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OFFICE: ROOM NO. 1, BUILDERS’ EXCHANGE, 13TH ST. N. w. r\AZ>ashiagtoa Sewer=(Lleaaiag 
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OFFICE: room no. 1 builders’ exchange 13th st. n. w. The first duty of man is to protect the health of his 
family, and he should take every step known to modern 
science within his means to make the home his family lias 
to live in as healthy and comfortable as possible. . 
House-owners and housekeepers know that the most 
unhealthy thing about a house is defective sewerage and 
dirty waste-pipes. These sewer and waste-pipes are con- 
stantly choking up with the accumulations of filth and 
putrid grease, which generate those unhealthy gases to 
which the intelligent physician can trace the origin of 
diphtheria, scarlet and malarial fever, and most of the 
diseases which mankind is heir to. 
No house is tenantable where defective sewerage and 
foul waste-pipes exist, and the landlord who will rent 
such a house, or a man who will move his family into a 
house where such defects exist, is responsible to both God 
and man. 
To the offensive matter which adheres to your house 
sewer and waste-pipes we now trace most of those terri- 
ble epidemics which scourge the thickly-settled districts 
of otherwise healthy locations. 
Physicians, philanthropists, and sanitarians all agree 
that a defective sewerage, foul waste-pipes, are a curse 
to mankind and a public nuisance, which should be 
remedied at any cost. Disinfectants and chemicals of 
various kinds have been tried to remedy this evil, but the 
only effectual and positive remedy is mechanical, not 
chemical. 
The Knowles Patent Sewer Cleaner mechanically 
and positively cleans your sewers and waste-pipes and 
makes your homes healthy and clean. Its work is sure 
and positive, and it is so simple that a youth of eight 
years can understand and operate it. 
When this device is attached to your house your waste 
and sewer pipes are thoroughly cleaned, and can never 
stop up pr get foul again, thus saving the health of your 
family, to say nothing of the expense and annoyance 
you are frequently subjected to in tearing up your house, 
yards, streets, and parking in order to remove stoppages. 4 
This device when once affixed can ever afterward be 
operated from the surface. 
This device was introduced in the city of Norfolk, Va., 
two years ago, and its work has been so good that the 
City Government has bought the right to apply it to all 
its main sewers and laterals. It has also been attached to 
all public schools, hospitals, hotels, and other public 
buildings, and to several hundred private dwellings. We 
herewith give a few of the many flattering recommenda- 
tions received from those who have given it a year’s or 
more trial. 
'] he Washington Sewer-Cleaning Company have bought 
of Daniel Knowles the full right to attach and operate 
his Sewer Cleaning Device in the city of Washington, 
D. C., and have established its office at Room No. 1, 
Builders’ Exchange, where we should be pleased to see you 
and fully explain the Knowles Cleaner ’’ in all its 
details. 
The device is easily and cheaply attached to all classes 
of buildings; and when attached, if the owner or occupant 
of the premises is not perfectly satisfied with the work 
it performs, the Company will remove it and refund the 
amount paid, ltemember, it is recommended by all 
physicians and sanitarians, Remember, one stoppage 
will cost more to remedy than ten Knowles Patent Clean- 
ing attachments, to say nothing of the stench and filth. 
Whenever grease or soap water passes through your 
waste-pipes from sink, closet, or bath-rooms, the grease 
or soap particles adhere to your waste-pipes, ai d are 
constantly forming therein the most unhealthy, putrid 
matter, which poisons the air, and you and your family 
must constantly breathe the gases arising therefrom. A 
word to the wise is sufficient. 
An examination of this device will convince you of its 
value. Call at our office and examine it; or, if you will 
send word to our office, we will take pleasure in sending 
a competent agent to your bouse, who will, free of charge, 
explain the Knowles Sewer Cleaner and examine your 
sewerage and waste-pipes and give you estimates for 
attachments, etc. 
Address— 
Washington Sewer-Cleaning Company. 5 
Office City Engineee. 
Nobfolk, Va., October 13, 1891. 
To the Board of Street, Sewer, and Drain Commissioners f 
Norfolk, Va. 
Gentlemen : The Honorable the Select Council, at its 
meeting on March 1st, passed the following resolution, 
to wit: 
“Resolved, That the Board or' Street, Sewer, and Drain 
Commissioners examine into the merits of the patent of 
Mr. Daniel Knowles for the cleaning of sewers and report 
if the same is desirable to be applied to the sewerage of 
the city.” 
