�EWEHAGE�

STREET (}RADES, &co

ST. PAUL, 11)t1l Ma'y, 1857.JAJdES STARKEY, ERt�.-Deal' Sir :-Tho undersigned, ym:rr

fellow citizens, having read yom' interesting letters publishedin .. Pioneer f.(�:; Democrat.' relative to the Street-Grades andSewerage of our City, \\:ould esteem it [1 favor if you willcollate the whole of those letters, together with any other ad­ditional Emggestiol1s yon may he pleased to make, in order thatthey may Ge published in pamphlet form, for the use of om'

citizens generally.

G. W. Cooley,L. lfa.rvin,H. E. Bakel' & Co"Parker Paine,P. P. Furber,H. S. Ogden,Henry Bnel,Jae, L. Hazzard,

W ith Hespeet, &e.,Thos. ,T. Vaidell, M..r. W. Cathcart,A. S. Hammatt,P. E. DeSauqne,W. A. Van Slyke,W. H. Collins,B. T. Wheeler,E. Caldwell,

D .. ,

ST. PAUL, 25th :J\1ay, 1857.To Messr8. Oooles], j[arvin., Baker, Pal�ne, Furber, and others :

Gentlemen-Your letter of 16th inst., hasjust been received ..

In answer thereto, I would say that ill the publication of thoseletters alluded to in yours, I was actuated solely by a desire to

promote the best interests of our City, and when I consider theapparent disorganized state of' our Streets and Sewers, thewant of a "system," and your request coming as it does, fromsuch a number of my highly respected fellow citizens, I yieldall diffidence, and will cheerfully place at your disposal, the

letters and a few other suggestioBs tllar lw, Fe occurred to lHymind, since their publication, consequent npon the modusoperandi of the present l�obert Street Sewer, to which I would

_invite the attention of our citizens.

You!' Obed't Serv't,JA �fES STAl�KE)(.

Fcllo\v Oitizeus=-Tlu: buggestions contained in the followingpages wore originally pnblisllCd in the" Pioneer & Democrat "

newspaper of this City, and wen) intended to arouse our fellowcitizens and those in authority, to the absolute necessity of a

well devised plan for the gen�ral sewerage of the City 'of St.Paul, as well as a thol'ongll and efficient mode of gradiDg and

-watering the streets; the subj oct In atter was written hastily,and without revision, press of business prevented me lestc)\vingthat attention to which it is justly entitled, however, the" modusoperandi" feebly laid down in n1,)' communications would seem

not yet to have reached the quarter where they are most

needed, and having, as I conceived, discharged lny duty to myfellow citizens as a citizen and tax-payer, should have heencontent to leave the matter in the hands of the people, but tho

foregoing requisition from many of our highly esteemed citizens,leaves me no other alternative than to comply with their re­

quest; and T am the more readily induced to a compliance,from the fact that the City Government have already com­

menced building SeWCl'B, and I need only call attention to theone now building on Robert Street; the utter failure of which[ venture to predict, if they persist in their present mode ofconstruction, The" system" is wrong, mdica�ly \vl'ong, and itbehoves all who arc called upon to foot the bill, to take some

action in a question of such vital importance to an, morally,physically and pecuniarily. I disavow any intention to reflectfor a single moment on our City Government, they are no doubtactuated by a desire to perform their arduous duties satisfacto­rily to the people who elected them, and no doubt they do so.

But the �uestion arises, is there not a wide field for improve­ment? Cannot we profit by the experience of older commu­

nities '? Let tAe rigM men be put in) the 'J"igAt place, and our

fair city will loom up, and be enabled to compare in point ofhealth, happiness, wealth and prosperity with any city in theworld. But if we neglect onr internal improvements, and

persist in our present course, our homes will become perfectplague spots, and our taxes almost unbearable.

�fAMES STARKEY.

ST. PAUL STRBET GRADES AND .SEWERAGB

SYSTEM.NGlVIl3Eg 1.

About five voars since 1 was induced to J'nake a few sugges·rions in writilig relative to the sanitory condition of St. Paulat that time, and in f'uiure. The same was published in theDemocrat newspaper, but what was my surprise, when I learnedthat the article was considered a reflection on the members ofthe Town Council whose term of office was just expiring, andthey were candidates for re-election. I assured the stalwarttown Marshal that I Incant no disrespect whatever to anymember of the Council; and to appease the wrath of the cityauthorities, the most indignant of whom was the aforesaidtown Marshal, who seemed to 1)0 the champion and defenderof their insulted dignity, I gave an assurance in writing undermy own proper signature, which was published, that I had no.

intention of reflecting for a single moment on any of the cityauthorities-neither had I; but, on reflection, I was of theopinion that for the future the town might remain as it was

until doomsday before I would trouble it with anv advice or

suggestions. Time, however, has somewhat modified this opin­ion, and at the urgent solicitation of one of the city Aldermen,I am willing, as a citizen of St. Paul, to offer such suggestionsand advice in relation to the:health of our citizens and theirgeneral prosperity, that may, if not immediately acted upou,at least set our fellow-citizens " thinking;" and after thinkingthey will" act:" self-defence, self-preservation, will make themact-all that is required is that they be aroused to the impor­tance of the subject.

Before I enter upon any details, I here disavow any inten­tion to reflect upon the present City Council, members or

officers. They have no doubt all done their duty, and havemanaged to the best of their ability; but much more remainsto be done. The health and lives of ten thousand human be­ings is a. fearful responsibility and every year rapidly augment­ing in numbers. The city government have the power, (or ifnot they should speedily obtain it) to provide all needful regu­lations for the good order and government of the city and for

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the protection of the lives and property of the eitjzeni)-t�iEcan only be done where there is a union of interests blendedfor one common object, and I maintain that the first and par­amount duty of our city government is to provide and establisha perfect and permanent system of drainage for houses andsurface water. This must be clone; without it, your streetscan never be complete. Construct your sewers, then gradeyour streets, form your gullies for carrying off the surfacewater, and you at once lay a foundation that will enable our

city to take rank for health, cleanliness and prosperity along­Hide any of the old cities of. Europe, or the East.

Experience has proved to me that in old cities an enormous

amount of general sickness, infantile mortality, short durationof life among the occupants of houses all narrow streets andalleys, and consequent orphanage and widowhood, poverty,misery, immorality, and crime among its large and crowdedpopulation have clearly their foundation in an ill-conclitionedand defective house drainage and sewerage. How impor­tant, then, with the experience an.l warning voice of oldercommunities, that the proper steps be taken at an early day to

provide against the calamities attendant in populous districtsof our city, where, as is well known, the streets are narrow,and no back alleys, offerillg as it were, special inducements forthe generation of filth, miasmi, epidemics, and diseases inciden­tal to defectively drained localitics.. It is a question whichconcerns all; for let the destroyer once get in our midst andhe spa,res neither age, sex, rich or poor. To our city govern­ment and the property owners the question rests with a fearfulresponsibility; it is not one of commercial enterprise, hut hasfor its object, physically and morally, the lasting improvementof the health, comfort, and wen being of our whole population.

I would therefore recommend that the whole of the city beplaced under one .i urisdiction to be selected from the OityCouncil, say one Alderman from each Ward, who should bestyled the" Commissioners of Sewers for the city of St. Paul."They should be invested with such powers as to be able tocommence and complete a regular system of the drainage ofthe city, the cost of which to be defrayed by a special tax, ifnot otherwise provided for. UpOll the orgall40ization of this com­

mission, their attention would be led to consider the best andmost economical mode of building main Sewers; collateralbranches; the drainage of each and every house, and the sur­

face drainage. To get at this, it will first be necessary to obtainan accurate profile of the various grades of the streets with the

view to gef at the 11l03t natural outlet or outlets for the sewage;this done, thequestion arises, what kind of sewer is best, whatsize is necessary for draining 'such an area of country, &c. Jconfess to some astonishment on conversing with one of theAldermen to learn that in one of their new Sewers they were

about building, the walls 'were to be two feet six inches thick,a thickness totally unnecessarv where the material used isSOl111d and durable'; and fur all underground work, especiallyon public streets, the materials used should be of the first quality. If that is the case I maintain that a sewer wall one halfthat size is amply sufficient for the form of a sewer that T wouldrecommend to be built of Brick. And here I would remarkthat many persoBs consider the Brick manufactured in or aroundSt. Paul unsafe, and not fit to he used in the building of sewers.

