3. "Should abandoned wells be used as cesspools?" The use of abandoned wells as cesspools is an extremely dangerous practice. as the sewage is discharged directly into the water-bearing stratum. This should never be permitted if there are other wells in the vicinity, or even at a distance, if they penetrate the same stratum. Even though there be no other wells at the time sewage is turned into an abandoned well, in subsequent years wells may be bored and the lives of many persons endangered through ignorance of this contaminating well. 4. "What are the dangers, if any, from the open-vault cesspool?** The dangers from the open vault cesspool include all those of the deep cesspool, and in addition thereto it affords a breeding- and feeding-place for the house fly, and the very great and real danger of flies carrying infection from such places to articles of food and drink. It is true that the distance to ground-water is greater and therefore a greater degree of filtration purification is obtained than in the deep cesspool, but, on the other hand, the opportunities of direct infection by the fly are so great and numerous as to very greatly outweigh the evils of the pollution of the water. In many of the smaller towns of this State [Kansas] the cesspool is coming to be a very serious menace to the health of the community. During the past year there is good reason to believe that several instances of local epidemics of typhoid fever were due to the pollution of the common ground-water supply by the discharge of the contents of cesspools directly into the water-bearing stratum. Individuals and communities are warned of the danger of this practice, and cities are urged to pass such ordinances as will at least regulate cesspools in accordance with the above suggestions. The same warning applies with equal force to California, and it is most encouraging that all over the State citizens are asking themselves these same questions that have been a subject for consideration in Kansas. SMALL SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS. CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING. Incorporated towns and cities are in a position to secure the advice and services of trained engineers to design their sewage disposal works, but the inhabitants of isolated residences, farmhouses, and villages can not always avail themselves of such technical knowledge, hence it is proper that some words of advice should be offered. Sewage is the waste matter resulting from man's direction of the forces of nature for his benefit, and includes, not only the natural human excreta, but also the wastes from the kitchen, laundry, dairy, and perhaps the stable and pigsty (or at least these latter should be included in the consideration of sanitary conditions.) Practically all of these wastes are organic matter which must eventually be returned to the simple elements through the processes of decomposition and putrefaction. These decomposing processes are effected by the action of minute organisms, known as bacteria. The bacteria which we find so active in breaking down the organic matter in sewage are of two kinds, "aerobie" and "anaerobic." The aerobic, as indicated by the name, thrive and perform their functions in the presence of air and light. They are the cause of the putrefaction of dead animal matter as we see it in the open air, the decomposition of which causes such offensive odors. The anaerobic bacteria (designating organisms that live in the absence of oxygen) work in the dark and away from free air, breaking up the particles of organic matter and dissolving them into their original elements. It has been found that where sewage is collected in a tank where proper conditions obtain, after a few hours the anaerobic bacteria have attacked the solid matter and separated the constituents. The inor ganic matter falls to the bottom while most of the organic matter is dissolved into fluid and gaseous forms. That which has not been dissolved is broken up into fine particles and held in suspension in the liquid. A "scum" forms on the surface of the liquid in the tank which soon becomes dense enough to shut out light and free air. As these conditions become established the anaerobic bacteria acquire their great est activity. The period required for maximum effect varies with the quality of the sewage, temperature, and other conditions, and ranges from, say, six to twenty-four hours, but eight to sixteen hours is the usual time for ordinary house refuse. Any person may obtain a quotation in his own community on the materials listed above. To this estimate he has only to add the cost of labor. Cut "A" shows the general arrangement of a septic tank in relation to a farm house or country residence. It also shows the subsoil irrigation method of disposing of the effluent. Cut "B" shows a scale drawing of this septic tank. Bill of Material for the Construction of the Above Septic Tank. 1 length 1"x3' 3" gal. iron pipe 1 1"x3" gal. iron nipple.. 1 3"x3"x" floor flange (" threaded hole.) 8 feet " vent pipe----- 4 pieces 2"x 4"x4'-- 8 pieces 1"x12"x5". Total The action, called "septic," does not completely dissolve the matters. contained in the sewage, but under proper conditions should destroy 40 to 60 per cent of the organic matter, leaving the remainder suspended in a fine divided state. The effluent from the tank will, therefore, be putrescible and if exposed to the air in stagnant bodies will soon become offensive. To avoid the offensiveness the effluent is disposed of by turning it into streams of running water which is a dangerous practice, or by using it for irrigation, either on the surface or in subsurface tiles,* or by further treatment. This further treatment consists in spraying the liquid effluent from the tank out through the air over "contact-beds" prepared of rough rocks and coarse gravel. The purpose of this process is to get the effluent aerated and in contact with the "aerobic" bacteria. When properly constructed none of these methods need require much expense. The drawings given on page 212 are of a septic tank estimated for an ordinary farmhouse with a family of from five to eight. It should accommodate the wastes from the toilet, bath room, kitchen and laundry-tubs. The supplementary drawings on page 213 show this tank combined with subsurface irrigation tiles. The sewage flows from the house into the septic tank through the "inlet