13 



1851.1 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



proper markets. Hereinafter it will be seen that 1 now 

 propose to toy it by my patent process, which obviates 

 nianv of the serious objections to other processes. 



In improvements of sewers already existing, or in 

 dene .'n_r a scheme for the construction of a new system 

 of sewers, the first object should be to transmit the 

 sewage from the locality where it is formed to that 

 where it is to be deprived of the water, and converted 

 into an article of commerce, as quickly as possible ; and 

 for this purpose to make a fall artificially, if not already 

 90 naturally, ]ow enough to create a rapid current in 

 the sewers. Although the evils of the present metro- 

 politan sewers discharging their contents upon the 

 shores of the Thames at low water is bad enough, in a 

 sanitary point of view, nevertheless, the fact that the 

 sewage is prevented from discharging itself for hours 

 during every tide, thus 'converting what ought to be 

 water-courses into reservoirs, from which noxious gases 

 arise and contaminate the atmosphere, constitutes a 

 much greater evil. The bad effects of such a system 

 of sewerage, in comparison with the one I proposed, 

 either in its sanitary or commercial effects, cannot, 

 perhaps, be more clearly shown, than by the words of 

 Professor Ai kin, which 1 extract from a report made by 

 him on this subject in 1845 : — 



" From the facility with which the various matters 

 discharged into the sewers undei'go decomposition, when 

 diluted with water, and at a favourable temperature, it 

 is evident that the shorter time that they remain in the 

 sewers, the more valuable they will be, because the less 

 decomposed. It may therefore be confidently antici- 

 pated that a plan which by means of a constant current 

 clears out these matters from the sewers in proportion 

 as they are poured in, will furnish them in a state con- 

 siderably more beneficial to the farmer, and nearly 

 approaching to that of night-soil, which is considered as 

 the richest of all manures. 



683 





— — — — w — — _ ■ ■ ■ _■ w- A -WW • 



The next object should be to extract the solid manure 

 in as short a time as possible, or at any rate to fix the 

 volatile salts and gases, and prevent their exposure to 

 the air—and this the lime process effects most rapidly ; 

 for within a few minutes after the admixture of lime, 

 which may be effected in the passage of the sewer-water 

 to the reservoirs, the fixing of the gases and precipitation 

 of the salts, and organic matter, and ammonia in the 

 form of nitrogenous matter, commences ; and when 

 deposition has taken place, the supernatant water pre- 

 vents atmospheric influence. 



Next, it should be an object to prevent long exposure 

 to the air and artificial heat. These, however, are the 

 usual methods of desiccation in order to convert the 

 manure into a marketable state, and are processes which, 

 besides being very expensive, necessarily deteriorate its 

 fertilising qualities. These objections are obviated by 

 the adoption of my patent process, by means of which j 

 the manure can be extracted from the sewer-water, and 

 packed in casks, like guano, or Roman cement, within 

 24 hours ; and this without the aid of heat— the simple 

 operation of drying being in fact a work of minutes, not 

 hours. 



Having now given my opinion as to what should be, 

 generally, the principles upon which the construction of 

 a complete system of sewerage and sewage manufacture 

 should be based, I proceed to describe the nature of my 

 invention, and to show that it is in accordance with these 

 principles that the machinery is constructed, and the 

 process of the manufacture carried out. 



The arrangements having been made for separating 

 large floating bodies, stones, &c, from the sewage-water 

 received at the outfall, it is then pumped up continuously 

 into the reservoirs, so as to preserve the necessary fall 

 of water in the sewers ; I then commence the deodoris- 

 ing process by mixing the sewage intimately with milk 

 Of lime, which is made by putting into a cistern a certain 

 measured quantity of lime and adding thereto a definite 

 quantity of water ; both being mixed together, and kept 

 in motion by an agitator. 