If that is the ease, then are the same kind of bride unsafe andunfit to be used (as they daily are) in our public buildings andstores ; hut I consider with care and proger selection, a goodbrick can he had at our brickyards sufficieut for building sew­

ers, that will be durable, and save a large amount of excava­

tion in nul' public strects ; and at least one half the size of thewalls will do, thereby rendering H, great saving in material,brick or stone, and mortar. After adopting a certain size andform of sewer, then the attention of the Oommissioners shouldhe directed to the matter of house drainage; this could be done

by holding complete control over the sewers while buildingand after they arc bn ilt, during the construction 01' building of

every new 8e\\'('1', there should be a ring hole left in the side ofthe sewer opposite every dwelling or lot, and a length of threefeet of nine inch barrel drain left in for the accommodation of

every house; hut in every case it should be compulsory to con­

struct the ring hole and three feet of drain opposite every lot,whether built upon or not ; and in no case should any but theofficers and workmen of the Coiumissioners be allowed to cut

sway 0)' remove any part of the sewers l)plongillg to the city;and when drains arc being constructed from the lots to the mainsewer, they should he under such regulations and supervisiollof tho commission as to prevent any impediments arising to the

thorough and effective draining of the property intended to hedrained. Attention should also be paid to the' construction ofman holes and side entrances for th6 purpose of flushing andexamination. Barrel drains should also be built for the surface

drain�.$t�re, and..i{.· reqni.s.itc, stink traps cC.Hl.ld be built to prevent

any emuvia coming up through the gullies, although from thenatural gTadc; of the cit,v, T do not anticipate there will he much

(j

deposit in the sewers if built properly. It would be advanta-­geous to provide for the ventilation of the sewers by means ofventilating shafts, to be placed equi-distant along the line ofsewers; and in relation to collateral sewers, to provide a means

whereby they could be flushed out with clean water periodically.With our gas works nearly completed and probably a water

works will loom up shortly, it behoves those in authority tomove in this matter. But to accomplish anything, there mustbe no clashing of interests, no TVard jealousies; but one har­monious whole. If that is agreed upon, I shall be happy tooffer some practical suggestions as to the best form and size ofsewers and the material for construction; also the best size andmaterial for drains, and their ready cleansing; also a methodof surface drainage as well as practical hints as to the manner

of washing and cleansing our streets; an of which will be atthe service of' yom readers and the City Government.

NlJMBER u.

In my last letter I dwelt more particularly on the necessityof a complete organization of the city authorities on the sub­

ject of sewerage of the city; assuming that to have been done,the next thing will be to ascertain what is the best form ofsewer that we should adopt, and after a. series of years of expe­rience, I am satisfied the best form we could have is the ovalor egg-shaped sewer with the small end downward. Theseshould be built of brick of' a hard quality; laid in good stone

lime, the invert to be laid in good cement..

I arrive at thisconclusion from the following :-the streets of Saint Panl were

originally laid out too narrow, without any back alleys. Thecity is located on a succession of benches or bluff's, and tomake the streets continuous, and of an easy grade, a large out­

lay will be required in making the necessary excavations. Fromthese excavations a large quantity of earth will have to be dis­

placed that will be used principally in filling up the low placesand raising the streets to a proper level, consequently our streetswill have what is termed an artificial surface composed of sandintermixed with rock and gravel. This will produce, whenacted npon by the traffic and storms of rain, a large quantity ofmud and silt, a great part of which will either find its waydown the gullies, or remain in stagnant pools in the streets as

at present, Btlbject to the 810\v and unhealthy process (If evap-

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oration and percolation through the ground. This on a Iimo­stone subsoil or strata would be indeed a very slow process;therefore the flow through the sewers, and the discharge of thesewage should be free, unobstructed and constant. The sewers

should he put in with such a fall, and arranged in such a man­

ner, as to keep thcmscl yes as clean and free from deposit as

possible; but inasmuch as I have found from experience, that,in order to prevent accumulation of the silt and refuse of roads,flushing is desirable, especially where it can be had withoutextra cost 01' trouble.T wonld recommend a complete and HYS­tematic plan of natural flushing he provided.

In recommending the egg-shaped sewer, I will give BOIHe of

my reasons; 111'8t, tllC forms of om sewers should be that whichwill produce the greatest velocity and discharge with the same

quantity of watel'� Secondly, the capacities of the sewers

should be onlv sufficient to receive and carrv away the houseand surface d{'ainage; and third])"" inasrnncl;J as smoothness ofsurface facilitates flow, and stability and durability are essen­

tial to ensure permanent economy, the sewers should be con­

structcd of (1,. smooth, hard, sound," and imperishable materia]

or the nearest we can get to it, and I 811 bmit that a sound, wenburnt brick is as near an imperishable article for that purposethat the ingenuit.y of man has as yet devised ..

I have witnessed(J1e digging out of bricks when making public improvementsin the city of I.. ondon thai> were. as Round as when first laiddown; these bricks were part of an old sewer built by theRomans when occupying that portion of the old world. ThOBeversed in chronological events nlay trace back the age of thesebricks. They were dng up in 184Ci.

The above are some>. of my reasons for advocating the (.�gg­shaped sewer, it being the form which, experience has proved,increases the velocity of thc flow much more, and preventsdeposits far better than auv other form. It is the strongestform, being capable of' resisting pressure from above, below, 01'

its sides. If the material be Ronnel the preSBUl'e wi11 tend to

make it more solid and durable; whereas the old flat bottom,and upright sides with fiat 01' arched top sewers, are liable to a

stagnant or sluggish current, and from an oblique or lateralpressure-which always takes place more or Jess in newlymade streets-the sides arc very likely to cave in; there beingno resistance in an upright wall. Another argument in favorof the egg-shape, is that a small and compact size sewer aboutfour feet six inches by two feet six inches is sufficiently large;.J drain a very Jm'g;e �tnd populous locality; thereby lessening

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the amount of excavations required, and saving our equestrians,pedestrians, and citizens generally the unpleasantness of havingmountains of dirt thrown opposite and around their houses,destroying their business to a great extent, and rendering thestreets impassable for some time ; "which will inevitably hethe case, if our city government persist in building such im­mense sewers with two or three feet. walls. One half the spacewill only be required, one half the time saved; and a more

durable and lasting structure by a.dapting the egg-shapedsower. 1 could go on at length adducing facts in support ofthis form ; but for the present enough on that head.

In tho construction of main sewers, into which collateralsewers must necessarily discharge themselves, a great advan­tago will be gained whore the intersection or connection ismade by the branch sewer with the main 8mV01'. By makingthe connection in a curved form, the a.dvantage is, the velocityof tho current remai ns unchecked, and there will be no anglc·in the inside of the sewer for the heavy particles to butt upagainst and deposit. themsel ves. This principle should be in­variably adopted in all cases, whether in the construction ofmain sewers, brunches, or house dl'ains,-the curves should illall cases be struck with (1 radius as long as the localities shalladmit of. And. in aU eases the main sewers should be built illthe centre of' the public streets, anrl no sewer should be builtat the real' of any buildings or lots, and if at any time it shouldbe found impossible to drain any locality other than atthe rear

of a street, no building should be suffered to be erected on topof the arch of' the Hewer; it should be left free without anyholes OJ' breach whatever, any departure from this rule wouldlead to incalculable mischief and wrong. Firsf , it is unsafe toallow irresponsible persow.� to cut awav the brick. 01' stone

'work, as it destroys the bond � and the ]tcHlses neal' to it wouldbe constantly annoyed by the effluvia that must arise from thesewers where such a nuisance would exist.

