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  THE
  MUNICIPAL AND SANITARY
  ENGINEER’S HANDBOOK.




  THE
  MUNICIPAL AND SANITARY
  ENGINEER’S HANDBOOK.

  BY

  H. PERCY BOULNOIS, M. INST. C.E.,
  M. SAN. INST. GT. BRITAIN;

  BOROUGH ENGINEER, PORTSMOUTH; LATE CITY SURVEYOR, EXETER;
  AUTHOR OF “DIRTY DUST-BINS AND SLOPPY STREETS,” “ANNIHILATION OF SEWER
  GASES,” ETC.

  “_SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX._”

  [Illustration]

  LONDON:
  E. & F. N. SPON, 16, CHARING CROSS.

  NEW YORK:
  35, MURRAY STREET.

  1883.




PREFACE.


In carrying out the many duties devolving upon a Borough Surveyor, it
has so often been my wish to turn to a practical book of reference upon
the many subjects connected with these duties, that I have written the
following pages; and I trust that they will form a useful Handbook.

  H. PERCY BOULNOIS.

  PORTSMOUTH,
  _May, 1883_.




TABLE OF CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER I.
  THE TOWN SURVEYOR.

  Office of surveyor first legalised -- Clause of Public Health Act
  1875, making appointment -- Division of England into districts --
  Surveyor to Rural Authority -- Clauses of Act referring to surveyor --
  Title of “Surveyor” is an erroneous one -- List of subjects on which
  he has often to advise -- Want of Government protection for surveyor
  -- Mr. Lewis Angell on protection -- Reasons for Government refusal --
  Time will effect a change                                       page 1

  CHAPTER II.
  THE APPOINTMENT OF SURVEYOR.

  Sub-committee to fix salary and duties -- Specimen report and list of
  duties -- Test of merit necessary -- Examination by Sanitary Institute
  of Great Britain -- Particulars of these examinations -- Syllabus of
  subjects -- Specimens of examination papers -- Authoritative
  examination, however, still necessary -- Methods to be adopted to
  obtain appointment of surveyor -- Canvassing                        10

  CHAPTER III.
  THE SURVEYOR’S DUTIES.

  Public Health Act and surveyors of highways -- List of duties
  devolving upon surveyor in consequence -- Meetings of boards and
  committees -- List of suitable names for committees -- Punctuality --
  Reports -- Methodical habits                                        20

  CHAPTER IV.
  TRAFFIC.

  Interests involved in construction and maintenance of streets --
  Requirements of a good roadway -- Wearing effect of traffic -- Mr.
  Deacon’s standard -- Effect of horses’ hoofs on roadways -- Remarks on
  shoeing -- Traction on roads -- Tables of resistance -- Forces tending
  to destroy momentum -- Table of tractive force, etc. -- Another table
  giving inclinations -- Proper gradients of roadways -- Table of
  resistance by Crompton -- Wheel resistance -- Mr. Haywood and safety
  of traffic -- Stopping and starting vehicles -- Safe width of roadways
  -- Vehicles and pedestrians passing each other -- Sanctuaries --
  Danger of crossings                                                 25

  CHAPTER V.
  MACADAMISED ROADWAYS.

  Laying out new roads -- Macadamised roads a luxury -- Telford and
  Macadam -- Specification of roadway, fifty years ago -- Modern
  specification of roadway -- Advantages of Telford’s system -- Hard
  core -- Concrete -- Table of depths of materials -- Ellice Clarke’s
  tables of comparative cost -- Further particulars of comparative cost
  -- Streets of Paris -- Cross section of roadway -- Objections to
  macadamised roadways -- Notes on maintenance -- Bituminous roadways 34

  CHAPTER VI.
  ROAD METAL AND BREAKING.

  Test of fitness of stone -- Primary investigations -- Qualities
  necessary -- List of stones used as road metal -- Variety of materials
  used -- Table of comparative efficiency of road metal in France --
  Hand-broken stone -- Gauging the size -- Quantity broken per diem --
  Machines for breaking stones -- Price of machines -- Work effected by
  machinery -- Precautions necessary -- Objections to machinery --
  Weight of broken stone -- Specification for supply of road metal    48

  CHAPTER VII.
  ROAD ROLLING.