This resolution was referred to me, and it was impossi- 
ble for me to give an opinion until time had elapsed to 
try the device and compare it with previous methods. I 
have been compelled to defer reporting on the same until 
the present moment. In order to try Mr. Knowles’ 
patent I selected the York street extended line, on which 
the grades are rather flat—the pipe line a six-inch one— 
and where we had more than ordinary trouble from the 
accumulation of grease, which at this point occasioned 
frequent stoppages, not only of the sewer itself, but of 
the houses connected also. To clean out this line required 
the digging of holes in the street whenever it became 
stopped, in order to get a rope through the pipes for the 
purpose of cleaning them, and the frequency of the 
stoppage has rendered this the most troublesome lateral 
in the whole of our sewerage, and the one causing the 
greatest expense inputting in order. Since Mr. Knowles- 
put in appliance, about a year since, we have not had 
occasion to disturb the street once, and the opening of 
the line from stoppage has never required anything but 
the removal of the manhole plates, and the agitation of 
the device permanently in the pipes. The saving in ex- 
pense on this street has been a marked one, and I would 
unhesitatingly recommend, wherever we have similar 
trouble, that the appliance be used. I do not mean to 
say, however, that the application of the appliance to all 
lines is needed, or even advisable, but only in such 
places where light grades, or abuse of the original 
intention of the sewers, and the accumulation of grease 
occasion frequent stoppages, and where manholes are 6 
few and far between, as is the case in the first section of 
the sewer constructed. 
The point of application of the appliance must be left 
to your judgment, and need not be considered until the 
necessity is demonstrated in each instance. 
Mr. Know-les also has a modification of his appliance 
for house connections which, in my opinion, is a good 
thing and will enable any householder having it to free 
his connections from stoppage easily and inexpensively. 
I have no doubt but that this will be gradually adopted 
by our citizens where stoppages in their lines occur. 
The settlement with Mr. Knowles for the line already 
fixed and for the future use of his patent must be a 
matter for your future consideration, and has no bearing 
in the matter that you called upon me to report. 
Very respectfully, 
(Signed) W. T. BROOKE, 
City Engineer. 
Head the testimonial of a skilled mechanic who has tested 
it for eighteen months, and be convinced of its perfect 
work. 
Why do you have your house connections with the 
public sewer foul with the putrid grease and other 
offensive matter, which causes such a bad stench in 
your houses by your pipes being dirty? You can stop 
this dangerous nuisance by having the KNOWLES 
PATENT SEWER CLEANER applied. It will do the 
work, which the following testimonial will show. It is 
from a practical man wdio has tested its merits. Read it: 
Norfolk, Va. , April 24, 1891. 
Mr. Daniel Knowles. 
Dear Sir : In answer to inquiry in regard to howT your 
Patent Sewer Cleaner is doing at the St. Vincent de Paul 
Hospital, I will state that it is doing all that you claim 
for it and w’orking perfectly satisfactory. I have had 
charge of the steam plant and sewerage of the hospital 
for a number of years, and I have had a great deal of 
trouble wuth the sewer. Our grounds had to be dug up 
every time we had any stoppage in the sewer, which was 
a great nuisance and expense; but since you have had 7 
your Cleaner at work in the hospital we have not had any 
of our grounds to dig up, nor have we been under any 
expense whatever for clearing out the sewer. You abated 
all the nuisance we had with the sewer and cleared us of 
a great stench that we had about our sinks, because your 
Cleaner cleans from the head of the sewer line to the 
street, which leaves our pipes as clean as new. Any one 
can clean their own sewers with it. They need never 
stop by a little attention given to them, and I most 
cheerfully recommend it to any person who needs such 
an article. Hoping that you may meet with success, I 
remain yours most respectfully, 
JAMES ROAN, 
Engineer of St. Vincent de Saul Hospital. 
The National Board of Marine Underwriters of 
New York. 
D. Knowles, Esq. 
Dear Sir : In answer to your inquiry regarding iny 
views of your Patent Sewer Cleaner, have to state that 
it has proven very satisfactory, doing all that you claimed 
for it. Previous to applying it I was put to a great deal 
of trouble and expense, in consequence of having back 
yard dug up every time the sewer got stopped up. In 
addition there was a bad stench emitted from kitchen 
sink, caused by grease adhering to the pipes, but since 
the application of your Cleaner have had no further 
expense or nuisance. I consider it one of the best 
sanitary appliances that I kuow about. There has been 
no expense since applied. 
WM. LAUDER, 
Office of James Reid & Co., 
No. 87 Main Street, 
Norfolk, Va., Sept. 3, 1891. 
Mr. D. Knowles, Norfolk, Va. 
Dear Sir : In reply as to our opinion of your Patent 
Sewer Cleaner, we will say that we think it a success in 
every respect, and that it is all that you claim for it. 
There is no expense attached to it. 
Yours truly, 
JAMES REID & CO. 8 
Here is a testimonial from a rental agent who had a 
great deal of trouble with two houses. He has no trouble 
at all since the Knowles Patent Sewer Cleaner has 
been applied to them. 
Office of George W. Johnston, 
No. 10 Holt Street, 
Norfolk, Va., Nov. 7, 1891. 
Mr. Daniel Knowles. 
Dear Sir : With reference to your inquiry pertaining 
to your Patent Sewer Cleaner which was applied to 
houses numbers 28 and 30 Mariner street about ten 
months ago, I will say that it has been a perfect success. 
Before said Patent Sewer Cleaner was applied the ten- 
ants were continually complaining about the sewer pipes 
being stopped, which necessitated the lane and yards 
being dug up by the plumbers time and again. I remem- 
ber that I had to have the lane dug up twice in one 
month, but since your Cleaner was applied I have not 
had a single complaint. As a sanitary measure I think it 
excellent, as it keeps the pipes perfectly clear of grease 
and everything that causes foul odors. 
