MODERN IDEAS OF SANITARY ECONOMY. 



67 



seem a proper arrangement, that as soon as it is given up for 

 agricultural purposes, it should be subjected to tile drainage, 

 if that has been before neglected, and if within the limits of a 

 town circle. But it must be still a more effectual way of 

 ensuring efficient drainage if the men who build would prefer 

 land which had been one or two years under the influence of 

 drains. It is a wise provision of nature that organic matter 

 which has travelled far under ground, should itself become so 

 much transformed as to come out in an inorganic form ; but 

 there is frequently not enough of room for this process in the 

 passage of organic matter from yards to cellars ; and as the 

 matter becomes somewhat stagnant, so to speak, we have fre- 

 quently more than mere dampness under our houses. To draw 

 it off as it comes is the best way, of course ; and to drain the 

 land before building, also, is still better, when the land is not 

 very porous, and when it is in that very common condition of 

 requiring one, two, or three years, in order to get the drains 

 into a good running state. The outside of many towns, and 

 of certain unbuilt portions of all our towns, are unsightly pic- 

 tures of stagnant water. 



The surface drain for rain water is perhaps not to be 

 objected to in small towns ; but when the distance to run is 

 great, the accumulation by the way is great also; and instances 

 frequently occur where even the sewers are not able to receive 

 the water with sufficient rapidity, causing the streets to be 

 flooded. Every spot of a field absorbs water, and the run is 

 equal to the extent of field for some distance down through 

 the soil ; but a town has only a small strip down every street 

 for the whole water fall, thus rendering the mere surface 

 drainage for rain quite insufficient. If, however, the water 

 from water closets were conveyed in a separate drain, as it has 

 been proposed, we should gain many advantages, in all likeli- 

 hood. To most persons this seems a very wild scheme, but 

 it may be viewed quietly and without fear. At present all 

 refuse water runs down the sewers, and there is only to be 