  First introduction of rollers -- Mr. Parry on steam rolling -- Cost
  for repairs -- Number of men necessary -- Fuel used -- Other uses for
  engine power -- Spikes for chequering -- Binding material -- Gradients
  -- Work effected -- Description of manner in which roller should be
  applied -- Method adopted in the United States -- Use of roller for
  repairs of roads -- Method adopted at Gloucester -- Effect of weight
  of roller on roads -- Advantages of steam rolling -- Mr. Paget on
  rolling -- Disadvantages of steam rolling -- Horse rollers          60

  CHAPTER VIII.
  PITCHED PAVEMENTS.

  Economy under heavy traffic -- Noise and slipperiness -- Improvements
  effected -- Size of setts -- Description of best class of stones --
  Mr. Walker and wear of stones -- The Euston pavement -- The Guidet
  paving -- Manchester pavement -- Concrete foundations -- Grouting --
  Bituminous mixture -- Stone tram-tracks                             73

  CHAPTER IX.
  WOOD PAVING.

  First introduced into metropolis -- Improvements since -- List and
  description of many various modern methods -- Sanitary objections to
  wood pavement -- Power of absorption of wood -- Preserving processes
  -- Wear of wood paving -- Different estimates of life -- Woods
  employed -- Advantages of this description of paving -- Objections to
  it -- Cost of wood pavement -- Tables of cost and life --
  Specification of wood pavement                                      81

  CHAPTER X.
  COMPRESSED ASPHALTE ROADWAYS.

  Description of asphalte -- Mr. Deland’s test -- Percentage of bitumen
  necessary -- Method of construction of compressed asphalte roadway --
  Advantages of this description of pavement -- Objections to it on
  account of slipperiness -- Gradient -- Cost of asphalte pavement --
  Tables on the subject -- Specifications for a compressed asphalte
  roadway -- Other descriptions of asphalte roadways -- Hints on the
  success or the reverse of asphalte roadways                         96

  CHAPTER XI.
  FOOTPATHS.

  Foundation -- List of materials for footpaths -- Mastic asphalte --
  Description of manner of laying -- Proportions of asphalte, bitumen,
  and grit -- Yorkshire flagging -- Specification for York flagging --
  Caithness flagging -- Its advantages -- Blue lias flagging -- Concrete
  footpaths -- Description of American concrete path -- Artificial stone
  pavements -- Brick footpaths -- Granite slabs -- Artificial asphalte
  paths -- Specification of tar pavement -- American tar pavement --
  Gravel footpaths -- Sections of paths -- Tarred paths              106

  CHAPTER XII.
  KERBING AND CHANNELLING, ETC.

  Necessity for kerb -- Section of granite kerb and channel -- Setting
  kerb -- Cost of kerb and channelling -- Necessity for gutter or
  channel crossings -- Gully gratings -- Objects to be attained --
  Drawing of a gully-pit -- Drawing of a buddle-hole -- Mr. Baldwin
  Latham on the subject                                              123

  CHAPTER XIII.
  LIGHTING STREETS.

  Gas v. Electricity -- Public Health Act on lighting -- Different hours
  at which public gas lamps are lighted -- Hints for a contract with a
  gas company -- Supply by meter -- Objections to meters -- Regulators
  -- Lamp-posts -- Lanterns -- Burners -- Numbering lamps -- Formula for
  determining distance of lamps -- M. Servier on spreading light
  uniformly -- Tables of different lights -- Points to be considered in
  public lighting by electricity -- Motive power required -- Machinery
  necessary -- Regulations as regards fire risks -- Lamps -- Value of
  electric light -- Difficulty of photometrical measurement -- Cost of
  electric light -- Mr. Shoolbred’s tables -- Comparative cost on Thames
  embankment -- Value of these investigations -- Acme of all lighting
                                                                     129

  CHAPTER XIV.
  STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING.

  Necessity of naming and numbering streets -- Public Health Act on the
  subject -- Different methods of naming -- Minton’s china letters --
  Cast iron plates -- Painted names -- Enamelled iron -- Wooden figures
  -- Enamelled glass tablets -- Size of letters -- Association of names
  -- Methods of numbering -- Forms of notice to number               149

  CHAPTER XV.
  BREAKING-UP STREETS.

