AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR INTERCEPTING AND CARRYING OFF THE SEWAGE OF LARGE TOWNS, AND PRE- VENTING THE DEFILEMENT OF RIVERS THEREBY
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Strangman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th April
1861.
J, EDWARD STRANGMAN, of Waterford, Ireland, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR INTERCEPTING AND CARRYING OFF THE SEWAGE OF LARGE TOWNS, AND PRE-
VENTING THE DEFILEMENT OF RIVERS THEREBY," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an inexpensive method of intercepting and carrying
off the sewage of large towns situated upon rivers, and preventing the defile-
ment of the rivers thereby, at the same time that the accumulation of mud
banks in the said rivers is rendered impossible, and an increased accomo-
dation for wharfage traffic and other purposes is obtained.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to build or construct on the
bed of the said rivers, within the natural or ordinary banks of the same, a
kind of hollow or tubular embankment (by preference) of a rectangular section,
composed principally of plates of iron of a square, hexagonal, or other shape,
flanged on all sides so as to form hollow boxes or cells open on the inside and
bolted together from the inside, the joints being properly caulked or otherwise
made water-tight, but timber, masonry, or brickwork may be combined there-
with where desirable. The hollow iron embankments are to be so constructed
and arranged as that their bottom shall be about level with low-water mark,

page_text: and that their upper surface shall be a suitable height above high-water
mark.
These tubular embankments (or false quays as they may be called) should
be so arranged and adapted to the banks of the river that no part of the bed
of the river shall be visible at the lowest water level, and thus the formation of
mud banks at the sides of the river and the consequent noxious exhalations
therefrom at low water, especially in hot weather, is entirely obviated.
Between the inner side of these false quays and the natural or original banks
of the river a space is to be left which runs parallel with the river and serves
the purpose of a main drain or sewer, and into which all the sewers or drains
from the town debouch, and thus the whole of the sewage is intercepted and
prevented from mixing with and defiling the water of the river.
This main drain or sewer can be bridged or covered over, and may be venti-
lated by means of chimneys at suitable intervals, and is to be carried down the
river as far as may be considered necessary, where the sewage may be collected,
deodorized, and dried, or otherwise prepared and used as manure for land, or
it may be taken from the sewer at any convenient point or points and removed
in carts, barges, or otherwise to any suitable place at a distance from the
town where it can be prepared or converted into manure, or otherwise
disposed of.
The outside of the tubular embankment will serve as a quay for wharfage,
mooring, and other purposes, and the top of the same may be used for ordinary
traffic, or for rail or tramways or towing paths as used in canals, or for gardens,
pleasure or recreation grounds for the public or for private persons residing on
the banks of the river, or for quays, wharfs, or other commercial purposes,
whilst the inside of the same being lighted by gas or windows at the side, or
top, or both, may be used either as ordinary roads to relieve the traffic of the
town, or for tram or railways or suspended railways, or for any other purposes
of recreation or commerce to which they may be adapted.
Should the space thus reclaimed from the bed of the river be of a sufficient
width, one or more rows of shops, places of public worship or amusement, or
other buildings may also be placed in the inside and also on the top of the
'hollow quay or embankment thus formed.
It will be evident that the following advantages will be derived from the
application of this Invention:-The sewage of the town will be intercepted
and prevented from mingling with and defiling the water of the river, and may
be readily collected and utilized as manure; the water of the river will be
rendered pure, and the formation of mud banks will be prevented, and all

page_text: noxious or foetid exhalations therefrom will be obviated, and consequently the
sanatory condition as well as the appearance of both the river and the town
will be greatly improved; increased accomodation for mooring vessels and for
landing, wharfage, and other commercial purposes will be obtained, whilst a
large area both inside and outside the hollow embankment or quay will be
gained for traffic and for commercial, recreative, or other purposes.