The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-07-01

the rubbish. When you move, don't 20
away leaving wagon load of trash for the
next conner to get rid Of as best they may,
far better to leave dirty floors and wood
work, than 4 lot of disease producing rags
and old shoes, burn them, rake oyer the
yard and burn up what will burn, and save
your self call from the health officer and
marshall and while our city is healthy, let
every dweller therein, help keep it so.
~.
There Is large amount OF animal and
vegetable matter constantly collecting from
every kitchen and chamber that cannot be
utilized for feeding even the cats and dogs,
and which must still be gotten rid of in
order to preserve healthy conditions and
surroundings. 1t will not do to throw it on
the ground to rot and putrefy the air and
contaminate the water of the place. Still
there are two very excellent ways to dispose
of 1t safely. Burnt 1t, If it will burn. J. ire
Is a wonderful purifier Nothing will clean
you up Cor QUIT so effectually. The ashes
may be scattered to "the four winds of
heaven" or be placed about your fruit trees
to enrich them. But when 1t is more con-
venient it is quite as well to bury all such
| turns it back to original elements very
rapidly.
~
A recent statement of Prof, E. 7. Nelson
on that subject is so Interesting that we re-
produce it:
"IhuS far we have been discussing soil
| pollution. Is there no such thing as soil re-
generation? Bring here, If you please, u
half dozen English sparrows freshly killed.
Place one out Of sight within bed Of pure
sand; another in Gne coal ashes Il third in
mari; fourth in subsoil clay; fifth in
pure humus or muck; the sixth and last in
garden or agricultural soil. Allow thirty
| days to pass, then eXhume the bodies and
| report the result.
"The birds within the sand and ashes are
only partially changed. There is about them
a strong odOr of decomposition, We rebury
the remains and pass on.
"The mari has In some measure preserved
the body Of the third bird. Petrifaction has
set in and the blrd may yet become stony
fossil.
1.-THE bird in the clay of the lower subsoi
is unchanged In Its outer aspect save that
it is covered by mould as varid in form
and as beautiful in color as an American
forest In the autumn of a frostless year. The
humus has preserved the specimen with
such absolute perfection that the fringng
Of the feathers may be as clearly traced as
during life. No decomposition, but strange
metabolism- wax taking the place Of flesh
and nerve and fiber.
ave look in vain for the sixth bird. It
has disappeared, and were it not for slight
discoloration Of the soil, we might have
concluded that the body had been removed
by some providing beast. Not that. It has
returned to the earth from which it came.
Dust to duSt--the cycle is complete. The
sell is clean to the touch and to the more
delicate sense Of sight and odor. The trans
formation has come without offense.
"rhis wonderful mystery is not a record
Of the soil-sand, lime and clay have no
such victories as this. We are introduced
into the inner sanctuary Of nature. Forms
Of life so slow that their very existence is
doubted by many, are the agents of this
miraculous change. Bacteria have changed
the dead matter from a mass of corruption
into soil and plant food, harmless alike tC
air and water.
1.-THE lesson Is quickly learned. Only
agricultural soil containing microbes is able
to receive and make innocuOus the excreta
of the body, the garbage Of the home anC
: the dust Of commerce.
"1here is a limit TO the regeneratiu,
power Of the soil. Give 1t a task within IT.
}, strength and the problem Of sewage Il
solved-the pollution Of air and water pre-
+. vented aud the soil ever preserved as one
mans most priceless possessions"
8 -.
e Nayert and stires have at last got tn
longed-for water ditch past their houses
and II they should seem at all hilarious, II |
! caused by an over dose Of Adams ale.
=.