THE SEWERAGE OF KANSAS CITY. 523 
these excreta and the storm-waters, it will be subject to all the variations which 
may result from the intermittency of the storm-water, which will generally run 
too slowly to carry away the solid matters, unless indeed a sufficient volume of 
water can be artificially obtained to flush the sewers or even to provide a constant 
subterranean current of water, more or less clean. 
"The establishment of a special outlet for the offensive matters alone, the 
volume of which varies but little, in order to insure their speedy disposal under 
conditions peculiarly appropriate to their volume and nature, not only possesses 
the advantage of much better satisfying the demands of sanitation, but it admits 
of a much better use of flushing waters, by avoiding the admixture of a portion of 
water, which is often unnecessary, and which sometimes has to be carried away 
a considerable distance at great cost in get rid of it, solely because it has been 
contaminated by sewer-water. 
" In the large sewers of our most populous towns, and in which the water-sup- 
ply pipes are generally attached, the insertion of other pipes, for the purpose of 
carrying sewage alone, and communicating by branches with dwelling houses, 
seems a satisfactory solution, in consequnce of the small sizes required, of the pro- 
blem of the drainage of cesspools, which it is still dreaded in France, notwithstand- 
ing the examples of neighboring countries, to connect with the public sewers. 
The expense of the special pipes to be introduced into the houses would be more 
than offset by the expense of periodically cleaning the cesspools, frequently to 
the detriment of the public health; and by the elimination of the permanent 
dangers of infection, which the decomposition of the decayed matter presents." 
Living as we do in a new country, we do not realize how modern, (nor how 
great, comparatively), are the conveniences which surround us in our houses. 
Nor do we realize how these conveniences affect the plans which were found 
sufficient by our ancestors. For instance, in a treatise on hydraulic engineer- 
ing, published in 1858 by an English engineer, I find it stated that it was but a 
few years since the supply of water to private consumers was effected in all coun- 
tries upon what is called the intermittent system, and that the constant, "high 
pressure " system, which is the only one we know in this country, was considered 
as an innovation which was not free from objection, on account of the resulting 
waste. 
Now it is doubtless a great convenience, one with which we would not part 
for any consideration in this country, to put water on tap in nearly every room 
of our modern houses,, but it results in cutting an equal number of openings to 
the sewer; and every stationary wash-bowl, b)ath or closet opens the way for the 
entrance of sewer gas : while the men who less than a century ago combined 
storm-water and domestic refuse in the same sewers, had one, or at most two 
such opening to guard in their houses, and in the majority of cases none at all, 
as the water was drawn from some hydrant in the yard, and the slops emptied 
by hand in some out-door sink. 
It is evident that these multiplied openings to the sewers must prove increased 
sources of dan g,er if gases are allowed to be generated, and that when storm- 