Verv respectfully, 
>. E. NOTTINGHAM, Agent, 
W. H. Turner’s Estate. 
Office, Board of Street, Sewer, 
and Drain Commissioners, 
Norfolk, Virginia, November 20, 1892. 
Sewer Pumping Station. 
To whom it may concern: 
This is to certify that I am perfectly acquainted with 
the device known as the Knowles Sewer Cleaner (or 
stoppage preventer), and I can here say with truth and 
candor that it is tne only contrivance that has come 
under my notice that will clean sewers from the surface 
of the earth without that disagreeable odor that naturally 
arises from sludge and excrement which has been stopped 
or confined in the laterals or pipes. 
Since it has been applied on our sewage system it has 
not cost the city a peuny to break the stoppage, some- 9 
thing unparalleled in the history of this Department 
over the old mode of excavating to find cause, and then 
probably not in twenty feet of the obstruction. 
Respectfully, 
(Signed) H. C. FRASIER, 
Engineer of Station. 
Norfolk, Va., December 24, 1892. 
The Knowles Patent Sewer Cleaner has been used 
by the Public Schools, in their connections with street 
sewers of this city, for more than a year. The device 
has proven eminently satisfactory, both as a matter of 
economy in saving expense of plumbing and keeping the 
sewers unobstructed at all times. We feel now as if the 
schools could not get along without it. The sanitary 
conditions and comfort of the premises are greatly en- 
hanced by the use of the Knowles Cleaner, as is manifest 
upon experience with it. 
Very respectfully, 
K. C. MURRAY, 
Superintendent of Public Schools. 
Queen Street Public School, 
Norfolk, Va., .June 17, 1892. 
The Knowles Patent Sewer Cleaner has been in use 
in this school property for the past year, during which 
time there have been two temporary stoppages, and these 
were freed at once by the Cleaner without any digging 
and without cost. 
Heretofore the stoppages had been frequent and expen- 
sive. 
The system of water-closets in use is the automatic 
flushing tank with cess-pool outside. This pool required 
the service of an excavating company to keep clean, was 
frequently very offensive, and always a menace to health. 
The Knowles Patent did away with this pool, and now 
there are no offensive odors either inside or outside the 
closets. 
As a sanitary device and as conduciug to comfort and 
decency it is entitled to high praise, as a stoppage in the 10 
sewer connections, unless corrected at once, necessarily 
results in a condition of nuisance. 
I think Mr. Knowles should be reckoned a public bene- 
factor. 
(Signed) JAS. P. BRITT, 
Principal. 
Office City Engineer, 
Norfoek, Va. , November 7, 1891. 
To whom it may concern: 
This will certify that. David Knowles was for several 
years Assistant Inspector of Plumbing of the city of 
Norfolk, in which capacity he gave general satisfaction 
to all. He has a patent for cleaning sewers and con- 
nections, which whenever applied has given entire satis- 
faction. I cheerfully recommend him to any and all 
persons in need of such service. 
Very respectfully, 
JAMES R. GUY, 
Inspector of Plumbing. 
Office City Engineer, 
Norfoek, Va., November 17, 1892. 
To whom it may concern: 
This is to certify that the bearer, Mr. David Knowles, 
was for several years in the employ of the city of Norfolk 
as Assistant Inspector of Plumbing. During that time 
he devised various methods of cleansing and keeping 
clear pipes and sewers, and I have given his appliances 
successful and satisfactory tests. I earnestly bespeak 
for him a hearing as to his sewer-cleaning appliance and 
a careful consideration of its merits. 
Very respectfully, 
W. T. BROOKS, 
City Engineer. 
The yellow-fever scourge at Memphis, Tenn., and 
Shreveport, La., in 1873, and through the South during 11 
1878, the last visitation being the most malignant ever 
known, has been traced by the most eminent physicians 
to the foulness of pipes in house connections and the want 
of proper sewerage. 
Dr. John A. Roach, sanitary superintendent of the Chi- 
cago board of health, in his report on the sewerage of 
that city, says: “I think it is plain that the number of 
deaths in a ward is regulated by the number of feet of 
sewers it contains to each individual in it, no matter what 
other conditions obtained with regard to the population.” 
All sanitarians agree that the only effectual way to pre- 
vent the disease generated by the accumulation of tilth and 
putrid grease in your pipes is its immediate removal, and 
the Knowles Sewer Cleaner after once being applied 
will remove the evil. 
Any registered plumber of Washington City will be 
allowed to attach the Knowles Sewer-Cleaning Device 
to sewers or dwellings, upon being registered at our 
office and receiving our regular permit to do the same. 
The attachments so made will in all cases be inspected, 
when completed, by the Washington Sewer Cleaning Co. 
Inspector. 
WASHINGTON SEWER-CLEANING CO., 
Dr. J. Baldwin Rutherford, 
Supt. 
Office : Room No. 1, Builders’ Exchange, 
Washington, D. C.