A sufficient quantity of milk of lime is to be used to 

 render the sewage-water clear and free from smell, and to 

 ensure the precipitation. To effect the due admixture of 

 jttlk of lime and sewer-water, I employ a pump of small 

 tore proportioned to the quantity of the milk of lime 

 ^quired; and the arrangements are such that, while the 

 sewage-water is flowing away from the large pump, it 

 receives from the small pump, through a pipe branching 

 °n to the pipe conveying the sewer-water to the [re- 

 servoirs, a stream of milk of lime commingling with the 

 «wer-water in its passage. The strength of the milk 



hme, or the quantity to be used, will vary with 

 every different kind of sewage- fluid. An excess, how- 



must be a number proportionate to the quantity of 

 sewage obtained and to be dried, perform the opera! 1 

 by means of centrifugal force arising from the machines 

 1 ng made to revolve with peat rapidity. The construc- 

 tion of the machine, and its operations, 'are as follows :— 

 A vertical shaft carries a horizontal plate, about 3 feet 

 diameter, keyed upon its upper end ; connected with 

 this plate, and concentric with it, is a ring or drving- 

 cylinder, about 18 inches diameter, of wire gauze or 

 other perforated material. This cylinder retains the 

 manure while the water is thrown out through the wire 

 gauze by the centrifugal force caused by the rapid 

 revolution of the shaft. If now the machine were 

 stopped, the dried manure might be dug out by manual 

 labour ; but, to save this expense, and to economise the 

 time required for stopping, 1 have adopted a contrivance 

 by which the drying-cylinder can be raised up from tl: 

 horizontal plate while both are in motion ; and, as this 

 cylinder is raised, the dried manure flies off through the 

 space left between the cylinder and the plate. This 

 refers to a single machine. 



A double machine consists of the ring of 18 inches 

 diameter already described, and another of a similar 

 description, but of 3 feet diameter, upon the same plate 

 and concentric with the first cylinder. In this machine 

 the water, instead of flying from the inner cylinder 

 against the inner surface of the outer cylinder, as it 

 otherwise would do, is made to flow through channels in 

 the plate to the outer edge of the same ; but when the 

 inner cylinder is raised to discharge the manure, this is 

 allowed to fly against the outer cylinder. 



After having in its turn performed part of the drying 

 process, this cylinder, by a contrivance similar to that 

 employed to raise the inner one, is also raised and the 

 manure allowed to fly out upon the floor, or into a casing 

 fitted to receive it. The means of effecting the raisin- 

 the cylinders can scarcely be made intelligible without 

 drawings, but perhaps the general idea of the action is 

 sufficient for the present purpose. 



Motion having been given to the machine, the manure, 

 in a state of yery liquid mud, is introduced by a pipe 

 from the horizontal trough before mentioned, 'into the 



y if 



ddiy. I hat the arttcial fail allows of the sewer* 

 being made of less dimensions, in proportion to the Telo- 

 city obtained ; so that while it involves th< . i 

 1 .roviding machinery for pumping, yet this xpense is 

 I counterbalanced, if not much reduced, by the saving in 

 the cost of the sewers. ° 



4thljr. That the artificial fall produces an economy in 



a sanitary point of view, in the improvement of the health 



: of the town population, the rapid current not allowing 



1 time for decomposition, and of evolution of noxious gam 



from tiie sewage. 



5thiy. That, for the same reason, the manure is 

 improved in value ; the prevention of effluvia being, in 

 fact, prevention of the escape of fertilising matter, and, 

 of course, an addition, pro tanto, to the value of the- 

 manure. 



^ Wily, That an economy arises from the use of the 



lime process, which has this peculiar advantage over 

 other deodorisers, that it adds to. ins d of diminishing 

 the value of the manure, because it is precipitated and 

 forms a component fart of the manure, which is of greater 



value than the lime itself. 



7tldy. That there is great economy of manual labour 

 in the patent manufacturing process as also in tho 

 short period allow i for decom position, the absence 

 of long exposure to tho atmosphere In drying, and 

 the entire superseding of all danger of deterioration 

 of the value of the manure from tho application of 

 artificial heat; and of the heavy expense of fuel con- 

 sequent thereon. 



To those who arc aware of the condition of the rivers 





l 



inner drying cylinder, in which, by losing much of the 

 water, it becomes solid, though still damp. This cylinder 

 being raised, the manure flies out into the outer cylinder ; 

 after which the inner one is again lowered, to be ready 

 for another charge. The drying of the first rge is now 

 completed at the surface of the outer cylinder ; and this 



~ied and discharged. Meantime a second 

 charge has been run into, and is being partly dried by 

 the inner cylinder; so that the drying operations is 

 beginning upon one charge in the inner cylinder, while 

 it is terminating on the previous charge in the outer 



cylinder. 



