SEWAGE.

Evening Star, Issue 3862, 10 July 1875, Page 2

SEWAGE.

To (he Editor.

Sin,—ln tho ‘ Daily Times’ of the 2nd inst. appeared an article entitled “ Health of tho t'ity." As several remarks therein upon “ Drainage aud Irrigation” seem to mo to bo both incorrect and uncharitable, I take tho libcity of making a few observations upon them. The writer in tho ‘ Times’ proved (to himself) that as imihure town b.owuge is not only unfitted for permanent production of vegetation but dc ele-lous to the health of the o;ty. Ills remarks appear to mo to be actuated

more out of a spirit of animosity towards those at present desirous of effecting an improvement in the town sewage than from a philanthropic desire (as he would wish us to believe) of ameliorating the condition of his towns-fellowr. Whoever the parties be that are at present endeavoring to arrive at a satisfactory plan of improved health to Dunedin, through an improved system of drainage, .surely they deserve thanks instead of the opprobrious terms ho heaps upon them. If he had demonstrated a satisfactory plan of his own we might have understood h's unrestrained language, but on such thing is hinted at; he contents hiraselt ■with advising the citizens upon no account to allow the sewage of the town to be diverted either towards the sandhills or towards the bay, I presume, therefore, he would counsel them, by all means, to keep the treasure in their own possession. He wishes us to believe that wherever sewage irrigation is followed out detestable effluvia follow, '.the constitution is enferbled, and death is caused; and ho brings forward proofs, by him considered incoutestible, that such is the case. The ends sought, he advocates are never attained, but greater evils follow. Obstructionists are not difficult to find, who neither care to see good done by others, nor do it themselves—by the proofs which I shall endeavor to bring forward, I shall leave the public to conclude whether the writer in question belongs to that class. These proofs will be, first, to find how health is affected by sewage irrigation, and next how it answers for irrigation of crops. The sewage of Edinburgh has for about two centuries been allowed to flow over 300 acres ©f the meadows close by the city. How stands the death rate «f that city, compared with other cities of Scotland? Statistics unquestionably prove it to compare favorably with many where no irrigation is attempted. Croydon was instanced by our friend as particularly productive of disease. Here is what Professor Wrightson, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, says of that ve> y town “ The utilisation of the Croydon sewage has very often been cited as a successful enterprise. In this instance, sanitary considerations have been the chief inducemsnt to action, and the writer will never forget one proof that, from this point of view, the success has been most complete. On a hot day in July he arrived at Beddbgton, and was kindly received by Mr Marriage, the lessee of the irrigated lands. Among other refreshments, two bottles were placed upon the table, the one containing wipe, the other a colorless fluid (not whisky), neither more nor less than purified sewaye. The appearance of the liquid and absence of smell betokened the removal of all unwholesome mat< er.” Another writer, Charles A. Cameron, P.H.D., M.D., Professor of Hygiene in the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, &c., says, as follows, after mentioning several towns, amongst which are Carlisle, Leamington, Walford, Warwick, and North London, where irrigation had been carried out?—“ The results on the whole, _ have been encouraging, and especially so in the case of Croydon. In every town where the sewage has been utilised for agricultural purposes, the health of the inhabitants has been improved, an abominable nuisance has been abated, and, as a general rule, the sewage works have proved, or give promise of proving, reproductive undertakings.” These proofs, I think, will suffice for the health part of the subject. Next with regard to the agricultural side. I shall content myself with producing three extracts : two of them from the eminent another, equally so. E. G. Bartholomew C.E.M.S.E., says:—“ln some instances, as at Croydon, the sewage is applied to the entire level surface, irrigating men already mentioned, and the third from the plants at once. In other cases, as at Romford, tht ground is intersected by numerous shallow trenches, into which the sewage is pumped, the plants being embedded in the soil adjoining the trenches. The sew age thus passes to the roots through the medium of the soil. There can be_ no question as to the value of sewage for agricultural purposes.” Wrightson says ; “ I shall now mention a few cases in which the drainage of towns has been used for irrigating lands. Edinburgh offers one of the oldest examples. There the sewage is allowed to flow over a tract of about 300 acres, with j good results. The produce per acre per annum i is from L2O to L3O worth of grass, sold to the cowkeepers of the city. The quality of the ( ground is exceedingly poor, being little better i than sand. Dividing the fields over which the •ewage flows, so that crops may be grown reJ uiring it at different periods, has been done at ! larking Creek Farm, where rye-grass, cereals, 1 flax, strawberries, &c., are very sue- i ceasfully cultivated with the aid of sewage.” I I shall give one other opinion on the subject, i viz., that of Charles A. Cameron. He says: , “The money value of the sewage of a town of i 100,000 inhabitants would be about L 50,000, With r spect to the agricultural value of town sewage when applied in sufficient quantity there is no doubt. At Barking Creek thirty- j six different kinds of crops have been grown ' with the aid of London sewage. Root crops of excellent quality have been grown on the stiff soil of Norwood by the aid of sewage alone; and according to Professor , Voelcker, beets contained 13.19 per cent, of , sugar, whilst the beet-roots grown elsewhere , yielded only from 9 to 10 per cent, at the outside. A committee was appointed by the I Royal Commission to experiment at Rugby. . The nutritious properties of the sewage-grass were proved by experiments. These experi- ] ments show that the application of sewage was attended by a great increase in the produce of i grass.” The writer in the ‘Times’ states i “Rugby a failure.” But Wrighston says, < “ The value of sewage calculated upon purely ] chemical grounds is Is 8d per ton. At Rugby, where the effects of the sewage were closely watched by a Royal Commission the Commission lost money upon the sewage,” because “contracted for at Id per ton.” To continue Cameron’s opinion : “The fact that sewage is capable of supplying the wants of every kind of crop is clearly established; but that which appears to be best suited for sewage irrigation is Italian grass. From six to eight crops of this plant may be obtained per annum, from * even exceedingly poor soil.” From these ex- ' tracts, taken from reliable authorities, the reader will be able to conclude whether sewage ■ irrigation is or is not suitable for Dunedin. It could be conveyed to the most distant part of the flat from the town, and farmed upon the system most approved of. Even if irrigation be not approved of, isitimpossible to convey the sewage right through to the Ocean beyond the sand hills, where the almost incessant roll which takes places, would, added to the disinfecting power of its saltneus, speedily dissipate its noxious ingredients. Surely this were bettsr than running it into the bay, where it could only pollute the water before ®ur very doors, and intensify the already disagreeable odors which exhalo from the long shores at ebb tide, and hettr-r than allowing it to remain in our midst, burying it, as is so extensively done, at our very doors, which must ultimately prove most diliterious to health, / unionising io the Editor for having inucli valuable space, X am, &c., < „ ~ , , „ Chei I3TRY. Dunedin, July 7.