The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-14
CREMATORY AT WORK.
A SUCCESSFUL TEST MADE AT NOON
CITY Metals Present Highly Gratihed-His-
tory of The Plant and an interesting
Description of Its Workings

The crematory iS compieVeu' Luz oech Ill.,
and hereafter the city will be in a position 10
properly dispose Of it's waste and refuse mat
ter and preserve the public health.
Yesterday the Committee on Health OF the
Council witnessed a thorough test OF the
furnace and pronounced it a decided sue
cess. A large party Of gentlemen who were
interested in the experiment were present,
among them being Mayor Ellyson, City-En-
cineer Cutshaw. Mr.. j. Brooke. city engineer
of Norfolk; Engineer Carter Of Baltimore
Mr.. S. NJ. Warner OF New York, OF the Engie
Company, and many members OF the Council
Mr.. William Bolton. who will operate the
crematOry at night. and Squire Jones' OF
Sugar Bottom, who will manipulate u III tne
daytime, were also present.
HOW IT BURNT.
The utmost efforts of the Health Depart
ment had secured fifteen loads OF garbage.
which were placed upon the slopes Leading 70
the fire holes. The fire was put into the iur-
mace at o'clock, and at 1880 the hrst hVe
loads of garbage were placed IN the cremaIoI.
At 1890. on the arrival of the Committee on
Health. about six more loads were deposited
in the furnace and the fires were allowed
to burn up. The flames followed
the strong draught passing over ana
/ through the mass OF WhSbc va - ffeL
stack. The heat at no time was raised 70 tns
HIGHEST degree. as the small amount OF gar
bage did not permit of 1t. At l.5U the re-
mainder Of the garbage was deposited, Ine
whole stirred up TO allow the flames 70 a1SaoA
the fresh surface. and at z O'CLOCK "nSn II
TrNfrs renorter left. there was only to be seen
a GREAT he'd of glowing ashes from the mass
Of refuse which had been destroyed. lneIo
,yos burned about fifteen cubic yards
Of garbage. including the bodies OF twenty
docs and many smaller animals. ABOUT
three-ouarters OF a ton of coal was used. Inc
fuel employed would have destroyed q much
larger amount Of garbage II 1t could nave
been obtained.
no SMOKE OF DOOR.
The time required was about two hours,
though there was no attempt 10 push the lur-
mace fOI speedy work. as the various dOors
and corners were being constantly opeheu 10
observe the fires. There was an entire aD-
sence of smoke. odOr or fumes, except from
the garbage piles on the slopes before feeding
the furnace. Once inside everything was
transformed by the fire. Al the close Oh the
burning. looking at the furnace and STACK
the closest scrutiny could detect no smoke
arising. The expressions OF the observers
we're complimentary. and every one seemed
astonished at the simplicity, ease and rapldlty
of the work. The trial was a success, and the
city may be congratulated on at least possess
ing a satisfactory way to dispose OF It's gar
bage.
INTERESTING HISTORY.
The history of this measure of reform in
disposinp Of garbage goes back about three
wears. The Health Department had been
much ANNOYED by complaints from residents
of both county and city regarding the dump
ing of garbage on the lots owned by the city
for that purpose.
When the chairman Of the Health Commit
tee. convinced of the necessity, began %
make INQUIRIES looking to the establishments or
some form of furnace for destroying garbage,
he found only three places using furnaces.
Pirtsburg. Wheeling and Des MONIES each
have a different style OF crematory. Nothing
was done the first year except TO get lniofma-
ton. Cremation of garbage was too new.
The furnaces had not been tried long enough.
The next year the garbage trouble was worse
than ever. There was no sultable pace t'isa
dump where the decaying stun could salely 90
placed. and complaints and worry increased
and kent on until the coming of cold weather,
when the committee went 10 work IN earnest.
December. 1859, "a resolution was adopted by
the Council authorizing them 70 investigate
the various systems. Dir. CHRISTIAN, the
chairman, Mr.. Gaines and Dr. OppenhlIhsr
the health officer. visited each place WheIe
any improved methods were III use, ana gain
cred "a fund of ntOrmatlO Ihey a-Aei lOI
proposals. and received q reply from the
inelo Company, whose furnaces had mean
while increased in number to twenty.
APPROPRIATION MADE.
After a long struggle the resolution appro
priating $4,000 for a crematory was passed
and early in last summer q contract was madt
with the Engle Company. and work was
begun on Buchanan street. But objections
sprung up, meetings were called OF the Couh'
ell and committee 20 consider the matter
the work was suspended debated back cne
forth. The homeless cremator wandered
F LOOKING for "A site until after four months de
I- Il ...r.H 40 DMaYra uFrnnF IHTWNAn NJ
3 Paul and st. John was exchanged ior the bu.
4 chanan street lot. and again the work begun
The furnace was finished in January, ou
owing 10 bad weather the roads were MOI
, finished and water connections made unit
a February. The complete building covering
the furnace is of corrugated IRON. lJ feet long
Z % feet wide. with an J. o. 70 fedt.
The driveway admitting the carts IS IN Oh.
a l. and is q cemented. paved approach, wllcl
allows the carts 70 discharge their loads ol
to tho iron slopes leading TO the feedin.
holes.
q PROPORTIONS.
The furnace itself is 35 feet long. 50 fee
1 wide and j. feet high. with q brick stack 3
10 feet high-a solid brick structure. braced an
banded with lOng iron bars and tied with con
Meeting bolts.
In tie top at the foot Of the iron slope
j. there are four large feeding holes coyere
with heavy f~re-clay. round slabs. banded W.T.
b iron.
a Descending to the ground floor the dra.
doors at each end are seen, also "a lower rang
= of square doors. through which the ashes o.
Q taken out. and above "a series OF round doors
{ Opening one of these the whole operation u
burning the garbage is seen. Vegetables u
d an kinds. in all stages of decay. fish. bone:
= rotten meat. paper. tin cans, straw. rags
t oyster shells. the bodies of several dogs. cat.
d hens and rats. in fact. every thing cast o
and thrown away, except only coal ashes
B. are consumed.
l. This mass of waste is caught ly the garDa9
" CRATES. which extend across the furnace.
% HOW III Is DONE.
s The fire from the end OF the furnace nel
p the chimney passes over and through tn
mass OF stun. anu the fumes are drawn b
c the draught Of the tall chimney OWL into
- fire at the front end of the furnace. where Oh
=, smoke and OdOrs are consumed. Then th
. heat and flames from this fire box pa
through an opening At the left and down
fue and back under the garbage crates on d
way 10 the chimney. The garbage IS hun
.e up. so to speak. between two fires. above an
T. below. and the OdOrs and smoke are Durne
IN one fire.
The process of putting in garbage and CO.
and taking out ashes below may g on j
a. dehnately for q month or more without q ste
-t II required. There is DO escape OF smOae
= Dr.aIf ~ raa from fI- furnace