The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-21

against the city for the bridge turning over
the property which was included In the
purchase and would open up Buffalo street
to the bridge. The committee recommend
ed that the electric light board be instruct
ed TO proceed to advertise for bids for put
ting up the plant. The property had been
secured at a cost OF $1,000.
Alderman IIeiser intcrposed some objec-
ton to the purchase OF this site, as he
favored using the First ward cemetery for
this purpose, but it was argued that the
purchase had already been made, hence
the report was adopted.
The finance committee reported fnvorably
upon the petitions of the following tax
payers for correction and adjustment OF
their taxes: John II. Ogden. j, NJ. Mather,
Mrs. n. Wilson, w w. Bowles, II. Shift.
Reports adopted.
Tho samn committee returned the
monthly reports of the treasurer and as
SCISSOR and collector examined and found
correct" Adopted
The engineer submitted plans and speci-
fiuations for paving Preston avenue, Mont
gomery avenue. Runnels and Marsh
street. Third ward. for tunnel under the
railway tracks at the Houston avenue
crossing and for the Fifth ward fire sta
iion. Referred to the board OF public
works.
Expert Sanitary Engineer Alex. Potter
then submitted the following
To the Honorable s. II. Brashear Mayor,
and City Council of Houston, Texas
Houston. Texas. February 20, 1872
Gentlemen. In accordance with the pro-
visions of letter received February z,
1929, from Fl. H. Dickson Esq, chairman
OF the sewerage committee. accepting my
proposition to come to your city and ad-
wise with the council as to the hest and
most practical method of solving the
question OF sewage disposal, j arrived in
Houston on Wednesday, February 10,
1899, and Immediately began inquiry and
investigation as TO the. condition of tho
problems and the needs of the case.
Kinds of Sewerage Systems Sewerage
systems are divided into Two general
classes, the separate SYSTEM and the COM
bined system. In the separate system
the liquid wastes from the houses and
stores shops and factories, are carried
of in conduits distinctly Independent
from the street or surfnce drainage. When
such system is in use the street water
is carried off in separate conduits or is
permitted to run through the cutters 10
the nearest water way. In the combined
system the liquid wastes from the houses
and shops and the surface or drainage
water from the streets are carried of to-
gether In the same conduts.
The plan OF sewerage already designed
for your city and partially constructed
TO- slii'hiS spNuhlu5, Htitlltl ilt piit hbl
The other of these, but rather a combi-
nation OF each. The greater proportion
Of the sewers however, which are already
constructed. have been designed and built
according to the separate system.
TO conform TO the strict health re-
quremenis Of the city, and also to the
requirements of the United States gov
eminent. in view OF the appropriation
FOR deepening the bayou, all existing
sewers. and all sewers to he constructe 1
hereafter, must be incorporated into u
strictly separate system from which all
storm water and street drainage must be
absolutely excluded. There can be no oh
lection TO tie admission of rain water into
the bayou. whore ali your sewers now
| empty. but there is serious objection 70
admitting the sewage. 1t Is well known
that the sewage, combined with the sur
face water, has polluted and is pllhltng
the stream which flows through your
city, which for the health of the people
should be made as clean and pure u
stream MS 1t is possible for you to make
and keep It.
| If, then, this sewage matter is to be-
removed IL is obviously clear that the
| design for your sewerage system should
he such as TO compel the removal of tho
least volume Of flow into the stream. N
| the combined system the volume of flow
on certain days exceeds that of the How
|
| !. e. after hard rain storm. 1t can
| therefore be seen that the cost OF caring
for the sewage In the combined system
| will be many times that of a separate
| system.
The Importance, therefore, of having
| the sewnge of the city cared for by mean.
| of separate sewers can not be overesti.
mated.
Present Sewerage Facilities-I find upon
examination that the city has greatly
outgrown the system OF sewerage de-
signed for it ten years ago when YOU
! had population. according to the Unite,
| States census, of about 30 600 people.
Your poulation now is. according to thu
best reports, something near 10000 peo
| pie.
Not more than so per cent OF youi
city streets and the territory within In
present city limits are afforded sewerage
facilities, and according TO an estirat,
OF your city engineer. Air. Miller, not
over 10 600 people or Is per cent OF YOU
poulation are making use OF the sewers
II the condition of tho bayou, into Which
NOW empties so small percentage of tn,
tity's sewage, Ia so Objectionable at tn,
present time, what VIII IL become II th,
sewage of your growing city Is LEFT 10 y,
deposited in the bayou as at present.
! find upon examination that the greater
portion of the sewers now In use ran
lie Incorporated into comprehensive are
ladeqiato plan of separate or sanitary
sewers for The entire city. Some of tn.
sewers now used for conveying The house
hold wastes IN conjunction with the rain
water viii have TO be left entirely rs
rain water conduits and nov sewers con
structed alongside OF them to be used
exclusively us separate sewers The tota
mileage of such duplicate sewers VIII
be comparatively small especially since IL
some cases special interceptors can be
devised and constructed which viii perini
the carrying OF the sewage in the dry
season to the separate system outfalI an,
on rainy days when the amount OF tn,
sewage in these combined sewers Is in
considerable the rain water can be con,
Quoted directly to the bayou or nearest
water course.
also find that, in certain portions o.
the city, not now severed. but for whicl
u plan Is prepared this plan viii Of no
cessty have to be revised IN order ia
eliminate the combined feature of ii.
further find many portions Of the
city and the contiguous built up territor,
devoid OF any provision for sewerage
facilities. This can not long continue, al
/ your population is rapidly spreading ant
new territories are being built upon anC
i are demanding sewerage facilities, The