The San Francisco call., 1905-05-04
NEW SEWER SYSTEM

To the Editor of The Cail-Dear
Sir: As the city is going TO establish
new sewer system TO replace the oe-
fective one that we now have II Is
timely to study the question ana see
what had better be done in that hne.
No doubt the City Engineers once
has already prepared full plans ana
| specifications for the re-sewerins ol
| the city. but as these plans nave not
been submitted to the public We can
not be blamed for being ignorant OF
their provisions. and although our
ideas may have been anticipated l beg
permission to offer few suggestions
Emptying the sewers into the bay
may have been convenient IN the
younger days of the city. and the
nuisance may have been tolerated so
far. But the city has now come 10
point in its growth and aspirations
where it cannot afford to be sur
rounded by a sewage-iaden water
front, and filthy streets and quarters
back of it.
To be the beautiful San francisco
of the future the city has before her
several problems to solve. among
which is the adoption OF a sewerage
system that would fulfill it's duty, not
only as to perfect drainage but also
in disposing of the sewage in proper
and up-to-date manner.
Progressive cities in this country
and in Europe dispose Of their sew
age in way that is not only clean
but also profitable TO these cities.
Why should not San Francisco es-
tablish pumping stations and dis
tribute it's sewage on some cultivable
land where it could be utilized the
same as is done in other cities?
Exhaustive studies on the subject
by practical and competent engineers
are accessible and could be consulted
Whatever is to be done with the
sewage, whether enptied in the bay
or pumped and directed to some farm
land the pipes ought TO be laid differ-
emily from what they are now This
has no reference to the fall here or
there, but to the fact that whenever
connection is made from private
sewers to main sewers in the cerier OF
the street it is now necessary TO tear
the surface of the street and dig
trenches to lay the new pipes The
trenches are never filed up solid and
in short time depressions from one
to several inches in depth are formed
over the said trenches; sometimes
holes three or more feet deep are pro-
duced under the pavement by the
washing of the sand and portions OF
street surface drop down out Of sight.
This present way of connecting the
pipes in the center OF the street causes
constant annoyance and necessitates
constant repairs.
The proper way is to put in all
necessary connections from the main
sewer to the inside OF the curbs at the
same time when the main pipes are
laid. The connections might be put
I in to accommodate two lots, but every
/ lot, occupied or vacant, should have
] a connection. The branches should
be laid TO the deepest possible grade
and should be provided with Us at the
curb ends.
The size of those connecting pipes
should also be sufficiently large TO
cover any future need There would
then be no necessity for tearing up
| the streets, the surface of which be-
| ing once well and properly established
would remain so. The city would save
all repair expenses and the property
owners would save the cost Of cutting
| the street for sewer connections
! The cost of putting in all the con-
nections at the same time would be
less than to put them in at different
times. and especially so when done
before the street is paved. This sys-
tenn is in use in other parts Of the
| country, even in small towns.
! Water and gas pipes ought TO be
fixed in the same way. All connec-
tions should be made at once to every
lot or pair of lots with pipes OF suf-
! ficient sizes for all possible service.
In regard to water and gas pipes it
is an open question whether 1t would
not be as cheap and preferable to
run two lines Of pipes. one on each
side of the street. and whether the
inside of the curb would not be the
| proper place for them.
If such pipes had been laid on each
side of Market street we would have
now a decent thoroughfare and lots
| of money saved to the city.
p. LELARDOUX.