The record-union., 1893-05-09
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

Mayor Steinman expresses himself as
opposed to the further dumping of garb-
age and as in favor of a crematory system
1or its disposal. His colleagues on the
board are with him in this matter, and
wish the Board of Health to devise a
crematory system.
The RECoRD-UNIoN takes pleasure in
commencing the Mayor for his position
and in approving the concurrence of his
colleagues. For this journal has been
hammering away on this subject for
years, and has argued with the people
against the dumping system in and out of
season. 1t now sees the probability of
the fruit of its endeavor being gathered,
since the Mayor has taken hold of the
subject with vigor
One citizen proposed yesterday to fur
nish grounds outside of the prohibitive
limit of the State law, on which garbage
may be dumped. But it at once developed
that the greater distance of haul would
double the cost to the householders. A
family now paying so cents a month TO
have its garbage removed, would, under
the doubling of the length of the haul,
have to pay 81 or 81 25 month, since the
carts could make less than half the num-
Der of trips in the same time, and the
scavengers would have to increase the
number of their employees, horses and
carts in order to accomplish the work.
Now, concerning a garbage crematory
there are two approved systems in op-
Grafton in several cities of the Union.
These systems are best represented by
the Boston and the Philadelphia works.
Those in the latter city are the better of
the two, the most rapid and economic.
1t will cost this city nothing to ascertain
all the facts relative to both systems. All
we have to do is to write or to have
trusted agent examine.
Generally, it may be said, that in these
crematory works the first treatment of
the garbage is application of pressure to
drive out the fluids which are evaporated
subsequently,, or sent off in liquid sew
age. The resultant is then in its par
TALLY dried state cremated in furnace in
which combustion is hastened by the
spray of cheap petroleum. At the East
the ash that remains sells as high as $40
ton for fertilizing purposes, and the de-
mand is greater than the supply, though
at first the people fought shy of it, but
now that it is understood that it is not
only absolutely harmless, but is most
useful and economic aid to agriculture,
gardening and Horticulture, it is sought
for eagerly.
We trust that Mayor Steinman will
have the hearty support of the people in
his effort to break up bad and unsani-
tary system and to enforce the wise law
that prohibits dumping in or near to
towns and cities. We hope he will make
thorough examination into the several
garbage crematories in use in the East.
Some of them are patents and royalty
has TO be paid for the privilege of using
them. II these royalties are deemed too
high, the economy of the machines being
taken into account, it will be possible to
construct a simple roller mill to express
the moisture and proper furnaces for
burning the garbage. But it must all the
while be taken into account that not
always is the cheapest machine in price
the cheapest in the end. True economy
dictates the adoption of crematory that
will cost least to operate, though the first
cost may be greater than for less eco
nomic machine.
There are two or three companies in the
United States that undertake with towns
and cities to dispose of all garbage at
spot price per ton per year. 1t will be
wise to communicate with these. We be-
lieve San Francisco is now engaged in
such communication-at least is exploit
ing the subject, and we can avail of the
research being made there on these lines.
At any rate, let Mayor Steinman ad-
here to his resolution to effect the abate-
ment of garbage dumping, and a erema-
tory of some sort will follow, for the
people will not, cannot stand the expense
of dumping under the long haul.