
were conveyed TO the main conduit
and thence into the river. At u much
esslier period than the Romans
ruler, Rameses /, /, 400 years before
the Christian era, As evidenced by the
great canal system for drainage ana
commercial purposes, understood the
subject and inaugurAted the system to
preserve and protect the health and
vigor OF the people. Jerusalem, IL h as
recently been discovered, contained q
complete system of underground sew
erage or drainage, some Of which
show that their pres ervation for SO
long a period was due to the fact that
they were excavated through the solid
rock. IL has also been shown that
the pool OF SeloRm received the wash
inRs from the temple, and that the
liquid was used for the purpose OF
/ irrIgAting the kings garden.
Coming down tho centuries IL is
shown about every nation and people,
civilized or barbaroue, have pracuced
some sort of sewerage or drainage
system for the protection and health
OF the inhabitants. IL has also been
discovered that the Mound Builders Of
America were expert ia building ana
constructing squeducts and conduits
aud fully unders stood the necessity of
the sewerage and drainage system
OF late years the subject has attracted
much attention from scientists on
sanitary conditions and experts on the
subject OF cheap and ffective sy,-
tenn adapted 10 the uses ami conditions
of the smaller towns and cities who
are unprepared TO enter upon large
and more costly scale Of Drainage and
several systems TO meet these condi-
tions have been promulgated, some Of
which have been put mt successful
operation at comparatively small
cost In comparison TO the great bene-
fits conferred, while other cities are
seriously considering the subject with
the view OF adopting them.
So far as Guthrie Is concerned, with
its high elevation and natural drain
age, u complete system OF under
ground drainage on one of these mod
ern scales could be put In at a nomi-
nal cost. The elevation 10 sufficient TO
carry the surface water aud the liquid
rafrua IN afnrrla hu thraa
conduit 10 the Cimarron liver, and
with smaller eonduits connecting with
the main conduit in the city, the dan
ger from disease arising from the ex-
creta incident 10 a compact city,
would be entirely eliminated.
II has been suggested that the Cot
tonwood could be util zsd for this and
thus save the expense OF an under
ground conduit or aquedUet to the
Cimarron To this there would be
serious and insuperable objections
which will suggest themselves without
elaboration.
The Leader throws out these
thoughts for the consideration Of our
people for the reason that sooner or
later the subject will be forced upon
them, and the question OF health
being paramount TO all other consider
ations the agitation Of the matter can
not begin too soon
Aside from preparing and putting
into operation such sanitary system
at the earliest possible period with
the view OF preserving the splendid
reputation Of Guthrie as a health re-
-abrt, It's effect abroad on those seeking
homes and investments cannot be
otherwise than good and ultimately
immensely profitable In building up
the city.
A company has been organized by ].