GLASGOW AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AND THE SEWAGE QUESTION.

Southland Times, Issue 1065, 30 November 1868, Page 3

GLASGOW AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AND THE SEWAGE QUESTION.

(From a Glasgow paper.) A meeting of the Glasgow Agricultural Society was held in the Secretary's office, West Nile Street, on Wednesday, Sept. 23— Sir Geo. Campbell, Bart., of Garscube, in the chair. At the previous meeting, Mr Begg, ehetnical manufacturer, Kirkintillocb, read a paper advocating Capt. Liernur's pneumatic system of sewage as regards the utilising of the excreta from the water closes. The following is the gist of that system, with which Mr Begg has already made the public pretty familiar through our columns : — " Small iron reservoirs are placed underground, at the street crossings, courts, and other public places and works, including buildings where a number of persons are congregated together, and at such distances apart as the^emands of any particular locality, building, or place require. Each of these reservoirs" is' connected by means of 5-inch iron pipes. If in a street having two I crossings, a main pijte leads' along each street to such a distance sts yoti have ascertained there are inhabitants sufficient for the size of reservoir laid down, from each of these main pipes, branch pipes strike off where required for the closets or privies. In general, these reservoirs are made^to serve for from 500 to 600 of the population. The closet is of the simplest kind; and so fsr as possible, is not altered in its present appearance in any way. It is, however, of quite a different shape, and its internal construction so arranged that no water is required. A vertical pipe runs from the bottom to the uppermost closet in the house, of from 14 to 16 inches diameter, and of earthenware. The basin is so shaped, and in place of, as is usual, being inverted, the new basin is diverted or reflexed in the bottom part, so that all excrement falls right down the centre of the pipe. The removal is effected by means of a pretty little engine of 6 horsepower, simple in its nature but complete in its action. It is high-pressure, and works with about 65 pounds to the square inch. It makes no noise whatever, in its steam exhaust, owing to the peculiar silencing chests connected with it. The hearth is made condensing, and burns also the gases sucked up. The engine is generally made for horse propulsion ; but where desired to go by steam traction, it is constructed for this also. To this engine a tender is attached for holding and conveying away the excrements." At the meeting on Wednesday, Mr Begg submitted plans showing how the system could be wrought. He also read the opinions of several authorities who approved of Liernur's system. Colonel Buchanan was of the opinion that the plan was a good one. He thought the sewage should not be taken away out of the town, but collected at once. Any system taking away the sewage from the town must be held to be an expensive one. Mr Begg intimated that the system was in operation in Frankfort and several other towns on the Continent, and had been successful. Dr Fergus pointed out that the water-closets were the 3ole cause of the pollution of rivers, and that gastric fever proceeded entirely from the inhalation of the sewage water, and that cholera, dysentery, and diarrhoea arose from drinking the sewage water. Mr Smith, after referring to Mons. Goix's theory, said he would write to Frankfort and be able to report by next meeting how Captain Liernur's system wrought there. After some further conversation, the following resolution was unanimously carried, on the motion of Mr J. Farie, seconded by Mr Wakefield : — " That without giving an opinion whether of Captain L iernur's system or any other as more suitable, the Agricultural Society of Glasgow desire that in any general scheme for treating the sewage of the city, the interest of agriculture may be kept in view, and that the scheme of Captain Liernur, as brought forward by Mr Begg, be brought under the consideration ot' the Corporation of the City of Glasgow, and that the following committee of the directors of this society be appointed to wait on the Lord Provost and magistrates for this purpose, viz. — Sir George Campbell, Bart. ; Colonel Buchanan, Drumpellier ; J. C. Wakefield, Esq., Kirkintilloch ; Hugh Kirkwood, Esq., factor, Killermont; and Alexander Campbell, Esq., Crosshill, Bishopbriggs.