Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-09
l0NDeNS SEWER SYSTEM
CRUDE SEWAGE DOES NOT
FLOW INTO THAMES.
Chemically Treated and Rendered
Innocuous and Then Dumped
Into the Black Deep.

From the New York Tribune.
Not the least interesting and sugges-
tive, from practical point Of view. Of
the almost innumerable anniversaries of
this year is the fiftieth anniversary Of
the creation of the modern sewage sys-
tenn of London. It is true that Sir Joseph
Bazalgette addressed himself to the
mighty task as early as 1856. but II was
not until 1889 that his plans became
reality. In this fift.eth year. II is worth
while to observe, plans are In course OF
execution for the extension of Sir Jo-
sephs work to meet the needs of the
enormously expanded metropolis. but
they are all based upon the principle
which was adopted half century ago.
The whole matter forms. moreover. an
interesting object lesson to other great
cities which nave Jagged behind London
in this respect and above all TO New
York
Not many years ago a proposition to
stop letting all the crude sewage of this
city flow directly into the North and
East rivers would have been considered
visionary, II not insane. Nowadays pre-
ciseiy that is proposed by some thought
full men, but still it Is 100 generally re-
garded as Impractical. Reminders that
other large cities dispose Of their drain
age otherwise than by pouring 1t into
rivers are met with the reply that they
are not so big as New York. But now
we are reminded Of the fact. which has
been fact of record and notoriety for
half century, that the one city OF the
world which is larger and considerably
larger than New York-even If We include
in New York the New Jersey cities which
are properly within the metropolitan dis
trict-does not let its sewers empty di-
rectly into the river which travcrses it,
but conveys all their contents to remote
places for chemical and other publication
1ntercepting Sewer.
The essential feature of Sir Joseph
Razalgette's colossal undertaking was the
construction of intercepting sewers at
each side of the river and running along
its shores, into which instead of into
the river the drains of the city should
pour their contents. Since his time other
such sewers have been constructed par
allel with the first or convergng upon
them. Thus at the north of the Thames
there is one beginning at Chiswick at the
extreme west and running along the
shore Of the ricer to the extreme east of
the city. Another starts near Harlesden
while third. beginning at Hampstead,
traverses Stamford Hill and Kentish
town at the extreme north. At the south
Of the river one begins at futney AM
follows the shore. another at Roehamp
ton, near Richmond Park. and others
start from footing and Sydenham at the
extreme south. All these converge like
the sticks Of a fan. those at the north
uniting In trunk sewer which pours
its contents into precipitation works at
Barking, and those at the south at Cross
mess. respectively eleven and thirteen
miles down stream from London Bridge
The Problems Solved.
Thus the vast bulk of the city's sewage
and even most Of the surface drainage
from rainfall is kept out of the river un-
til 1t is entirely outside of the city limits
and even there 1t does not enter the river
until 1t has been subjected to chemical
lively innocuous and inoffensive. The
sludge which results from the process OF
precipitation. amounting to about $3.50
tons a day. is carried far out into the
estuary Of the Thames and there is
dumped into the great hole which is
known as the Black Deep. In such fash
ion does London dispose OF nearly 3OO.-
100000 gallons Of sewage daily and in
time of heavy rains of more than a bill
lion gallons. While the system is yet by
hardest part of the problem. The crux
Of the business was to intercept the city's
drains and get their contents into trunk
sewers instead OF the river. That done,
to extend these sewers from Barking and
Crossness to more remote points, and to
establish bacterial culture beds, sewage
farms, etc, In addition to precipitation
The example is to be commended to all
great cities which pride themselves on
being able to do whatever other cities
can do.