During the construction of main lines of sewC 1'8 , side en­

trances 01' man holes should be built. Whore practicable sideentrances are the best; but in very narrow streets man holm;'would suffice. The side entrances 'should he bu ilt of brick ofsufficient size for ingross and egress rising gently from thebpringing of the invert of' the sewer to thc side walk, and g

shaft carried up to the surface upon which should be laid a ca..'·n"

iron trap door. In the inside of this shaft, iron steps 01' handholds should be left inserted in tho brickwork to facilitate thedescent of workmen in their examinations for the pnrpose of

elea,nsillg a,nd l'epairing when required. The trap (lour (11' plattshould be un east iron hinges, the top to he checkered to 1n'0-vent pedestrians from slipping. This door should be securedby a common spring, easily set back on inscl·ting a key, tho(�ustody of 'which should be with the officer of the dist.rict.TIndm'neatll and connected with the plate should he �l east iron�,l'a.tjng, to be used on entering tho sewer, by Jeavillg the plato"'emailling'llp and the grating shut down over the shaft. Thi ....

�nethod willprcvcut accidents, allow ventilation, and the traffic

,:dong the sidewalks will remain unobstructed. This systemwill he found more profitablo than manholes. In the latterthey would have to be built directly over the sewer, and consc­

"lllCntly when required to examine, cleanse 01' repair, the trafficin the pnblic streets would he greatly impeded, and great;mnoyanee created tIl tho shopkeepers, whereas by the former.all thoso inconveniences would he avoided and the business of

cxaminatiou, repairs. c]('�m�,ing, &0., could be prosecuted with­out in nny '\vay hlterferillg with the ordinnrv lmsiness pursuits)f our citizens.

The next considcrution is one (If CO II siderahl« importance1 allude to the construction of g'ully drains and gratings tl I

(;al'J''y (IiI' tho surface water. This in conjunction \\ itlt th,system of house drainage calls for 11101'(', spaec and time thancan be devoted to it in this oonununication. Everv good citizenwho takes the trouble to read these poorly wrjtie� articles, 1.nn sure will agree with me that it is a subject of deep andvital importance to nll of' us, and the sooner it is grappled withand some practical effect produced, the bettor for us and thosewho come after 118. In my next T will offer HIV humb1(' sug-

gestiolls in the premises.' . '"

,�' U:MBEI� III.

I now propose tu offer a few snggestion� relative to th«surface and house drainage of our city.

First, as to the street or road drainage. It is a wen knownfact that the mud that accumulates in streets and roads iscomposed of silicious and argillaceous matter, and is of a

heavy, greasy and sticky nature. In times of rain, when thismud is carried into the sewers through the gully drains, anawhen there allowed to collect, it is difficult of removal, exceptby hand labor, and this can only be done two ways; either bytearing up the gully drains at certain distances, or by sinking

10

:1, shaft or �tllaU (�0��;-p"nd directly lllldd rite !.!:ullv .(,!,'l'<lti!l!..::.leaving so much r;,pnec l;eltlw the cnn':aneu t)t' rhe gld ly ('Ir�iin ;1;-.; h.allow the �(�wat�e or surfuco watt'}' to first fall into th« e(',s,'·­

pool. The hea<�' y particles W,"tlI1 preci I ;irni"e tlil'lll"vl V(."'. andthe J:glttur would make their exit throng!t rh« hurrcl deEin int;.the HUlin S(;'.\·CJ'. Th.' ,lc'pu,..,it at tilu 1)(ltU',ltl Ill' di',' ("':'-;-1",,,1,,would have to he l'l:lltli\'ed at certain jlC'l'iwl:-:.

rI'j"' 'j I... ) "j I I' I' " ,

. us artc-r j�yF[l:1l1 '" i Ie ,)t·-:t I) r u« i,\'o � nur �i "ttl' :eiTv,'l:-;

'LI'C (,·()i·jo· fl) bt' ,:() 1'-'1' i1))lll'(,yr,d l''': t" h·,\·l' 'l (··o".j li·",d ","""-�'. M': � � '

....- ,,�.

:" '. -.1.':.. �-.

_,''''';' ,-t.;�- It� ..

-, �I ;<.

•.• ., � -��.

uU' surfuce-e-which ccrt auu v ull[!·!t( tu hu dunc---'!ll Illnl' (·�;:,C� Iwould :-.;t!·'Jl!�d v recouuuoud �l. 8Y:-:'h'1l1 (If illl�J! in!..� i"ll(' !_.':11Ih' dl':.in..:out with \,:,�'dcl'; and ,," 1 ;;llcn\! lu liI'PPI:�.\, a 'phu; fl'l' nttJ�l(,(U1;-::jng- mId pnT.iJvillL. 'lUi' "/T('l+':, t1H' t-'mnt' ;)11\\,(,1' ! 1';(11\ 1'.1

crnpiJ,y 'till' that _lJlll'l)OS;' ('o!dd j,(, l;:�l'd fill' j-lt(, lli!:'jHI."l' ,,(Hll:Jl­

iIlg our i�lll1 'l drains. Ii '.)'pnllt ill :tite!". 1W:l p<ut (if i ilV ;-:,·;-;tc·.!:.!itRclf. 'rhe �·(mi-itnH·tiolll.d· tlw .rullv drnin from rhl' lllain'�('\Vi_Tto the surface of th« 'l'llad F;1ltll�ld Le without anv aQ1..dl' what­ever, (If :t curveliuonr form, ,lcJ,clHlcJlt un !ill''' \vi(lrll ,.f tL{�street. If built of lirick, they should be Inid Oil n i",did fr'!!!ld·ation. w orkccl iu �()()(l mnl't:u'; llnd tlu- «nrt l: \\\\11 l'lllllllH'd �j!at the :-;itlc:-<.

'

'Thu'C' is, 1!00\'cv,'f', alultitc!' kind ()f draill I'ljl(' iar lri\f.,'rrrLd,·to brick, 0)' al1ythill� t'l::;(� tlwJ ha,., tUllll' (I) my l;:lll)\\.'lul!.::·c',Tlw,Y an; <:.n.lllp(·;�'l'd (;t' terra cotta, 01' what .i� (,UIIl�II; Inl,Y kn";\v11as stone ·wal'e----;-;neh as i� 11t':()(1 in (Itt' iuanurucr urc (If t hI!coiumon demijohn or :-;hnle-huttle; and wlicr« tit(·;-;(· lit)t�J(,;-,:u'l"manufactured theru would he no difficu Hy ill Pl'ucl"'ing t.h(';�,:�stone wan' pipes, For dnrability, elt('apn(.':�,:..:. :tud cfneil'H(:)they are not to he excelled. 'I'hcy should he made ill }('ngth,:..of tWI) feet, with :t socket on one end, and the other ('lit] made­to enter the sockct ; the sizes to \':11')' according to the area t"be drained. They should he glazed inside to fucilituto the flow :

the joints made with cemcut ()1' morfar ; brnnche» and bendsof all kinds can also he made :-:.u as to 1'I11Ilit\ aHd p.\h·nd tlkdrain in ally dil'ection.

.'

