The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-10-03
A DISCUSSION ON SEWAGE
D. G. WATKINS.

The last legislature of Florida en-
acted a law which will compel the
city of Ocala to change it's method of
disposing OF its sewage, and in ODE
dience to this official mandate the
city authorities are making a system
attic investigation for the best posi-
bic sewer system to install.
With this purpose in view the city
council recently invited Mr.. Alex H.
Twombly. of the firm of Twombly and
Henney, engineers, of New York City,
10 visit Ocala. investigate its condi-
tons and make a report thereof to
the city authorities and the citizens of
Ocala generally, which he kindly con-
sented TO do without cost to the city.
Mr.. Twombly made his report to a
mass meeting of the citizens at the
council chamber Wednesday night in
the shape of an oral address. He is
an engineer of distinction, has visit
ed Essen, Germany, and other princi-
pal cities in Europe and the United
States. where the system of sewage
disposal has caused the greatest diff
culties. and has met with the greatest
and most successful solution.
Mr. Twombly began his address by
exhibiting some rough sketches,
showing the water formation and dis
tribution of this section of Florida.
These sketches were taken from Off
cial records, and were made quite
comprehensive to those who were
present by Mr.. Twombly's plain, SIM
pie and untechnical explanations. He
showed that this section was located
on the water shed, and the rainfall
here was distributed to other sections
of the state. He said the water level
above sea level was forty feet, as
was shown by Silver Spring, Blue
Spring. and by the wells of the va
rious phosphate mines throughout
this locality.
He showed that this water, trick
, ling through the sand, cavities and
assures in the limestone, gradually
found it's way into lower tlatas, and
along this line he read the interesting
correspondence between the Woman's
Civic Club of Sanford and DR.. Joseph
Y. Porter, state health officer, which
is given in full in one Of the health
bulletins of date, July Is.
DR.. Porter holds to the opinion that
the water distribution from higher to
the lower levels, if polluted, will con-
ltaminate them, hence the disposal of
sewage is one of the most important
matters that can engage the atten-
ton of those who have these matters
in charge.
Mr.. Twombly said that in his judg-
ment DIR. Porter was eminently cor
rect. and was supported in his con-
tention by all persons who had made
study of the subject.
Mr.. Twombly had made only SUI
perficial investigation of our condi-
lions. but was satisfied that We were
vastly better located for the easy and
economical disposal of our sewage
than towns less elevated. That our
sewage could find an easy and per-
feet outlet in the subterranean pass
age between the Atlantic Coast Line
and Seaboard railways, in the north
western part of the city, and If the
Tmhoff septic tank system is Install
cd. that the effluent matter could be
readily disposed of. would be entire
lIv harmless, that there would be no
possibility of contamination, and that
in his judgment it would be an easy
| solution of Ocala's sewage disposal
He said that the Imhoff tank sys-
tenn was in successful operation IN
cities of one hundred thousand ana
two hundred thousand population,
and more and more was being endors-
ed by medical and scientific men.
|, Mr.. Twombly gave interesting sug-
gestions about combining our water
and electric lighting plants, and his
discourse was listened to with strict
attention. and at its conclusion ne
was warmly congratulated.