Year: 1874

The Dutch Pneumatic Sewage System.


The sewer poison question has very Justly
excited grave and anxious agitation among
architectural engineers for many years, but
through new system not long since proposed
by on accomplished Dutch engineer it is in
fair way of satisfactory solution. Modern
mechanics has had no practical problem to
give it greater perplexity than to 50 adapt the
present water carriage system as to rid our
houses and streets Of the deadly gas which
escapes from the public drains. The inge-
nuity Of inventive genius has been vainly
racked to produce traps and valves to inter
cept the noxious efluvia which. are emitted
into our bedrooms and parlors, often con-
verting them into hospitals of diphtheria and
other fatal diseases. The pneumatic system
for dealing with sewer poison was
suggested by Captain Liernur, and pro-
poses to draw off fecal matter and
the polluted air by pipes connecting with
steam-worked air pumps. These pumps are
attached to air-tight reservoirs beneath
ground, in which by exhaustion about three
fourths vacuum is constantly maintained.
From these large tanks pipes are laid along
the principal streets, and at intervals smaller
street tanks are placed, communicating by
small, short conduits with the closets in each
house. BY partial exhaustion Of the air in
these receptacles for the sewer gas and effete
matter, without the aid of water to flush
the closets, the gas is drawn off from the
house pipes and lodged in the main reser-
voirs, where it is finally disposed of without
detriment TO the public health. The pneu-
matte process, by the use Of stop-cocks con-
venienty arranged, is effective also in re-
moving excretal matter that is deposited in
the house drains, which chemists tell us con-
stitutes about ninety-six per cent Of the zymotic
or dangerous elements of our sewers. With the
removal of this disease-stored element the
engineer gets rid of the great source of epi-
demic maladies, and also of that which is
most prolific Of river pollution and soil in
lection.


The excellences Of this system cannot be
questioned. The great beauty of its working
lies in its entire independence of the care of
house dwellers and servants, whose neglect
often proves fatal, even where now the
best sewer traps and valves are in use. The
pneumatic system does its work in spite of
negligence or even Intervention by house.
holders, and while it may be attached to the
present closet it is claimed to be perfect
substitute for it. No water is needed to flush
the pipes--a consideration which is Of momen-
tous Importance, especially since the water
waste now necessary for cleansing the pipes
has come annually to entail a water famine on
most Of our metropolitan cities BY the use
of one-iourth of the water Low employed the
pneumatic system would do the entire work
and do 1t with perfectness the water sys-
TEN alone can never possibly attain. Thai
the Dutch process is not chimerical one was
proved at the Vienna Exhibition last year.
when it was attached to par'
of the great building. 1t was there
inspected by the Emperor OF Aus
tria, who dscerned its great valu


and bestowed on its inventor tho order 0


knighthood. II was further indorsed by tn
international Medical CoaQress Of Vienna