TIle most unpl'<lctiBccl eull. ea6ily t'('.(� dw ad \' <1Ht'agtl 1 h(,:-vmust have ovm- overy other kind of drain lnat{'rial � f(Ir th.!savillg in time wouicl be :innncn::;e; ill the eonstnH·tion of n

hrick barrol drain every In'ick requires to he la.id by .hand andthe greatcst care taken in doiIlg' 80. The liability ill defective,workmanship is great, and the settlemcnt of the newly removed.earth will cause a. break in. the bond of the lH'lckwOl'K � tbiswill produce obstructiolls in the inside of the drain� and often1;110 entire destrnetion of the HalllC; whereat' the �t()n{' '"\'fU'('

]J

. .:1 mi;l pip" 1,'1!i1 ht: [<tid down ill �illl)!lt tilu 8:UIW time :J, altw

would lay down OlH� 1'1' t,iVO bricks. Thoro i,-; a;,: ,I)ll\�.i!, j-\{O; fe\�i,of drain 'imiJt that will sustain any Pl'(,SSlll(;. W;��l.' t,l1o jnsid�lslU,}uth and frco, and in case- wliero the gl'()und settles jt cannot

injure the draiu to any extent, :1:-; it is eOlnpch:.;e{l (If so fewlength:::, :ulIl those all bl(\ntl\�('l tog·ethc\!\ makillg nne continnous

'it!'()ng and durable drain.\V here }JO\\CeVCi' the stou« W,U'(_\ drain pipC'M cannot he obtaiu

«il, the next host materia! would IH; good, sound, well burntlnick. J\:") tho gnlly dl'ainng'o i:-\ an importau! feature ill thet-',.y ..stem, and a good. hard or wcl l pavcrl Htrel't, Hut �o liable toaccumulato dirt and dn�t, ] would stl'cmgly call the attention(if the (�ity authorities ttl tjti� matter ill p[u+icnlar. Now is thel.i.lllC� to provide fn]' these elllergell('i(�s; wliou the �lln'y drains:�;'e huilt u n tn the i'ml'fa.co of the street. a ;-;tTOllg' Q'liJJv gratingshould I'l� l;tid thoroou hul.cddcd ill nlOrt:u·--thi�·g�:ati{lg·s11oul�1bL) 1)1' east irou-v-lroavy, and 1 he spaeos between Ow Lars shouldnot exceed half 01' tlu'oo-quarters of an inch, so as to allow thediluted mud to pa.ss; as StOJH'8 and largo snhstnnccs wlH\11 collectcd tngetllt'r will choke up tho drains and StHVC1l':".

In lllrmy localities ill other ( ities, a system of IJuilding whatis cnl lcrl stink traps iF; found to he necessary ; and certainlydlCy arc dosirublc 1'01' the prevention of the effluvia that niav

;Lri�e from tho r:eWUI'3. Hat when 1 consider the tOI,ograph:}'{.f St. P<1111, and 1}(,,1' beautiful adaptation by nature to keeppcrtoctly clean and hcalty ; if a propel' system is ndoptod,]know of lin part within om.' present city Iiinits that; would rc­

"1 uirc the mi(\. of them, 1 f �Lt :my futuro time IHy hopes and('X pcctations should not be realized in this respect, a eheap andofficicnt stink trap can be put in whorovor required. the planof which shall be forthcoming.

Thoro is a. certain size of sewer (II' dl·;ti.ll tlui.t 1)1'opo1'1y "would.j'unt(_' UJI(101' (hi:..; 110<1.(1 of gully drains. T mean in those local­i t.ie� wlu-ro thoylravc alJo.fA nI' very n[11T()W thoroughfares, used»nlv fi)l' I )Ode:-:;tl·in,ll�.. 111 all thickly populated cities, plenty (Ifthem arc to he found, Thev arc mostlv the avenues to tho resi­di.'H(:e" uf tho poorer class, i'nauv of wl;o8l' habits of cleanlinessare not the Jn�)st rofinod ; 'yet tllOse Hro. the very places wheretilth and misery are to he found, and often intemperance with:1, thousand ills \vorking n gJ'a.tinal and sure foundation whereondisease ()f everv class and type can generate, stalk forth and,.:wite down all with WhOHl i't comes in contact. For such 10",ealitio:-; where it would he dangerous and almost impossible tohll ild :l lar�r� sized ROWel'. 1 would huild a small Rizcd egg ..

12

:,hc1f.ed sewer uf brick ;)0 by 1S inchc-, or if possible,1 would)):'('fcl_' th?J;l�bu:ar stone ware pipe, if it could be procured ;

,?:q�(;, "vit�L �i(H'.SC' drains to run into it from oyory dwelling,This should he built down the middlo of tho court or alley'with such fall as the basements of tho houses and land to bedrained would allow, keeping in view the level of the mainsower into which it is proposed to drain this locality,

And to insure health and faoilitato the druinage of suchplaces, at the npper or highest end of till.:' SO\\'01', brick shafts

s,h"n,l1,ld 1,,10 blli,l, t to 8"e,",1'\"0 a ver,Y. ilfll,)5,n'tant purpose, l�lamel.r, thatr,1 holding waterv to he eupplied from tho P1l)('s 01 tho WaterCompany, or snell other source n� may he practicable andiJaving a proper 1 all-cook with wuste pipe to l'cgu]nte the EUP',ply, for keeping' these sewers well washed and flushed out.Tlio phtil consists in fixiug against the he·ads cd:' the 80\\'01'8 inthe shafts, strong water-tight tlap�) which lllUY he lifted lip ifroquirod to allow auy one to 100]": into the sewers, Neal' tl) thebottom of this flap a circular aperture should 110 inado, of thesame radius as the bottom of tho sewer. covered with an iron.valve, to be liuna by a Link and staples, so us to swing freely.This valve (,Ollld' be ·opened from above by n. clurin fustcned toit: when tho shaft or tank. which should be built and renderedill�ido with cement, is full (Ii.' ' ....ntcr, andtho valve opened, therush and force of the stream through the aperture and alongthe inside of the sower would he such that it would SC()Ul' andeUlTV off any deposit 01' acoumulatiou. This 1)1'Oeo:O::5 can beportormod (�HC(" a week at 1110St: and would keep the sewers

»orfcctlv clean and clear from all obstructious. and tree from:�melL:;, 1�)J' no smell arises from any sewers whei·c tho currentsare powerful enongh to prevent thZl soil from dopositiug, Thecost of the water t•.n' each court 01' aU(.)� would he ,-cry t.riflingwhen compared with tho great good it would accomplish.

Too much attention cannot be bestowed on this branch ofsewora ge: without a propel' and efficient .niodc of surfacedrainage, the health and Iives of our population will always bein danger, particularly during the summer season, and thousandsof dollnrs Jnay he espende-d. in gradi.ng and l'Opairlllg 0111'

streets that would be entirely thrown away; f�)l' 'without goodsurface drainage it 'will be almost impossihlo to keep the streetsin good and thorough repair. In my next I purpose to give�TI:V ideas of' "hOllS0 '1 dl'ainagp.

13

xc�mEl\' rv.'1"'110 11011:',0 (lrainag-e of our city, comes next under obsorv ati ...Hi.)

,;";"la if one subject, more than any other, is deserving the espe­cial attention �)f the citv government. it is that Thousands oflives have been sacrificC'd'ln other communities, the cause ofwhich has been clearly traced to a want of' drainage; par ticu­�arly house drainage; and certainly we arc liable to the same

calamity, unless we put our shoulders to the wheel, and com­

.meuce the good work of a thorough, Ol'grn11�:ed system at once.

