The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-12
IN FAVOR OF CREMATION.
THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES THE
GARBAGE PROBLEM.

W. F. Morse Urges the Adoption OF
the Engle Incinerating Furnace-The
Council Not Decided as to What
Plan 1t Will Adopt Yet, but Is In
clined to the Crematory System.
An informal meeting of the city council
was held yesterday afternoon at 4 O'Clock to
listen to a talk by MIR. w. F. Morse of New
York, agent of the Eagle Sanitary and
Cremation Company, on cremation as the
proper way to dispose of garbage, and ad-
vocating the merits Of the Eugle garbage
furnace. All the members of the council
were present except Alderman McDonOugh,
who failed to receive notice Of the meet
ing. Mayor Schwarz introduced Mr. Morse,
and stated the object Of the meeting.
Mr.. Morse stated in the outset that he was
on his way to Jacksonville with view to
consulting with the health authorities Of
that city upon the que ton Of putting up
an + gle garbage furnace there. He re-
VIeWe1 the old methods of dispOsing of
putrefactive matter, none Of which have
been satisfactory from a sanitary point Of
view, for whether in t water, on the
ground or under the ground, its unsanitary
objections are not removed.
IhE METHODS OF CREMATION.
The experiments VIII CHI had been recent y
made to solve the problem were reviewed
at length, and the conclusion had been
reached, Mr.. Morse said, without the ne
ces'lty Of further experiment, that inciner-
atlon is the most practical, the most econ
omlcal, and with the best sanitary results
Inns TACT having been established, the pro-
ces' of cremation, and the best method Of
furnace building ~ carry out the process,
mad engaged the attention of men OF scien-
udc and inventive geniu and the speaker
claimed that TIE furnace be represented is
the pest, and to support the cl i'm he real
81 length from Investigations by one of the
oihclals or his comp my, cited places where
he Engle furnace has been adopted, aud
read one or two certificates from those who
nave seen 1t in practical operation. He e;-
tlmated that the garba of Savannah
would amount TO forty or fifty tons per daY,
and arg led that with a short haul it would
be an economic II disposition Of garbage to
burn 1T In furnace located near the city
the furnace consuming the smoke and nox-
ious gases.
READY TO BUILD A FURNACE.
He described the workings of the Eagle
furnace, a pictorial section of which was
IT the hands of each alderman, the mayor
the city engineer and health officer. who
were present. MIR Morse gave an approx
mate pri at which his company would
put it up, and if it did not work to the sat
lstacti N OF the board, there would be no
charge; and if it were satisfactory the city
to pay for it.
Alderman Myers inquired if it would
cremate the night soil
Mr. Morse was not prepared to saw If
would. The liquid matter would have to
be evaporated, ard T night soil is intended
10 be cremated, some improvements would
have to be made to the garbage furnace.
he explained that the Eagle fire closet
would do that
Alderman Wells said that the experiment
was tried at Wheeling of burning garbage
and night soil together and It did nor work
well, as it retarded the burning If the
garbage. Alderman Wells aske4 Mr.. NJ orse
If he would not advise burning tae night
SOIL separately, aud Mr.. Morse answered:
"Bv all means"
Nj. Morse vas not prepared to answer
some OF the questions put to him with re-
gard 20 complaints in the hands of the
health c)mmittee elected by letters of in
duiry addressed to the sanitary authorities
where some of the + gle furnaces have been
tried; and the nearest point where it is in
Ill p actlcal ope alton, he stated in answer
to an inquiry by Alderman Smith is at
Milwaukee. 1t IS from this point that the
Savannah health authorities had not
received as favorable reports as they would
like.
A CONFERENCE INVITED.
Mr.. Morse, in conclusion, said that he
would like to have Mr.. Eagle come down
and consult with the board, bringing a
model to show the council the practical
workings Of the furnace
Mayor Schwarz, on behalf Of the council
very courteously thanked Mr.. Morse for his
instructive address, after which Mr. Morse
retired
Alderman Harris then read LEI ter from
Edward Clarke, the health officer of Buff
falo, N. Y, speaking in the highest terms
Of praise of the Merz furnace used in that
city by the Merz Universal Extract Com
pany, for the cremation Of garbage aud
night soil. 1t Is known as the Alerz process
of cremation, in which the garbage and
night soil undergoes a process which re-
moves the vapor and leaves a sanitary resi-
due having the appearance of dry brown
earth, valuable AS fertilizer, and from the
sale of which a revenue is derived The
grease is extracted from fatty substances,
and bones are reduced to fertilizing ash.
THE PHILADELPHIA PLAN.
Alderman Harris said: al find in Phila-
delphia it is doing its work spleudidly and
beautifully. | nave written to the Phila-
delphia health officer and l think | will
hear from him this week. We need not act
hastily. 1t does not require much time to
put up the furnace when we decide upon it.
II will be wise to move slow. This furnace
at Philadelphia burns the night soil with
the garbage
Alderman Myers thought that the health
officer and a member Of council ought to
visit some of the cities and examine the
workings Of the different furnaces, the ex-
pense OF operating them, and their sanitary
excellence. There is no time to lose, and
we don't want to waste time,n he added
Alderma3 Harris replied that any of the
furnace companies will put up crema DRY
here, and II it don't give satisfaction they
will pull IL down. He also stated that the
committee would bring in a report on the
subject at the next meeting of council.