National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-01-20
NIGHT SOIL.
New Apparatus for Its ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Experiment Saturday.


Experiment Saturday.
Since the formation Of the Board Of Health Of
the District OF Columbia there has been no ques-
ton OF improving the Public health which has
received more attention from this holy than that
Of night soil. Various experiments were tried,
hut the old system OF removing by means oil
buckets seemed to be the most practicable, not
withstandlng It's unpleasantness, and this method
Ia In operation 20 the present day. Some months
since Drs Cox and Bliss, Of the board visited New
YORK, for the purpose OF ascerAining the mode
Of operation In mat city, when they found the
WoossTs aodor E~ eSesystlns mashnss %ith
good results. Upon their return N Washington
the fact was made known TO the members Of our
6Ha wh 70 SS!STlsen 70 MAKE Ies, o. ms
ton was extended 10 Messrs. Bradley and Hooker
to visit Washington with their machine, when
test Of the abilities In removing night soil here
would he made,
The Invitation was accepted, and last week
these gentlemen, with their machine, were on
hand aud ready for operation, Invitations to
he present and witness the operation were ex-
tended TO the health Officers Of Baltimore, the
Legislature Of the District and the Board OF Pub
lie Works OF the District OF Columbia, and among
those who accepted were DR.. Benson, commits
sioner Of health; DR.. Leas, assistant commits
sioner; Col. 4, 8. Mills, OF the second branch,
city council; Hon. j. II, Carter DIR, W. Mich
OILS, Mr.. SOmmeTloch, OF the city council; Cen.
TlghlmAn, Col. Stiles, all OF Baltimore, and also
Hons. $. 7. Brown and Adolf Clnss, Of the Board
Of Public Works; Hons. l.. u. Douglass, Daniel
" NJ
eli; Messrs, Murray, Bond, Handy, Wall and
Brown, Of the House OF Delegates Of the District
Of Columbia, together with our Board OF Health
and large number Of citizens.
The party assembled at the Board Of Health
rooms A. one o'clock, where carriages were pro-
yided, and the party proceeded TO the State De-
nartment, where the test was TO be made. AT
this place a large vault had been selected. The
machine consists OF a force pump resting on
wagon, from which fOur-lncb hose with
an end OF perforated copper IL placed In post
tlOn and the perforated end passed into the sink,
Connection with this hose IN made To cistern
which also rests on wheels, and with the capacity
Of ninety cubic feet, made perfectly air tight,
and thereby avoiding the escape Of the gases
from the nlghls0ll. The apparatus Ii propelled
by four men. All being In readiness, the ma
chine was set In operation, and In twelve minutes
from the time OF starting the cstern was nlled,
The gentleman from Baltimore, who had never
seen the machine WORK before, expressed them
selves a. being entirely satisfied with the manner
In which II worked. Upon the conclusion OF the
experiment the party proceeded TO WOnnleys,
where handsome collation. was partaken Of.
Speeches were made by Drs. Cox, Bliss, Prof.
Langst0n, Hon. A. X. Browne, Adolf Cluss, +,
T., Browne, Mesars, Bradley and Hooker and
others, after which the party dispersed.
The Impression created by thia machine upon
our officials was that II Is what Is badly needed
Ia Washington, not only owing to ltA Ordorless
qualities, but that II can he worked In daylight
as well ~ the night, without the slightest de-
gree OF unpleasantneAs. The arrangement Ia such
that the contents Of tue sink not At all agltated
teflals the bricks, ashes, and other materials re-
naming are removed In alright cans, aud
placed upon one OF the wagons.