Tile g'l'catc8t cause t�'r the !.:!,'cncl'ation of niiasmi and noxious::!a8s�:� that arc destructive (�f human life, win he found in theexistence of cess-pools; they arc a CIU'"e, wherever fUlllld,,----llndr hold that tlzov arc totallv unncccssarv t« a perfect scwazc

f'\ysten!) where dw pl'{)pcr ;.,teps are taken III t imc to (�stahlis}� a

uermanent svstcm : the great mistortuno ha�; been ill older�>'nml1lllitics:" that the.Y have commenced the wrong cud first,f;7 they have Iost sight of the important subject, altogether,until the town or city hus been built un, rczardlcss of anv

hmirorm 1)1: estah,lislic((grade to regulatc a{id g�ide the (;\�nOl:�and ,)CCll1ll\:TS of lots as to the proper level 'whereon to CODl­

mence their huildings, keeping the basements up t« such :1·

level us to enable them to ge1;- sufficient fall to drain tho rear

:/' their lmilding-s and lots '-into the main strel't--wlJcl'e theserr(�Fnlil1ary pl'cCantiollS have not been adopted, the inevitableresult is, that huilding,:; have sprullg up whoso foundations rest

:lrh}il, the l�a�urnl, surface, and frequently bolo:v it. During the

1J811yl !rllm�.e]pa_1 J:npl'ovcments, such u? gradlllg streets, &c:) :1,

mU,1unty or lnllldlllgs so erected are found to bo several feethelow the l11\'l'1'1: ()f the. sewer. COllSCquentlv the onlv remedyfill' 11iu drain,ago (of such is to �,ollstrnct <:ess-pools underneath(!T eJu;-;e tn tLL1 InliJdiug':'i: into which the refuse first runs, after­ward tho cess-pool h:'c;OllWS full, or sufficiently high to get H.

"an int., the sewer. lut jt should be borne in mind, that only :1.

smal] l',)J'tii)u of tllu sewage can get iuto tho main sewer, and�hat uf the lig;htcSl� particles, and perfectly harmless � whereaslJle l.cavior bodies arc precipitated to the bottom of the cess­

!)ol:d�; there to rot and decay right under 1'11(1 noses of tho un­

fortunate inmates of tho houses.This process 111::1)' go on for a series of ;year::;, unthought. of,

unheeded, hy any onc----thc destroyer annually El1atehing awaythe unsnspecting victims, uutil 'whole streets and sometimestowns have bccnnlmost decimated. TIlLs is no funcicd picture;in one Hingle street in the city of London, (Silver street, Roth­erhithe.) 1 have \>;·-itrH:'sS('(] tH many as fifteen dead bodies taken

((('I'll the houses ttl ;lWll' last l'(�::-.t.illg plaet" who tlw ILLy Pl'i:VlOtti:>YV('·;\� alive and iii. tlll� hev-dav of hl1ppine.:;,>\ and comfort. Theywcrr ajJn,ck:cd wit]: tl;'l� ili�;lst virnleut form of elJuh'ra, andilPO!! examination all opell ditcl: \YU8 t()und rmtlliJlg' thl'Ollgh t.herear ,d' their lots, ehal'gcll to the top with a black fo,ted HmSR,Ii' eorruptiou. A 8UW(,T ran down the street, LilT, pel'1'oetl yihek�iB. t;) drain nw hnd{::; of tIle lots, conscquontlv tll(> �lll'fi.�co'tr'�linagl; could gt·t l!.CI (lthnl' I)utlc,t. l.ut tlio ditch. Tlri-. u)p;oth­,;,;' w ith a('.ennl1tlaj-;!lll�' • t' a most nft'Cll�ive elt;u·:wt(·l'. causeddu' (lit-eli in bcc.»n« c'lwked up, HIHI b,'- that mtnns l11Hlill'oti:3, .. t' lnuuan l)eiltg.-� were hlllTiml into ('[enlity, 1 W;l:, ellgagedin LiIP lH\l'i!Ulh \\'01'1, t" l'l�nludy the ov il : whic-h I partially

I I '. I' . 1 '1' I'··'

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. I �

"1�jH;�cecd.�(. III t Olll�; 0'1 ti�e. ;o;ael'l,I('{: ,:, \lh:.ll,Y 111�'J!tJl:-\ 01 1.1health, and inv ;t;--:-;IM:llii ted] a vir-tun. J [is dntll._'�; \\-('·1'0 sta-

,

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.' 1 I 'l •

1' I '1 •

tionary : eon,:;uiJlIenth' uc uauv III mleu Ll(' p(ll�OiloU" ,l'aSCH

a·l'i�ing. fl'PUI the ditel;:: lIt' W11,,"attneked with violent f(ltclting;lnd vomiting late Oil Saturday night, and fill n[(lllday morningwas a corpse, Lcould adduce numbers of other instances, butit would be di vorging t(H' much from my original intent. Itwin he sufficient if 1 can arouse 0111' citizons to the iUlportaHce»f a well matured plan ilji' the dJ'aiHage (If their dwellings.

TIll' material I would 1I,;:t\ ill the construction of hCH1::-e drains,would l)l\ the same ;1;"; advoc.atea in <l former ktter, whentreating: 4�f glllly drains, namely: stone ware pipo:-" but jf 11n­

possiblo h) obtain them, 1 should rcoommond brick barrel drains,laid in good cement, flushed inside with 11 coat of ceuicnt � laidwith a l..!'()od ftill towards tl1(' Hewer without anf�l(':-:, At themouth '('if tho drain where it mHpti('� itself into tl�4..� Hewer, thoro:-;jlllUld k':l bell trap, 11111l{.!; t')() llR to IH'C\'Ollt any eflluviu arisingfi'illn lIte Sf�\Vel';:; :wd asc:.cudin,!! into tho lHIHses--it will a1;-.;0 ho.;t /'"U'C(;'liaJ'd a.!._!',!in:·;j h�H'kYnlte�' ill timex of ohstru ('1 inllb j n tho:.;uw('r<");lml Nt�'1'1l1� f.l1' fJ\'bllnts; awl it wil] prrvcnt mt� }uH'l

1•

J 1.'· .. L' ,

.' . ..' f'�t I.ei' \'U1':llill; r mI., 1l1.·U ccrruni IIi tlll�(' ,to in l'�t (Ill!' H.'WOl'.:-i)11'1'1!1l ,.'(\(;tuw into the lIlHlSC':-, Iiv wav ot tilt' house drains.

Th(;'nSC'i" '1:( .. whlc]: hou-c dl'�'Liln; ��'an 1)0 applied an' numer

,,\i;o;; the most important of which is the canying "tf theJ'efu ...,(,\ of watet' do�et;�. Thie ean he dono h\' tlw eOll:;trllctionui' i-itonc '.rater c.lo.set llllIb iixod in the c]o;ets, supplied ''lith\vater bv a SHWl! tank, oI' l't:t-:ervnil', diselw,rcl'inO' a con�tant sup-I'.d v of ��':ttt'l' iuto the closet 1m11::;. and ·1)a8S�lo·'thl'ongh a eom.,

II . 0 \.

InuH .syphon at tlw btdtctln of the pan lutel the lll_Hl8P drain, andt1nall" intu the sewer, Those elosets Hhoukl lw made of stoneware'; such Inateria1 as rccollnnended fot' the pipe:.;; ut thehottfHll �honld 1)(' :.1 douhlc· Cll1'\':ltur'(' shn,pc'f1 _"oJnt'thing like

