The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-14
THE CITYS GARBAGE.
Should the City Dispose Of II by
Contract or Not2
WHAT is DONE IN OTHER CITIES
Garbage when Treated with Hot Naptha
Becomes n Fsrtiiiscr-The Riverside
Chemical works. New York and Brook
lyn Dump the Refuse into the OCEAN.

lyn Dump the Refuse Into the Ocean.
The appearance of cholera In the old
world. its rapid spread and its presence
in the harbor of the principal seaport Of
tho United States has aroused the health
authorities of nearly every city In the
land, and the most strenuous efforts are
being made to prevent the terrible disease
from fastening itself upon us.
1t perhaps not generally remembered
that the time of the last two epidemics OF
cholera in this country were nearly or
quite q year layer than the epidemic in
Europe, and. as an ounce OF prevention Is
worth pound of cure, the health author
toward the removal OF everything that
would encourage the plague to como
among us.
In this connection, and not the least In
point of danger, comes the large amount
of garbage and filth which necessarily
accumulates In large cities and in the dis
exercised. Not that tho ordinary wastes
from the table and cook room, or the
decayed fruit will be likely to breed
cholera, but as this disease 10 more likely
to attack communities where the air is
foul and where other diseases abound
than where healthy atmosphere repels
the approach of anything In the shape OF
disease.
Health Authorities Active.
The health authorities of this city are
at present as active as possible, and are
doing everything in their power to keep
the people filled with ideas OF cleanliness
IN every direction, and IL will materially
essen their labors IL everybody would
Use proper discretion In the disposal Of
waste OF all kinds, and In the case Of
yards and buildings.
Every day como many complaints OF
nuisances OF one kind and another which
kept the health officers on the jump con-
tinually, and IL is no more than the duty
OF every body to assist them as far as lies
In the power OF each.
The people of PROVIDENCE are very well
acquainted d with the manner Of disposal
OF the garbage OF the city as for eacn fam
lily is concerned The wagons come
around quite regularly and remove the
accumulated waste, and this accounts for
the fhct that what is known as garbage is
very generally separated from ashes and
other harmless accumulations. Those
latter are removed at the expense OF the
individuals, and thus IL Is that one Is not
likely to wish to increase the amount any
moro than Is necessary, but Is willing to
let the garbage carts take everything they
Will carry. These garbage carts are the
property Of the contractors A. ii. a. j.
Barney, who undertake to remove all
the garbage in the city.
Riverside Chemical Works.
1t is taken to the Riverside Chemical
Works, situated on the Cove lands be-
tween Harris avenue and the Woohasqua-
tucket river, loaded into large tanks and
treated with hot naptha which removes
the grease from the solid parts. The
grease Is then poured into barrels aud the
solid part. which by this time resembles
bone, is ground up and sold for fertilizer.
At certain seasons when there Is a very
large amount Of swill and garbage, u part
OF 1t Is sold to a certain farmer ouside the
city who feeds it to hogs, but this is only
when the Riversi de Chemical Works can
not take care of the whole quantity. Per
laps this is as good way to get rid Of
the garbage OF great city as any other,
but other cities have tried other plans
aud are satisfied with their success. A
petition has just been presented to the
mayor and board Of aldermen asking for
the removal OF the "swill works as 1t Is
called, on account Of the odor that often
comes from it. This oder. 1t is only fair
TO say, IL net OF the swill and refuse but
Of the burnt naphtha and is not real y as
dangerous as many suppose.
In conversation with DR. Chaplin. the
Superintendent Of Health. he said that
he thought the better plan to be for the
city to remove ali refuse including gar
bage, ashes aud all kinde of waste from
houses and stores. He thinks that the
present contractors are doing their work
well but argues that II the city had the
mater under direct super vision, the re-
suit would naturally be that 1t would be
done as thoroughly as possible. II would
cost more 1t is true, but IL would pay in
the end because more or less perishable
matter gets into the ash bins and by this
plan it would all be remedied-
They DO IL In Boston.
The city of Boston does this aud the
greater part is loaded on boats and dump
ed In the open sea, part being sold to
farmers for hogs. There is mnch agita-
tion nearly every year to have it all car
ried out to sea aud the nuisance caused
by ITS transportation inland, abated. 1t
costs the city of Boston nearly 100000 a
year to dispose of the refuse in this way.
New York and Brooklyn collect gar
bage, ashes and all and dump the whole
Ia the ocean. p a1elphia follows the
absurd plan of collecting the garbage by
contract aud part of IL 40 used to fatten
hogs on 0e outskirts of the city and the
remainder Is dumped into vacant lots
with dirt and ashes, to fill aud level.
There has been much opposition to the
continuation of this manner of disposal,
plan Of New York and Brooklyn will soon
be adopted.
1t is noticeable In looking over the
health reports of various cities that
health officers in different cities do not
agree in their recommendation for the
disposal OF garbage. In some cities
where the contract plan is not used it Is
advocated aud In many cities where 1t is
used the municipal care Of garbage is
recommended. These latter are in the
great majority and It is safe to advocate
IL as the better plan.
At all events the safer plan is the bet
ter and II the city would be rid Of the
danger Of disease let the garbage, ashes
aad all wastes which are possibly dan
gerous TO health be removed, and IL neces-
sary let the taxpayers pay for IL, which
they Will do without grumbling.
FALL RIVER.
The offer of the Old Colony Railway