IMPORTANCE OF SEWERAGE.

Southland Times, Issue 1042, 21 October 1868, Page 3

IMPORTANCE OF SEWERAGE.

The importance of an efficient and cheap system for the removal of sewerage out of cities and towns can hardly be overrated. It is but too well known how its exhalations, when exposed or left to ferment in masses, contaminates the air, and that this is the true cause of all pestilence, especially in hot climates. Cholera, typhus, yellow fever, pest and epidemic' diseases of all kinds visit regularly the cities, and above all the seaports, where the regular removal of excrements is not attended to. Immense and costly works have been built in many large cities of Europe, especially in London, for purely sanitary reasons, which works have failed, however, to give satisfaction, for they did not prevent a copious escape of deadly gases. The vigorous and growing capitals of Australasia must naturally wish to profit by the lessons taught to the old world by the stern teaching of experience, and the abundance of wealth accumulating in these cities must leave ample means to be devoted to works of this kind, securing that upon which the happiness, pros-, perity and greatness of a people chiefly depends, viz. — perfect public health. The inevitable results whenever the sewerage of a city is not properly attended to are increased bills of mortality. When a town is still comparatively ycung, the noxious effect of the exhalation of excremental matters is barely felt, and the virgin soil easily absorbs the poisonous fluids. But when trade and the importance of a town augments, lands and lots around become more valuable, and a large population is soon crowded upon a small area. Immense accumulations of filth speedily follow; the so.il becomes saturated with noxious fluids, w.hich again result m great volumes of poisonous exhalations, making tha atmosphere quite unfit to breathe. At the same time, the wells get contaminated, because obtaining their supply of water by filtration through a poluted soil. Compared to other sewerage systems, Captain Liernur's certainly must appear exceedingly simple and effective to every unbiassed mind. The common English setver system demands . large conduits, built of heavy masonry, having certain gradieuts and curves to promote the regular downward movement of the excrements byinere gravitation, which of course compels on hilly cities excessive deep excavations. The common Eaglish sewer system further requires copious quantities of water for washing the sewerage matter down, and prevent stoppages, and finally requires costly and complicated traps to prevent the rising of the gasses along the inclines of the sewers, and the re-entering of these gasses ' into the dwellings. Liernur's Pneumatic System on the other hand requires only the placing of iron reservoirs, Borne three feet in diameter at the street crossings, and the laying of iron pipes, demanding no more skill and labor than the laying of ordinary gas pipes. They follow the undulations of the ground as the movements of the faciel matter within does not depend upon gravitation, but upon pneumatic pressure which works equally in all directions. Some of the advantages of the Punematic system are the comfort of haying the privies daily swept totally clean, removing all their contents as if by magic, including stench and even the flies so troublesome in hot climates, and leaving them supplied with fresh air. A simple cast iron bent pipe suffices, connecting the privies with the main pipes running underneath the street. Instead of the most expensive water-works otherwise required, this system effects its purpose by the simple pressure of atmospheric air, of which of course there is an inexhaustible supply everywhere at hand. Then citizens can continue to use their wells without damage to their health, and wherever introduced, instead of being a burden to the inhabitants, it becomes- a source of wealth, yielding a large \ annual revenue in proportion to the outlay. We understand that Captain Liernur's "Pneumatic Sewerage System " is in successful operation at the Hague, where it has been introduced by Prince Henry of the Netherlands, and the following cities and towns have pronounced in its favor, viz. : — Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Deft, Leyden, and others, and there is every probability that it will be extensively introduced on the continent within a twelvemonth. An English into Milan. TEJeveTt^-vaava^ — °^_ Stock Company at Vienna. The municipality of Bombay, through their London consulting Engineer, has ordered the machinery necessary for 500 families to begin with. Two Austrian Ministers, (War and Agriculture,) have decided in its favor, and an extensive military barrack at Vienna is being now fifctwl up

witK Liemur's . Pjaeumatic apparatus. The Emperor 6f' "France also hat through his Ambassador at the Hague, ordered a copy of Krepp'a bctoif oa sewage, which-. is to be placed in the hands of Prefect Hamoann, the famous renovator of Paris. It appears likely therefore that this singularly simple, but highly important invention, will yery soon come into general use, and th§ sooner the better for the general health of cities. — Communicated.