The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-06
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Wednesday Morning, January 6, 1869.
PORTLAND.
Earth Closets.

Earth Closets.
A good deal of attention has lately been
drawn to new Invention devised by the Rev
Mr.. Monte, an Englishman, and now intro
duced TO the American public in small PAM
phlet prepared by Col. George E. Waring, of
New York, and entitled Earth Closets; Ho,c
to make them and how to use them. The
subject is not perhaps an attractive one, but
its Importance is such that it ought to be full
Iy discussed in the public prints. DR.. Monat,
inspector OF jails in India says that it is i'm
possible to overestimate the benefit which is
to result from Mr.. Monte's invention, and he
goes on to declare sit is, without exception,
the greatest public benefit conferred by pri-
vate individual, in matter so essential to
happiness, that am acquainted with"
The last Independent has an article in re-
lation to this matter from which we quote:
We have no desire to live to great cid age
But we should like to live long enough to see
no such thing as a waterc closet existing in
the United States. They answered ior
state OF balf-civiization; but they are notldes-
tined to live long. The earth-closet Is to take
their place. OF that we are already convinced
by inspection.
The earth-closet is based on the discovery
that thoroughly dried earth is the most COM
plete OF disiniectants. The instant it covers
any substance all offensive exhalation ceases
Water on the other hand, is not disinfec-
tant at all and simply carries away what is
offensive more OF less impeItect'y, aad at the
risk OF constant distractions, ireezings, burst
ings, and mishaps.
The earthcloset consists of simple appara-
tus, which discharges certain quantity OF
earth instead of stream of water There is
seat, a tight receptacle under it, a reser
volr for storing dry earth, and a contrvance
TO measure out and throw in the requisite
quantity.
Ibis is all, and it is enough. We have in
spected the important article. and are sats-
fed that ii is what it claims to be. Indeed
we have never known any person to examine
it without being satisfied. 1t is more cheap
ly and easily constructed than water-closet,
works more surely, is altogether less liable to
get out OF order, and is tar less liable to create
those offensive odors from which no water
closet IS wholly free and which make many
insuppor' able.
In the form Of commode it is also avaia-
bic Tor the sick room, which the water ap-
paratus is not 1t thus removes a chief
Waring describes an instance where such a
commot ewas kept in small room, between
two rooms occupied by lever patients, and
was the greatest comfort. "There has been
absolutely no annoyance, and the attending
physician was enthusiastic in its praise %
We happen to have been acquainted with
the facts, and know this statement to be cor
rect.
There is another vast advantage in the
new system. When thoroughly adopted, it
will reform the sewage OF every town. On
Baron Rothschild's estate in Buckingham
shire, with population of 800 persons it has
been in exclusive use Tor eighteen months.
"The over, flowing and fever-breeding cess
pools, bitches, and privies have been cleared
and not q toul smell can anywhere now be
found. A man and boy. with horse and
cart, were sufficient TO attend to this popu-
lation OF eight hundred" this is statement
Of correspondent of the London Standard,
Oct. 1857.
This method is especially applicable to
large public institutions, jails, school-houses,
hotels. etc. Captain Arnltage, of the
Wakefield (Enslish) prison, has hundred,
OF them in use, and testifies strongly to their
value. English scboolmasters, who have
tried them tor a year, testify that nothing
would induce them to return 10 the trouble.
expense, and uncleanness of the watercloset
system. Low levers, such as often curse
large institutions, are found to be removed at
once when this change is made We have
just heard from one OF the proprietors of the
new ST. James Hotel, now in process of erec-
ton at Jacksonville, Florida, that the earth
closets are to be introduced there as a sani
tary measure.
Finally the new system has an immense
advantage, on which Col. " airing dwells with
the zeal OF a scientific farmer. By this
means noxious substance is converted into
one of the attributes of life-for the earth
from the closet, though entirely inodorous, IS
as strong a fertilizer as guano. We thus
avoid the present most lavish waste of the
most vital elements of the soil. Liebig as
seits that the greatness OF the Roman En-
pire was sapped by the Clodcd Morimd,
through which the entire sewerage Of Rome
was washed into the Iiber. 1t impoverished
the agriculture OF the nation; while the
Chinese, by the opposite method, have kept
their soil fertile.