The advantage of this process, in addition to that of 

 economy of time is, that the inner cylinder provides a 

 moderate velocity in the first stage of the process, when 

 the mud is very liquid, and the outer cylinder finishes 

 the same by the greater linear velocity of its surface. 

 Moreover, the thickness of the ring of manure will be 

 less in the outer cylinder than that in the inner ; so 

 that the moisture from this cause will suffer less obstacle 

 to its outward progress, which is a matter of great 

 moment, inasmuch as the finishing of the drying is the 

 part most difficult. 



In order to break up or divide the manure 'while 

 flying from the inner cylinder, a wire grating or riddle is 

 interposed between the two cylinders ; thus, as it were, 

 exposing a fresh surface of the manure to the drying 

 action of the outer cylinder. These machines are ar- 

 ranged in lines, so that one shaft may drive several 

 machines. 



The dried sewage as it falls from the machines slides 

 down a sloping board, or is scraped into a trough in 

 which revolves a long screw or creeper, by which it is 

 conveyed to a chamber, where it is packed at once or 

 retained in store. ' 



It will thus be seen that very little manual labour is 

 required in the manufacture, which may be wholly, or 



Irk, Irwell, and Medlock. at Manchctter ; the Aire, at 

 Leeds ; the Soar, at Leicester ; and other rivers receiv- 

 ing the drainage of manufacturing towns, the subject 

 of the foregoing pa^es cannot fail to be one of the greatest 

 interest; exhibiting, as it does, not only a process of 

 easy and cheap application, whereby these rivers may 

 be purified, by allowing none but clear water to flow 

 into them, but als<> a method of converting the product 

 of the drainage which now pollutes them into a profit- 

 able article of sale ; more especially profitable in these 

 and other manufacturing towns, where the refuse of 

 dyeing, scouring, and other like establishments, con- 

 trihutes large quantities of most valuable animal and 

 vegetable matter. 



The system I advocate is applicable to all towns, 

 large or small ; and for the purpose of enabling those 

 who are interested to form an approximate estimate of 

 the expenditure and profits, appertaining to towns of 

 various magnitudes, 1 append the following table, with 

 the qualification, however, that the estimates can be 

 only approximate, as they must vary in each instance, 

 according to local circumstances, and the nature of tho 

 trades carried on. 



Table,— Column 1 : Amount of Population. Column 2 : 



The Annual Quantity of Patent Manure obtainable 

 from tho Population. Column 3 : Cost of Works, or- 

 Capital required. Column 4 : The Annual Cost for 

 Deodorizing and Manufacturing the Manure. Column 5 i 

 Hw Net Income, after deducting the Cost of Manu- 

 facture, providing that the Manure be sold at 21. a ton. 

 Column 6 : Lowest Cost per Ton of the Manure to 

 ensure 40 per cent, interest upon the Capital : 



1. 



2. 



h 



4. 



5. 



6. 



PoPCLA- 



TlON. 



Tom. 



rw*r I Cost of 



Works. / tun?> 



The 



thus 



^jer, is not prejudicial, as it subsides with the other 

 ^hd matter. 



-Ine mixture of milk of lime and sewage-water then 

 ^s into the reservoirs, of which there maybe any con- 

 venient number; thus the liquid maybe passing into No. 1, 



W «en the 



pree 



nearly so, accomplished by steam or other power 

 economical advantages of my system may be 

 enumerated : 



