The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-22
HOUSTON. WEDNESDAY, FED. 81.
). TEN PAGES TODAY. ;.
our SEWERAGE PROBLEM.

The communication addressed to the city
council by Expert Sanitary Engineer Alex
andcr Potter, and which was published in
The Post yesterday morning ought to be
read by every man in Houston who has
any interest whatever In the health pros
pcrity and progress of this city.
Mr.. Potter does not tell lis much that
IS new to u.s. but he adds the testimony
OF an expert to the opinions and warn
ings so often expressed in the press Of
the city and by many citizens with refer
ence to the improvement of our sever
system and the abandonment of the bayou
as receptacle for the citys sewage
Mr.. Potter finds that the city has great
ly outgrown the system of sewerage de-
signed for it ten years ago, when we had
population not half SO large as the pres
ent population, and that not more than 80
per cent OF the city's streets and territory
within the present city limits is afforded
soweraes facilities. According to osti-
mates furnished Mr.. Potter by the city
engineer, not over 10000 people. or 10 per
cont only. of the city's population are
making use of the sewers! This Will be
news to thousands of our own citizens,
who have not imagined heretofore that
sewerage facilities were so limited. Such
conditions in SO large u city are as start
ling as they are dangerous.
This sanitary expert. after referring in
general terms to the present condition of
the bayou running through the very heart
Of the city, very properly asks what would
be it's condition If the sewer system were
extended over the whole city and the sew
age still disposed of as now? If so pol
luted now. when but Is per cent of the
people use it, we can hardly conceive OF
It's rocking and disease dealing NTH did
the whole population make use of sew
ers. This city has taken desperate chances
Tor years in this matter, and only re-
markably healthful natural location and
a good climate have saved it from the
rayaGes of epldemics. TO permit the con-
tinuance OF such conditions much longer
as the sewer system is extended and the
city grows, would be criminal and sui
cidal.
But there is another and an imperative
reason for reforming our sewerage plants
aud plans--the demand OF the government
engineers that the bayou be abandoned as
a sewage conduit before its Improvement
as ship channel is attempted. This con-
sideration affects the great commercial
and business interests of Houston. II re-
gard for health and life is not strong
enough to bring reform, possibly the dol
lars and cents problem will work the nee
essary changes in the premises.
Now is the time to take hold OF this
subject In all seriousness and push It to
practical conclusion. The change in the
sewer system and in the disposal of the
sewage will. of course, cost money, and
considerable money, but we have reached
the point where We are no lbnger left dis
erection in the premses--wo are absolute
ly compelled to act, and that soon. We
can feel however, that. whatever the
cost, no city ever made wiser or better
investment than the securing of a prac-
tically perfect and widely extended system
of sewerage and sewage disposal.