St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-14
THE AZOTINE PLANT
Offers to City Officials a Solution
ofthe Garbage Problem.

Offers to City Officials a Solution
ofthe Garbage Problem.
A fertiIizing factory, it would natur-
ally be supposed, is scarcely a place
where the ordinary mortal could enjoy
banquet. There are ordinarily odors
about an establishment Of that sort
which would preclude the possibility of
any persons enjoying choice edibles.
But those who part ook of the spread
prepared at the AZo tine plant found
nothing to offend the appetite of even
all epicure, and did full justice to the
viands prepared for their delectation.
The AZotine Manufacturing company'S
plant for the disposition of all forms OF
garbage and refuse matter was formally
opened yesterday, although the works
have been in actual operation for some
weeks. Carriages were provided, and
the city officials and aldermen
were driven from the city hall at p. m.
The works are located on the upper
river flats above the high bridge, and
occupy tract of about FIVE acres, with
an abundance of room for such extern
SiOnS as the future may require. The
party was under the supervision of
James Forestal, Henry Fleischman and
Gustav Fleischman, and these gentle
meu piloted the city officials about the
plant, explaining its workings from the
reception of the garbage until it comes
out into manufactured productS-alI OF
which is accomplished without offensive
odOrs. The refuse matter is received in
large room. from which it is Shoveled
into six large revolving dryers, capacity
10 tons each. There it remains for six
hours. 1t is then conveyed into the ex-
tractors, of which there are three. As
the name indicates, the eX-
tractors are for the purpose
of removing the fatty substance, which
is accomplished IN six hours by chem
zeal process with the aid of naptha.
The grease is drained off into large
tanks, thence into barrels, and is
shipped to Akron, o., where it is made
up into candles. The residue after the
fats are drawn off is used for fertiIizing
purposes, and is employed on the back
farms or shipped away upon demand.
During this process the gases and foul
odors are sent along flume, by means
of mechanical fans, to a condenser.
This condenser Is a huge tank just out
side the main building. 1t contains six
compartments, or false bottoms. and by
means OF water the foul air is washed
until all odor is removed. The remark
able feature is that after the washing is
completed the water is as clear as
that taken from city hydrants.
1t is, however. drawn off into a sewer.
The water for the works is supplied by
an artesian we'll, 1876 feet deep. The
boiler house, 24X26, where the steam is
procured for the operation of the ma
chinery, is connected by pipes with an
oil tank; capacity, five car loads Of oil;
and oil is used for fuel. A saving of 80
per cent in fuel is thus effected. The
main building is 112x65, and the entire
plant cost Sl25,000. The capacity of the
works is one ton of grease per day and
twelve tons of fertilizer. For the pres
ent, the plant will be operated only
during the day. but it is the intention
TO run day and night as soon as mate
rial enough for that purpose is OBJ
tanned.
The system is what is known as the
Merit or Vienna. 1t is considered the
most approved of modern systems
for the disposition of refuse,
in that there is absolutely
no master, the peltS of dead animals
being disposed of to furrierS and every
vestige of other matter going into the
hOppers and coming out commodity.
Its advantages are not alone in the util-
iZation of all material without Offense
to the olfactory organs, but it is the
most scientific and healthful method OF
disposing of city refuse.
The adoption of the Vienna system
came about through the sending of a
council committee to investigate the
methods of garbage disposition in East
ern cities. In Buffalo the Mentz plan
was in use and the committee on its re-
turn reported in its favor. A company