SANITARY DRAINAGE OF WASHINGTON. 6 



discussing the general question. The removal of this water with- 

 out injury to property and without materially increasing the 

 saturation of the soil is now being perfected in a manner which 

 leaves nothing to be desii'ed. 



So far as the remaining elements of the problem come within the 

 domain of engineering art, what we have to consider is a system 

 of improvements which shall, first, turn the pestiferous river flats 

 and swampy shore into dry and wholesome earth ; second, dry the 

 soil ; and, third, properly remove its foul sewage. 



Proper outside conditions being secured, it will remain to give 

 such attention to the defective interior and exterior drainage of 

 houses as will remove the present menace to health and life from 

 that fertile source. 



These improvements being completed, Washington, with its 

 generally undulating surface, its most thorough ventilation by wide 

 streets, and its excellent municipal control, would doubtless become 

 the healthiest, as it is already the most beautiful, of the large cities 

 of the country. 



While it is easy to formulate the required improvements, their 

 proper execution must involve the most careful consideration, and 

 to perfect the details of a comprehensive scheme adequate to secure 

 them all, is far beyond the limits of an evening lecture. All that 

 I propose is to give an outline of the manner in which I think the 

 desired results may be secured, that you may consider whether or 

 not the most desirable end would justify the necessary means. 



In carrying out, and even in suggesting, a project for improve- 

 ment, there is one obstacle of an artificial character which is more 

 important than at first sight'it appears to be. Human nature is 

 alike the world over, and the tendency to make use of existing 

 works, to adopt make-shifts, and to avoid the condemnation of 

 costly improvements is universal. 



So far as the removal of the household drainage of Washington 

 is concerned, the sewers constructed for this purpose are — perhaps 

 by no means always or generally — but they are very largely, un- 