pipe," and is held there by the "outlet weir" for ten or twelve hours. During this time the solid bowel-discharges and other organic materials in the sewage are worked over by the "anaerobic bacteria. The heavy inorganic "sludge" settles to the bottom of the tank and the lighter separated portion rises to the top to form the leathery "mat." If the tank works well, however, these two constituents are very small in bulk, most of the solids having been broken up into gases, materials which dissolve in the water, and very finely divided particles which remain suspended in the water and pass out with the effluent. The tank shown in the diagram is constructed of concrete, but figures are given for materials to construct it of redwood. The "soil pipe" from the house should be 4-inch vitrified clay, bell and spigot-jointed pipe. The cementing of these joints is specially important in the vicinity of trees and rose bushes, as their roots will utilize every opportunity to wedge into the joints. The outlet-weir is a simple device so arranged as to permit a constant discharge regardless of the intermittent inflow of the sewage from the house. If subsoil irrigation is planned, the effluent should be carried in loose jointed 2-inch tiles placed 12 to 18 inches below the surface and having a fall of from 21⁄2 inches to 3 inches to 100 feet. In sandy soil the distributing pipes should total approximately 200 feet, in less absorbent soil the amount of distributing pipes must of course be increased. The tank does not require a roof. Though one may be provided as a matter of safety or appearance. Successful tanks have often been operated for six or eight years without being opened, though the majority of them accumulate enough heavy sludge in three or four years to make it desirable to clean them out. The sludge so removed may be readily disposed of by spading it into adjacent ground. The Kansas Board of Health in a similar discussion of the subject, previously referred to, states, "Particularly for those parts of the State where the rainfall is so small that the water of the sewage, as well as Subirrigation is not successful, however, unless the soil is of a sandy, porous nature. its fertilizing constituents, has an appreciable value, the disposal scheme outlined above may have a considerable economic as well as sanitary value. It is quite possible by this method to maintain in the dryest region a large, well fertilized, and well-watered lawn. The process should be carried on entirely without odor, though, of course, the septic tank should be located some little distance from the house-say a hundred feet or more, if possible. Particularly the disposal plant should not be near to any open well which is used as a source of water supply." The expense of this suggested plant will vary in different parts of California. Any one can obtain prices, however, on the materials given in the diagram, and can accurately estimate the cost in his locality. In many parts of the State this cost would not exceed $25 to $30. SEPTIC TANK PATENTS. One of the unfortunate features of patent laws is illustrated by the history of the "septic tank." It is not probable that the principle of "septic" treatment of sewage can remain indefinitely involved in the patents held by corporations. At present, however, a corporation known as the Cameron Company is bringing a number of suits in various states to recover fees and royalties from cities having septic tanks for infringement of their patents. The following brief account of this matter is taken from Municipal Engineering, vol. 35, p. 290: The original septic tank patents were granted in England, 1894 and 1895, to Mr. Donald Cameron. The first of these expired in November, 1909. A United States patent was granted to Mr. Cameron in October, 1899, and expired November. 1909, unless the present congress shall extend it. The patents have generally been disregarded by municipal engineers and attorneys because they believed the so-called "septic process" was not patentable. One attorney facetiously remarked that if the Cameron patents were sustained he should endeavor to get a patent on the process of drying clothes by hanging them on a line. In this frame of mind, a great many towns and cities proceeded to build and operate septic tanks for the disposal of their sewage. Finally, the Cameron Septic Tank Company brought suit against the town of Saratoga Springs in New York and the town got a decision in the U. S. Circuit Court. Later the decision was reversed by the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The U. S. Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal so that the decision against the town stands. The decision defines the septic process as one where the sewage is subjected to bacterial action in the absence of air and light until the organic solids contained in it are liquefied. The Cameron Company, on the strength of this decision, has taken up the question of royalties with most of the cities using the septic process. In most cases it is cheaper to pay the royalty demanded than to fight a suit in the courts. Without some organization these towns would be at the mercy of the company, irrespective of the justice of their claims. Two or more septic process protective associations have been formed in the East to defend their members against suits by the Cameron Company. Fresno City is defendant in a suit now pending for license fees and royalties claimed by the Cameron Company. It will be of considerable interest to note what action congress will take in the matter of patent extensions. The Cameron Company have an office in the Monadnock building. San Francisco, and have instituted suits against several California cities, as mentioned above. The California League of Municipalities has organized to carry the matter through the courts to a definite decision for California. The announcement of the League is as follows: LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA MUNICIPALITIES. San Francisco, Cal., March, 1910. To the Mayors and members of city councils and boards of trustees of the cities and towns, and officers of sanitary districts, in the State of California. GENTLEMEN :-The College Park Sanitary District, located near San Jose, was recently sued for infringement by the Cameron Septic Tank Company of Chicago. Subsequently suit was brought against the city of Fresno, and the cities of Santa |