The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-25
Which System of Sewers Shall We
Adopt2

Adopt3
EDITOR STAR:-Thc subject Of sewers
for our town is I'm important one and no
mistake should be made in the plan
which shall be adopted. There seems
to be much diversity of opinion among
the owners Of property that will be ns-
sessed with the cost OF construction,
and deem IL best to raise the question
of what is expected to be attained and
how the result is to be secured.
Two plans or systems of sewerage
prevail in practice in our own and for
eign countries. One is known as the
combined system and the other as the
separate or Independent one. Tho
combined system provides for the dis
posal of all filth from water closets,
kitchens, and every other source from
accumulation Of which may be offensive
and detrimental to- health. and also
along with this filth the water from
rains, melting SHOWS and springs which
may come upon the area to be covered
by the sewers. This system requires
large pipes and rapid fall or descent.
II is not looked upon favOrably by sani-
tary engineers or persons conyersant
with the evils of improper sewerage.
In times Of dry weather there Is not
water enough running through the
pipes to keep them clean, as it is Il well
known fact that large pipe is much
more difficult to keep clean than one
just large enough to perform the duty
required Of II. Besides this difficulty
there is always great danger of the
sewers becoming filled with silt and
rubbish washed in from the streets. |
saw two foot sewer being taken up in
the town of Ccarfeld last fall com
pletely filed with gravel, sticks, papers
and all sorts of trash. Another Of
eighteen inches in diameter was also
taken up in Curwensville last summer
for the same cause.
Again an extra flow of water at times
Of heavy rains nearly always causes the
drains leading from houses to the main
to become clogged with sewage or else
discharge their contents back into the
houses.
The Independent system provides for
separate pipes for sewage. cellar drain
age and surface water. The sewer pipes
proper are small, ranging from to 8
inches, laid with cementcd joints and
carry only the foul accumulations from
dwellings and closets. These can be
flushed occasionally with Il comparative
ly small amount of water and seldom
become clogged. An ordinary land
drain tile is laid alongside of the sewer
pipe. This drain tile may connect with
cellars and this keeps them dry with no
danger of foul air or gas getting into
them.
The surface water is taken care of by
surface drains or large pipes laid near
the surface where they can be readily
taken up and cleared If they shall be-
come clogged. But with good drains
from cellars and foundations but little
trouble comes from rainfall. Such
water is always clean and aids in carry
ing off filth accumulating on the sur
face. In any event the pipes which
carry the water from the cellars must
go deep enough for that purpose.
All modern authorities and experience
favor the independent system. If pipes
to carry off the surface water shall not
be laid it is much the cheapest as we'll
as the best.
If any one has any doubt of this |
would refer them to such standard au-
thorities as Philbrick and Waring, the
latter, no doubt, the best in the world.
A properly planned and constructed
sewer is good thing, but one improp-
erly designed and built is worse than
none at all. Such is veritable death
trap. S. B. ELLIOTT.
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