The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-09
TURKEY CREEK CANAL AGAIN.
The Health Officer Sends Another Com.
municafion to the City Council.

Health Officer Reardon has sent to
City Council a communication by
direction of the City Board of Health,
again urging upon City Council the
importance Of carrying out as soon as
possible the proposed Improvements in
regard to the increased drainage capa
city of Turkey Greek Canal. The
Board Of Health recommended some
time ago that this canal be enlarged so
that the eastern half of the city
could be we'll drained; particularly as
a great portion of this part of the city
is low and necessitating thorough
drainage. The Health Board contends
that if Turkey Creek Canal, which is
the chief drainage canal of the eastern
half Of the city, is kept in good condi-
tion, and that if it'g size-width and
depths determined by actual survey,
is increased, that this will greatly
lower the water level and assist-by
better seapage facilities-the earth in
taking care of the sewage which is
deposited in the earth by cesspoois
and dry wells. It will, also, the Board
OF Health argues, materially improve
the surface drainage which within it.
SET, is an important matter. Turkey
Creek has not been cleaned cut in
about three years, beyond Calhoun
street, and, as this canal is between
three and four miles in length, that
portion which has been cleaned out is
3 mere bagetel III comparison to the
amount OF work required to keep this
important drain in good working
condition in order to properly drain a
great deal of the city. The City Coun-
Gil has had surveyor at work for some
time finding the proper levels, etc.,
and making an estimate of the cost of
the proposed Improvements; but the
engineer has not yet completed his
work, owing to high water, cold
weather and other obstacles. This
canal used to be cleaned annually, but
for some reason has been overlooked
of late years while other drains of
much less Importance have received
annually, and sometimes oftener the
attention of the city authorities.
Wards / and 4 are almost entirely de-
pendeut upon this canal, besides a
small section of Ward 3 for proper
drainage. All that portion of Ward 2
depending on Turkey Creek Canal for
drainage, however, is drained by
twenty -four inch terra Gotta pipe and
never needs attention. Next to sew
erage system, this is, in the opinion of
the Board of Health, the most import
ant public work needed for improved
sanitary conditions In fact, some of
the Board cf Health think that vel
regulated drainage facilities postpone
the necessity for sewerage, although a
-
time as soon AS we receive soil con-
tamination from depositing sewage in
the earth by the medium of the cess
pool, which it seems is here to re-
main until we get the sewerage sys-
tenn. 1t would seem that good sub
terranian and surface drainage is very
necessary, particularly as long as cess
pools are permitted to multiply as
fast as they now doing Oh account of
the demand for them by renters and
owners of residences, and because of
the great increase in residence, owing
to the growth of the city. And the
congested condition Of premises in
creases the possibilities of soil con-
tamination. So as long as we can not
have a sewerage system, but still nave
increased sewage, undisposed of, why