1st. That as the sewage of towns will probably become 

 very much more diluted, not only from the increasing 

 demand for water for manufacturing and sanitary pur- 

 poses, but also for the express object of reducing the 

 offensiveness of sewage by increased dilution ; if the 

 system of distribution by pipes were to be adopted, an 

 enormous outlay would be required to lay down larger 

 pipes to convey these increased quantities of water, and 

 yet with no greater benefit to the farmer, or revenue to 

 the company ; inasmuch as the sewage, though larger in 

 quantity, would be of proportionably diminished strength, 

 and would have to be sold at a proportionably dimi- 



., M nished price per ton. Whereas, in the system I propose, 



3 being worked off. the only increase would be the comparatively trifling ex- 



10,000 

 20,000 



30 >0 



40.000 



50,(»00 



60,000 



70,000 



80,000 



9v ,000 



100,00 



Ifio.oOO 

 200.000 



250.000 



300,000 



400 000 



500,000 



1 , 000 000 



1,500,000 



2,000,000 



2,500,000 



1262 

 252 * 



1781 

 5048 

 6310 

 7572 

 8834 

 10,006 



11,358 

 12 620 



18,930 

 25,240 



31,550 



37.860 



50,480 



63, 1 00 



J 26, 200 



189 300 



252 400 



815,500 





£ 



3000 

 4500 

 CO 



7500 



9ooo 



10,500 



12,000 



13,500 



15,000 

 16,500 



24.000 



31,500 



89,(00 



46.500 



59,000 



71.000 



134 000 



196,500 



259,000 



321,500 



£ 



1450 



2850 



4100 

 5300 

 6400 

 7 

 8400 

 9300 



10,000 



11,000 

 16.500 

 22,000 

 27,500 

 S3, 000 

 44,000 

 55,000 

 108. 000 

 163,000 



210,000 

 268,175 



I 



Net In. 



come *t 



'U. per 



ton. 



£ 



1074 

 2198 

 84 7 2 

 47W 

 6220 



7644 



9268 



10.892 



12,716 



14,240 



21,3<W 

 28. 4 SO 



si, coo 



42,720 

 56,060 



71 200 

 144,400 



215,000 



280,800 

 362,825 



Price of the 

 Manure, to 



yield 40 per 

 cent. 



40 & 



Stf 10 

 If 4 



82 11 

 SI fr 



80 11 

 29 11 

 29 3 



28 2 



27 11 

 27 7 

 7 5 

 27 4 

 27 % 



n Id 



2* t 

 25 S 



25 e 



25 4 



25 2 



*<H the deposit 



a dram or pipe 



j_ i luie tor ouuaiucuccj uiiu tuc supci nuuua water 



with* 1 * ° ffp To cause the de P osit t0 flow into toe well 

 0ut th e fear of the drain choking, and to create a 



propel 



deposit througl 



cu rrent, 



chai I 0011, lb l,,en resect from the well by an endless 

 *hi •! °1 v Uc ' ie f s > or ot h er suitable elevating apparatus, 

 U fl C l . ers n luto a horizontal trough, from whence 

 ttoi] WS j* nt0 * e drying machinery, the quantity being 



Tha ^ sluices in the tttwgh. 



^J'ing- machines themselves, and of which there 



Tliis is very important in a sanitary point of view, as 

 there can be little doubt that the sooner, after its forma- 

 ation,the sewage is diluted with an abundance of water, 

 the less chance there is of the evolution of noxious 



effluvia. 



2dly. There is an economy in compensation ; for, in 

 cases where the water for the sewers is abstracted from 

 a mill-stream, proportionate compensation would have 

 to be made. While, in the pipe scheme, this water is 

 abstracted and not returned ; in my system it is re- 

 turned. 



The foregoing table will clearly show that the subject 

 of the manufacture of sewage manure is one which calls 

 for the most attentive consideration from all parties in- 

 terested in improvements of to wns,or desirous of embark- 

 ing in a profitable commercial enterprise. From a Tract, 

 by Mr. W ksteed, M.I.C.E., published by J % Weak, 59, 



High Holborn* 



Home Correspondence. 



Whiter Tares. — I have always been successful ia 

 growing a very heavy crop of Tares, simply by a heavy 

 manuring of " pudding manure " from under my open 

 boarded floors, applied on the Wheat stubble, ploughed, 

 rolled, drilled with 2 bushels of Tares, and harrowed. 

 It is a cleaning crop, for no weed, or black Grass, has 

 the slightest chance, being completely overgrown by the 

 Tares, which are either mowed for consumption in the 

 yards, or folded with sheep. The latter is to be pre- 

 ferred, the Tares mowed and placed outside round the 

 fold-hurdles. I have very fine crops of green round 

 Turnips, succeeding the Tares. The Tare stubble- 

 being scarified, harrowed, rolled, manured with « pud- 

 ding," and once ploughed, the Turnip seed drilled with 



