The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-24
conditions. AS might have been

conditions. AS. might have been
reasonably expected, no long time
elapsed before the tank and its dis
charge became objects to be shun-
ned and the voice OF every II con-
demned it. While the Septic Tank
is an appliance which requires a
very limited amount of care, yet
such care as may be demanded must
be given it OF a nuisance results with
a possible train of annoying and ex-
pensive legal entanglements . The
conditions surrounding the install
latfon and operation of your tank
shows that you demanded from it
many functions 1T was never designed
to perform. Had those who we're
responsible for its erection and oper-
alton understood its true working
principles, the abuses it suffered
would have been corrected and it
would have proven it's efficiency. The
functions of the Septic Tank are to
break down and dissolve to simpler
elements the complex forms of or
ganic matters in sanitary sewage.
This work is performed by countless
numbers of a%naerobic bacteria whose
home is within its walls and whose
ties of these microorganisms in
crease in the stagnant pool and any
thing disturbing it's equilibrium is
detrimental to tlz,ir operations.
Rapid currents and waters charged
with mineral sediment are disturb
ing to their activities and destruc-
tive to them The use of the sani-
tary for storm water purposes spells
"inefficiency" so far as your Sep
tic Tank service is concerned. When
the gathered storm waters from the
drainage area rush through the tank
like a mountain torrent, the Myriad
MtcrO-organisms in that teeming
workshop are carried away to destruc-
ton and the suspended sediment
from street washings is deposited
with untreated organic matters as
mud which becomes an offense to the
nostrils and must be eventually re-
moved at public expense. Those who
were led to believe that the Septic
Tank would, unaided, properly treat
and purify your sewage must have
either misunderstood their informa-
ton. or such information was erro-
neous and misleading. Yet this de-
vice can be relied upon in the per-
Torrance of functions which are es-
sential to a rapid and economic
publication of your sewer efluent.
For when sewage has been properly
septicised 1t is in a prime state for
rapid oxidation. When brought in
to contact with free oxygen with
which the fresh atmosphere is al
ways charged, the dissolved gases
of the Septic efluent rapidly absorb
oxygen resulting in the removal of
their o~fensiveness. In order to pro-
vide for more complete oxidation,
mineral or so called filter beds are
CONSTRUCTED from insoluble materials
to insure more perfect aeration and
also to provide a home for the micro
organisms of oxidation, known as
aerobic bacteria. In the proper in
stallatfon and operation of the Sep
tic Tank and the mineral beds we
have evidences to assure US that
practically all the pathogenic germs
and other dangerous and offensive
elements in the ewage will be re-
moved or reduced to an innoxious
state.
These several observations drawn
from facts and impressions obtained
while with you lead me to submit
the following recommendations for
your consideration:
LIST. Enact an ordinance which
shall determine and establish a sys-
tenn of permanent grades for your
streets and alleys to serve as a pre-
sent and future grade for public
and private improvements.
I'd. Lay out and adopt a system
of storm water sewers which when
completely installed shall properly
drain your city. Let your first work
hereunder he the relief Of your
business.wdistrict from its present
really sedious condition, then as de-
really serious condition. then as de-
mands are mado and the means per-
NIT, undertake the construction.
ment approve.
3rd. Take up the solution of your
sanitary sewage problem by first ell
iminating from your sanitary sewers
all storm water: second, abandon
the use of the city's present land
holdings as the site of a sewage dis
posal plant and secure some suit
able location along the dry RIM soma