  The law on the subject -- Water Works Clauses Act, 1847 --
  Consideration of the clauses -- What is meant by “plan” -- Specimen of
  specification or plan -- Damage caused to roads by opening them --
  Private individuals breaking-up streets -- Clauses of the Public
  Health Act -- Telegraphs Act, 1863 -- Clauses of this Act --
  Advantages and disadvantages of subways -- Power of individuals to
  open streets for drains -- Clauses of the Public Health Act on the
  subject -- Uncertainty on the subject -- Forms of notices necessary --
  Customs prevailing in different towns                              157

  CHAPTER XVI.
  OBSTRUCTIONS IN STREETS.

  List of subjects discussed -- Improving line of frontages -- Assessing
  value of compensation -- Removing projections of buildings -- What are
  legal projections? -- Doors or gates opening outwards -- Forms of
  notice necessary -- Vaults or cellar coverings -- Forms of notice
  necessary -- Advantages of an “Easement book” -- Rain water from
  shutes or down pipes -- Form of notice necessary -- Blinds or awnings
  over paths -- Trees overhanging roadways -- Form of notice necessary
  -- Surface water from premises -- Hoardings and scaffolds -- Dangerous
  Buildings -- Tall chimney shafts -- Dangerous rock -- Forms of notice
  necessary -- Temporary obstructions                                174

  CHAPTER XVII.
  IMPROVEMENT OF PRIVATE STREETS.

  The 150th section of the Public Health Act -- Criticisms of this
  section -- Duties of the surveyor in connection with it -- Specimen
  forms of notices -- Carrying out the work -- Taking over private
  streets -- Agreement to take over a road -- What is a “road”? -- Legal
  definition of the term street                                      193

  CHAPTER XVIII.
  NEW STREETS AND BUILDINGS.

  Important duty of surveyor -- Clauses of the Public Health Act --
  Model bye-laws -- What is a new building? -- The term “ground floor”
  -- Alteration of existing buildings -- Deposit of plans -- Clauses of
  the Public Health Act -- Clauses necessary in the bye-laws with regard
  to deposit -- Form of notice in respect of deposit of plans --
  Suggestions for town surveyor in connection with this duty and
  examination of plans -- Supervision of buildings in course of erection
  -- Stringency of bye-laws -- Protection of life from fire necessary --
  Party walls through roofs -- Space at back -- Fee for inspection   206

  CHAPTER XIX.
  SCAVENGING.

  The Public Health Act on the subject -- List of duties involved by the
  clauses of the Act -- What is house refuse? -- Removal of trade or
  garden refuse -- Position of dust bin -- Objections to fixed bin --
  Different methods of collection of refuse -- Public dust bins -- House
  to house call -- Receptacles brought out into streets -- Carts
  employed for scavenging -- Life and cost of wooden carts -- Improved
  sanitary carts -- Disposal of refuse -- Methods adopted in various
  towns -- Destruction by fire -- Cleansing of streets -- Machinery v.
  hand labour -- Durability of brooms -- Scavenging at Liverpool --
  Quantity of material removed from roads -- Cleansing private courts
  and alleys -- Removal of snow -- Mr. Hayward on the subject --
  Clarke’s apparatus -- Hints on removal of snow -- Street watering --
  Several methods described -- Brown’s system -- Mr. Parry on hand-
  watering -- Headley’s machine -- Street watering in Paris -- Bayley’s
  Hydrostatic Van -- Mr. Scott on watering and stand-pipes -- Advantage
  of using disinfectant with water -- Cost of scavenging, &c. -- Heads
  for a contract -- Administration of work without intervention of
  contractor the best                                                221

  CHAPTER XX.
  SEWERAGE.

  Public Health Act on the subject -- Definition of sewer -- Definitions
  of sewerage and sewage -- Requirements of good system of sewerage --
  Position of sewers should be at back of houses -- Form of notice to
  carry sewer through private lands -- Hints for carrying out sewerage
  -- Stamford’s joint -- Pipe sewers -- Drawing of various pipes --
  Causes of breakage -- Causes of chokage -- Separate system --
  Advantages of partial separation -- List of different methods of
  sewerage -- Dry systems                                            251

  CHAPTER XXI.
  SEWAGE DISPOSAL.

  Magnitude of question -- Interception -- List of methods of disposal
  -- Tidal outfalls -- Broad irrigation -- Crops for sewage --
  Intermittent filtration -- Action of earth on sewage -- Mechanical
  subsidence -- Artificial filters -- Screening -- Precipitation -- List
  of chemical processes -- List of chemical ingredients -- Disposal of
  sludge -- Effect of plants on sewage                               263

  CHAPTER XXII.
  VENTILATION OF SEWERS.

