The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-31
NOT ON SURFACE OF RIVER.
CLAIMED SEWAGE IS CARRIED
AWAY BY UNDER CURRENT.

Present are GADeEA-
ments in a Measure-Dr. LeHardy
Not Inclined to Push the Matter
Further, Now That His Objections
Are KnOwn-AId. Smith Intimates
That Health Officer LeHardy May
Not BE Elected on Account of the
Attitude He Assumes Toward
Council.
The effect of Health Officer LeHardy's
agitation OF a change in the house drain
age plans, by which the sewage win be
discharged in Bilbo canal instead of the
river front is not apparent, since he does
not seem inclined to push his objections
further.
What desired was that the peoples
eyes should be opened to the consequences
of this bunder," said DR.. LeHardy last
night. Now that this Is done, am not
decided on the course will pursue in re-
gard to the matter. AS citizen I have
a right to object to The methods that are
being employed, which, in my estimation,
are ruinous TO the city, not only because
the money expended in building outlets
at the river front Will be thrown away,
but because there is every reason TO be-
l!eve it will prove injurious to the public
health. 1 have been thinking of getting
an expression from the people on this
important matter, as it certainly appears
to me they should be heard on a matter
in which all are so vitality concerned. just
how this will be done, however, am not
prepared TO say. A few of the aldermen
thanIgalVpS To and /
have heard enough to know that the build
ing of outlets at the points proposed is
going to prove a SOURCE of great dlSSat-
isfaction 10 the public"
Alderman w. w. Owens, chairman OF
the drainage committee, regrets that
questions 1t was thought were long since
settled, are again brought up, with the
possibility of interfering with present
plans. The objections raised have already
been considered by Council, and, as the
peoples representatives passed on them,
it was not believed to be the proper thing
TO take a popular vote on every feature
of the work.
1.-THE city is not compelled to build the
outlets at the present locations" said ALI
derman Owens. THE consulting engineers
prepared plans for a sewer to run along
River street, and as far east of the city
as Fort Oglethorpe, where the discharge
may be made into the river. There.would
certainly then be no possibility of offens-
I've matter washing up; even though the
sewage was continually going into the rlv-
er at flood tide And in this connection I
will say that if it should become neces-
sary to change the outlets, which should
not be done until the present arrangement
Is tried, the discharge should be where
the engineers have designated it, and not
in the Bilbo canal, as suggested by Health
officer LeHardy By emptying all the
city's sewage into the canal, it would be-
come such a cesspool of filth that the in
furious effects would be quite, If not
greater, than they would - in the event
the present plan failed If there is to
be any kind of a change. let it be for the
the better and not for the worse.
The drainage committee has considered
the sewage outlets WELL" continued AL
derman Owens, land in order to under
stand the system it must be studied. 1t
is the product Of the most eminent sani-
tartan in America, and a man who gave
Savannah and its surroundings studious
thought before submitting the plans the
city has seen fit to adopt.
UNLESS a large number of those who
have considered the matter have used bad
Judgment, sewage will never be seen on
the surface of the river. The outlets are
several feet below low water, so that the
discharges will be carried down by the
under-current, which is much stronger
The idea ali along has been to discharge
the sewage in this current, where it is
believed it will remain until carried to
the ocean. In the event it should fail
however the provisional sewer has been
planned, so that it can be run to Fort
Oglethorpe. The discharge of sewage in
the river is to some extent an expert
ment."
Alderman Smith was seen about the
turn things have taken. He expressed
the belief that the plans should be left
as they are. He says experts have passed
upon the question, and their opinions be-
ing that there Were no evil consequences to
fear from using the river front as a point
of discharge, he could not see the wis
dom of DR.. lie Hardy raising questions at
this late day, with possibly no other re-
suit but to delay matters. 81 think DR..
LeHIardy should be removed anyway for
interfering with Council" the alderman
said. Alderman Smith did not speak dis
respectfully, but he minated that when
the roll is called" next year, DR.. Lee
Hardy might not be among the redeemed
officials.
A member of the sanitary board express
| ed himself yesterday as strongly in favor
of the position DR. LeHardy has assumed
! in regard TO the outlets ''I think Lee
| Hardy is right about this matter" he said
land if il should become necessary, 1 am
willing to back him up. 1t seems to me
/ the city should find out If the emptying
Of sewage in the river is to be injurious
| 10 the public health. If it is, then l am
| for carrying the mains further down, if
| it takes $4,000 to do 1t. I canot see why Il
is this question cannot be settled one way
or the other
DR. LeHardy's movement is necessarily
one that makes him unpopular with some
OF the members of the aldermanic board
| who criticse his actions rather severely.
Bent on accomplishing what he considers
| best, however, he says he is striving for
| the welfare of the citizens of Savannah
and not for the glories of carrying the
| day i'm the fight he has started. Were II
not for the fact that he was convinced OF
| the fact that an enlightened public would
not for an instant tolerate the risk il
! is proposed to run, in discharging sewage
so near the city, he said he would not have
undertook TO bring the matter before
| them.
! Many have made up their minds in re-
! gard to the outlets, and In some respects
| IL may be said the interest In the house
| drainage work has probably never been