The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-04-17
Sewerage and Sewage.


Of ali the COMMUNICATIONS received con-
cernipg The question of sewerage for our
city, we venture that the following iB more
TO the point and cou.aios more Information
than aoy yet received To those Of our c'ti-
zeps who have been fear;og the debt of nntold
Thousands 10 bonds to be paid oy an unoorn
pos,erity, this letter should bring sudden
and sfectual relief of mind. We commend
the letter to our readers II was received to-
day oy one Of the committee of Eve, who are
s;lll trying TO dod fsctS for the people:
Fredericksburg, Va April II
Dear Sirs:-Yours of the 8tb sostsnt is
before me aud take pleasure IN giving Jon
come preliminary information
In tie fret place presums you will use
The separate system, which is q system OF
small p,pe sewers designed to carry only
sewerage, while the snrface or sstorm water
is cared for 10 an Independent or separate
mauuer This is the universal practice ex
cept IN the larger cities that are closely built
up, then they use the combined" system,
the storm-water" and the sewage being
cared for 10 very large and expensive
sewers and your citiz 'ns who tbink that
your system will cost $4,000 must have
been th,nking of storm-Water sewers
/ built lla miles of sanitary sewers 10
Aikeo, s. G at a cost of S27 200, and this
Included the construction Of slx filter beds
for the disposal of the sewage by "interuit
tent downward filtration" since local coodi-
toos prevented US from emptyng the raw
sewage into the branch
20 n Sicpoca of vour 90 hv p0T-
tinuous outfsll into some bold stream then IL
miles of sauitary sewers with sizes of pipes
from l8 10 ioches will uot cost over
$3.50 unless some local conditions create
unusual difficulties in the construction The
work that am at present engaged upon
building the fredericksburg, Va severe
has some rough work 10 .oue section which
causes variation in price for laying l5.iDch
pipe of 10 cents per foot snd the 20-tnch pipe
is Laid along tidal stream and the work is
in wet ditch, which makes the price for 20.
inch pipe here rather high. The prices OF
this work are as follows:
2o-ioch pipe in place, ST. 90 per foor
Is inch ss 50 60 rs 's
l5.iucb ss ss g so +" {"
lo-iDch (bad work in water) 30
S.inch 80 (" &c % t. I"
inch house coa oaoectons 81 ''
About Is man-holes per mile cost average
$500.
About 10 dush tanks 10 all cost $40 each
These are figures from contract now be-
ing executed and viii give you correct idea
of such work.
OF course nothing more definite can be
given without close study of your require
ments aud OF all local conditions sitter mals-
ing careful surveye Of the eotlre drainage
area to be severed.
Taking an average of g large number OF
systems that have built, where 90 rock is
encou otered, 6nd tho cost per mile will Dol
exceed $1,000, and if there is large propor-
tiop of 10 inch snd s-inch pipe used the cost
per mile will drop below $1,000.
will ask you to give me little more
Information before could name price for
making surveys, plan, report snd estimate of
cost of constructing system best suited to
yoor needs, but win say that 1t will pol
cost over $500
The work necessary to give you the proper
information and put you 10 position to ad-
ver,ise fer oids will be about ss follows:
To make carefal Typographical survey
of the town
To design for you the bes, system under
the conditions as 6nd them, all conditions
considered.
8 To draw plans showing the sizes of
pipe required. their location on the streets
aud the depths of cut necessary to ley the
pipes on the proper grade so that one part of
the system will surely join to and properly
CO operate With all other parts.
4 To make report to the committee
describing the details of the system With an
estimate of its cost
s. To draw Get of specifications snd form
of contract that shall fully describe the work
10 contractors 30 ,hes they eau give close
and Intelligent bids aHd 80 that the towns
interest will be fully protected If you will
kirdy let me know at what time you will
want this work done 30 that Will know
that it does not interfere With my present
engagements will name you definite figure
for the engineering work in connection With
the design of your proposed syefem and also
for the superiptendence of construction when
the contract is let.
will come to Sumter at my own expense
to look over the ground and uaks you
proposition to act as your engioeer ss soon
as YOU are ready TO go ahead with this
work, and beg thst you give me opportun-
ity to submit ny proposition before you
compromise yourself With ether parties who
may apply for your work.
If the Information enclosed is not ell you
want at present let me know aod will gladly
give you sDv further pointers that can
Will you advise Of the state Of sffairs 10
connection with this matter? Have you
decided 10 build, or is the question just
being discussed IN preliminary stages only.
Yours truly
N Wilson Davis.