The Disposal of Sewage Inj Small Towns and Yillarjes. 93 
miles. There is a manhole, or lamphole, at every intersection 
or curve, the pipes being laid in a true line between these for 
examination. These holes were all (67) originally left open for 
ventilation at the road level, but had to be closed ; and in 1887, 
two sewer-gas destructors were put up, and several simple 
ventilating-pipes inserted at ends of the long sewers, or impor- 
tant bends, and there has been no trouble since. At the end of 
every sewer, provision is made for flushing by a 3-inch sluice- 
valve from the adjoining water-main, as the rain-water was kept 
out of the sewers as far as practicable. It may not be too much 
to say, that the sewage-scheme of East Dereham might — for its 
economy, utility, and success — compare favourably with any 
small town in Great Britain. 
The populous village of Castleacre stands upon the brow of 
what is regarded in Norfolk as a high hill. The road down the 
main street is very steep, and it was difficult to keep the high- 
way in repair, by reason of the rush of surface-water ; while tho 
practice of throwing house-slops into the road-gutters was fear- 
fully offensive. To remedy these two evils, a paved channel 
has been formed for the surface-water, and a sewer made down 
the street, which receives all the house-slops. There are no 
water-closets in the village, and the sewer empties itself into a 
hole in a meadow. No effort is made to utilise the sewage — 
which cannot be of much manurial value — and it soaks into the 
surrounding soil, promoting a vigorous growth of nettles. Once 
a year the hole is emptied of its solids by means of a chain- 
pump. The sewer, as occasion requires, is flushed by water- 
cart, the three principal farmers in turn supplying a horse gratis. 
Since a lofty ventilating-shaft has been inserted, there has been 
much less unpleasant odour from the sewer. A parish inspector 
has been appointed, at a salary of 10?. a year, whose duties are 
to superintend and cleanse the sewer and all gulleys and traps, 
and the construction of any branch drains which have to be 
connected with the sewer. The total expenditure amounted to 
280?. The cost of engineering, which presented no difficul- 
ties whatever, was 50Z. — a marked contrast to the engineer's 
commission of 100?. at Dereham, where the sewage-scheme 
cost over 5,000?. The clerk of the works and the Local Govern- 
ment Board inquiry cost 30?., making up 80?. for outside 
expenses — a pretty heavy percentage upon a total outlay of 
280?. And it is possible that this engineering skill, which 
rigidly excludes the surface- and roof-water from the sewer, has 
been misapplied in this village. There is ample capacity for 
the largest volume of rain-water, and as no use is made of the 
sewage, its dilution can do no harm ; while every shower of rain 