1;)

i he kUi.'r S UI fll'IIi dle by pl!ua (.1' 1 t':.IJ '. I ;,Y dlC" c,,] ;Rt:I! \t s', pp.lyof v..'ater the human excrement dcpf):.;itcd. in 1 he pnn '1'\'(.;1 d 11\'immersed in the one curve ()f th« ;-:yph()Jl� \rhieh won d h"fined with water IIp ttl :l level wirh t]li.' water in tht· (ifh:·j'«urv«. TJ,is serves the' dUlll)le Inul.c)�(' of prevl'I1rin,::' i!n,'deposit 1'('llHljnil1� in tile (,jOH't J.:Ul�� and cttnsing- nnplCrt:ltlil;mu!JIs to arise. At th« -um« t illl(� tl:(· C'XCl'ellwllt \\'1.1111(1 thail,<n T}H� surface. .u«] pns:-; thn11lg!t rlw :',)'J !lIOll with; Iu- ·ya;·:�l':nto tile hullf.:t' draiIl, Thi:-: plan i:� c'\:(:\'c1Iil1Ldr �illlplc. «nil !in.­heel! f,)Ullrl ttl Hll;-;\\'l'.i· \\'t,II \\'!i('J'('Y('l' it 1;�1::�' hl.'(';l pl;t,,;j;�('d,Car" ::,lululd, 110we\'('I', hu rul«-n 111i[ ("(I all,)\,: 1";.1'(';12,'1< :-;1!l:";:lW'("�;.:dt as stones, hay. wo.«], ()!' (d1l(_lJ' m.ucria l, fJ'tHll iH'in��' tl'["'\\'nI!ito rill' (',IO'i..,t p:m:--: as tho v IH:('('i��Hr;l\' ('aH;,(' "b��irl!('LilJn� �U1!:nUHi.' (,x]J(�TlSC ill t1l('il' r�'nlo\'nL It: thj,� i'hm ;,; W'lwru]J,'y';rHli)ptl�t1 in our house liJ'ai'!lHg(', a 11 'I i-.uu-« {dO 110 {}rdilln�'Y na:uri\vin 1):" l'lliin.. lv douc ,lW:l\ wit I! ; tltl� tl:-:e {,f that allillllillahll'pl'�l� lLt' ,( Jliu:itt w:u!:{)n."\rill h.. amoll!!' the tl,ill!";:-; that WC'!'C_

;dl<t I H'lltill'(�tt) Jil'c;lid� in 1hv ('\'I:nt (lV"OIll(' ;-:11('.11 plan hein;Ladujlh'\J. that \lIr:tcnd uf y(,gl'l',,' accuruu !atiulb (It' Ii It h ::nd

';'

..

l'.

. 1 ". .

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pHt1'lU �U.1 t wing pl'e�(_�n'c(, vcur mtt'l' Yl'nl'llght under (Ill I' 111,;-,,,,:,

j:Xfl()�:�·(t t(1 tlu- Imt'],iil!-( l'ay:-: '11' :t ;-'liltllT1ei' �lm, and {'I:Tinjn�'Fh·;tllChC':.; allllust ll1li)p�ll':ll)li..', unv d('ll ••�,it- lilal in the l�(:ln\n(lll

t. '" ,

I,

-1 ... .' �t

_

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1 " ,- "

1"il1l':�(' '11 l'V(\11h JlW,V hllq d�: WHy lit1ti tlw:':l' (�l();-:ut I,ml" within;t VVl''y few llliJilltl':-' of its illtrodll('ti()l1 will lH> dl'ivl'll ii.to tbiM,i:-:-,i;-;�i Jlpi, thc')'('. tl) rloat .lown th« ;-,tn\�tm amI hc: fOI,(' \'('f :::llfJl':iof it;,: dallg'Pl's and (dfl'nsivl' liJ'ol)el·li('�,. Of ('ollr's('t ;':jl(\:lk now

as 10 the Mi:-:f'i�;,.:ipp; lwing tho 1'P('('ptitcl(, int.. whit-]: the' \",1,011'(if our :-;eWC'l'flu-e will b« thrown.

Allt.ltJl('l' pl:;�) I have in contemplation fur di:-.ell({l'��'ed S(\,.;l,g,-�,would (·omiderahly IJrcvcm the pollut.ion of om' bcautiful river :

hut ill tlw event of either plan I)('ing' adopted the l'Vrlp�issi,pr�; i:-­i 'UI' onl v natural out let.

To Hl�ake a perfect :-;y::-:tenl of drainage it fiupply qf wuter at

certain period:-:. it; Indii::ipcw;;ablc and as the ereetien of' a (·it)"Vater 'V()rk�; it;, as 1 nUl informed, fully determined OTI. it, be­COHWS n. cpIpstioll (If �ome irnportanec to know 'who is to ]W,H'the management O}' Fnpel'vision uf it. The duty of onr eit:yGovernment is to get absolute cOlftrol over the '\-Vater ,Yorks.01' jn othcr 'works 1'he tux paycrs should own it. This couldbe easily accOlnpEshed 'by the ereation or issuing Oity Bonds,tmfficicllt to meet the necessary expense of the erection of tJH:'works, machinery, pipetS, &0. If, however, there should be aIL

.Ad of Incorporation in existence, conferring on pl'ivate indi­"jdllaJR the right to COJJ�.t!'n('t a 'W'flter Work� for the snpply of

It)

the eity, then suclr arnmgelncut., �hUL1ld b(� 11lack \\ i Itt [;:I.G

eompallY as would ensure a plentiful supply of water at ldl,times at the lowest possible rates; and if not too htte,---tbeyshould be made to pay a pel' eentage of their net profits tu thecity. This is usuul with railroad cornpauies ; and I think th(�rule is equally applicable to -W'ater Companies. It would b,,;very desirable if the laying' down tho water pipe'::,' in our :-:-rn'ebcould be clone at the same time that UlU' sewers are beint!:'it would be a great sH,villg of time and monoy ; and Illl:r iUU'­

chants would not he subject tu so Iuan)' serious aunUVa1:C{:S or

having the streets blocked up so often io tho t1e11'Lmcn't of t!t.::, 1 l'

business. For example, see l{ohei't Street sewer, \vhieh l.a­taken as much time to build a few feet, that it would tak« t..build sewers half over the town under the plan :1::' lter(� su

gested; and it will..

be well for the tax payer� to aseertaincost of the Ilobert Street sewer wlien completed. It is a gl'catfield wherein to learn wisdom, and will well repay any OIl •. ,

interested, to spend an hour or two watehing the progrc.,:,s ofthis gigantie public work. To proceed: ilnagine n bcauriiulline of' sowers built throughout. tho \v11010 (If (lUI' city, acccir.­

panied by a. plentiful oupp],r of water frOTH the pipes of tl.!cWateI' Works or Company; to what use can we apply tb�water ill perfecting the strc'et gl'::uJing and sC"xel'ag'e svstr-n: '!

NFM.Blm Y.

The original copy of letter No. ;Y thruugh sorue (�;1U6t: or

other, although handed to the proprietors of the" Pioneer andDemocrat," was never published, and in justice to them, I haveno doubt the neglect was unintentional. On application to themI was informed that it had been mislaid � I am thereforecompelled to weld in another link to complete the chain of mysuggestions. Without a good supply of water we can JICVer

complete an efficient system of sewerage, and surrounded as

our City is with innumerable lakes and springs, little difficultywill arise as to our source for supply, and by laying down con­

duit pipes a constant supply can be had that will reach thehighest room in the city. Should it be difficult to find a headof water sufficient for all purpo�es, a small steam engine often or fifteen horse power could be erected at the source of

supply to pump up the water, making it pass through what iscalled a Stand Pipe, this consists of a double row of pipes w�H

