Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-07-07
SEPTIC SEWAGE TANKS
Something OF Theory OF the Pro-
cess md Its Construction.

Since the publication Of the SUCCESS
ful installation Of the septic sewage
tanks at the Chewama Indian School,
the Asylum Farm at Salem, and at
other places, many inquiries are daily
being made from districts suburban to
Portland and from country sections
whore there are no sewerage facilities,
asking questions concerning the con.
struotion Of the tanks aud the install.
alton Of the service
The system is being adopted at the
Mount Tabor Sanitarium, and DR.. W.
I. Williamson, Of that institution,
has explained, for the benefit Of those
desiring to know something of the
theory Of tho process and the con
struction Of the septic tank.
A septic tank is, freely translated,
case of bug eat bug 1t is as old as
the cesspool of tho farmhouse, and.
according to medical authorities, yet
In its infancy, not being understood
but by few people who have taken
time to Investigate the subject
There ara two bugs mixed up in the
eternal conflict of nature to purify
conditions, bat for these to do the
best peculiar conditions must be- OBJ
served. It is the province Of the
septic tank to provide these condi-
tious. In the first place, the whole
success Of tine process depends upon
lack Of ouuont. The contents Of the
tank must be MS nearly absolutely
quiescent as is possible. In the sec.
ond place, the tank must have a Ger
tain specified size, proportionatc to
the size Of the building to bo served.
In order to do away with as much Of
tho disturbing current as may be, it is
necessary in producing the bes. results
to place the point Of deposit for the
sewage as nearly ON level as posi-
bio with the pipe Of ingress at the
tank. This is done to cause a slow
feed into the tank, Again, the pine
OF ingress must be- bent downward
from the surface, the point being
about half way from the surface of
the contents TO the bottom Of the |
tank, being SO arranged as to create |
the least disturbance in the nuid mass /
by the influx from the pipe.
The pipe Of cgrcss is constructed |
like the other being bent downward. |
the whole scheme of construction
being TO allow the first fluid emitted
into the tank to escape first with as
little disturbance as possible: the
more complete the stagnation, the
more successful the process.
Tho tank itsolf is mado Of brick |
stone or cement, aud must hc tightly |
covered TO exclude the light.
The theory Of septic sewage is tho
warfare Of microbe, or bacteria. urop
dooayiug matter It is process of
chemical change induced by thosc
bacteria
There are-two active agents in the
septic sewage process, the neroho. the
baetorium having great affinity for
oxygen, aud which thriyes aud works
IN the light and tho anacrobc. the
opposite Of the first which pcrishcs
in the light but which In the darl
and oNyPenized contents OF the septic
tank Is highly vitalized argosm.
which seiles and dovours every atom
OF nonoNygonic nature coming into
its reach.
The auaerobes live and multiply In
great numbers ON the under surface Of
the crust forming on the top Of the
fluid contents Of the spetic tank, and
as fresh material Is omptiod into the
place, Il is attacked by these bacteria.
aud changed from poisonous sub
stance into that which is perfectly
harmless and nonpoisonous
IL is estimgted by medical authori.
tics that about rs per cent of the
poisonous contents Of rightly.oon.
struoted tank will be converted into
harmless, tasteless, odorloss and color.
lees fluid by the chemical changes