New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-07
OBJECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
,,on OF GARBAGE INCINERATION.

,,rruOp OF GARBAGE INCINERATION
svsrEM OF AN ENGINEER WHO THINKS
NE CAN SAVE THE CITY MUCH MONEY.
..o Editor of The Tribune
TO the ,,sw Of the recently published report of
xew-York Garbage Commission. which states
the ~ satisfactory process of general refuse in
that ~ Is,reet and house collections) was shown
cIhe'"a recommending in a general way the sep
th them ~ garbage and dsposing of 1t to some
ara. company for commercial uses. the question
oo,,v arises how or in what way Is any i'm
hosnt 10 be made over the present system as
Po, tho final disposition of general refuse such
rsSshes street sweepngs and accumulations which
ss as" ha included with garbage proper. In this
CAM the commission apparently indorses the
resp. system: that is, it proposes to use the ashes
p,oos ETC. for filling in at Rikers Island or
ssors recommending that such refuse material
e'..~.nsported in selfpropelling boats.
Or acard TO the filing in of Riker's Island II
II" ~, onv be stated that the people of this island
NV s.centy as last summer were subjected to the
o. sr, On their domain of some of Mr.. Andrews's
dump sand-selected ashes las stated at the time)
cn the result. all testified. that the stencil aris
VI" Fam he mass not only was offensive but be-
He a source of epidemic fever. This fact was
.' M substantated by the sworn statement of
io~, ac,ans and on this account II was deemed ex-
Ps.,, nv the Health Department to order these
~, 70 be disinfected. which done at con-
4,.r.he expense. but only partially eradicated
,ss evil complained OF.
:, tho city can derive an adequate revenue
,cn dsposng OF its 500 tons or
,rorhace for commercial uses without al
,,c the fostering mass TO accumulate IN
,norarv storage" thus creating worse null
go than before. we'll and good. But the extra
...rhe annoyance etc. which householders will
=, .ubiected TO in providing separate receptaces
a. .orting the garbage. ashes. etc, will be most
~. one; also in addition to being confronted
,h the usual ashcart. they will have to face an
- one standing in front of their residences.
s,ass several hundred more vending their way
.s,oush the streets of the city labelled FOR gar
t.ss only" which as regards odor at least Will
ndoubtedly be of the first rank. But why stop
sars, II the quantity OF garbage proper amounts
=. soo tons more or less. day the ashes and ac-
.nrulated sweepngs will reach four or five thou
,a tons per day. this great mass containing
me Of disease and rceking with street odors.
SS,n also he treated in such way will re-
ave even the possibility of communicating disease.
h.,her used for filling in at Rikers Island or else
There Simply because the commission has not
,dnessed according to its report satisfactory
,rocess or general refuse incineration does not
n,ovs by any means, that such a process is I'M
.s.,;.ab,e on the contrary it is perfectly prac-
,c.ble as am ready to prove TO a board OF ex
pert engineers 49,, .,,,,,.
4, referenc, 10 a process OF this nature the ioiow
r nronosit,on was made TO the Garbage commas
sion, under late Of October % last. VIZ;
"If the city Of New-York through It's an'noi'~'.
aren't will appropriate an amount not ~ 49,
v.o for the purpose Of constructing reiuse
...o,orv ON mans already submitted, and VIII
.c, rrIer the supervision Of the inventor IN ac-
oorsance with similar plans. to be approved oS al,
engineer appointed by the city, creratoaS , a. vii,
~ The present dumps or other location ,e Ci.s W.,
have the right 10 use and operate SAID crsIna'o'E
Under this process free Of charge LOT al, cas
sfterward at any time other addltiola ~. .ni,,rc
s,s desired bv the city the company cohtro''ans
the process will agree TO erect AT ,neH Iii, ~" aer.e
nsnsa such furnaces provided the CITY VIII as =,
through It's authorized agents 10 pay sum hot i, 70
sxreed 10 cents for every CARLOAD OF reluse " t
w,boni exnense TO the city. This system not only
incinerates garbage. but also REDUCES H., IN 80,
street dirt metals glass. stones. etc; without ~
sraton of any kind and does away with any slhone'
smell or accompanying nuisances ~ ,,o,,,.
The above proposition has thus iar oeem e"' h,
,gnored by the commission for reasons p"s,
known TO themselves, and in further reiere creme y,
am in a position TO state that the cost can even DC
made less than the figure mentioned II the eh'He
The process submitted reduces the garbage prope-
about & per cent Of it's bulk while ashes ana stree
sweepings reduced about 30 per cent the Ieinu
homogeneous in ma ture and for filling in purposes
tampng ETC., is beyond question far SUI flor ,, 10
the ordinary loose material now employed. besides
being free from odor and disease germs IL can
also Be ased fertilizing material and can De MAJ
OF the hardest nature. and is worth AT the lowest
calculation 80 per load at the dumps or whefe
ever the furnace Is located 49, -. A..
In conclusion desire to state that III the
concentrations OF the Garbage Commission are
carried out the city will practically only be apic
10 have its 800 tons OF garbage reduced FOR nothng
jyered at the dumps will be more than counter
balanced by the extra expense OF collecting-add-
tional carts employees and appliances Will have 70
he provided for the purpose-while the remainder Oh
the general refuse will still have 10 be transported
10 Riker's or some other island or carried OUT 10
on the lines OF the present system, whlcn una
disposition as shown by data from the street
Cleaning Department. costs in the neighborhood OF
cents per CARLOAD of the total quantity SO trans
ported On the other hand, the entire mass or REFUSE
which contains the germs OF disease can. BY my
process be ncinerated without smoke, smell or any
accompanying nuisances at a cost or ~ cents OF
even less per CARLOAD. delivered at the furnace.
leaving residue worth TO the city at the lowest
amount after all expenses of incineration Will, on
800 or 90 loads daily incinerated return a net
profit OF from 500 TO $500 per day and do away with
the cost OF final disposition. In other words, the
Of total ncineration will be no more than the
present amodnt paid for the transportation OF gen
eral refuse in sef-propeing boats TO be used Tor
fling In dumped at sea
Cannot the city afford TO expend the small amount
Of roo for a single furnace TO take the entire De
livery OF dump prove that refuse can be sat /
stactorily Moderated? If not. then the New ork
Chamber OF Commerce. the Good Government CLUBS.
the Committee of Seventy and the Consumers
League should look INTO the matter.
HENRY f. SCHWALM.
Mining and Mechanical Engineer.
No 700 West Thirty-eighth-st., New-York. NOV. ..