Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-11-24
Those Present Are Unanimous In
Their Praises of the Pleasure
Experienced.
An Excellent Dinner IL ENJOYED Be.
fore the Beginning of the
Test.
A Ton and q Half of Refuse Ia De-.
stroyed In the Fiery Fur
mace.
The Cremation Pronounced a Thor.
ough Success by All Who
Were Present,
The Test Of the Crematorv.

The Test of the Crematory.
Some months ago, the trustees of the
state p%enitentiary, always alert for the
perfection of any plan which shall result
to the good of that institution. decided,
in view Of the increasing number of
prisoners and inmates, to provide a
desirable sanitary convenience in the
shape of a %crematory, for the disposal by,
this approved means, of the offal of the
institution. The decision resulted in
correspondence with eastern firms,
whose business is the construction of
crematories, and the contract for the
construction of the desired improvement
to the facilities of the institution, was
awarded the Engle Sanitary and Crema-
ton Co., of Chicago.
Two months ago Mr. Robinson, repre-
tentative of the aforesaid company ar
rived from Chicago and took charge of
the work of construction, which was
pushed to completion. The necessary
adjuncts were constructed, the furnace
and fittings put in under his supervision,
and the plant was completed a few days
ago.
The crematory is the only one in the
northwest, west of Des Moines, Iowa,
and the operation Of one, consequently,
a novelty to the majority of the residents
of the state. Accordingly, when pre-
parations were made for the first crema-
ton, invitations were sent forth by War
den Boucher, to various prominent per-
sons throughout the state, and to num-
o citizens Of the city, to be present
and witness the test. Tuesday was the
day set for the affair. and Tueday wit
messed quite a congregation of tue in
vited at the %penitentiary to witness the
event.
At half past ten in the morning, con-
veyances from the %penitentiary calledEfor
the various invited guests. There we're
Dr.. o. w. Archibald, superintendent of
the North Dakota hospital for the in
sane; DR.. F. H. DeVaux, state superln.
tendent of public health; Cashier G. L.
Grandin, of the First National bank OF
Mayville; Messrs. Jos. Lamont, of Fargo;
w. H. Robinson Of Mayville; G. E.
Showers of Wheatland; and Frank Don
nelly of Bismarck, trustees of the peni-
Tertiary; and M. W. Leahy and j. S.
Veeder of Mandan. From the city there
were Governor Shortridge, State Audi
tor Porter, Secretary G. M. Dahl, Chief
Justice Bartholomew, and Messrs. r. D.
Hoskins, w. T. Perkins, Asa Fisher, I.
P. Hunt, J. D. Wakeman, M. Eppinger,
Alex. Hughes, E. s. Beardsley, E. g. Pat.
~terson, Jos. Hare, E. G. Chase and j. w.
Lucas.
From the time of the arrival at the peni.
Tertiary until noon, wa passed in an in.
spection of the institution and it's i'm.
~provements; everything was visited in
turn and each elected numerous express.
ions of admiration; a drill of the convicts
was also witnessed, and at loon the guests
sat down to dinner. A tempting menu had
been gotten up by Warden Boucher, and
the guests did ample justice thereto;
every appointment was perfect and every
guest was satisfied with his entertain.
ment.
The fire in the crematory furnaces had
been started in the morning, and burned
slowly until shortly after 2 O'Clock, when
the actual test commenced. They were
then replenished, and in the refuse re.
ceptacle was placed about a ton and q
half of material for consumption; it was
a thorough test, too, for among the
refuse wa placed some of the most
difficult of combustion. The fire in the
chambers grew hotter and hotter, and
the refuse, it might almost be said
melted away before it. A heat of 35C
degrees, it is estimated, a. reached in
one of the furnace chambers. just the
faintest trace of thin, white smoke es.
capped from the chimney, and about two
hours after the cremation began. moth.
ing but q handful of fine ashes marked
the place where shortly before had been
a huge pile of foul smelling refuse.
DR.. DeVaux tested the smoke fol
odors and found almost none, and the
cremation was pronounced by him q
thorough success. Governor Shortridge
and DR.. Archibald likewise expressed
themselves as highly pleased, and their
verdict was unanimous with all who at.
tended.
Superintendent Robinson is likewise
we'll satisfied with the test. He says
the offal will probably have to be burned
once a month, and the amount of fuel
used each time will not he over a quarter
i NJ a ron. Yeatarday thoro waro con.