The Glenwood post., 1910-07-16
aANrrARY panCAuz1oN m
THE DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE

"Sewage' is commonly understood tc
refer to a mixture of excreta, garbage
and kitchen refuse, yet this meaning
seldom holds. for in cities the garbage
and kitchen refuse is handled and dis
posed of separately, and in small towns
and rural districts its disposal is sci,
dom matter of concern, the excreta
being the only waste given consider-
alton.
The sanitary precaution necessary in
the disposal of sewage, whatever may
be its constituents, is that in Kidding
ourselves of it's presence we shall not
jeopardize the health of others. There-
fore, we must exclude the commonest
method that of dumping refuse into
a stream. To so dispose of any sewage
is to jeopardize the health of those who
| may use the water farther down the
| stream, for we have no means of know
ing to what extent we may contaminate
the water.
Perhaps the best and most econom-
ical method of disposing of kitchen
is to dig a saucershaped pit in the
ground three or four feet in depth, and
of a diameter sufficient to accommo-
date the garbage from given district
The bottom and sides of this pit are
lined with stones, and the crevices be.
tween them packed with earth, so that
they are not easily displaced. A fire is
kept burning in the bottom of this pit,
| and as the garbage is dumped upon it.,
the garbage is consumed. The com
bustile parts turn to ash, and the liquid
portions are vaporized. A very small
ash residue is left, and, in rare inter
/ walls, when the pit is to be "cleaned
out" the detritus is not more offensive
than ordinary ashes. If rags and old
| rubber be excluded from these pits
the vapors are not generally offensive.
The best method of disposal of ex-
creta open to rural districts is the
"earth closet" plan, adapted to the
special conditions one may meet in var
ious localities. The points in its favor
are:
1T is inexpensive.
2-There is no pollution of streams.
3-The manure value of the excreta
| need not be wasted.
1t has the disadvantage of requiring
the liquid turine) and solid portions
of the excreta to be kept seperate. Dry
earth is the cheapest and preferable
absorbent After the defaction small
shovelful of the dried earth is used to
cover the dejecta. This prevents odor,
and dessicates the feces so that when
the time for removal is devoid of af
fensive odor or other deleterious char
Iacteristic This earth may be removed
and used as manure, or it may be stored
and dried thoroughly and be used again
and again. The late Colonel Waring
useu hry tdr1h so PtePaieu anu e"ie"
for ten times without its becoming Of
fensive The earth is preferably air
dried, since artificial heat-as in bak-
ing-destroys the saprophytic bacteria
which are important in destruction Of
the offensive character of the feces.
Dry earth may be used for the urine
also. but the receptacle will require
more frequent changing.
Lime, alum and sulphate of iron have
been used as additions to the dry
earth, and are employed by large cities
disposing of sewage by chemical meth
DDS, in settling tanks; but for rural
districts their use presents no material
advantages. If dried earth be prop
erly employed, no additional measures
are necessary.
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