  Duty of dealing with noxious sewer vapours -- Germ theory and open
  ventilation -- Open shafts and objections to them -- Shafts against
  dwellings -- Use of rainwater pipes -- Use of lamp posts -- Charcoal
  trays -- Use of chimney shafts -- Lofty shafts -- Failure of furnaces
  -- List of methods tried -- Annihilation of sewer gas -- Composition
  of sewer gas -- Direction of flow -- Importance of disconnecting house
  drains                                                             271

  CHAPTER XXIII.
  PUBLIC CONVENIENCES.

  Clause of Public Health Act empowering their erection -- Selection of
  site -- Construction of Urinals -- Why iron is preferable --
  Description of urinals -- Public w. c. accommodation -- Description of
  a simple w. c. -- Jennings and Macfarlane for urinals              280

  CHAPTER XXIV.
  ARTIZANS AND LABOURERS’ DWELLINGS.

  The Act of 1868 -- Mode of procedure under it -- Amendment of Act in
  1879 -- Further amendment in 1882 -- Importance of this amendment --
  Act of 1875 for improvement of dwellings of working classes -- Mode
  of procedure under it -- Amended by Act of 1879 -- Further amended,
  1882 -- Duties of surveyor under these acts -- Health of model
  dwellings -- Description of industrial dwellings -- Labouring classes’
  Lodging Houses Acts -- Copy of bye-laws under them -- Table of sizes
  of rooms                                                           284

  CHAPTER XXV.
  DEFECTS IN DWELLING-HOUSES, ETC.

  Cellar dwellings -- Clauses of the Public Health Act on the subject --
  Insufficient w. c. accommodation -- Clauses on the subject -- Forms of
  notice to be served -- W. C. accommodation for factories -- Houses
  without a proper supply of water -- Clauses on the subject -- Mode of
  procedure -- Disadvantages of cistern storage                      295

  CHAPTER XXVI.
  HOUSE DRAINAGE.

  Definition of drain -- Difficulty of always deciding what is a drain
  -- Duties of surveyor in connection with house drainage -- Inspection
  of new drains -- Form of “regulations” necessary by a local authority
  -- Difficulty of efficient inspection -- Drains of new buildings --
  Inspection of defective drains -- Several clauses of the Public Health
  Act on the subject -- Procedure necessary to carry them out -- List of
  a few requirements of good house drainage -- Necessity of register of
  all house drains                                                   303

  CHAPTER XXVII.
  PUBLIC PLEASURE GROUNDS AND STREET TREES.

  Law empowering acquisition and maintenance of parks, &c. -- Duties of
  surveyor in connection therewith -- Public playgrounds -- A few hints
  -- List of a few useful shrubs -- Trees in gales -- Planting trees at
  sides of streets -- Qualities necessary in trees for this purpose --
  List of suitable trees -- Precautions necessary -- Grating and grill
  -- Description of Paris planting -- Cost of trees in Paris -- Damage
  to street trees                                                    318

  CHAPTER XXVIII.
  PUBLIC ABATTOIRS.

  Necessity and law for their establishment -- Defects of private
  slaughter-houses -- Legal powers to close private slaughter-houses --
  Particulars of London private slaughter-houses -- Site of public
  abattoir -- The Manchester abattoir -- Accommodation necessary --
  Lairs and pens -- The killing-house -- Floor, drainage, rings, pole-
  axe, lighting, &c. -- Machinery for hoisting -- Plans of public
  abattoir -- Condemned meat department -- Pig-killing department --
  Blood-house -- Tripery -- Tallow market -- Other accommodation -- Dr.
  Chancellor on slaughter-houses -- Difference between public and
  private slaughter-houses                                           328

  CHAPTER XXIX.
  MARKETS.

  Law authorizing their establishment -- Site for a cattle market --
  Accommodation necessary -- Paving -- Cattle enclosures -- Sheep pens
  -- Dimensions of pens and lairs -- Weighing machine -- Markets for
  general merchandise -- List of requirements -- A few hints on their
  accommodation                                                      344

  CHAPTER XXX.
  CEMETERIES.

  The surveyor’s duties in connection with these -- Some legal points to
  be remembered -- Selection of site on sanitary grounds -- Mr. Eassie
  on soils -- Dr