17

jointed, and on the top connected with a bend or curve, thewater on ariving at the top would then pass through the bendor curve and descend into the main pipes in our streets, andwherever required would find its way into any room in the citywith an elevation equal to the height of the stand pipe. Careshould be taken to have the main pipes laid down as far fromthe action of frost as possible; the joints should he well caulkedwith spun yarn or tar rope, and the lead run into the joint andset up with proper hammer and set; the depth of' lead regulatedby the size of pipe sufficient to prevent leakage and blowingout of the joints. There should be fire plugs laid down at

stated distances in every street, for the purpose of cleaning outthe main pipes and attaching the fire company hose. I an)

not prepared to give a decided opinion as to the practicabilityto use wooden stand pipes durinz the winter; but in a lessrigorous climate than this I have �seen them used to a greatadvantage. They are simply constructed of wood about fourfeet long, hollow right throughout; one end has a tap attached,the other end tapered oil'. In the winter the leaden servicepipes that supply the houses are sure to be frozen up and use­

less. In that case the stand pipe is taken and fitted into the fire

pl,:g, and the inhabitants have a temporary supply at their doorsdally. I have no doubt this would be a desirable way to obtaina supply of water during the winter; and an economical mode;for one or two men with one horse and two or three stand

pip�8, could accomodate the whole of the city every day hyhaving stated times for their attendance in every street-sayone hour for every street-at any rate the cost of the experi­ment would be very trifling-and the fire plug is indispensiblcto the proper cleansing of the pipes; hydrants or cast ironstand pipes should also be erected at the sides of the streets,�or t�e use of the citizens, and irrigating the streets and quench­mg fires; connected with these hydrants should be a worm 1)1'

thread to which could be attached a hose' for fire companies,as well as to water the streets � this latter could he done twiceor thrice a day, as thought necessary; at the end of the hosethere should be a thread to allow of' various kinds of nozales=­one should be a spheroidical form to throw a volume of water,others should be a diverging or a fan tail shape; these will befound very useful in the cleansing aud purification of cou�tsand alleys, as the stream could be thrown up to a certain

height, and in its ascent and descent would cover a large space,carrying with it its healthful, cooling effects. This method iloOallowed to be one of the greatest luxuries you can bestow (HI.

18

crowded neighborhood ill the summer season, and by far thebest preventative of epidemics, It would be a source of pridecould 1 see snell a system adopted in our city. Another ad­vantage will arise from it-as the same water wouldbe natu­

rally diffused over the SU1'f�1Ce of our streets, and in its course

would seoul' OUl' streets and alleys, carrying along a largeamount of' garbage and unhealthy accumulations into our sew­

ers, that would otherwise remain and become offensi YO and

dangerous.The application of water obtained from tho 'Wrater Uompany'»

mains, by hose and jets as above mentioned, is of far more im­

portance to the public health than may at first be supposed­for in addition to the direct mechanical application of the waterin the removal from the surface of the accumulated impurities,i t could be employed to remove, hy absorption from the atmos­

phere, the noxious gasses which naturally result from decom­position of animal or vegetable matter; the best form of jetfor this purpose would be the diverging jet. Many of thestreets and alleys of St. Paul, particularly in certain localities,are now in a filthy and insalubrious condition, and more 80 justafter a rain storm; the surface is coated with mud, and strewnwith offal and refuse of the most disgusting nature; in the in­terstices of the sidewalks, and the hollows formed by the par­tial settlement of the walks and roads, stagnant, fostid liquidsare collected, eharging- 1.11(' atmosphere 'with their offensiveexhalations,

The application of water in the removal of the surface accu­

inulations, and absorption of atmospheric impurities, would beeffectual and perfect, and to an attentive observer markedchanges would i:WOIl be perceived in the character of the local­ities inducing a condition of salubrity and freshness, furtherincreased by a reduction of temperature, a result invariablyattendant upon these operations-and in addition it would bea great boon to the inhabitants of' the crowded portions of 0111'

(�it.Y, many of whom are hard working, industrious people, buttheir means are limited, and consequently unable to procure a

plentiful supply of water, even for household purposes, unlessthey can submit to the excessive charges of the present watermonopolists, i. e. circumambulating geniuses whom we see

every day sitting astride an old painted whiskey or molassesbarrel; and such a system of supply in a city like St. Paul,where there is an abundance of fine living water gushing forthfrom every hill side, inviting the inspiring genius of man todCY:1s(, a scientific and economical mode whereby it can be e01]-

19

ve ed to the homee uf the poor and rich; surely with the

� erbia! energy and perseverance that has hitherto charae­

i:ri:ed o�lr fellow citizens of ,St. Pan], The miserable anti­

( uated water carriers occn,pation must shortly he doomed to

t�e reckoned among the thmgs that wer:. . .

I anticipate that the general adoption 01 the system ot

cleansing our streets by. water, and the C?11sequent removal of

the accumulations of dirt and re�llse will greatly lessen the

labors of the sc�venger and, entJre,ly supersede. the presentslow and imperfect mode ot watering the streets with the

R rinklinz cart, a system worthy of its coadjutor, the "ac­

�1�'1J'ics ,,t�mentioned ahove-"'\vho does not. caU to mind the

ll1i�erable slow water cart that was seen in the summer of '5fi

perambulating the streets of St. Paul, sprinkling ��ry "little

drops of water upon a great many grams of sand (' A verypoor apology for watering streets, yet the quantity was not

limited by the snpply, hut solely to he attributed to the modeof conducting it to wherever required, the frequency of the

application of the proposed system of watering and cleansingthe streets would be determined by their specific requirements,for instance in watering the main thoroughfares the operationsshould be performed at least twice every day, early in themorning before general business hours, and again in the even­

ing. 'I'lris would not interfere with the traffic usual in a busyeity like St. Panl, and in very hot weather it may be deemedadvisable to irrigate once in the middle of the day, but in ordi­nary summer weather I believe two good waterings each day,will he' a11 that is necessary-and the same regulations wouldapply here also, as to the cleansina of streets and sidewalks.The main thoroughfaJ'C's should be cloanscd early in the day,and thot-p streets with less traffic could he attended to during theday. This plan, if commenced and followed np every daywill be found very beneficial and lessen the opportunities forthe accumulation of filth, and 0111' streets will present a healthyand dean appearance, and in place of filth, disease and imrno­ralitv, we shall see cleanliness, health and a good state ofmorals pervade eyer.y class in the community, and as an incon­trovertible doctrine laid down in the New Testament that,. cleanliness is next to godliness" and believing that the CityCoull?il is composed of gentlemen able to appreciate such a

doe.trme, I haye an abiding faith in their good intentions and�lesm:s !o promote the health and prosperity of St. Paul, it:8 a subject that must command their serious attention anddeliberatiolJ. The City authorities ha ve recently passed an

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Ordinance establishing a Board of Health. That i� proper.Now if they will turn their attention to the State of the streets,and sewerage of the city, act at once thoroughly and efficiently,"buf systematically" and they 'will leave but very little dutiesfor the officers of the Board of Health, provided there are goodand stringent quarantine regulations: and T maintain, shouldwe be so unfortunate as to have an epidemic brought here byany of the boats, that it would soon die out of itself providedthere was nothing here for it to ravage or feed upon for it is now

an admitted fact that yenow fever, cholera, 01' indeed (wy ofthe contagious diseases incident to a more southern latitude,cannot exist in this.

1 would here call attention to an important feature in t1wstreet Cleansing that I had in my hurry almost passed over.

I allude to the accumulations of animal and vegetable substan­ces that win always accumulate, being the refuse of culinaryoperations in every hotel and private family. It is well knownthat St. Paul is sadly deficient in back alleys) therefore theback yards and rear of buildings will become the receptaclesof this kind of filth, the most dangerous if suffered to remainthere long. To get rid of this danger I propose that everyproprietor or occupier of a house be compelled to keep in hishouso a tin or sheet iron pail with a cover OIl, into which shouldbe thrown the above mentioned accumulations of the day.Every moming the city scavenger should he compelled to cal:at every house and take tho contents of the pail or bucket andthrow it into his cart or wagon kept for that purpoRc, and byhim hauled away to some convenient distance from the city.This would be higl1ly desirable and I doubt not but the con­

tractor would find plenty of farmers outside the city limitswho would be glad to pay him a premium for the city refuse.Iu some of the older cities I have known the city scavenger to

1my a high premium for the privilege of obtaining the refuseand offal, and if properly managed I anticipate St. Paul' can

nltimately obtain a material resulting interest from this source.

