Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-18
SEWAGE PROBLEM IN CITIES
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
SHOULD CONSIDER IT.
Opinion of Charles w. Hendrick,
Chief Engineer of Baltimore
Sewerage Commission.

Calvin W. Hendrick. chief engineer of
the Baltimore sewerage commission and
formerly one of the constructing engi-
neers Of the New York subway, discussed
the proposed new sewerage system being
built in the Monumental city before the
members of thss.Washington Society of
Engineers in BuBtmrd Memorial Hall last
evening. The speaker stated that the
United States government must soon take
hold of the problem of sewage disposal in
American cities. In that connection he
said:
I'm country like ours. with such won
derful distances. cities and villages being
so remote from one another. little thought
has been given to the sewage question
other than emptying it into the nearest
flowing stream. The marvellous growth of
the country has brought us face to face
with a new condition, which has been al
lowed to continue too long. Numerous
small towns and cities are springing up
on rivers and streams in close proximity
to one another. causing complaint from
those who are receiving the sewage from
the towns located above them. It is un-
reasonable to expect one city to drain its
sewage in such a manner as to injure its
neighbor without causing damage suits.
An Acute Situation.
"The~Passaic river is an instance where
the conditions have become very acute in
this respect The various municipalities
throughout the Passac basin empty their
sewage into the Passaic river. which, be-
ing Of comparatively small size, has be-
come a great nuisance to the residents
along its banks. both in odor and in depre-
citation of property. 1t was once a pleas
ure resort. but Is now a foul. black
stream. The question has been taken up
by the legislature and plans are being
pushed forward to remedy the situation.
There are many other causes which are
every day growing more acute and will
have to he dealt with sooner or later
1.-THE time Is not far distant when the
United States government will have to
take hold Of the disposition of the sewage
Of the various cities by framing and i'm
posing certain laws governing the dis
posal of sewage. both as to methods and
conditions. AS rivers flow from one state
to another, it is really an interstate mat
ter.
After discussion lasting over a period of
fifty years, the speaker stated, the people
of Baltimore awoke in 1904 to the condi-
tions and decided to install modern
sewerage system. Under the new system
all the sewage will be carried to point
five and half miles from the city limits
there purified and emptied into Back river,
twelve miles from Chesapeake bay. For
d Idl &c area VI Iue CITY. WHICH Is nlRn,
gravity system is to be built; for the re-
mainder, which is low and in the vicinity
of the bay, a sewer below tide level will
be constructed and the water pumped to
the higher level.
Two Systems in View.
Two separate systems will be con-.
structed. one for storm water and one fof
sanitary sewage. The sanitary system
calls for $50 miles of sewers and house
connections. costing approximately $l4,-
100000. The storm water system requires
about 1S3 miles of drains. costing about
81. 100000. The work will be completed, 1t
is expected. in 1914.
The lecture was illustrated witty many
lantern slides. Before Mr.. Hendricks
address Mr.. Carl Gregory, photographer
of the United States geological survey,
exhibited several slides showing color pho
Biography.