THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 27TH SEPTEMBER, 1890.
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along flat districts.
Every one who has had any experience in town sewerage is perfectly well aware of this and yet Mr. LEIGH recommends the rapid descent of the sewers from the high level district, in which he supports me in proposing the adoption of the Separate System, in preference to the more gradual descent of the high level intercepting sower along Caine Road proposed by me and which unlike Mr. LEIGH'S proposed outfall provides for the drainage of the whole of the district above the Caine and Bonham Roads.
Mr. LEIGH takes exception to my evidence before the Fever Commission in which I stated I could not recommend at present any further ventilation of the sewers on the lower levels, and claims the support of Sir ROBERT RAWLINSON. I am quite ready to agree with Mr. LEIGH that ventilation improves the air in the sewers, but I contend that so long as many of the drains on private premises exist in their present condition no amount of ventilation of the main sewers would materially improve the air in the house-drains.
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I fail to see Mr. LEIGH's contention on page 11* that efficient ventilation of the sewers would preclude the [ Gazette, p. possibility of the sub-soil becoming inpregnated with sewage matters in the event of sewage being forced into the sub-soil drains, the evil effects of using the same drains for the conveyance of sewage and soil-waters are too well known to require further comment.
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Mr. LEIGH in raising objections to the adoption of the Separate System on pages 11, 12 and 13* of his report colle, pp. seems to have entirely ignored the provision I have made for carrying off the rain-water. Over the whole of the Chinese part of the town I have allowed 2.40 inches per 24 hours which after deducting the water supply leaves a margin of at least 2 inches of rainfall per 24 hours to be admitted into the sewers, and further the steep gradients the sewers must necessarily have in this district will enable them to discharge into the intercept- ing sewer even more than this quantity, the intercepting sewers as stated in my report being relieved by the overflows direct through the Praya Wall into the harbour.
The flooding of ground floors, and the injury to merchandise, I consider are practically out the question most of the houses in the Chinese district will have better provision under the new system proposed for the getting rid of storm water from the back yards than they have at present.
The question as to whether street washings ought to be allowed into the storm water drains is also raised by Mr. LEIGH. It will no doubt be advisable in some of the streets to admit by means of small gratings the dry weather flow into the sewers, but the regular scavenging and the absence of animal excreta, all the carrying being done by human labour, very much reduce its objectionable character. The hawking of vegetable produce in the streets should be limited as far as possible and seeing the extensive market accommodation the Govern- ment are providing I presume this practice will be very much restricted.
As the advisability of constructing the intercepting sewers at present in view of the proposed Praya Recla- mation project will doubtless receive the careful attention of the Authorities in England I forward a plan shewing a series of outfalls along the Praya arranged so as to provide for the discharge of the sewage into the harbour and at the same time admitting of their being ultimately picked up by the intercepting sewers proposed by me should circumstances necessitate the adoption of such a course.
If the intercepting sewers are abandoned the Scheme will not provide for the drainage of Causeway Bay reclamation.
I estimate the cost of the project without the intercepting sewers at $195,000.
The Honourable J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General,
&c.,
&C.
&c.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
FRANCIS A. COOPER,
Sanitary Surveyor, Public Works Department.
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