New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-02
THE CTTT,S WASTE.

,taror Cirov ,s 10 be commended for his DO
c,sion 20 appoint an Advisory Committee 10 III
vcsticote plans for the final disposition OF TIE
citv's refuse but his good Judgment In the seiec-
tion Of some of It's members IS open 10 question:
Tho committee consists Of ex-Mayor Edison, eA
postmostcr-Gcncrnl James Lieutcnanf-Cph-
mandcr Daniel Deehanty, L. =. "; president
Wilson of the Health Board. and Sreet-Ciean-
inc Commissioner Andrews. Commissioner An
1rcws ~ already publicly committed on some
,,hoeos If thc subject. and cannot therefore be
expected to give it nm impartial examination
still. il is to be hoped that good results VIII no"
from tbe proposed investigation. The question
is one of great interest 10 the city, ana Il
scarcely less important than good and ap'ih-
1,,t wotor supply and thorough system OF
sewers.
The city's waste consists OF three classeS vi
material. ashes. stree; swecplngs and house
refuse or garbage. with conpara'N'E "''"
trouble each nav be kept separate from the resi-.
Clean ashes are perfectly unobjcctionabie II USED
for filling sunkcn lots and dcprcssions caused
by the extension Of piers. ana ihey can 'iso Wv
employed for making land either along the CIT!
waterfront or on the islands under us CONTROL
The street sweepings contain Valuable l'r'''~'"h
material and by proper arrangements cohih ""'
doubtcdly be made 10 yield cohSid'raDie rev"
me 10 the city treasury. 1t Is foiy 10 caii!
ashes and street swecpIngs ont 10 sen anu III"
the risk Of filing up the harbor ana 'hanh'ls'
7, f. unnecessary 10 consider rhc ndvisablliy
OF burning these materials; but III the '"S' VI
garbage that seems 10 be ihc most hatufal "i''"
od. Street Cleaning Commissioner Andrew" mas
proclaimed his opposition to any ihe'hon "a
cremation. and thinks that This waS'e ma'eii"
can be- rendered unobcctlonable by dis'ni''
tion. But he has committed himself 10 cosby
patcnt process N distinction which mere u
reason 70 regard with suspicion, ma mas urG'u
the purchase OF large number OF "electrozoh'
machines Even II they do IN" work cIhih" lo'
Them the question Of final disposition Oh Tue
dIsinfcctcd material would remain presumably
the Advisory Committee VIII give special a'''h
ton 10 'hc question Of cremation Tor 'niS p'''
Of the citys waste II has been trl'd III o'ii'i
cities. notably In a large number OF Euf"p''"
centres Of population, with unquaillrd success
The expense of building The crematorleS IS NOT
great. and according To all accounts 'hoN ca"
be operated NJ small cost and without giVlhs
OH, Objectionable o,lors The result of The burn
ing process IS 4 sort OF Stag. when Is Salu !"
max. an excellent foundation for roads. and Is
also used III some lIh'F>' "''i "''"- -'
as u substitute FOR sand in making mortar. BE
sides the heat generated by tho process OF Gre
nation can be used for small cectric-light plants
or other power purposes. The time certainly
seems 10 have come for the city authorities 10
consider with seriousness The expectancy OF
burning all house refuse. The Mayors ADVISORY
Committee. which held It's first meeting yest'r-
dav and outlined It's method Of procedure. Is IN
a position TO render me community most vaiu-
able service, But care must he taken To guarh
agans1 any costly jobs in the interest Of Favored
contractors