The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-03-08
KNOW The truth
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but because of the great expense
they have not been generally
adopted. Climatic conditions, drain
age, soil, and land values must all
be taken into consideration in deter
mining the most adaptable process
for any given locality. Where land
values are high, as in the more con-
gested portions OF New York, where
drainage is poor as at Aberdeen, or
| where the soil is compact and i'm
p%enetrable, the chemical processes,
although expensive, are more gener-
ally adopted. But where these con-
ditions do not prevail the combina-
tion of broad irrigation and inter-
mittent filtration has been found
to be much the cheaper, both in first
cost, and in cost Of operation, and
equally efficient; and In some IN
stances, as at Los Angeles, Cal,
and Helena, Mont, a handsome
profit is netted to the city through
the disposal of its sewage. The sys-
tenn planned for Aberdeen contem-
plates a large REINFORCED concrete,
three compartment septic tank, to-
gether with a pumping station with
three pumps, and divers other ap-
pliances which would be wholly I'M
necessary in this city.
Some years ago the Department
of the Interior, realizing the import
ance Of the subject, procured Mr..
George w. Rafter, a recognized au-
thority, to collate data concerning
the best systems of sewage disposal,
and the result Of his investigation
was published in a government re-
port. AS to the relative cost of the
several processes, Mr.. Rafter says,
at page SO of his report:
The figures show, however, that
this (the chemical process) is an
exceedingly expensive process under
any circumstances, as will be more
readily rallied when it is stated
that the land processes Intermittent
filtration, or broad irrigation), aside
from yielding returns from the
crops do not ordinarily cost more
than a few dollars per million gal
Ions treated"
AS to the relative efficiency, Mr..
Rafter states at page "a Of his re-
port:
LAS to the degree of publication
obtained by intermittent filtration,
the Massachusetts experiments show
that very high degrees are reached
easily. By way of illustrating the
matter, we may simply cite that city
sewage has been purified to the ex-
tent of removing from IS to 99.5
per cent of the p~olluting material.
Sewage containing from 100000 to
100000 bacteria per cubic cent?
meter has been experimental SO far
purified of bacteria that the erlu-
ents have frequently contained as
few as rs to 100 bacteria per cubic
centimeter. In order to appreciate
this degree of bacterial publication
we may consider that we'll water in
common use frequently contains
from 1000 to 5000 bacteria per Gu
bic centimeter. AS regards chemical
and biological considerations there
is therefore no reason why city
sewage efluents are not fit to
drink"
Mr.. Rafter's report contains much
valuable information concerning
the cost of different systems in ac-
tual use, from which the following
examples are taken:
Paris, Texas Population in
1890, 1884. Sewers constructed in
1894 discharging into Bankers
creek. The farmers along the
creek below the outfall brought
damage suits against the city aggre-
eating $4,000. First one tried re-
suited in verdict against city Of
5000. City then purchased ten
acres of land for $3.50, of which
S 10 acres have been laid out as fl
T er-beds. Cost Of constructing fl
ters, $3.50. "The sewage disposal
| areas are cared for by one man, who
is paid at the rate of $420 per year.
1t is proposed to crop with alfalfa in
1898"
North Brookfeld, Mass.-Popula-
ton 5000. Sewage disposal works
built in 1893 consisting of 20 acres
of land purchased by the city and
devoted to broad irrigation. Sewage
conveyed by inverted siphon 1000
feet in length. Total cost Of sys-
tenn, including labor in preparing
farm, 5000.
Freehold, N. J. - Population,
1890, 1880. Sixteen acres of land
purchased by city in 1893, for broad
irrigation. Cost of land and right
Of way, 1920. Cost of fencing
and preparation, $2.0s7. Engineer
Ing and superintondsnce. $1,944,
1.-THE entire force of labor consists
OF one man at $500 per annum."
Westneld, N. j. - Population,
5000. Twelve acres purchased in
1895 for broad irrigation and inter
mittent filtration. Filtration area
consists Of four level beds Of three
fourths acres each, balance being
used for crops. 1.-THE cost Of the
nlant. Including land, was $8,435