The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-07
he ANSWERS Mr.. MEYER
Engineer Potter Has Something to Say
About The Sewer Plant.
THE PLAN AN ENTIRELY FEASIBLE ONE
II IL Not nm Experiment., but It's suc-
cess Has Been satisfactorily
Demonstrated.

Demonstrated.
Mr.. Alexander Potter, the expert sanitary
engineer who has In charge the plans for
Houston's proposed new system of sever
age, returned to the city yesterday after a.
visit Of some length to his Headquarters In
New York. He left the metropolis week
ago and came via Greenville, Miss, where
he entered into contract to provide that
place with plans for system for dlsposins
of sewage which will be similar to that
which Is proposed for Houston He Is Of
he opinion that the extensive discussion
OF the matter which resulted from the an
rounce nent that Houston was taking steps
in the premises had the effect oil Calling
the attention OF the Greenyille officials to
the plan, and he 2lso thinks that other
Southern cities In which conditions ars
similar to those existing here VIII even
iually adopt the same system
Mr. Potter was seen - representative
of The Post at his apartments In the
Cupitol hote yesterday and, among otncrl
things. WAS asked for an expression N
rcply 10 the queries regarding the proposed
system propounded by Mr.. j. IT, Ms.eF
through the columns of The Post re"
days ago,
'.ln reply to Mr.. Meyers first question
Where IN the United States is the sewer
system In practical operation which Is
proposed for the lily oil Houston? / must
ask him rs 10 what feature al .ne systeni
he has reference" said Mr. Potter FER
sonally, | have designed about seVenty-nVe
srsteln and no two are ali6e. | presume
he refers mora particularly 20 the system
for the ultimate disposal oil the sewage
Tho plan adopted by the Houston Guy
council Is that OF intermittent hitratloh
or what is more scientifically known as
bacterial oxidation, which means in con-
mon language the spreading of the sewage
Internationally on beds prepared of sand
broken stone, einders, Stag, coal, coke or
half dozen other similarly suitable ma
terials These beds are properly under
drained and must be regulated rs to the
tIne of filling. the time that they should
stand fun and the time of aerating them
DIETING the air act upon theml. This sys-
TEN causes the complete destruction oil all
bacteria that is. the animal matter in The
sewage, which makes II offensive ana
transforms the sewage into comparatively
pure wafer, 1t Is In use today IN many
cities in England which are compelled u
dispose OF their sewage. Among the places
IN USE for several years may be mentioned;
South Framingham, Mass. Medheld. Mass;
Marlborough, Mass; Plalnfeld, n. j.;
brooklyn, n. Y. Gardner, Mass. Willow
Grove, Pa. a suburb OF Philadelphia;
Brockton. Mass; Meriden, Conn; Fast
Cleveland. O. Ohs system has been re-
Gently installed). 1t will be noticed that
these places are all in the North, where
the conditions under which they have to
rftOr CT
in the South. In this connection 1t may
be stated that such a system Is OF ussd
in New Orleans. Mobile and Ronle of the
other large Southern cites because tho
simplest method, when oosslble. II TO run
tho sewage into q large -lYer e. iuto tho
ocean. and this is possible in both the
places named. Such A plan IS OF course,
not feasible In Houston. Us the sewage
matter could not be discharged short OF
the gulf of Mexico.
Mr.. Meyers next question Is: How far
viii the 100000 go towards completing
tbs entire city, or ls the same to cover
only a part OF the city? thought that It
was generally understood t.at the object
of this contemplated Improvement Was not
TO construct sewers over the entire city,
bit To divert the antire sewage OF the city
from the bayou, both Tor slnitarg ratsan5
and because OF the dsllnnds OF the United
States government In regard to the in-
proyement Of the stream. The appropria-
tion as fixed was considered sufficient e
accomplish this thoroughly, together with
The construction Of sewers in the Fair
Ground addition. where they are sndly
needed.
"The next question: Can any taxpayer
In the city explain and give substantial
evidence that the system proposed is
success and not an experiment.? | am
evidently barred from answering, not being
"a taxpayer. However. there has been
so much literature published on this sub
ject and as TO the working of this kind
Of sewage treatment. that any person
really DESTROYS OF acquainting himself With
the facts can readily do so. | have with
me many books and pamphlets on the
subject which are at the disposal of any
citizen.
THE next question Is; Why should we
rush this matter when machinery and ma
terial are 100 per cent higher today than
they were eight months ago. This is sim
ply not the case. Machinery win not aver
age more than 20 per cent higher than
when my estimate OF costs were first pre-
nared and there is no known probability
OF drop In the next two years.
Concerning Mr.. Meyers suggestion as
TO junketing trip for q committee of
citizens, have to say that always think
that this should be a legitimate perquisite
for certain members OF the board of alder
men--the sewer committee, for Instance
and ouch proceeding is so common that
II was suggested to them when the mat
ter was first brought up. The chairman
Of the committee preferred. however. 10
save the taxpayers money, and instead
Of making such tour secured the opln-
ions Of many Of Houstons eminent local
engineers, some OF whom are men OF Ma
tional reputation who. while following
other special branches In engineering. keep
IN touch with the best practice In all the
departments OF the profession.
In closing I may say that there has
been no attempt to spring anything on
the people without thorough discuss on.
The hles Of The Post will show that this
matter was thoroughly discussed in all its
phAses, both 10 public meetings and IN
newspaper articles. prior to the hrst cleo
The election 70 decide whether or not
bombs will be issued Tor the construction
q the system. together With an electric
X Light plant, viii be held tomorrow.
lnNrod Qnxxxnlc