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


city, the refuse from the gas works, oil
works and slaughter houses. 1t is difficult
to imagine Its being much worse. The
velocity Is SO sluggish and the banks of
the stream so winding that nearly all
OF the solid portion of the sewage is pre-
cipitated directly In front OF the city
and at your very doors, and never finds
its way TO the gulf or even to Galveston
bay.
This produces n condition OF affairs
which VIII become moro alarming than
that now existing in Havana harbor, which
Is conceded to be the most foul body of
water anywhere to be found This is true
because the volume of unpolluted water
which might dilute the sewage is greater
in Havana harbor than in the bayou,
and also because tho precipitated matter
in Havana harbor Is not stirred up 10 it's
very bottom by the passing and repassing
of boats, barges, tugs and launches, thus
causing TO be emitted from the bayou
rank, vile and disease laden germs and
odors.
Need of improvements. The continue
ancc of the state of affairs at present can
not but produce an epidemic of typhoid
or yellow fever IL not mitigated. With the
true knowledge OF the facts before you the
permitting of its passive continuance could
be considered nothing short Of criminal.
but It is encouraging TO note that it seems
to be the earnest desire OF all classes of
people TO have this state of affairs RENEE
died. In all my experience | have met
with no parallel or equal to the conditions
which must prevail in the bayou during
the summer months.
Government Requirements while the
taking Of the sewage out of the bayou and
the extension of your sewerage system
throughout the entire city Is Imperative
as a health measure II you would prevent
an epidemic or scourge falling upon your
city, which would undoubtedly rctard the
present growth end prosperity of the city
almost beyond measure. 1t is also impera-
tive as condition precedent to the con-
struction of the ship channel from the gulf
10 Houston. | have interviewed the United
States engineers on this subject and am
thoroughly satisfied that proper disposal
Of the sewage will unuuestionably be de-
manded by the United States government
prior TO any expenditure of public money
to bring the channel to Houston. 1t is
further patent fact that the compliance
of the city with the government require
ments TO divert the unpuriiied sewage
from the bayou, would certainly have great
weight with the government, both execu-
tive and administrative. in proving that
Houston was acting in good faith and
could therefore properly expect the full
ilment OF the governments implied OBJ
legations.
Character of the improvements. AS Was
the design of certain portions of the sys-
tenn, While the sewers now constructed
are for the greater part used for sanitary
purposes only. some of them are used also
to convey the storm water or surface
drainage TO the bayou. II the sewage of
the city is to be purified or filtered. then
as we have stated. all surface drainage
must be strictly excluded. This will re-
quire the revision OF the design OF the
outlets OF the sewers already constructed
and OF the construction of ntercepting
sewers.
In recommending a scheme for the dis
posal and treatment OF the sewage of the
city II is highly essential to consider sew
eral important matters conformity. In de-
Gliding upon the method TO be adopted and
the location for the construction of any
proposed disposal works, we must con-
slider not alone the present population. but
what might be reasonably expected twenty
years from now. because what might be
ample and eminently satisfactory for the
present population might have 10 be
abandoned when the city grew to two or
three times It's present population. AS was
pointed out. one of the causes compelling
the adoption of these proposed improve
nlents In your sewerage system is the pros
pectiye and probable construction of the
ship channel, which, II constructed, must
OF itself produce magic growth in popu-
lation
This prospective growth in population
can not be attained without an expansion
of the limits of the city. AS already
stated, these new portions of the city will
demand and have right to expect sever
age facilities. The disposition of the sow
age of this contiguous territory should be
studied now because 1t can not only be
more economically designed ut this time,
but might affect the solution of the prob
lem of treating the sewage of that portion
of the city now built upon.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
| It is m admitted fact that the sewage OF
the city will have to be purified in some
way How to do this most effectively aud
| economically Is one of the most important
and pressing questions now before your
| honorable body for consideration. | viii
have exhausted the methods of disposals
applicable to your problem by the discuss
| sion of seven different methods of purlflca-
| ton.
| /. Chemical disposal is method III
which The sewage Is collected into tanks
| and there treated with chemicals which
causes the solid portion OF the sewage to
! sink to the bottom, The liquids then pass
| of into the nearest water course, and the
solids collected at the bottom of the tanks
are then scraped UP and burned or other
wise destroyed.
| Chemical precipitation Is generally more
| expensive than other methods in general
use. ana lHt cHlutnI Is ny 10 tnClISt rs
pure and free from Objectionable matter
| as in the case of some other methods. It's
use. however, sometimes becomes impeYa-
| tive when proper disposal beds can not be
| obtained or other outlet found within rea-
sonabe distance of tho city except at
enormous or prohlbtcrS cost am there
fore unwilling To recommend this system
for your city without first making eXhaus-
tive and complete examination OF all the
! territory contiguous to your city, aud of all
sand. gravel. soils and materials obtainable
| In thesc regions, This would entail eX-
tended aud elaborate Investigations, Dor
ings and examinations throughout this
whole surrounding territory, and OF course
| could not even be begun during the short
| time have been with YOU.
| 2, The septic tank system is that method
of collecting the sewage into air-tight
tanks aud holding It in these tanks for
twentyfour hours. II is claimed that tho
soluble solids In the sewage are thus de-
| stroyed and that there is therefore no
| deposit in the bottom Of the tank TO give
| trouble In removing, This Is, however, A
| comparatively new and untriod system and
| would not recommend 1t without first
giving much time and thought as well as
personal study OF and examination of all
installed systems OF the kind.
g. Forced aeration Is another method OF
treatment In which the sewage is chemi-
cally treated and then forced up through