Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-09-15

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development of the city sewer sys-
TEN.
The last Legislature appropriated
$15O.000, more or less, for improve
ment of the sewer system, when
81 100000 is more like what is need
ed to make fair beginning on the
enlargement and Improvement that is
absolutely necessary to more GER
tainly guarantee the sanitary safety
of the city Of Honolulu. Coupled with
the sewerage is of course the city
water problem, not especially critical
at the present time but which will be
nevertheless as the city continues to
grow.
Our low lands at practically sea
level and our sub-tropical conditions
are difficulties with which we have to
contend that do not appear in the av-
erage American city.
One city of the States, however, has
had to surmount greater difficulties
than Honolulu can ever know. New
\ Orleans Is below the sea level. and
has been one of the dirtiest cities of
the country. But New Orleans, once
the butt of every insanitary Joke, is
now winning praise throughout the
land. 1t is solving its drainage and
pure water problem. II is spending
heaps Of money to do this but no one
questions the great value of the in
vestment.
The present New Orleans drainage
system. while still uncompleted. has
20 pumps operating ut various sta
tons with combined removal ca
pacity OF 260O cubic feet per second;
increased during severe condition to
3IOO cubic feet per second. But II is
designed to increase the system to
capacity Of over 10000 cubic feet
per second, when the citys unbuilt
areas are reclaimed.
In order to appreciate the magni-
tude of the work undertaken by the
people Of New Orleans-to drain the
land upon which the city is built-it
Is necessary to understand the char
acteristics of the land. The city COW
ers an area of about 80 square miles,
inclusive Of Algiers on the opposite
side OF the river. 1t is surrounded by
levees, which in the spring prevent
the Mississippi river from Overlooking
the city and exclude the water OF Lake
Pontchartraip on the north when
heavy winds from the Gulf of Mexico
prevail. The land along the, river
front and along the lake shore Is gem
orally from ~ to IS feet higher than
the level Of the city. Thus. while the
levee system servessito keep out an
overflows from the river and lake, Il
prevents the rainfall from running of
A one-inch rainfall on the whole
area of the city will precipitate G5l,-
100000 gallons of water; and a two
inch inch fall. such as occurs five or
six times year In New Orleans, pre-
cipitates 1,302.000,0O0 gallons. And
II Is estimated that, In order to pump
out such rainfall In two hours, II
would require the removal every min
ute of mass of water, which, II cyl
indrical. would be 300 feet long and
rs feet In diameter
A central station furnishes electric
power for the pumps, with a present
capacity Of 5000 horsepower. But the
ultimate power required for the COM
plete system will be not less than "a
900 horsepower. The drainage work
also embraces the repair and cleaning
OF more than go miles of canals and
100 miles Of sub-surface drainage.
This alone approximates a cost of
! $4,000. for which annual appropria-
ton Is made by the city. Besides these
outlet canals, the system has over $50
miles OF sewer construction and near
ly 600 miles Of water pipes. Through
these pipes filtered water of the Mis-
sissippi Is furnished to consumers.
who use about 100000 gallons
day; and the plant In Algiers fur
nishes over 100000 gallons of water
per day to its consumers
The construction of SO large and SO
complete water works system, with
In period of three and half years
from the letting of the first contract.
was an achievement of great magni-
tude. Honolulu has less than three
years In which to prepare for the
Panama canal. 1t Is estimated that
one New Orleans pumping station
alone discharges 10000, 900 gallons of
water day. thus lowering the mois- |
ture line In the soil and making the
city that lies from 10 to IS feet below
the water level. one of the best
drained municipalities In the country. |
New buildings and model roads lead
Ing out to attractive new suburbs are |
results OF the solution of the drainage
problem.
Just what are the details of New
nrlA .lx..