New Sewers built by the
wick'a
LC
46
**
8
owners of house property to do the same for the veins, that is for their house drains. These house drains built at the expense of private owners of property, begin in private tenements and terminate in their junction with the main sewers in the street, and it therefore devolves upon landlords to follow in our wake and imitate in respect of their private house drains the example set for the last three and a half years by the Government in our reorganisation of the main sewers of the town."
These remarks are very clear, and prove that the principal districts are Government provided with main sewers which ought to be suitable for the conveyance of on Mr. Chad-sewage, for the "comprehensive scheme for the main drainage of the City adopted Scheme. four years ago
can only be the furtherance of Mr. CHADWICK's combined sewage scheme, and that, up to the date of Mr. PRICE'S speech, no other system was contemplated.
Utilization of
>>
I am, therefore, only proposing the utilization for the red district of the New Sewers. work of so many years, and advocating the continuation, for these districts, of the scheme just mentioned. In fact, the house drains of the numerous large blocks of Chinese houses, which my firm have constructed, have all been connected with these main sewers.
It was only on receipt of the following letters, that I became aware of an intimating entire change in the scheme of
sewerage:
Letter of
Mr. Cooper
adoption of
the separate
Systema.
MESSRS. DANBY AND LEIGH,
GENTLEMEN,
GOVERNMENT OFFICE, HONGKONG, March, 19th 1888.
Re-Drainage of Proposed Buildings on M.L. 102 and 103.
It being the intention of the Government to adopt the "Separate System" of drainage in this City, I ask you in reference to these proposed buildings to consider the following amendments to the drainage system as shown on your plans.
That surface channels be constructed down yards and passages to carry off all surface water from yards and roofs.
That pipe sewers of comparatively small diameter be laid to take the sewage proper. In the case of yards on which cook houses open a small trap communicating with the sewer should be fixed in the surface channel, so as to take the dry weather flow due to the washing that it is the custom here to do in the back yards.
That all fall pipes for sewage be placed outside the walls and trapped at the foot.
That waste pipes from Baths, Siuks and Lavatories be carried direct through the walls and discharge into open heads.
That a disconnecting chamber provided with a fresh air inlet be constructed at the junction of the private sewer with the Government sewer, and that a ventilating pipe at least 4 inches in diameter be carried up above the buildings at the dead ends. It will also facilitate inspection if manholes are constructed at all bends in your main sewers.
That the sink stone in the cook houses be placed against the outside wall and the waste pipe deliver into a trap placed in the yard outside.
The position of the cook houses next the Latrines and the European Kitchen above them I consider very objectionable. Latrines should be detached buildings. I shall be obliged if you will consider the foregoing suggestions and submit plans showing all sewers and surface water channels with the sizes and gradients figured thereon, and also showing all traps, manholes, and ventilators.
I am Gentlemen,
Yours faithfully,
(Signot)
FRANCIS A. COOPER.
GENTLEMEN,
0
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG,
July 24th, 1888.
Re Marine Lots 102 and 103.
571
Mr. Cooper
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your application for Letter of permission to erect verandahs over Crown Land adjoining the above lots, and beg enforcing the to inform you that the Surveyor General can only recommend such encroachment Separate be allowed on the receipt of a letter from you stating that you will comply with System. the requirements in respect of drainage set forth in my letter of March 19th.
I have the honour to be.
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed)
FRANCIS A. COOPER.
Messrs. DANBY & LEIGH.
drains
Mr. COOPER admits that the existing drains of the City are constructed in Existing a substantial manner, and, that as Surface water drains, their construction leavested to little to be desired, though they may no longer be suitable as sewers. I may be well built. remark, that the Surveyor General, in his letter covering Mr. COOPER's report, mentions the many miles of modern main sewers constructed, and apparently does not agree with Mr. COOPER that these sewers are unsuitable for the conveyance of sewage, and I quite agree with this opinion.
The objections to the combined system of drains, for the conveyance of Mr. Cooper's sewage, are mentioned in the report as follows:-
1.-That the numerous outlets along the Praya render the condition of
the foreshore objectionable.
2. That the large sizes of the sewers cause considerable deposit during
the dry season.
3. That no efficient means of ventilation exist.
objections to using exist- ing Sewera.
tion (1).
With reference to objection 1, I am unwilling to admit that there is Refutation any foreshore worthy of mention from Kennedy Town to the City Hall. The of objec amount of silt that is brought down from the hill sides by the large main No foreshore drains, being chiefly dispersed by the action of the waves and of the tidal worthy of current, the balance having been easily removed by the use
'Priestman" dredger.
notice,
of one small
The construction of the proposed reclamation would render the formation Proposed of any new foreshore absolutely impossible, owing to the depth of water.
reclamation rendering formation
of foreshore impossible.
foreshore.
In my opinion, the reasons of the objection are:-That the outfalls are not Course of objection constructed in a suitable manner,, no attempt being made to convey the dry weather or normal flow, which is practically sewage, into deep water; and that made by the large number of the floating population, constantly near the Praya wall, cause a large amount of fecal matter and garbage to be deposited there. Also, that there is an utter absence of ventilation of the sewers, and defective connection of houses, rendering the sewage matter offensive.
I fail to see, as inferred by Mr. CoorEs, that any state of the numerous outlets along the Praya is a reason why the existing sewers should not be used for the conveyance of sewage.
Jarge rain-
With reference to objection 2. The sewers mentioned are, no doubt, Objection (2) chiefly the large rain water drains, shewn in blue lines on Plate 1, (these I in no Caused by case propose to use for sewage). There are, I am aware, some large drains which, water drains. owing to the unsuitable course taken necessitating flat gradients, should be diverted and altered.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.