As regards our large hotels, they should be obliged to have a

sufficient bin or receptacle, wherefrom the refuse could beobtained" daily" by the scavenger. And if the City Councilhave PO\VCl' they should pass an ordinance making it an offense]punishable hy tine, not to collect the garbage as above sug­gested or any other method whereby the dangerous and

unpleasant accumulations may be avoided. It is somewhat

gratifying to know we are in a fair way to ha;re an e�cientlyorgamzed 1Vater Company. The names composing the DIrectors

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and officers are sneh that we may fairly expect in a short time to

have a pure and plentjful supply �f water at our doors and withinour dwellings. It wIll b.e an ac�nevem�mt worthy of a great re­

joicing claiming equal rights with a railroad celebration... And

'here ]�t me ag�n suggest as. the esta?lish,ment. of a WatcrCompany is an abs,olu�c fact, that the CIty Council US�� all hon­orable meants to obtain a per centage on the net profits of the

Oompany, so as. to lighten our taxatjOl� as l1;uch as po?siblc,Our street gradmg also ne,eds ,some reformation, and without

proper drains and gutters. It will be useless to grade; as witnessthe state of the road crossmg Trout Brook, neal' 'Winslow's Mill.In the first place a stone bridge built across the brook withmiserable wing walls, not solid enough by one half, laid dry,An embrmkrnent then thrown up to a certain level, no piles 0]'

abutments at tho slopes to prevent slipping and rain washing.The sides of the road higher than the middle, without propertyformed channels at each side to carry off' the surface water and10! the result! The Bridge washed partly away, the embank­ment one cornnlotc stl'jn£� of ca.ving and fissures all of whichmjght have b��CJl prevented if proper precaution had beentaken in the early part of the work. To constrn ct a bridgeand make an embankment [LerOSE; a ravine of that magnituderequires great foresight and engineering skill. Our streets,with few exceptions seem to be laboring under the same diffi­culty and unless a propel' "system" is adopted we shall witnessmany such calamities to the injury of property, and dangerto life and limb, It may be said the above accident was causedby an unusual amount 'of rain, &c. Granted; that is what we

should guard against, for ordinary seasons the most common

precautions would suffice, but for extraordinary visitationseither by flood, disease, or even war, I maintain it is a para­mount duty to be at all times prepared, and to enable 11S to beprepared, no lack of means or energy should he spared. "Ex­perience" and" science" must be used-" right" will be theresult. Life, limb and property will be secure, thoe fundamen­tal principle upon which should he based the granting of an)'municipal or corporate powers to irresponsible persons.

NUMBER VI.

Th� views herein expressed may be considered by some as

Utopian, yet, as I have seen the system adopted, and broughtmto practice in older citi es, I may be pardoned for dwelhng

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'awhile upon the subject. The question may be fairly asked,can the sewerage of St. Paul be made a source of revenue to theCity � I believe it can. The great value and advantages tobe derived from a systematic application of the refuse of towns,to agriculture, have been for a series of years urged upon thepublic attention, but the cost of the special arrangements forthe purpose has a tendency to deter municipal corporationsfrom taking any general steps toward its accomplishment. Rutif it is a source of profit and 'wealth for individuals to charterships and procure guano from some of the most remote islandsof the ocean, surely it will not be considered chimerical for W4

to consider if we cannot hy scientific means, make such (1581'0-sition of tho sewerage of OHr city, as will prevent its being­emptied into the rivel', thereby for a while pollntiug the wa­

ters. And when such arrangements as would he required to

perfect tlllch a plan, would be a part of a perfect system of'drainage itself, the question of cost will sink into insignificancecompared with the probable return of the whole cost of' theimprovement. It would he well at any rate to consider theprinciples that should be laid down in reference to this sub­ject. 1 doubt not but there arc hundreds of capitalists whowould he found ready to embark in such an undertaking. Thereturn for their investments would be certain; but it is clearthat in a subject forming an integral part of a whole, as theapplication of the refuse of our city would be, in carrying outsuch a proposition, any eli vision would be perfectly antago­nistic, and a serious interference with the perfect working ofthe system. Whether it would be compatible with the dutiesof the Commissioners of Sewers that, they should take uponthemselves a work partaking in a small degree of a commercialor speculative character, it is not for me to determine; but cer­

tain it is, that such a system would be re-producti ve in its natureand would considerably lessen the taxation of our citizens.This latter in my humble opinion should at least be a sufficientreason to induce us to examine its merits and practicability.

The manner of carrying out this plan would be a convergingsystem; that is, the fall, or outlets of an the sewers should bedirected to the lowest place possible. At this point, largereservoirs, 01' tanks, should be built, water-tight, somethingafter the manner of the gas tanks for holding the gasometer;into these tanks the sewerage of the city should be discharged,and when a sufficient quantity is collected, that tank shouldbe closed, and another one opened for the reception of theRcwerage. This process could he managed so as not to form

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any impediment what.e\��l' to the drainag«, and at the same

time, when one tank IS tilled, �Y a c�lemlCal preparation, thewhole of the valuable properbcr; of the sewerage could beprocipitatcd to the bottom, �he water. could then be pumpedfrom the top and discharged into the 1"1 ver. The solid partsat the bottom of the tank could then be re�noved, and he keptready for supply to market gar�llle]'s and tar:uers; and it isadmitted bv all fanners, theoretical and practical, that a fertil­izer made Aom such a source cannot he beaten. And:if we

consider the quality of ()�1r soil, the shortness (If the season,&c., is it not more than lIkely that a great demand for such an

article of manure would be the result. There is no kind ofzuano that could excel this; awl it is a well known fact that� larze quanti ty of f:[uif sold for gnano is nothing but a baseimit�ion, manufactured for the occasion, ill the United States.If it pays shrewd II]C11 1·0 ti·cight ships and trade in this articlealone, will it not pay t1Jp tax payOl's of St. Pan! tn Rave thiH80n1"CO of ·wealdl, and LJy that means Jighicli their taxation '1The subject is one that offers a wide field for usctul hints andsnggestions. I merely hustily mention it, knowing it has boonin practice ill other places, and found to succeed won, and thenollurion of the fresh water streams has been avoided.t.

]\fe881'8. Editors, when T cominoncod writing to you 011 thesubject of streets and sewers of St. Paul, I anticipated thatone or two communications would he sufficient to contain alithat I wanted to conye,Y; but as I entered into the marrow, asit were, I found the subject one pregnant with weal or wo toour city; it is prolific in it.self� you cannot. skim it over anddo anything like jnsti�e. I feel and know my own incompe­tence to grapple with It;. yet T could not let the opportunitypass without raising my feeble voice to warn those in author­ity of the necessity to take immediate action, ere it iA toolate.

Experience ,011 Illy part has made me 80 Stl'Oll1l0U8. I have seenthe sad and baneful effects of ill-constructed drains, and knowhow difficult it is to remedy the evils when once they fastenthemselves on a community. With us in this city it is not toolate to commence now, and I believe it would be highly culpa­ble, if not criminal, if the city government do not set aboutestablishing a uniform permanent system of drainage; to con­struct a sewer, here and there, wherever interest, whim or

favoritism may dictate; and such sewers, as, God forbid, we

may not havo, large enough for a fortification wit!l wide flatbottoms, is not tlH.';· thing. One general, perfect, entire network

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must be constructed, under one" responsible," •. 4 competent"head, with officers of undoubted sagacity; get these mattersfirst accomplished, and the results will very soon he seen, tothe satisfaction of every g,)od citizen. And, as I before ob­served, I did not intend to extend my communications to thislength, yet if I can succeed in riveting attention to the prac­tical snggestions made, from time to time, I shall be amplyrewardedfor my little labor. With little time on my handsto givc the subject that attention which it demands, I have justhurriedly penned my thOlIght� as they arose in my mind, with­Ull t correction or revision. They cannot boast of a high orderof literature, or even good orthography, hut my failings I hopewill be placed in the one scale and the object and intent inthe other-the result I shall be perfectly satisfied with.

Rrspectfl111y Yon rs ,

JAMES STARKEY.